The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-06-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JUNE s.
Subject: Christ's Trial Before PLATE, Mark
xv., 1-15-Golden Text, Luke xiii, 4
Memory Verses, IL, entary
on the Days Lesson.

oh tho LAY Lessou.
l. Jesus before the Jewish Council ".
y. l. In the morning" Jesus had two
trials. The first was before the Jewish
authorities, who brought in charge
against Him. the punishment of which
was death. The second trial was before
the Roman proeurator, Plate, who had
priests" The heads of the courses and
the ex-hlgh priests. Elders" Men chosen
from among the most influential laymen.
''Scribes" Teachers of the law. They
were educated in the literature of the
church The whole council" The San
hedrin, the highest Jewish council, com.
posed of seventy-one members. 1t could
condemn to death. but the execution OF
the sentence rested with the Roman pro-
curator.
ii. Plate questioning Jesus Tvs. 2-5).
g. And Plate" Jesus was taken from
the regular meeting of the Sanhedrin to
the Judgment hall Of Plate John 1928;
Luke 23:D, which was probably IN the
tower OF Antonia, just outside the north
west corner of the temple area" Verses
"a and Matt 27:ll-4 are an account OF
the first trial before the Roman procura-
supposes that Jesus had reasonably
claimed. to be a king. The Jews made
three principal charges against Jesus, l..
Sedition-perverting the people: 2. For
bidding to pay tribute to Caesar 3.
Claiming to be king. John shows (Joh!n
ls:33-3S) how Jesus so explained His roy
atty and His kingdom as to cause Plate
to say, Il find in Him no fault at all"
"Thou sayest it." An affirmative answer
which means, 1T is as thou sayest."
8. The Jews refused to enter the ]udg-
ment hall because their Jewish traditions
(not the law of Cod declared them cere-
monially unciean If they entered the house
of Gentle during or Just before the Pass
over feast;" PLATE, therefore, went out
and had a conference with them Luxe
23:2; John lS:2s-32). Pilate then entered
the judgment hall and held private con-
ference with Jesus Q.uke 1913; John Is:
333-3s), after which he again went out to
the Jews and publicly declared to them
his belief that Jesus was innocent. Jesus
was then brought out to the Jews to hear
their accusations. Many things, All
were mere technicalities and Quibblings;
they either wholly falsifed or perverted
His statements SO as to make It appear
that He was confessed criminal. An.
swered nothing" He was conscious OF
His innocence He knew that they could
not prove their charges. They offered no
testimony and therefore He was silent;
there was no need OF His replying. 4;
"Asked Him again" Plate was convinced
that Jesus was innocent, and yet ne was
not ready to face the Jews and give ms IS
prisoner His liberty. 5. "Marvelled.
PLATE was probably more surprised that
He bore this so meekiy and did not return
railing for railing, than that He did not
set up defense.
III. The Jews choose Barabbas Tvs. b.
III. In verses els we have an account OF
the second trial before Plate: This was
the third act in the proceedings against
Christ. 6. Released" etc. This custom
was in harmony with the nature OF the
feast and, however it originated, was SO
completely. established that Plate was
Obliged to attend to it. See verse 8; Z.
"Barabbas." An insurrectionist, robber
and a murderer. He was actually, guilty OF
much worse crimes than they had charged
against Jesus. He had short time before
this evidently been ringleader, IN an out
break in Jerusalem against the Roman
Government. With them. The asso-
ciates of Barabbas were also. like himself,
nnder arrest and in prison. g. ''Will ye,
etc. plate is laboring hard to release
Jesus. and vet he does not assert his au-
tbority, but constantly yields to the clam
oring of the wicked Jews. -,
10. "He knew-for envy" He could not
doubt who were the ringleaders in the tu-
multous scene now being enacted, or what
was the motive that had prompted them
to bring the accused before his tribunal
nothing more or less than envy OF the IN.
fuence he had gained and the favor he had
won throughout the land. He hoped,
therefore, by appealing directly to the peo-
ple. to procure our Lords release. IL.
Moved the people" The word trans
lated moved only occurs here and in the
parallel Luke 1915. 1t denotes (D to
shake to and fro, to brandish; .(2) to make
threatening gestures; 81 to stir up, or IN,
stigate. Their efforts were successful, ana
when Plate put the question the cry went
ND, Away with this man-the holy and un,
defiled whom they had lately welcomed
with hosannas into their city-and release
unto us Barabbas. This was the deepest
human degradation-to have the vllest OF
mankind preferred to Him!
". Jesus delivered up to death Tvs.
l2-l5). ~,
70 "Pilate answered" It was probably
at this time, while the people were clamor-
ING for His death so loudly, that the mes
se3ger came from Pilates wife Matt. q:
l9)' urging the release of Jesus, and stat
ing that she had just suffered many things
in dream because of Him. How many
and what various persons bear testimony
to the innocence of the Holy One--Pliate,
Herod, Pilates wife, Judas 1scariot, the
thief on the cross and the centurion at the
crucifxiorl. what will ye," etc. Accord
ing to Matthew Plate asked what ne
should do with Jesus, who was called
Christ? This is question every person
must answer. /. Every one must accept
or reject Him. 2. Rejecting Christ is the
great sin of the world. 8. If we reject
Him here we will be rejected by Him here
after. 49, Cruelty Him." Let Him die
the most ignominious death possible.
IA. "Why." Plate makes another d.
rect appeal. "Cried out the more" There
were no questions to be considered by
them: they were resolved to have His life.
Nothing else would satisfy them:
10. "Wishing to content" (R.N) What
a weak man PLATE was; slave to the
opinions of the people. Before Plate pro.
nounced the sentence he took water and
washed his hands publicly, thus expressing
in acts what he uttered in words, 81 am
innocent of the blood of this just person;
see We to it" Matt. 27:24). Then answered
all the people and said: "His blood be on
us and on our children"
In less than forty years from this excla.
nation the Romans came. They crucified
such numbers of Jews that, according to
Josephus, there was no more room to set