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November 4, 1914.
A FAMILY PAPER.
Inthe Sabbath
School
Lesson VIII. November 22, 1914.
JESUS AND PILATE.
By the Rev. Owen F. Thompson.
Golden Text.—Pilate saith unto them.
What
then shall I do unto Jesus who is called Christ
Matthew 27:22.
Lesson Text.—Luke 23:13-25. (See also Matthew
27:11-31.)
Time.—April, A. D. 30. Place.—Jerusalem, Pilate's
Judgment Hall.
Suitable Psalms.—2, 3, 13, 109.
Exposition.—This lesson is called Jesus and
Pilate, but it tells as much about the people who
condemned Jesus as it does about Pilate, and
perhaps that is of more intimate concern to us
for the people who were the ones behind the decision
of Pilate and today sinners, are the ones
who are behind the crucifixion of Christ in our
civil and social and religious life.
It would not be profitable to go too far into the
historical account of Pilate and his subsequent
career. But we do know that he got into all
sorts of trouble after this event in his life and
it was no advantage to him to turn against God
and barter the life of Jesus, God's son, for his
own ends or even to save his own life. He
thought that he was giving the life of Christ for
his own safety, but as it turned out he did not
gain safety, but only distress and exile.
Pilate may have felt that he cleared himself
by putting the blame off on the people, but he
did not. He was responsible for justice in that
province and when justice was not done, he must
answer to God even if no man called him to
account.
We must answer to God for the way we have
met every responsibility in life. Some claim that
they are responsible to no one but themselves.
Others think that if they satisfy the man or the
government they are working, for then they
are free, but every man must ans-wer to God
whether they answer to men or not. For instance,
a judge in a divorce court or liquor license
court while he may satisfy the law of the
land he may not .be satisfying the law of God,
and while he is living and acting free from
blame in the eyes of the world, he is not in the
eyes of God, but must answer to him for all that
he does, whether he answer in the court or not.
God's court is the court where every case is
tried before a decision is given that cannot be
appealed.
Pilate never seemed to think of the alternative
of giving up his office there as a ruler, although
he might have done that. That would
have been too high a price to pay for a good
conscience. It is the same with politicians and
with men and women in many other walks of
hfe. So many today say that they must do some
things that are wrong or else be untrue to their
country or their oath. They seem to think that
the existing order of things makes wrong
right. They never mention the other alternative
of giving up politics altogether as
long as there is sin in it that cannot be avoided.
That is too high a price to pay for a good
conscience. So many would rather hold on to
their position even at the price of life.
Now we have the lesson for the governmerit
and for those who are in the government, and it
is a warning to them that there is a price too
high to pay for a place and that price is Jesus
Christ. It is just as possible to turn him over
today to be crucified as it was that morning m
Pilate's Judgment Hall. There is just as much
clamor for his blood today as there was then,
only we would shed it in another way. The man
who stands true to Jesus Christ must live up to
his responsibilities, no matter what the law permits
or men allow.
Three times in these thirteen verses the Je'ws
are said to have rejected Christ and desired his
death. There were two things about their actions
the satisfled had that a was other dirty murderer was valued were Romans lots work wrong simply their of very in him. it. of and place thing friend to wrong. the perhaps reject They Priests of was because Christ. One thought Christ, that would and was That they Pharisees.
but do that had some were they
how not There of posed they murderer chose op­
pushed their advantage until they had nailed
him to the cross and had seen him die.
Senator Owen, in a speech in the Senate, on
The Recall of Judges, said that it was not'the
great body of common people who rejected Christ
and called for his death. It was not that great
company who heralded the King of Israel down
Olivet. Perhaps very few, if any of them, were
there at the trial. The common people never
turned against Christ, but they always heard
him gladly. They were the ones who made Christ
safe in Jerusalem up to this time, for the Priests
were afraid to take him on account of the people.
This rabble that followed the priests to the Judgment
Hall, was a court and temple following
that did not care for anything except to make
what they could out of every opportunity that
turned up, good or bad. That was Senator
Owen's idea and it is worth thinking about
whether you accept it or not.
But whoever it was turned against Christ there
at the Judgment Hall, we know that there are
very many who do the same thing today. They
do not realize that Christ is before them for
judgment, but he is and the people of this age
treat him much as the Jews of two thousand
years ago.
How many times men have had the two ways
open before them. They see Christ ahead and
can follow him. They know the sacrifices that
the way holds. They know the company that
it will bring them into. They know also the
promises that are connected with the invitation
to go with Jesus.
But there is the other road. It is the one
that goes after Satan. They see there all the
worldly honor and pleasure. They see that this
road leads to the things that John wrote of in
his firstEpistle, "For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of
the world." They see sinful pleasure and things
that satisfy their pride and so many there are
who choose the way of the world and turn
against the Lord.
But more than that, you will always find it
true that a man is not willing to reject Christ
and then leave it at that. He is never satisfieu
till he has crucified him even today. He is not satisfied
to go into a life of sin himself, but must drag
others down with him. He is not satisfied to
reject the name of Christ, but must do everything
he can to tarnish the name of Christ whom
he has rejected. He is not satisfied to stay
out of the church himself, but must do what he
can to give the church a bad name as a sort of
excuse for his not going into it. He is not sat
Isfied to turn down the kingdom of heaven and
the service of Christ, but he must organize systems
of evil like the liquor traffic, the white
slave traffic and sinful religious organizations
and through such as these establisn a kingdom
that is opposed to the kingdom of heaven.
