The Washington herald., 1914-11-21

urgent, saying, ne stHIeln uP Sio Peoplei
teaching throughout all Judea- and be-
ginning from GaIIIee even unto this place.
6e1 But when PLATE heard II. he asked
SVhether the man were a Galilean. Cd
And when he knew that he was OF Her
od's Jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod,
who himself also was at Jerusalem In
these days. .......
CO Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was
exceeding glad; for he was OF a long
time desirous to see him, because he had
heard concerning him; and he hoped to
see some miracle done by him. (s) And
he questioned him In many words: but
he answered him nothing. Q0 And the
chief priests and the scribes stood,
vehemently accusing him. Old And
Herod with his soldiers set him at nought.
and Knocked him, and arraying him in
gorgeous apparel mt him back TO PLATE.
Q2) And Herod and PLATE became friends
with each other that very day: for before
they were at enmity between themselves.
Q0 And PLATE called together the chief
priests and the rulers and the people.
90 and said unto them. Ye brought unto
me this man, as one that perverteth the
people: and behold. I. having examined
him before you, found no fault in this
man touching those things whereof ye
accuse him: Q6 no. nor yet Herod: for
he sent him back unto US; and behold,
nothing worthy Of death had been done
by him Q6 I will therefore chastise
him. and release him. ds) But they cried
out all together. saying, Away with this
man, and release unto US Barabbas: ds)
one who for a certain insurrection made
in the city and for murder. was cast into
prison. C2O) And PLATE spake unto them
again, desiring to release Jesus; CID but
they shouted saying, Cruelty. cruelty
him. (20 And he said unto them the
third time, Why. what evil hath this man
done? I have found no cause OF death
in him: will therefore chastise him and
release him. CD But they were instant
with loud voices, asking that he might
be crucIhed. And their voices prevailed.
C2D And PLATE gave sentence that what
they asked for should be done. C25) And
he released him that for insurrection and
murder had been cast into prison. whom
they asked for; but Jesus he delivered
up to their will
The Narrative.
In our lesson today We see our Lord
arraigned before Gentle power. The ac-
counts are taken from the Gospels ac-
cording to Matthew and Luke, and both
are needed II we are to follow the course
OF events. Indeed We also need the other
narratives. especially that OF John. How
over, We will confine ourselves to that
part of the narrative which is revealed
in these two paragraphs. II will be well
II We first attempt to follow the story
as revealed by these evangelists. in con-
secutive order.
Luke gives US tho false accusation
which the high priests made when they
took Him before PLATE. They declared
that He had been pervertIng their nation.
forbidding to give tribute to Caesar. and
saying that He Himself was King.
Matthew and Luke tell US OF Pilates
question to Jesus. Art Thou the King
OF the Jews and OF the answer OF Christ
in which He claimed that He was.
Matthew then records the silence OF
Jesus to the accusations Of the chief
priests, and TO PLATE when he called His
attention TO these accusations 1t was
probably at this point that PLATE had
the interview with Christ to which no
reference is made in these stories. Luke
then tells us how PLATE reported to the
people the result Of his examination. and
was answered by the clamor OF the
priests and multitudes for the crucifixion
Of Jesus. Luke also gives the account,
which Matthew omits entirely. OF how
PLATE in his perplexity sent Jesus to
Herod. and OF the treatment which our
Lord received at the hands OF Herod
and his soldiers; and then proceeds to
tell OF the second report which PLATE
bore to the priests, and OF the clamor
and turmoil which resulted.
Matthew gives us in detail the offer
which PLATE made to release to them
message which was brought to him from
his wife
Both evangelists record the decision OF
PLATE in answer to the clamor OF priests
and people. Matthew tells US how PLATE
publicly washed his hands in water. as
indicating his innocency Of the blood OF
this Man. He also records the terrible
words OF the people, His blood be on
Us. and on our children"
The Teaching.
The teaching of this lesson is intended
to center round PLATE. and 1t is a graphic
setting forth OF the struggle OF human
soul between the claims Of conscience. |
and those OF personal ambition. II is !
impossible to read this without seeing
how this man was impressed with Christ |
AS he told His accusers. he found no
fault in Him. and up to a certain point |
1t Is evident that he did everything that |
lay in his power to save Christ, or at
least to escape the responsibility OF His |
death. When the accusation was first
made, he appealed to Christ as to the |
correctness OF the charge. When the |
Sriests pressed him sorely, he again ex-
amlned Him carefully. and the conver- |
sation between them, as recorded by
John, is in itself evidence Of Pilates /
profound interest in the Prisoner ar
raigned before him. His sending of Jesus |
to Herod was an attempt to be rid of |
the responsibility of handing Him over |
to his enemies. His offer OF choice be- |
tween Jesus and Barabbas was an at
tempt to save Him. in that It must have |
seemed inconceivable to him that these |
men would choose deliberately one who !
had been caught red-handed, and was a
menace to the public safety, in the place i
have differed from His teaching. had |
nevertheless for three years moved up |
and down in their land. doing works of
mercy and OF healing. The last sad and
almost tragic picture Of the procurator
washing his hands. is that of yet another |
attempt to salve his conscience.
He knew, however. the cunning and
the persistence of the men with whom he !
had to DEAL and when they told him !
that II he released Jesus, he was not
Caesars friend. they spoke in the open |
what he had feared throughout, that to |
answer his conscience in the release of |
this Man. would be to lose favor with his !
imperial master. Then he was pressed |
by the clamor OF the people he utterly |
despised. At last he yielded choosing the |
way of apparent expedience, instead of |
that Of heroic obedience. II tradition Is |
to be trusted, what he sought to gain |
he lost. for soon afterwards he was de- |
posed from the place OF power and ulti- |
mately died by his own hand.
The Golden Text.