The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1914-11-21
International Sunday School Lesson
Fourth Quarter. Lesson 8. November
q, 1914. Matt. 81. ll-3I;
Luke 23. I-25,
JESUS AND PLATE
THE STORY.
l might despai

THE STORY.
PLATE was misfit as procurator
of Judea. The javelinman (as his
name may signify kept hurting his
darts at hierarchy and people. He
brought the Roman eagles into Jeru-
salem, hung shields dedicated to
Tiberius there, took money out of
the temple treasury to build an
aaueduct, all in defiance of the relt-
gious scruples of the populace. He
mingled the blood of the Galileans
with that of their sacrifices. The Jews
had already appealed to Caesar. and
not unsuccessfully. against this ty-
ranny. Under circumstances like
these Plate had come up to keep the
peace during the passover week.
Imagine, then, his feelings when. the
feast being at its height and the city
crammed to its utmost capacity with
heterogeneous throng from every
quarter, there appeared at the portal
d
high priest, and all worked to the
highest pitch of religious frenzy. 1t
was aggravating to the last degree.
Yet fear of another appeal to Rome,
whose fixed policy was the eoncilia-
ton of the provinces, required at
this juncture that these imperious
petitioners should not be driven un-
heard from the judgmentseat. PLATE
makes, with ill-grace, his first conces-
sion. The Jews will not enter the
Judgment hall for fear of ceremonial
defilement. So the procurator places
his curule outside. Before MIN, with
hands bound, stands the object of
this religious fury. The accusation
is demanded. Pilates answer Is,
Take him and punish him according
to your law" This brings the con-
fession that power to inflict capital
punishment is no longer theirs. The
charge is that Jesus Is a deceiver. en-
courages the Withholding of tribute,
and calls himself king. Plate beck
ons Jesus, and both retire into the
comparative quiet of the judgmnet
hall. He asks him: art thou,po
lone peasant, king of the Jews?" Je-
sus puts the counter question: do
you ask me whether am king in the
Roman or Jewish sense of that
word?" Plate retorts: Am I a
jew" Jesus replies: "In the Ro-
man sense l am no king. In the
mistaken Hebrew sense. too. am
no king. My kingdom is unlike any
earthly or political sovereignty. If
1t were, l would have trained my fol-
lowers to arms Are you king
lin any sense?" asks the judge. The
answer is: ST am. My realm is
attn. my subjects the lovers of
truth" "Truth! What transcenden-
talism is this!" PLATE announces
the innocence of Jesus. Accusations
fill the air like flying arrows. The
ruse of transferring the Jurisdiction
to Herod Antipas fails. What shall
I do with Jesus?" asks the jaded
governor. Cruelty him!" is the an
swer. One more protest. why cru
city an innocent man? Let me scour-
ge him only" Like a wild sea the
vociferation breaks about the Babba-
tina. PLATE washes his hands. The
Jews accept the onus. Direct from
the scourging, decked with mock in
sigma, his life-blood giving new
tint to the notified pavement, PLATE.
as last appeal, cries Behold the
man! Is not this suffering and hu-
initiation enough" "Crucify!" Is
the only answer. Then cruelty him
if you will; but he is innocent Of
offense against any law of which I
am cogr :zant." The priests answer:
He has violated a Jewish law. the
penalty of which is death. He af-
firms himself the Son Of Cod" Pr
late takes Jesus aside to ask him the
meaning Of the term. The meaning
is beyond his comprehension Jesus
is silent. PLATE marvels, exclaiming,
II have power to cruelty or acquit
you. Jesus answers. You have
power only because God permits you
to use it. You are guilty because
you condemn me, knowing me to be
innocent; but those are more guilty
who delivered me to you. as they sin
against greater light" will they
not prefer Jesus to Barabbas as the
object of clemency to grace their
festival according to CUSTOM" With
the collapse of this last shift comes
the ominous warning Of Pilates
wife. He is on the point, even so
late. of acquitting the accused. when
the prosecutor let's ny the last ar
row in MS CULVER: LET this man 60
and you are not Caesars friend!"
Behold your king!" says Plate.
I'VE have no king but Casar!"they
retort. "Crucify!" Shall I cruel
fly your king?" 1--WE have no king
but Casar!" resounds once more. So
ends the long-drawn battle in which
the life Of Jesus is at stake. Plate
orders him to the cross.
The Teachers Lantern.
PLATE is conspicuous type Of the
time-server. His ruling motive was
to keep his place. TO do this he
was willing to condemn the limo
cent If necessary. Time-serving
brought him small reward. He Elk
ed out his official life a few years:
but. on complaint of the Jews. was
deposed and exiled. Pilates name
will go down to the end Of time In
deepest infamy as 1t repeated In ev-
cry language in the Apostles Greed
l.