When you are making your choice between
Christ and sin, it is a personal decision. No
one else can do it for you. You cannot drift into
heaven along with the crowd.
This decision must be absolute or final. Yoa
cannot take an option on the kingdom of heaven
or salvation and watch how things are going to
turn out and then, if you are satisfled, take your
share, and if not, let the whole thing drop without
any responsiblity.
The decision must be complete including the
whole heart. It is something like stepping into a
canoe on the water. It is necessary to be all in
or all out, for if you are not all in the canoe or
all on the land you are pretty sure to be all in
the water.
The decision must be for and against.
If you decide for Christ, you decide against
the old life and all that goes with it. If you decide
for the old life, then you decide against
Christ and al that goes with him.
The last thing about the decision is that it
should be made now. You have a chance now,
your human be ficing save trvine These as When Jews that but wrong chance, Christ it when said nation yourself own had to himself words road, will today. of the saved may give decided life—the have him and were it was curse could at not is yourself others; for today, it once a allowed have for would hard be others. life price made Christ himself said for to matter a you cross. not never Christ chance today of as a Are would when be Christ, choose
good truly to And a have Christ at could you change. after race they start live of ,j they or rested trying him not of a is price are had if , on while. exiles might If save. your sacri­
here
on
to of the
Lesson VIIL Xovember 22, 1914.
LESSON FOR THE CHILDREN.
By Anna Pritchard George.
JESUS AND PILATE.
Matthew 27:11-31; Luke 23:1-2.5.
Today's lesson is about the Jews' last chance
to decide what to do with Jesus, and a man
who was too weak to do right even when he
wanted to.
On the sand table with these three small boxes
form three sides of a hollow square for the palace
of Caiaphas in the City of Jerusalem. W hat
happened there, Helen "Jesus was tried by the
Jews." These sticks are Jesus and the Jews and
soldiers. What do they wish to do wUh Jesus,
George "Kill Him." But the Jews cannot do
that themselves. They are under the power ot
the Romans and only the Romans can put people
to death. Pilate is the Governor over the
Jews, so they lead Jesus away to Pilate to see if
they can get him to crucify Jesus. Here they
come out of the palace and go on their way to
the Palace of Herod the Great, where Pilate is
staying.
Herod's palace is in this other part of the city.
It is a gorgeous building. Group these several
boxes together for the different parts of the palace,
and stand these leafy twigs in the sand for
the trees in the park around the palace. With
these pieces of wood make steps outside tha
building leading up to Pilate's throne where he
holds his court. At the top of the steps place
this tiny chair for Pilate's throne.
Here come the Jews leading Jesus to Pilate.
This clothespin is Pilate, who comes out to meet
the Jews. "What accusation bring ye against
this man" asks Pilate. The Jews answer that
if Jesus had not done wrong they would not
have brought him. "Take him," says Pilate,
"and judge him according to your law." Now
the Jews show what they really want done with
Jesus. "It is not lawful for us to put any man
to death." Here is Pilate on his throne trying
to find out what Jesus has done that is wrong,
the Jews down below clamoring for Jesus' death,
and what do you suppose Jesus is doing Jesus
has already been beaten by the Jews but he
stands here and answers not one word. Pilate
cannot understand Jesus' silence. "Hearest thou
not how many things they witness against thee"
Still Jesus does not answer. Could you keep
quiet. Bud, if folks were telling things about you
which were not true and you were to be killed
for them "No." But Jesus sees it would be
of no use to speak. You cannot reason with
people who do not tell the truth.
Pilate takes Jesus inside by himself. "Art thou
the king of the Jews" Is he, Mary "Yes."
Jesus tells Pilate what kind of a king he is, and
that his kingdom is the kingdom of heaven. Who
belongs to Jesus' kingdom, Elmer "Everyone
who loves him and is good." When Pilate questions
Jesus he can find nothing wrong at all and
goes out again to the Jews.
"I find no crime in him," he tells the Jews. But
they make all the more clamor. Pilate does not
know what to do. He feels sure that Jesus is
innocent but is afraid of this crowd. What ought
he do, James "Set Jesus free." But instead of
that he sends Jesus to Herod, the same Herod
who had killed John the Baptist. Here the soldiers
and Jews take Jesus to the house of Herod.
Herod is glad, for he hopes Jesus will perform
some miracle. Again the Jews tell false stories
about Jesus and Herod asks many questions.
What does Jesus say, Gladys "Nothing." So
Herod and his soldiers make fun of Jesus and
clothe him in a king's robe and send him back to
Pilate while they all laugh and mock.
Is Pilate glad to have Jesus back again, John
"No, he wanted Herod to look after him." Pilate
is desperate. He calls the leaders of the Jews
together. "Y'ou brought this man to me as having
done certain things that were wrong, i examined
him and found him innocent, and so did
unto Jews, them, murderer. want of crucified."
strip Now man Herod. Each Pilate Jesus, I called him Barabbas "Will whatever Jews" will year and He and their chastise who The Barabbas, Still (Continued ye one scourge that Now the man Lord. Jews soldiers done Pilate prisoner called him murderer I they release who ask nothing him the "What hesitates. and take Christ" page wished. for was till prison and unto Jesus worthy his Barabbas. then 10.) released go is robber you poor "Let inside. free Pilate a sua.i of the very back him." instead
to death. and They
I King asks bad do the is be a