The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-04
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
June ., 1ses-Matthew xvii, 11-2e.

PLATE a msf1t 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 Tiberius there took money
out of the temple treasury to build an aqueduct
all in defiance of the religious scruples Of the
populace. He mingled the blood OF the Galileans
with that of their sacrifices The Jews had al
ready appealed to Caesar, and not unsuccessfuIly
against this tyranny.
Under circumstances like these PLATE had come
up to keep the peace during Passover week.
Imagine, then, his feelings when, the feast being
at its height and the city crammed to its utmost
capacity with heterogeneous throng from every
quarter, there appeared the portal of his palace
mob headed by the high priest, and all worked
to the highest pitch of religious frenzy. 1t was
aggravating to the last degree. Yet fear of an
other appeal to Rome, whose fixed policy was the
Cancellation of the provinces, required at this
juncture that these imperious petitioners should
not be driven unheard from the Judgment seat
PLATE makes, with i'll grace. his first conces-
sion. The Jews will not enter the Judgment hall
for fear of ceremonial deflement. So the pro-
curator places his curue outside. Before him.
with hands bound. stands the object of this re-
ligious fury The accusation is demahded
Tlidle answer is, lake MIN ana punish him
according to your law" This brings the confess
sion that power to infict capital punishment was
no longer theirs. The charge is that Jesus is
deceiver. encourages the Withholding OF tribute
and calls himself King.
Plate beckons Jesus, and both retire into the
comparative quiet of the Judgment hall He asks
Him: art thou. poor lone peasant. King of the
Jews?" Jesus puts the counter question: do
you ask me whether am King in the Roman or
Jewish sense of that word?" PLATE retorts: Am
Jew" Jesus replies I'm the Roman sense
king. In the mistaken Hebrew sense.
too / am no king. My kingdom is unlike any
earthly political sovereignty. If it were l
would have trained my followers to arms "Are
you king in any sense?" asks the Judge. The
answer is: II am. My realm is truth. my sub
jects the lovers of truth" Truth! What
characterization is this?" PLATE announces the
innocence Of Jesus. Accusations fill the air like
flying arrows. The of transferring the juris-
diction to Herod Antipas fails. What shall do
with Jesus?' asks the jaded governor. Cruelty
him. is the answer One more protest why
cruelty innocent man? Let NE scourge him
only Like q wild sea the vociferation broke
about the Gabbatha. PLATE washes his hands.
The Jews accept the
Direct from the scourging, decked with mock
insignia, His life-blood giving new tint to the
notified pavement. PLATE, as last appeal, cries:
humiliation enough?" Cruelty is the only an
swer. Then cruelty him If you will but he Is
innocent of offense against any law of which
am cognizant" The priests answer: HE has
violated a Jewish law the penalty OF which is
death. He affirms himself the Son of God"
PLATE takes Jesus aside to ask Him the meaning
of the term. The meaning is beyond his COM
prehension. Jesus is silent PLATE marvels, ex-
claiming: Il nave power to cruelty or acquit
you" Jesus answers: ''Yc' have power only be-
cause God permits you to use it. You guilty,
because you condemn me. knowing me to be
innocent; but those are more guilty who delivered
they sin AGAINST
VIII they not prefer Jesus to Barabbas the
object Of clemency TO grace their festival accord
ing to CUSTOM With the collapse of this last
shift comes the ominous warning of Pilates wife.
He is on the point, even so late. of acqutting the
accused, when the prosecutor let's fly the last ar
row in his culver: Let this man go and you
not Caesars friend!' Behold your king" says
PLATE. I'VE have no king but sar.' they re-
tort. Cruelty Shall 1 cru your king?''
I'VE have no king but Caesar sounds once
more. So ends the long-drawn de in which
the life of Jesus was at stake. Pa, e orders Him
to the cross.
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
The governor: PLATE means armed with a
javelin." Weak. skeptical cold. cruel. arbitrary;
cherished feelings of contempt for the religion Of
Israel. He was, however. Roman judge. and
would until passion excited show usual
Roman respect for iaw.-schaff.
Asked him: Jews would not go within because
it was Passover time and they would be defled
-Lathbury.
Thou king of Jews The word thou stands in fhe
original at the head OF the sentence. as IL PLATE
would say, Thou humbied despised, handed
over to me as malefactor. '-Schaff.
Thou sayest: Not doubtful answer, but a
strong affirmatve.-Alford
Accused of chief priests They forgot the dig
nifty Of their place.-Arnold.
Governor nlarveled: AT d loss to understand the
forbearance with which He maintained such sub
lime silence.-Meyer.
Wont to release: An III usage The people
could. IL they chose. release the worst criminal
Arnold
Will We that I release: Plate expected that
large party would declare In Christ's favor.
Cook
Let Him be crucifed: Sad is the scene which
here meets our eyes: as II Is ever when goodness
has to protect itself by the votes OF the masses.
Bauer.
THE TEACHERS CULVER
PLATE is a conspicuous type OF the time-server.
His ruling motive was TO keep his place.
Time-serving brought him small reward. He
eked out his Official life few years. bit. COM
plant OF the Jews. was deposed and exiIed.