Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-05-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON WI, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATioNAL SERIES, MAY 10.

Text of the Lesson. Mark Nv. 1-15-Mem-
Org Verses, ii. 15-Golden Text, Mark
XIV, commentary by the Rev. d. NJ.
stearns.
1. "And straightway in the morning the
chief priests held consultation The
DEVILS servants are very quick and very
persevering-ihey put the Lords servants
to shame. The disciples could not watch
one hour, but these servants of satan
watched all night in their hatred of Him
who loved them Then in the morning
they consummated their wickedness. There
is a morning coming, however. when the
tables will be turned. See Ps xix, IA; lisa.
viii. 20, II. V. and compare Dan. vi, 1924.
.. And plate asked Him, Art thou the
king of the Jewss And He, answering, said
unto him, Thou sayest it, The wise men
from the east bare witness that He was
king Of the Jews even when He was a babe
(Math. ii, y. Nathaniel testified to the
same very early in His ministry John i, 49l,
aud Gabriel stated it very plainly before
His birth (l4ukei q, 3S). Notwithstanding
ali the soothing of Jews and gentiles of
those days or these days, the time draweth
nigh when all nations shall seeit
8. ''And the chief priests accused Him of
many things, but He answered nothing"
There was mo- truth in their accusations
any more than in those Of the false wit
nesses whom they had previously sum-
moned. SO there was nothing for Him TO
answer. When We are falsely accused, let
us learn from Him to commit our way unto
the Lord and trust Him 10 manage it for
us. He had confessed that He was the
Christ. and knowing what awaited Him
He calmly awaited their disposal of Him.
T. And PLATE asked Him again, saying
Answerest thou nothings Behold how
many things they witness against thee"
Plate did not know that there was no
truth in any of the charges which they
brought against Him. and therefore could
not but have been surprised that He had
nothing TO say. plate was not accustomed
to cases Of this kind, he had never seen
prisoner like this and was greatly perplexed
by His manner.
8. But Jesus yet answered nothing, so
that PLATE marvesed.N He was oppressed
and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His
mouth lisa. lii, q. He was probably COM
muning with His Father Nothing will
help US to be quiet under false accusations
and in the presence of enemies like the re-
allied presence of the Lord and that we are
ever before Him.
G. Now, at that feast he released unto
them one prisoner, whomsoever they de-
siIedr Jesus knew all this, but there was
nothing in it for Him, for He knew well
that Ills only release would be death. He
was not seeking release. but TO fulfill all
righteousness, and as He had often foretold
/ Chapters viii, 81; tx, 81; *, SO, 3D Hekuew
that He was about to be slain.
T. And there was one named Barabbas,
which lay bound with them that had made
instruction with him, who had committed
murder in tine Instruction Here Is a
real child of ths devil brought into the
story with the Holy One of God. Already
He begins to be numbered with the trans.
gressors as il He, too. was transgressor
When cut to the heart by being thus mum.
bered with sinners Of it should ever be
4 your experience, think of Him.
7 s. And the multitude, crying aloud, be-
gan to desire him to do as he had ever done
unto them" Probably anxious to get the
man they wanted released, and afraid lest
PLATE might attempt to release Jesus.
g. But PLATE answered them, saying,
I Will'ye that | release unto you the King OF
the Jewsy" BY comparing the parallel &C
counts this seems to be Pilates sixth at.
tempt to release Jesus. For this first five
see John xviii, rs, 10 xix, IA, and Luke xiii,
4-l6. See his threefold testimony to His
innocence in John xviii, IS; xix, 4 O. See
| in Math. xvii, 49, his wife's plea that he
should let Him go. This King of the Jews
was the heaviest and most perplexing case
that PLATE ever had on his hands So it is
still
10. For he knew that the chief priests
had delivered Him for envy See how
Joseph's brethren hated and envied him
Gen xxxvii, S, H. Israel envied Moses
and Aaron Ps, cvi, 49, "Wrath is cruel,
and anger is outrageous, but who Is able to
stand before envyf" prov xvii, a. In
Gal. V, 81, envy is followed by murder as ono
of the works OF the flesh. Let us hate every
appearance of II IN our hearts as we should
hate the devil himself
II. "But the chief priests moved the pea.
pie, that he should ratherrelease Barahbas
unto them" Who can estimate the guilt
of those in high places who move the PEG
pie against Christi The worst we have to
contend with today is from the professed
friends of Christ who, while saying beRuti-
full things about Him, yet move the people
against His atonement and His precious
blood, which alone can save us from hell
| (Lev. xvii, IL.
IL. And PLATE answered and said again
unto them, What will ye then that | shall
do unto Him whom ye call the King Of the
Jews?" Or as in Math xvii, %, What
shall do then with Jesus, who Is called
CHRISTI Ii il not question for us to ask
anotheris opinion about, We are response
BILE to Him for our treatment of Him. Pr
late knew He was innocent and should
have rescued Him from His tormeptora,
but the weakness of plate is overruled to
accomplish the Lords purpose. Bad for
PLATE all the same,
ID. And they cried out again, Cruelty
Him. They preferred Barabbas TO Jesus,
murderer to Saviour, darkness ia light
1t is plainly written that ''all that is In the
world is not Of the Father, but is of the
world" and that 'the friendship OF the
world is enmity with Cod q John ii, i6:
James iv, A., yet how many are deliberate
ly choosing the world instead Of Christi
They would not say as these did, Cruelty
Him" but they do say that they prefer the
world and its pleasures,
"A. "rhen PLATE said unto them Why,
what evil hath He dopes And they cried
gut the mere exceedingly, Cruelty Him.
In connection with this verse we find In
Luke xii, -, that PLATE said, ~ have
found no cause Of death in Him. But the
people will not listen, they thirst for Hia
blood, satan has control nf them, and be
will Kill Jesus if be can. What he failed
to do in the garden Of Gethsemsne he will
do now, and God will let him, for this is
his hour and the power Of darkness.
Is And 50 PLATE, willing to content the
people, released Barabbas unto them and
delivered Jesus, when he had seourged
Him, TO be cruciled,n See the contrasts,
PLATE eentepting the people, Jesus pleas
ing the Father; Barabbas the guilty, Jesus
the guiltless; the people crying out, Jesus
silent. How cruel, unjust and perfectly /
den6tish it all wasl How can we have Eel, |
lowshIp with such worldY Lot US hon
estly face the question, Am seeking to
please the people or to please Godi (Gd. |
j. l0j