Middletown transcript., 1914-11-21

I
time. Luke gives US the account of
Pilates perplexity, 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 moekery.
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 "peryertfhg the ma
tion." The Roman government keenly
watched for incipient rebellions. After
examination he declares, Il 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 fercest 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. "Ele who hesi-
tates is lost" is amply exemplified in
this case. PLATE was in a worse case
and one where 1t became less easy
to do right, whatever his inclinations
(Acts 3:13) may have been, by not
acting resolutely at this point It was
easy for this weak-willed man then to
yield to the determined wills Of the
enemies Of Jesus, v. "a r. " Plate
found no fault in Jesus, neither did
Herod w. 15), yet Plate compromis-
ingly says. nothing worthy Of DEATH"
hence the suggestion that he be chas-
tised and released. This is typical oft
temporizing, compromising, tickle poll
ticians. These words at once sug-
gested to the Jews 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." It 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 5arabbas, 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 writers
give US some suggestions as to who
Barabbas was, and makes this choice
more appalling by way of contrast.
Looking back it seems like strange
choice, yet the same fatal mistake is
being made today. Young and old,
cultured and ignorant, are refusing the
prince Of Life" (Acts 3:15) and
choosing him who was a murderer
from the beginning" John S:44
Thus these men were deceived, and
the natural man showed its enmity
against God, Jer. 17:9; Rom. 81. Pi-
late is not yet convinced but that he
can placate the mob and save Jesus,
and puts a pertinent question to
them, what evil hath he done?n In
stead of calmly answering his query
they clamor the more loudly. Noise is
never argument. Still in this case
their voices prevailed" for Plate de-
sired to content the multitude"
''vox popur, vox Dei9 is by no means
a truism. It is easy to drum up a
mob who one day cry "Hosanna" and
the next cruelty him"
III. The reaching. This lesson is
intended to center itself about Plate.
In it we see the struggle between con-
science and personal ambition. Pi-
late was impressed by the words Of
Christ. He told the priests and the
multitude that he found no fault in
him. It appears that up to a certain
point he tried to save Christ, and GER
tainly to the end he stroye to avoid
the responsibility for his death. Sore
ly pressed he temporized and the
recorded in John IS; 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 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.
Tradition tells US that soon after
this he did lose his position and pow