The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-11-19

who IL called Christ Matt ui3 r. V.
The false witnesses MARX "a; 1857
did not help to formulate charges
against Jesus. These rulers did. how
ever. make three accusations. (Luks
a3:0 Gay "Perverting the nation
turning II TO error: tb) "forbiddins TO
give tribute to Caesar''-treason, (see
Matt t7:2+27): and tc) that he
maketh himself Christ, king
e. e.. his Messianic claims. PLATE
w. 1p seems TO have dwelt upon the
FIRST a. only worthy OF consideration.
I. Jesus and plate, w. 1873. This
incident demands that We stady care
fully all that the other gospel writer's
have recorded. We have seen the ae
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 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
has or Jesus and OF the message from
Pilates wife.
Trial q Moeksry.
The trial before Annas and Caiaphas
was Q hollow mockery. The Sanhedrin
was fierce In It's denunciation and to
| lxx.
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, Il ind no
fault in this man" He did not. how
ever, dare incur the hatred and VIC
lence OF a Jerusalem mob. and so he
temporizes. The nercest light OF crit
icism declares Jesus TO be impeccable.
yet men temponze. 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 20. and would have had he
not been a venal judge. He who hest
tates 10 lost" Is amply exempllfed In
this case plate was In q worse case
and one where II became less easy
to do right. whatever his inclinations
(Acts 3:i3) may have been. by not
acting resoluteiy at this point II Was
easy for this weak.willed man then to
yield to the determined wills OF the
enemies Of lesus. v. "a II. v. PLATE
found no fault in Jesus. neither did
Herod ". l5). yet PLATE compromis.
ingiy says. nothing worthy Of death"
hence the suggestion that he be chas-
tised and released. This is typical ofthe
/. temporizing. compromising. fckie poll
a ticians. These words at once suE.
gested to the Jews a custom OF hav-
i ing released unto them one whom they
+ chose at this period OF the year, and
9 they cried out. Away with this man.
. release unto us Barabbas." II was
q thus that these. his accusers. repre-
p senting the nation, denied the holy
and Just, and desirable a murderer, "
Acts 3:14
PLATE Tried TO Save Christ
, u. Jesus and Barabbss, w. POPS
!. Matthew adds TO that .wful cry. when
A plate has washed his hands in token
OF innocency. His blood be upon us
e Matt 27:25). The other writers
:. give us some suggestions as to who
| Barabbas was. and makes this choics
/ more appalling by way Of contrast
10. The Tesehino. This lesson II
I intended to center itself about PLATE
A In Il we see the struggle between con
science and personal ambition. Pi
late was impressed by the words Of
!, Christ. He told the priests and tn,
multitude that he found no fault II
y, him. II appears that up to n certain
point he tried to save Christ. and Ger
talnly to the end he strove TO ayoiS
the responsibility for his death. Sore
y pressed he temporized and thu
:, conversation recorded In John IS: 1873
: shows how profoundly Interested h
was In this prisoner before him.
, PLATE knew whom he was dealing
" with as a politician. but did not know
:, this man OF Galilee." He chose rath
" err to be Caesars friend" than to pei
" form a righteous act according to tn
y dictates OF his conscience. Presse
, by the clamor OF those whom he d.
!, spised. he sacrificed his conscienc
rather than incur their anger
-, The golden text focuses the persons
application OF this entire lessor
> What shall I do unto Jesus. which
called Christi As this question 70
= from the lips Of PLATE II was .
n, appeal to those who had asked 70
:, Barabbas. What then shall doY" We
an acknowledgment OF defeat. .
acquiescence to the will Of the people
and a desire to SHIFT the responsible
no ity for the sheddin. Of innocent bloc,
ey This IL the question OF all question
" which men have to face. Men are sti
following the course OF plate. siths
they consent 10 his crucinxioa O.
his GROWING.