The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1891-11-25
Christ before PLATE.


tion held. free to make. The far away
condemnation OF Jesus by his unjust and
self-crimlnating judges is to be brought
close homo to the human heart to-day.
And this Is the question which puts itself
persistently into the mouth OF each and all,
"What shall / do then with Jesus which Is
called Christpp
WHAT THE LESSON SAYS.
Then. The preliminary jewish examina-
ton and good portion OF the Roman trial
have already passed.-Took Jesus. With
no implica tion here of force I'm the taking.
-Scourged. Here, however, all Is vio-
lence.
Crown OF thorns. Rather, a crown from
thorns or out of thorns lex. Put on him
a purple robe. The Revision here is more
eyact arrayed him in a purple garment
Umation).
And said. Tischendorf throws In the
words, they came to him. The more ac-
curate and expressive rendering would be,
they kept coming to him and saying I'm
perfect tense. )-Smote him with their
hands. The Greek Is. They gave him slaps
or cuffs. The Bible Union gives the hap
pier translation hero. Sec Variations.
Went forth. Better, to suit the dramatic
center OF action, came forth.-Forth, a
strong word out (exo). That is, away
from the tribunal proper. He desires to
let him go.-No fault in him. One word,
expressive enough, in the Greek: aitian,
meaning crime, or cause for indictment.
Then came. Same word loosely rendered
went in the verse before.-Crown Of
thorns Slightly different from that used
In verse 2. Here 1t is thorny crown or
HOMEGROWN, corresponding precisely with
purple robe which .ollows.-Behold the
man. Our King James rendering, emitting
the comma, is plainly wrong. The word
man is not the object OF the verb. See
Variations. So the Greek OF Tischendorf.
Officers Better, attendants, l. c., In the
temple. Not as much military as minis
terial. Same as appear at the arrest, John
IS: Cried out. A strong onomatopo-
etc term, krauga.-Crucify him. Rather,
Cruelty. Or, as meaning the same, the
cross the cross!-Take We him. The
strong accent is on the ye. The Revision is
preferable: Take him yourselves; precisely
as in the Greek.
We have. The we Is emphatic Tho
Son OF God. Better Son OF God, the omitted.
Not In the original.
That saying. Rather, this word (touton
ton logon. More afraid. Not at the fact
or claim of Chrlst's Sonship, but over the
existence of a Jewish law, for which, so
long as It did not interfere with Roman
statute, he was bound according TO the
liberal policy of the empire to have some
respect
Speakest thou not unto me? Or, Con-
verseth thou not with me? Indicating q
willingness to assist him in escaping what,
he no doubt, counted n mere provincial
charge. Power. Better, authority--To
cruelty. Placed second in Tischendorf: re-
lease, first. See Variations.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
PLATE therefore took Jesus and scourged
him. Therefore! Why, "therefore7n ~
find in him no fault at ALL" Plate had
just been saying. Why, then, this scourg-
ing. "Not this man, but Barabbas! ~ the
people had cried in answer to Pilates
proposition of release. Then again. why
scourge Christ, unless IL were IL prepara-
ton for the crueler infections OF the crossf
But Pilates subsequent query indicates
another purpose. 1t IL evidently an inten-
tional compromise. PLATE had, at least a
forensic conscience. He does not wish to
go down on the court records as condemn
ing an innocent man. But IL Is the case
rather than the person that here troubles
him. He does indignity to the man to save
himself He cares more for his reputation
than for Christ. There are others like him.
No fault In him. 1t Is the Judgment OF
Chrlst's own day. 1t is the sentence of all
men to-day, even the enemies of the church.
The strictest searching in Pilates court re-
vealed no transgression OF the laws of ma.
tions and no infringement of the rights OF
men. He was gulltless. The closest resur-
vey Of character and career o-day re- echo
the word, innocent! But IL is not tho per-
ception OF Christs sinlessness that saves
III,
and Rousseau and Renan would speak the
mind OF Christ. 1t is the acceptance and
appropriation OF that sinlessness, the put.
ting on of Christ's spotless robe OF righteous
ness-this only avalls. Alas, Plate, there
Is fault in thee.
Behold, the man. There he stands clear
and distinct. He Is thrust out upon the
background of Jewish hate. of Roman self
ishness, OF human depravity. Conspicuous
he stands in the full arc OF the worlds
vision, placed there, as Ii were, unwittingly
~ heather ruler. True IL Is that all life,
ali history. all events OF nature and society
have but awaited TO bring the Christ into
psenainence. The projection of the man OF
NatS7eth! Now what Will you do with himf
Behold him, now, "the man;n to &c accept
ed or rejected. Tomorrow the Judge
Then what will he do with you?
The pavement. 1t is the basal rock of
human depravity. Here men must come,
or else TO the rock OF refuge. They must
take their stand either as friends or enc
mics of Christ. They either crown or cru
city. Plate was long time coming TO IL.
In common with mankind, he resisted self
commitment. But he came. The Jews said,
ave have a law, aud by our law he ought
to die" That did not move Plate. He
babe Christ speak for himself, and was
heard in silence. Yet even this does not
bring him to the fatal Judgment chair.
But, at last. the willy Jews cry out, "Thou
art not Caesars frfend.n And now he Is
brought to the full avowal OF himself. and
has drawn on the judges cap. Self
seeking; here we all fall, save grace
abound
We have no king but Cesar Terrible
wordsl Terrible for their truthfulness
Since that day the Jew has literally had no
king but Caesar. And tyrannical and
cruel king he has proven. Here was
choice sadder indeed than that of old
which displaced the benign Samuel and
took the naughty Saul. "He will take your
fields and your vineyards the
tenth OF your seed your men-ser-
wants and your maid-servants and your
goodliest young men - and ye shall
be his servants, and ye shall cry out I'm
that day because OF, your King which ye
shall have chosen your Even so, o Israel |
1t has been sad bondage for the sons OF
Jacob through the centuries. When shall
Zion return and the Lamb again reign7
Hasten IL, o Lord, for that day is our day
Next lesson-"Christ cruciied.n John
10: 1890.
How They Began.
HENRY CLEws' early life was spent as
n n m