The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1914-11-20

ID NHIlbl!-Mdlt. EfsES II. v.
The false witnesses mark 4:55-59)
did not help to formulate charges
against Jesus. These rulers did, how
ever, make three accusations. duke
1922 (a) "Perverting the nation
turning 1t to error; (b) "forbidding to
give tribute to Caesar"-treason, (see
Matt 17:24-27); and (c) that he
maketh himself Christ, a king
e. g., his Messianic claims. Plate
". 14) seems to have dwelt upon the
first as only worthy of consideration.
|. Jesus and PLATE, w. 1919. This
incident demands that we study care
fully all that the other gospel writer's
have recorded. We have seen the &C
cusation recorded by Luke. Matthew
and Luke tell us of Pilates question,
Art thou the king of the Jews?" and
Of the answer Of Christ claiming that
he was. Matthew records the silence
Of Jesus to the accusations OF the
chief priests and to PLATE at that
time. Luke gives us the account of
Pilates perplexlty, how Jesus was
sent to Herod and Of Pilates second
report to the Jews. Matthew tells of
the offer PLATE made to release Barab-
bas or Jesus and Of the message from
Pilates wife.
Trial a Mockery.
The trial before Annas and Caiaphas
was hollow mockery. The Sanhedrin
was fierce in its denunciation and to
add disgrace and to impress PLATE
that Jesus was dangerous, they led
him into his presence. Plate soon
saw the emptiness of their charges,
and as we have suggested, dismissed
all save that Of "perverting the ma
ton" The Roman government keenly
watched for incipient rebellions. After
examination he declares, II find no
fault in this man." He did not, how
ever, dare incur the hatred and VIC
lence Of Jerusalem mob, and so he
temporizes. The fiercest light of crit
icism declares Jesus to be impeccable,
yet men temporize. After the dis
graceful and degrading treatment
Jesus received before Herod, he again
stands before PLATE, and this time he
is again declared to be innocent Of the
charges preferred against him. This
is the turning point of this worlds
greatest tragedy. PLATE should have
let him go, and would have had he
not been venal Judge. HE who hest
tates is lost" is amply exemplified in
this case. PLATE was in a worse case
and one where it became less easy
to do right, whatever his inclinations
(Acts 1919 may have been, by not
acting resolutely at this point. 1t was
easy for this weak-willed man then to
yield to the determined wills of the
enemies of Jesus, v. "a r. V. Plate
found no fault in Jesus, neither did
Herod ". 15), yet PLATE compromis-
ingly says, nothing worthy of DEATH"
hence the suggestion that he be chas-
tised and released. This is typical of the
temporizing, compromising, tickle poll
ticians. These words at once sug-
gested to the Jews a custom of hav-
ing released unto them one whom they
chose at this period of the year, and
they cried out, Away with this man,
release unto US Barabbas." 1t was
thus that these, his accusers, repre-
senting the nation, denied the holy
and just, and desirable a murderer"
Acts 3:14.
PLATE Tried to Save Christ.
II. Jesus and Barabbas, w. POPS.
Matthew adds to that awful cry, when
PLATE has washed his hands in token
of innocency, "His blood be upon us"
Matt. 27:25). The other writer's
give us some suggestions as to who
Barabbas was, and makes this choice
more appalling by way of contrast.
III. The Teaching. This lesson is
intended to center itself about PLATE.
In 1t we see the struggle between con-
science and personal ambition. Pr
late was impressed by the words Of
Christ. He told the priests and the
multitude that he found no fault in
him. 1t appears that up to a certain
point he tried to save Christ, and GER
tainly to the end he strove to avoid
the responsibility for his death. Sore
ly pressed he temporized and the
conversation recorded in John 49, 1888
shows how profoundly interested he
was in this prisoner before him.
PLATE knew whom he was dealing
with as politician, but did not know
this man Of Galilee." He chose rath-
er to be Caesars friend" than to per-
form a righteous act according to the
dictates Of his conscience. Pressed
by the clamor Of those whom he de-
spised, he sacrificed his conscience
rather than incur their anger.
The golden text focuses the personal
application of this entire lesson,
What shall do unto Jesus, which is
called Christi" AS this question fell
from the lips Of Plate It was an
appeal to those who had asked for
Barabbas. What then shall dor? was
an acknowledgment of defeat, an
acquiescence to the will Of the people,
and a desire to shift the RESPONSIBLE