Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1895-05-18
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON vi, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATloNAL SERIES, MAY 10.


TERNATloNAL SERIES, MAY 10.
fcxt of the Lesson, Mark Nv. 1-i5-Mem-
ory yorses, II. Golden Text, Mark
Nv. D. Commentary by the Rev. ID. NJ
stearna
I. And straightway in the morning the
chief priests held n consultation" The
devils servants are very quick and very
persevering--they 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 n morning coming, however, when the
tables will he turned. See Ps. xix, IA; lisa.
viii, 90, II. ", and compare Dan. vi, 1924.
2. "And PLATE asked Him, Art thou the
king OF the Jews' 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
(Afath. ii, q. Nathaniel testified to the
same very early in His ministry John |. 49),
and Gabriel stated it very plainly before
His birth duke 81. 33). Notwithstanding
all the scofiing Of Jews and gentiles Of
those days or these days, the time draweth
nigh when all nations shall see It.
8. And the chief priests accused Him Of
many things, but He answered nothing"
There was no 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
the Lord and trust Him to manage it for
us. He had confessed that He was the
Christ, and knowing what awaited Him
He calmly awaited their disposal Of Him.
4. And PLATE asked Him again, saying:
Answerest thou nothing, 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 II this kind, he had never seen a
prisoner like this and was greatly perplexed
by His manner.
5. But Jesus yet answered nothing, so
that Pilate marveled " lie was oppressed
and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His
mouth lisa. Iii. y. He was probably CON-
muning with His Father. Nothing will
help US TO he quiet nder false accusations
and in the presence of enemies like the re-
allied presence Of the Lord and that we are
ever before Him.
o. Now, at that feast he released unto
them one prisoner, whomsoever they de-
sired" Jesus knew all this, but there was
nothing in IL for Him, for lie knew well
that His only release would be death. He
was not seeking release. but to fulfill all
-. Il. 4. 4
tchapters viii, 81; tx. 81; n, -. 34) Heknew
that lie WAS about To be slain.
T. And there was one named Barabbas
which lay bound with them that had made
insurrection with him. who had committed
murder in the insurrection." Here is a
real child of the devil brought into the
story with the Holy One Of God. Already
He begins TO be numbered with the trans
gressors rs il He, too. was transgressor
When cut to the heart by being thus num-
bered with sinners Gf it should ever be
your experience). think of Him.
s. And the multitude, crying aloud, be-
gan to desire him tn 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.
o. But PLATE answered them, saying,
Will ye that release unto you the King OF
the Jewsi" BY comparing the parallel ac-
counts this seems to be Pilates sixth at
tempt 10 release Jesus. For the first five
see John xviii. 2s, to xix. IA, and Luke xxiii,
4-l6. See his threefold testimony TO Hii
innocence in John xviii. Is; xix, 4, q. See
in Math. xvii. 10. his wifes 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 IL is
still
TO- For he knew that the chief priests
had delivered Him for envy" See how
Joseph's brethren hated and envied him
Gen. xxxvii, s. III. Israel envied Moses
and Aaron QPs. cvi. l6). Wrath is cruel,
and anger is outrageous, but who Is able to
stand before envyi" prov. xvii. ~ In
Gal..v, 81. envy is followed by murder as one
Of the works Of the flesh. Let us hate every
appearance Of il In our hearts as we should
hate the devil himself
II. But the chief priests moved the peo-
pie, that he should rather release Barabbas
unto them" Who can estimate the guilt
OF those in high places who move the peo-
pie against Christi The worst we have to
contend with today is from the professed
friends OF Christ who, while saying beauti-
full things about Him, yet move the people
against His atonement and His precious
blood, which alone can save us from hell
Q.ev. xvii. III.
IL. And Pilate answered and said again
unto them, What will ye then that shall
do unto Him whom ye call the King OF the
Jewsi" Or as In Math. xvii. q, what
shall do then with Jesus, who is called
Christi" II is not n question for us to ask
another's opinion about. We are response
BILE to Him for our treatment of Him. Pi-
late knew lie was innocent and should
have rescued Him from His tormentors,
but the weakness Of PLATE is overruled to
accomplish the Lords purpose. Bad for
PLATE all the same.
Is. And they cried ont again, Cruelty
Him." They preferred Barabbas to Jesus,
murderer to n Saviour, darkness to light
II 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 God" q John ii, 10;
james ", ~, 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.
Il. Then Plate said unto them, Why,
what evil hath lie done, And they cried
out the more exceedingly. Cruelty Him."
In connection with this verse we find in
Luke xiii, 20, that PLATE said, II have
found no cause Of death in Him." But the
people will not listen, they thirst for His
blood, satan has control OF them, and he
will kill Jesus il he can. What he failed
to do in the garden of Gethsemane he will
do now, and God will let him, for this is
his hour and the power of darkness.
- And so pilate, willing to content the
people, released Barabbas unto them and
delivered Jesus when he had scourged
Him. TO be crucified." See the contrasts,
Pilate contenting the people, Jesus pleas
ing the Father; Barabbas the guilty, Jesus
the guiltless; the people crying out. Jesus
silent. How cruel, unjust aud perfectly
fiendish it all was! How can we have fel-
lowship with such world, Let us hon
estly face the question. Am | seeking to
please the people or TO please Gods (Gal
l, i0)