The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-30
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


national Sunday school Lesson Appointed for
Nov. o, 1890. ST. Luke, 20 LIE.
Zone reading these notes should arst carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
Indicated abovel
SUBJECTS: /. CHRIST DISMISSED BY PLATE.
ii. CHRIST BEFORE HERoD ANTIPAs.
Preliminary.
Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane and led to
Annas for examination. Then he was brought
before Caiaphas. Next we find him on trial by
the Sanhedrim, Caiaphas presiding. From the
council chamber of the Sanhedrim he was led to
the Hall of Judgment to be tried by the Roman
Governor. PLATE. With the first and second
verses OF ST. Matt. %, one should study St.
Mark. 10: /; ST. Luke. %: /, 2, and ST. John,
Is: % -. The Jewish authorities had found
Christ guilty of basphemy in their unjust court,
aud determined on his death. But they had
no authority TO execute a criminal. That
power rested with the Roman Governor, Plate.
He would not entertain an ecelesiastic aceusa-
ton Hence the leaders of the Jews decided
To invent a civil charge involving capital
punishment, and 10 sustain it by false evidence.
That is the reason why they conducted Christ
TO the Judgment Hall OF Plate.
With ST. Matt, 81: 1l-l4, one must study
ST. Mark, Is: 2-5; st. Luke, %: g. and St.
John, IS: 1888. We notice St John gives
fullest account OF the trial before Plate. This
paragraph deals with Christ's claim TO be King
of the Jews.
We now reach the decision of Plate. received
by tho Jewish crowd with furious ind ignation
and more direct charges against Christ of dis
loyalty and treason to the Roman Government.
We have noticed above ST. Luke, %: Is. We
shall give special study to verses Ale. These
will divide themselves into two paragraphs.
the hrst relating TO the fury Of the Jews when
Plate declared, al find no fault ia this man, -
I a
Antipas. The first paragraph is ST. Luke,
% A. tho second. % 5-l2.
FIRST: Pilates DECISION. CHRIST SENT TO
HERoD.
i. Preliminary.
We have in this paragraph only one Of the
several incidents relating to Christ's trial before
Plate. The Governor has heard what the ac-
cusers of Christ have to say, aud is not satisfied
with the nature of the charges nor with the
evidence adducod. 10 Is plain the people are
jealous, prejudiced, sgoted, unreasonable.
2. Data.
ST. Luke, % ~. No other Gospel men
tions Pilates statement, / find no fault in
this man." and The consequent rage Of the
crowd at such assertion.
3. Time.
We find ourselves in the year 90 A. D.,
March 18th. Friday. very early in the morn
ing. ST. John, Is: 2S) Plate had been Gov
efnor for three years aud continued seven
more Christ was 33 years, seven months aud
Is days of age. 1t was the Passover season.
L. Place.
Christ's trial before PLATE took place In the
Pretorium or Roman Hall of Justice. Isl.
John Is % So The stated place OF residence
| of Plate was Cwsarea. a city built by Hcrod
the Great, b. g. 20. a seaport town, being on
the coast of tho Mediterranean Sea, 63 miles
from Jerusalem. The Governor always went
to Jerusalem at great festivals, rs, c. o., the
Passover. when crowds OF people assembled in
in Jerusalem, aud there was a likelihood of dis
| turbaaces. He was the Roman officer, and -
such made it his special business TO preserve
order.
1t seems Christ aud PLATE had their inter.
view mt first privately. or at one side in the
Pretorium. (St. John, 49, 33.)
Protorum was tho Roman name for the
headquarters of the Military Governors
wherever they were located.
s. Plate
The Governor of Judea WINS Pontius Plate
Est. Matt, 81 81 He was the fifth in order OF
the Roman Proeurators ruling Judea. lie was
under the President OF Syria. who in turn was
under Cesar, the Roman Emperor lie had
power to inflictcapital punishment, the method
being cruciixion. After a time PLATE fell into
"The mills of the gods grind slowly" and
retributive justice is quite IA certainty. Seven
| years go by, and Caiigula banished PLATE 10
| Vienna, in Gaul. In remorse he committed
suicide. A mountain Ia there pointed out
named Pilatus, ndicating the scene of the self
murder. So snys tradition. We are told no,
| in wretehed state Of mind, wandered about
| and overcome by remOrse, cast himself into
the lake. PLATE had u grand opportunity. lie
| might have been known to-day as 1.-THE noblesi
| Roman of them ALL" lie let the chance slip
| He was yacilating. TO please mon he did
| violence TO his conscience Hi very name is
on the lips of millions when they utter the
words with contempt pity, and yet denuncia-
| ton, "Sulicred under Pontius Plate" The
| Apostles Creed has thus immortaliZed the Gov
| ernors iniamy.
6. Critical Notes.
| /. "NO fault" The reference Is to the charges
made against Christ. At first the enemies OF
| Jesus wanted Plate simply TO confirm the find.
| ing aud sentence of the Sanhedrim, to wit
| guilty; punishment, death. Finding PLATE
| unwilling to condemn n man unheard. they
knew they must state charges which Roman
| Governor could entertain. The main accusa-
| ton was that Christ claimed to be King, and
was. therefore, disloyal tp the Roman Govern
ment. But Christ explained to PLATE the ma.
| ture of the Christian King and Kingdom, and
| PLATE saw plainly that Jesus was not guilty oil
treason. ~ find no fault in this man." mean:
simply. cannot see that he is guilty of oppo
| sitlon To the "pOwers that be-" The enemie:
| of Christ then make specifications as to tho ma