The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-18

Christ ?"-verse %.
PLATE was the Roman governor OF
Judea. We are not Inclined to blame
him seriously for Jesus death. He was
ir Judea. not to settle religious dis
putes, but to keep the people subject
to Rome. 1t was policy that he should
rule Justly; but at any time justice
was to be sacrificed in the interests
of the Roman empire.
Our last lesson showed Jesus before
the Sanhedrin as early in the morning
ss possible. before there could be any
CO. operation by the people respecting
His arrest. AS quickly as possible, the
high priest and Representatives of the
Sanhedrin hurried Jesus to the Prae-
torium. asking PLATE to condemn Him.
Plate inquired as to what charge they
had against Jesus. They evasively an
swered that of course He was worthy
of punishment else they would not be
there accusing Him.
PLATE reminded them that under Ro-
man usage they had great liberty in
dealing with all disputes of religious
nature, that he was not posted in Ju-
daism, that therefore they should deal
with the case themselves. The priests
responded that they knew this; but
that they had no power to inflict the
dee tn penalty. Thus they revealed the
depth of their wickedness--that they
had been plotting deliberately to have
PLATE inflict the death penalty upon
an innocent person. Then they began
to accuse Jesus, claiming that He was
pereverting the Misunderstanding it from
loyalty and obedience to the Roman
accommodating the people thar
they should not pay taxes to Caesar.
and that He Himself was the Jewish
King Messiah.
These were serious charges, which
the Roman governor was bound to con-
slider. and we have noticed that they
were totally different from those
brought against Jesus by the San
hedrin trial. Although the charges were
false. Jesus made no defense. He knew
that the time had come for Him to
die. He would not attempt to turn
aside what He knew to be a part .f
the divine programme for Him.
Jesus Before Plate
Plate looked upon Jesus, no doubt
thinking that one SO gentle in appear
ance would not be likely to raise an
insurreotion Injurious to the interests
of the Roman empire He perceived
that the chief priests were moved with
envy in making their charges, thar
Jtsus teachings appealed to the pec-
pie more than did those OF these re
ligious rulers. and that he was bein-s
asked to perform a moan. unjust act
| for persons who sought to shirk their
own responsibility.
| However. PLATE must not appear to
he sympathetic with the Nazarene. He
must not appear to treat lightly the
charges made respecting another king
| than Caesar. He therefore demanded
| of Jesus, do You not hear the things
witnessed against Your Why do You
not plead guilty or not guilty." Jesus
| said nothing.
Yilate then went out to the scribes
emo Pharisees who had refrained from
| entering the Praetorium because of the
Passover After comforting with them
| apparently, PLATE asked, art Thou
| the King of the Jews?' Jesus respond
| ed. SIS the question because CT what
! you know of My teachings, or 10 It
| merely based upon the assertion OF
My enemies?" PLATE replied that the
chief men of Jesus own nation had
delivered Him and that he would Ike
to know the cause OF their opposition
Jesus replied that His kingdom was
not Of this world-order of things-but OF
the future. He was not. therefore, In
conflict with Caesars Kingdom. This
would account to PLATE for the fact that
neither Jesus nor HIS friends made any
| manifestation Of rebellion against the
] civil government. PLATE replied You do,
then. claim to be King. and that some