Evening star., 1928-06-09
Sunday School Lesson

had followed the Master afar off, had
denied his Lord three times before the
cock crew twice, exactly as Jesus had
warned him that He would do When
the apostle saw the look In the eye
of the Christ ne went out and repent
ed. Meanwhile the high priests were
seeking witnesses against the Master
without being able to secure any testi-
mony that would prove that He was
guilty of seditlon. The prosecutors were
His judges. The whole proceedings were
irregular and illegal Finally In an
effort to secure approval of His con-
demnation. they distorted His saying.
Destroy this temple, and In three days
will raise 1t up." into a charge that
He had threatened to bring up force
against the temple and to secure alle-
glance TO Himself of a fanatical rabble,
that would enroll under His leadership
because He had power To do wonderful
things. This council acted no different
from many modern iuries. whose de-
cisions have been so wholly at variance
with the evidence that the question of
doing away with our jury system has
found many advocates The court in
sisted that there must be an agreement
between at least two witnesses, so that
with the failure OF securing the neces-
saTy agreement even among false Wit
aesses they were without case,
Jesus. who was prisoner and limited
in His privileges. had maintained 81
lence. In despair the high priest asked
Him a direct question. Art thou the
Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" Jesus
was under oath, which they had no
right 10 administer to Him under the
circumstances. Christ openly and boldly
let h lsr.G G1g4tN rkf
This claim of the Master was made the
basis OF a charge OF blaspherny. Jesus
declared that He fulfilled the prophecy
OF Daniel and appropriated to Himself
the various predictions concerning the
Messiah and predicted judgment to
come They certified His case to PLATE.
Before PLATE.
Three different times the Roman
executive declared the Lord free OF
sin and tried to find way Of letting
Him go. He tried TO have Herod pass
on His case because Herod ruled
Galilee. but that willy fox refused.
Pilates wife warned him In vain. When
the authorities proposed to cite him
before the Emperor. the weak, Vacillat-
ing man did not wish an imperial in
yestigation. He found no fault In
Him, but he did not have the man
hood TO give Jesus His freedom PLATE
felt the influence Of the silence of the
Christ and in afs effort to free Him
at the request of the people. he offered
TO give liberty to Christ or Barrabas,
a noted robher. This put PLATE into
the hands Of the ecclesiastical party
who started the popular cry for
Barrabas.
BafYled In his efforts to give the
Master His freedom, nc appealed To
the people. requesting their wishes con-
cerning the King of the Jews. They
demanded that PLATE cruelty Him,
Fearing that PLATE would fall them
the leaders claimed that they had no
king but Caesar. Pressed PLATE, In
order to save his own power signed
the edict for Christs crucifixion. That
sentence sent Jesus to the cross but
IL resulted finally In the banishment
of PLATE, who lost his Office AS COVER
nor Of Judea, and. according TO tradi-
ton died like Judas, suicide.
The more we study the trial Of Christ,
We see that In appealing TO the decis-
ion OF history, Jesus. the prisoner, be-
came the Judge, who tried Annns, Gaia
phas and Plate. Some day lie will
Judge us for our deeds done In the flesh.
History has given It's decision In favor
OF Christ, who was not given fair trial
by either the Romqr Or jewish authors
ties, We must MAKE our own decision
concerning Him. Political. social. Geo.
nomic. and other interests may appear
to favor another decision. II we reject
Christ because Of the urge Of worldly
interests. some day lie will Judge us and
condemn us, II We fail to accept Him.
We can not be indifferent spectators, or
take neutral position. II lie Is the
Son OF the Blessed. the Son of God, the
long expected Messiah we owe Him our
allegiance, loyalty. love and labor. Our
decisions IN the path OF daily service
and duty reveals our Judgment OF Jesus.
Let AS deal fairly and squarcly with His
claims. strauss admits that our knowl-
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