Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-01

INTRODUCTION-Th scenes before
Caiaphas. when Jesus was ad1udged a
blasphemer. as studied In our lesson for
November Is. wrought penitence in the
| heart of Judas. WHO first sought to undo
the mischief OF his evil conduct. but. failing
IN that. went out and hanged himself. Jesus
was then hastily led into the presence Of
Plate. the Roman governor. His enemies
! there abandoned the charge which had been
made in the ecclesiastical court, knowing
| that 1t would not avail before q civil trib-
! uual. Having no formulated accusation they
began tumultuous cry against Him as one
who had attempted to pervert the nation.
| and therefore guilty Of treason. The gov
| ernor had an interview with Jesus in pri-
vate Uohn, xviii 1885, and having satisfied
| himself that there was no just ground for
| such charges, sought to appease the people.
Learning that Jesus was q Gallilean, PLATE
sent him to HerOd, who was in Jerusalem
al the time, anxious to shift responsibility.
but Herod returned the prisoner. much
pleased at this recognition of authority
(Verse 12). Here today's lesson begins.
| ACQU1TTAL oversees Is and 14.-It
was after this courtesy had been shown to
Herod that Plate summoned the chief
priests and rulers into his court to give a
decision in the case. In doing so he at
tempted mild and conciliatory speech, know
ing that the Jews were turbulent, and on
slight provocation would create trouble. Be-
| sides, he was aware that they were espe-
claliy sensitive on ALI religious matters. and
he must have known by this time that the
One arraigned before him was the object
of malice Matt, xxvii:1O. With commend
able frankness he calls attention to the ma
ture of the offense which had been laid
against Jesus, and then, with equal frank
ness, declares that after careful examina-
ton he found no fault. That was a plain
acquittal. immensely valuable as establish
Ing the innocence of Jesus for all time
PLATE was the representative of the Roman
government, and he, more than any other,
all imposters. His word ought, therefore,
to have been final. 1t was final to all after
generations.
RELEASE oversees Is, &c. 1D.-An in
nocent man might not be held prisoner
even under the seventies of Roman law
(Acts, xxii:25). In the conquests of the world
the imperial city had taught so much to
mankind. Hence, there was but one thing
for PLATE to do: release his prisoner. Not
to do this would be dsloyalty to Caesar.
unfaithfulness to trust, a breach of JUS
tice. And yet the governor judged 1t not
prudent to grant liberty when. in SO doing,
the life might be taken nv the mob. He,
therefore, sought to bring the Jewish Of
ficials to an approval Of his purpose to re-
be no further trouble. This he urged them
to do on the ground that he and Herod,
both concerned for the welfare of the
government, while formerly alenated. were
the release Of a prisoner on a feast &C.
casion was customary. However, as
means of pacifying the extremists, he pro-
posed further to in1ct punishment by
whipping rather than by execution, sparing
life, but recognizing a milder form of
guilt
REJECTION oversees IS and 19).-One
would suppose that for very shame the
ecclesiastical rulers would have accepted
the proposition Of PLATE. Why should they
be more Jealous for the stability Of the
empire and for the punishment Of criminals
than those whose duty 1t was to guard
and execute the laws of Rome? Why
should they hold one to be guilty Of civil
offenses, when declared innocent by the
perior to all self-respect, and the merciful
and just offer Of release was rejected.
Moreover, 1t was done by clamor, the clam
or of an excited mob that would not listen
to reason, but was determined on shedding
innocent blood To heighten the shame and
show the depths of their depravity there
was a cry for the release of Barabbas,
noted criminal. who for sedition and muir
der was then incarcerated. This was the
last proof If one was needed, that they
did not seek to punish offenders or to spare
the innocent. but to accomplish the purpose
of their wicked hearts
OUTCRY oversees 2O-21).-This ex-
pressed preference intensified the desire OF
the governor to deal justly. He saw plainly,
as any one might have seen. that the
accusers were moved by passion and not by
reason. He therefore endeavored to calm
the agitated crowd, and bring all to bet
ter consideration of the case, manifesting
an excellent spirit under circumstances OF
peculiar and great embarrassment. What
he said is not recorded. Possibly 1t was
not heard by any one who could have been
the historian, or If heard 1t would be easily
forgotten in the excitement OF the hour
Plate had scarcely finished his remarks,
indeed he may have been interrupted.
when with one voice, the multitude cried
out Cruelty Him, cruelty Him." Again
and again the words were uttered In vol
ume sufficient to silence every other word.
1t was the call of the Jewish rabble, insti-
gated by the leaders of the Jewish church,
to put to death the Christ by the most ig-
noble mode known in the heather world.
The pent-up rage Of a nation, rebuked Tor
sin by the sinless one. found expression.
REMONSTRANCE (verse O.-After
awhile the bowling mob was quiet, perhaps
wearied by the exertion or anxious to know
the influence Of their outcry upon him
who only had power to grant their wish
John xviii:3D To his credit be 1t said.
PLATE was unmoved, probably strengthened
in his good purpose Like some great rock
against which the sea beats and breaks
into foam, he stood the hero Of the hour,
only less than that greater nero who heard
with supreme composure the voices OF the
noisy multitude. why. what evil hath He
done?" Queried PLATE. when he could be
heard, as If he would awaken the con-
science and compel Judgment In right
eousness rather than a judgment OF hate.
The keeper Of the law would bring men to
the bar of justice and remind them OF Its