The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-20
Second Quarter. Lesson VIII. John xvii' 2s-4o. May el, 1905.
 JESUS BEFORE PLATE.

ern. The incident of the gilt shields ana the mingling of the blood of the Galiieans with that of their sacrifices proves 1t. An other popular appeal to Rome would oe- pose him. Imagine. then, his feelings when the feast being at its height, there ap pearej at his paiace-gate mob headed oy the high priest, and all worked to the highest pitch of religious frenzy. IL was aggravatng, yet fear required that they should not be driven unheard from the judgment-seat. Piate made his first con cession when he placed his judgment-seat outside the hall. The prosecutors or Jesus feared that in the palace there might pc some leaven and they would thus pc ois- qualified from completing the feast or uh- leavened bread Court having opened. the fudge demanded the substance of the accu- sation. The answer was that the fact they had brought the accused to the governor was evidence of the aggravated character of His offense. Petty crimes they couio punish; capital. Rome only. Ignoring what was said, Pilate bade them take Jesus and punish him according to their law. rms brought, as was expected. the humiiiatins confession that they had lost power 10 m flict capital punishment. Again the aceu- sation is demanded. and the reply IS that Jesus proclaims Himself King. Pilate rises, beckons Jesus to follow him into the Judgment hall, and asked Him, Art Thou (poor lone peassnt) King of the JewsF Jesus puts the counter-question. Do you ask Me if am King in the Roman or Jewish sense?" and then proceeds. Tn the Roman sense I am king. In the mis- taken Jewish sense I am no king. My king dom is unlike any earthly kingdom If 1t were like them. l would have trained My followers to arms" Are you King in any sense?" asks Pilate. T am. My realm is truth My subjects the lovers of truth. Truth! What transcendentalism Is thisE' A moment later Pilate Is announcing the 0F thn l. mutt. Accusations fly like arrows. Piate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas. then guest in Jerusalem. Most of the public life Of accused having been spent in Galilee, Of which Herod was ruler. But this expedi- ent fails Jesus is returned. What shall I do with Jesus7" asks the jaded governor Then for the first time ring out the fate ful words. Cruelty Himw One more pro- test "why cruelty an innocent manf Let me scourge Him only" Like wild sea the vociferation broke about the Gabbatha. Pilate tries to shrve himself by washing his hands. The Jews accept the onus- Pilate as a last appeal brings Jesus out after His scourging. and. cries. Behold the man! Is not this suffering enough7" The reply is "Crucify Himr' Pilate retorts, ''Then cru cify Him, but He is innocent" Another ex- pedient occurs to the vacillating judge. IL is customary to release at this festival a condemned prisoner. If they choose, he will release Jesus" But they choose Ba- rabbas. Now comes the warning of Pilates wife. The judge was on the point even now. of acquitting Jesus, when the prosecutor uses the last arrow in his culver, and cries. Let this man go. and you are not Caesars friend" Behold your King" said Piate. We have no king but Caesar" they retort "Crucify!' Shall I cruelty your Ktng?" we have no king but Caesar" resounds once more. So ended the long-drawn battle in which the life of Jesus was the stake. Pilate orders Him to the cross
 The Teachers Lantern.
 Pilate is a conspicuous type of the time server. He had no moral earnestness. He thought truth an indifferent matter. His ruling motive was to keep his place. To do this. if necessary, he was willing to con- demn the innocent.
 Yet to some degree he showed a Romans proverbial regard for law and justice. He demanded the accusation and evidence. He contended with the Jews making use of various expedients. until they were on the point of tumut; then, however, he igno- miniously conceded to their demand.
 Pilates time-serving. brought him small reward. He eked out his official life few years but. on the complaint of these very Jews whom he sought to placate by such sacrifice of honor. he was finally deposed and axied. His name will so down to the end of time in deepest infamy, as it is re- peated in every land and language in the imperishable creed "Crucified under PontIus Pilate."
 Take from the galleries of the Old World the pictures the themes of which were aug- gested by the life of Jesus, and art would be irretrievably impoverished; and gospel mar rative stfll yields inspiration for the pencil of genius. as Munkacys Christ Before Pilate" shows.
 "Art Thou King?" How unlikeiyi So it seemed to the procurator. proud of his power. and yet inclined to patronize the despised claimant to royalty. Yet Jesus was the real Ruler. though in disguise. Pilates power. then on the wane. lasted scant six years longer. Jesus dominion. ever augmenting. has lasted for twenty cen turies. extends from sea to sea. and is owned by three hundred million of the race. DaviIs cradle hymn over the infant Soi- omon applies better to David's greater Son.
 In the ultimate testing of character. the tinsel and trappings of office play no part. The moral qualities of justice humanity, courage and the like. outweigh crowns, scepters and thrones Nothing fortuitous counts. In the final analysis 1t is what the what he appears.
 One morally earnest soul is the touch stone for all others. They rise or fall by such test. As Jesus is the supreme ethical and spiritual character the destiny of men is fixed by their attitude toward Him. This is not arbitrary. but inheres in the very na- ture of the case. A choice must needs be pressed The cry which was heard at Pi-I lates judgment seat still rings in the conscience. which will yer" Will the ioftiest character the world has even known be taken as the model or one less worthy or wholly unworthy. The circumstances do not admit of neutrality. It is stilI for or against" gathering with or scattering abroad" The same choice made two thousand years ago is making still in cur rent life There are tragic personal re- jections of the Christ-ideal, as there was then a national rejection.
 Mosaic From Commentaries.
 Hall of judgment: Latin term. denot-I ing the palace of a Roman governor What accusation? State your case, Not a male factor-not delivered: Conscious they had no case of which Pilate could take cog nizance. SO insensate they had already found Him guilty of death under their law, but not having power under Roman law to in Hict extreme penalty, had only come for his sanction. What death He should die: Cruciflxion being the Roman mode. Art Thou King? Question occasioned by Jews accusation that He was perverting the Ma ton and calling Himself a king. sayest Thou of Thyself? Question designed to bring out whether the word king was meant in a political religious sense. If in the former 1t was a case for Pilate: