The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-06-04
Tic 'ly International Sunday School Lesson.
Sem. %. 1905. Ma.,h.w XVII, 1l.so.
Jesus Condemned,

Jesus Condemned.
PLATE was mlsflt as procurator Of
Judea. The javelin-man Gas his name
may signify kept hurting his darts at
hierarchy and people. He brought the
Roman eagles into Jerusalem, hung
shields dedicated to Tlberlus there, took
money out OF the temple treasury to
build an aqueduct, all in defiance Of the
religious ecruples Of the populace. He
mingled the blood OF the Galileans witt,
that OF their sacrifices. The Jews had
already appealed to Caesar, and not un-
successfully, against his tyranny.
Under circumstances like these Pr
late had come up to keep the peace dur
Ing Passover-week. Imagine, then, his>
feelings when, the feast being at its
height and the city crammed to Its ut
most capacity with q heterogeneous
throng from every quarter there APP
peared at the portal of his palace a
mob headed by the high priest, and all
worked 10 the highest pitch OF religious
frenzy. 1t was agSravatIng to che last
degree. Yet fear OF another appeal to
Rome. whose fixed policy was the con-
cillatEon OF the provinces, required at
this junsture that these imperious petit
TONERS should not tbe driven unheard
from the judgment-seat. PLATE
makes. with ill-grace. his first conces-
sion. The Jews will not enter the judg-
ment hall for fear OF ceremonial defile-
ment. So the procurator places his
curule outside. Before him, with hands
bound, stands the object of this religious
fury. The accusation demanded. Pr
late's answer Is, Take him and punish
him according 10 your law" This brings
the confession that power to inflict
capital punishment was no longer
theirs. The charge Is that Jesus is de-
ceiver. encourages the Withholding of
tribute, and calls himself king.
PLATE beckons Jesus. and both retire
into the comparative quiet OF the judy
ment hall. He asks him: art thou,
poor lone peasant. king Of the Jews?"
Jesus puts the counter question: do
YOU ask me whether I am king In the
Roman or, Jewish sense OF that word?"
PLATE retorts: Am q Jew?" In the
Roman sense an no king. In the mis-
taken Hebrew sense. too am no king.
My kingdom IS unlike any earthly or
political sovereignty. II It were, would
have trained my followers to arms,
Are YOU 4 king In any sense?" asked
the Judge. The answer is: II am. My
realm Is truth, my subjects the lovers OF
truth" Truth! What transcendental-
ism Is this!" PLATE announces the in
nocence Of Jesus. Accusations fill the
air like flying arrows. The rusc OF
transferring the Jurisdiction to Herod
Antlpas fails. What shall I do with
Jesus?" asks the jaded governor. Cru
city him." is the answer. One more pro-
test. i'Why cruelty an innocent man?
Let me scourgc him only Like
wild sea the voclferation broke about the
Gabbatha. PLATE washes his hands.
The Jews accept the onus u. Di-
rect from the scourg!ng, decked with
mock insignia, his lifc-blood giving new
tint to the notified pavement, PLATE, as
n last appeal, cries: Behold the man!
Is not this suffering and humiliation
enough?" Cruelty" is the only an
swer, Then cruelty him IL you will:
but he Is innocent OF of'ense against any
law, the penalty OF which is death. He
afilrms himself to be the Son Of God"
PLATE takes Jesus aside TO ask him the
meaning az the term. The meaning Is
beyond his comprehension. Jesus is ST.
lent. PLATE marvels, exclaimins: II
have power TO cruelty or acquit you"
Jesus answers: You have power only
because God permits you to use It You
are guilty, because YOU condemn me,
knowing me to be innocent: but those
are more guilty who delivered me 10
you, as they sin against greater light"
-. viii they not prefer Jesus
to Barabbas as the object OF clemency
to grace their festival according to GUS
tom?" With the collapse OF this last
shift comes the ominous warning OF Pf-
late's wife. He Is on the point, even so
late, OF acquittlng the accused, when
the prosecutor let's fly the last arrow in
hts CULVER: Les this man 60 and YOU
are not Caesars friend!" Behold your
klng!" says PLATE. "Wc have no king
but Caeear!' they retort. "Crucify!"
Shall cruelty your klng?" I'VE have
no king but Cacsar!"s resounds once
more, So ends the long-drawn battle in
which the life OF Jesus was at stake.
PLATE orders him 10 the cross. H