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

than those OF decayed religious ceremons
ialism. Il have found no cause Of DEATH"
ne added. pleading that his decision might
De respected. and that he might not violate
the claims of his n gh Office Then he re-
neWed the proposal to release
SENTENCE.-tverses 1920. The ears
OF the Jews were deaf to the offer OF JUS
tee and mercy: their hearts were hot with
consuming hate. Again the clamor broke
forth as before. With loud voices they
H Hn,,o. S,uy HIM Cruelty Him" Grad
yielded. Nineteen centuries OF criticism
have been heaped upon the head of the
governor for his Anal surrender to the pop
ulace. He has been accused Of cowardice.
Of injustice. of weakness. Of maladminis-
tration. Why did he not summon the SOL
diers and defend the innocent7 That was
his only alternative. and probably he ought
to have adopted 1t. And yet there 10 q
slight apology for his course. Four times
previously he had encountered the fierce
hostilHies Of the Jews as we are informed
In profane htstory-in the removal OF the
ensigns from Caesarea to Jerusalem, In
suspending in his palace inscriptions to the
deiies In the use OF the redemptive vows.
In the slaughter OF the Galileans duke,
KIND. And from the circumstances he
had reason to fear instruction IL he did
not comply. Washing his hands in pro,
tested innocence CMatt.. xxvii:--,, he issued
the decree that led Jesus to the cross.
DELIVERY.-(Verse 25.)-Two per.
sons were that day delivered by the Roman
procurator to the will Of the Jews Barab-
bas, the murderer. whom they had asked
to fulfill the custom OF pardon was no
leased from prison and suffered to go forth
into society to work further evil at pleas
ure. and Jesus was turned over into the
custody OF officers for execution. For once
the Jews have triumphed over Rome the
rabble 10 stronger than the officers OF state.
righteousness Is overborne by iniquity, tho
wicked Is set free and the good is con-
demned. The hands have turned backward
on the dial plate OF time, religion has
-ad ,lrayxr Lii, it, 49,
outraged. The crucifxion was ordered to
occur on Mount Calvary, just outside tho
western gate Of the city. AS the sufferer
was led away, one spark of pity appeared
In the hearts of His enemies. Weakened
by long fasting through the sleepless night,
he was unable to bear His cross. as was
usual with criminals. and 1t was laid
on Simon. Immortal distinction was tIus
given to the Cyrenean.
REFLECTIONS. This mock trial
before PLATE acquits Jesus of any political
intentions. He must take His place forever
among moral and religious teachers and re-
formers. 2 We see here how man
clothed with absolute authority may hest-
tate, deciding first for the right. and end
ing at last with the evil. 3. The choice be-
tween Jesus and Barabbas is the Same
which was proposed to mankind in all the
centuries, namely, between blessing and
cursing. 1t is something worse, however,
after Jesus was rejected, that we, who have
seen His glory and known His grace,
should reject Him. 4. Here is illustrated
the mournful triumph of persistent wicked
ness over hesitating weakness; double
warning. first, to the Maynard, and next to
those charged with official trust 8. These
men who cried Cruelty were in striking
contrast with those who a few days before
shouted "Hosanna." We must expect to
encounter friends and foes. Human wis
dom goes with the tide. 1t takes a strong
man to pull up the stream. g. PLATE re-
leased the murderer and condemned the
Savior.