The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-05-17
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY a..
subjecti Jesus Before plate, John xviii,
2s-40-Goiden Text, John xviii. 81
Memory Verses, 81, 38-Comnentary
on the Days Lesson.

on the Days Lesson.
l. The Jews accuse Jesus Tvs. 2S-32)
2S. From Caiaphas." The high priest
Jesus was taken from the garden
where He was arrested, first to Annas
ex-high priest. Annas sent Hin to
Calaphas, where the Sanhedrin. the
great Jewish council, was hastily
called together. Jesus was questioned
and 1t was decided that He was wor.
thy of death. But the Sanhedrin had
no authority to investigate a capital of
fense during the night. and so an ad.
1ournment was taken till daybreak. Ii
was during the time of adjournment
that Jesus was mocked and maltreat
ed, and it was while these scenes were
being enacted that Peter denied
Him. Hall of judgment" The
"Praetorium" or palace. ut was
early" Probably about o'clock. The
Greek word rendered "early" Is a
technical word for the fourth watch"
the time between and O o'clock In the
morning. PLATE had by request of the
chief priests ordered the band of sol
diers to arrest Jesus in the garden. and
he had doubtless held himself in readi
ness all night to give their prisoner n
hearing. Roman courts frequently sat
at night. "Be defled." If they entered
Plates palace they would be untitled
for the rites of the Passover
20. "Pilate." Pontius PLATE be
longed to an ancient and knightly Ro
man family. OF his early history moth
ing definite Is known. He went to Ju.
dea about A. ID. 26 and remained in
office about ten years. His capital was
at Caesarea Philippi, but it was his
custom to go to Jerusalem at the great
festivals to secure order and safety in
the city. Went out" Plate went
outside of the judgment hall. "What
accusationW He demands formal
charge. 80. "If he were not" etc
They did not wish PLATE to investigate
the case, and so they tried to bluff the
governor They knew that their ac.
tions would not stand rigid test.
81. Judge Him." If He is to pass
for a criminal simply in accordance
with your sentence, then execute Him
also according to your law. Plate
meets fanatical presumption with fri
gid sarcasm. They could excommuni.
cate Him and scourge Him. but not
put Him to death 80. "The saying OF
Jesus" See chapter 1882. 80. and
Matt 20:19, where Christ foretold His
crucifixion.
III. PLATE confers WITH Jesus Tvs. SO.
80. 33. "Then." After the Jewish
authorities had brought their accusa.
tions. "Called Jesus Before the
judgment seat for private investlga.
ton. "Art Thou?" Thou, so humbled,
despised-wlthout a single follower,
without weapons or wealth, handed
over to me as a malefactor-art Thou
the King of the Jews? An ambiguous
charge, forged out of Jesus avowal
that He was the Messiah. "a. "Of
thyself." AS governor. hast thou any
information that leads thee to suspect
Me of rebellion against the Roman au-
thority?
80. "An l a Jew?" Have I any in.
terest in a Jews religious hopes of a
Messiah or king. or any knowledge
about them? Chime own nation" II
the charge had been preferred by a Ro.
man centurion it would have been
worthy of examination. But when was
it ever known that the Jewish priest
hood complained of one who sought the
political emancipation of the nation?
None knew better than PLATE how un.
easy were the people under the Roman
yoke. Had there been any danger of
sedition from the teachings of Jesus
the Romans were the proper parties to
interfere. "What hast Thou done?"
Let me have Thine own account, that
may at least know something definite
of the case. &c. Not of this world"
Yet in this world and over this world.
Therefore not in rivalry with the Ro-
man Government. Servants fight"
have servants, but not one makes the
slightest attempt at Ny rberat ton;
this. to PLATE. who was acquainted
with the nature of the disturbance,
contains striking proof of Jesus in
nocence. 81. Art Thou king?" Are
you in any sense a king? "Was l
born" l was born into the world that
/ might set up and maintain spiritual
government, but this government is es-
tablished in and by truth. All that love
truth hear My voice and attend to the
spiritual doctrines l preach. 1t is by
truth alone that l influence the minds
and govern the manners of My sub
jects. Then PLATE asked, "What is
truth?" ". 3S). PLATE asked the ques-
ton Of questions which the best minds
of every age have asked.
III. PLATE confers with the Jews
Tvs. 3S, 39). 3S. "Went out again"
The Jewish prejudices prevented their
entering the Judgment hall. II find
no fault" This was a wonderful testi-
mony in Jesus favor and from the gov.
ernor himself. PLATE understood our
Lords words sufficiently to see that He
did not claim to be an earthly king and
was not in any way opposing the Ro-
man Government.
80. "Ye have custom" The Gus
tom of releasing a prisoner at this
feast. however it originated, was so
completely established that PLATE was
obliged to attend to 1t Mark 1873.
Here the cowardly, weak, double-mind-
ed character of PLATE is seen. He
knows Jesus is innocent and that he
ought to free Him, but he fears to Of
fend the Jews.
~. The Jews call for Barabbas ".
40). 40. mot this man" PLATE knew
that the chief priests had delivered
Him for envy" and yet he is about to
submit to their murderous demands.
Although He had not been found gull
ty, yet they considered Him a criminal,
and gained their end by starting tu-
multi Mark 1910, III. "Barabbas."
An inSurrectiOQiSt q rObber and a mur.