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THE KING ' S BUSINESS
those thongs which cut through the flesh and tore out great pieces! It is a pic– ture of the seemingly impossible-God, in the flesh, the victim of a Jewish mob, standing like a criminal, quietly, sub– missively, enduring the awful torture. Jesus was crowned with thorns, the evidence of the cruel hatred of Hie enemies. He ls to be crowned with a diadem, but now He stands before Pi– late In fulfillment of Isa. 53:3: ''He fa tle•plMed a.nd reJected of men; a man of sorro,"\'1111. nod acquainted 'vlth grief' and we hid n111 It were our faceN front him; he was delJJ>ised and we ee– teemed J1lm not." - In His humility He represents the character of the religion He founded . The path to glory is through suffering. "Behold the Man!" What a spec– tacle! Is this the Man who is to re– deem the world, change the course of human events and bring civilization out of chaos? Is this the Man who by sub– mission and sufrender Is to take the sceptre In His hand and rule the world? Despised and rejected of men, He stands there. Sorrow Is in His heart. Grief fills His soul. As a lamb He awaits the slaughter, and as a s heep, His mouth is closed before His shearers. "Take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fau it In Him." Poor, weak Pilate! Pity him and pity all men who lack the courage of conviction and the strength of char– acter to do what conscience counsels them to do. ( 3) THE CLAMORING PEOPLE, vs. 14, 15: " Away with him, crucify him." (v. 15.) Why did these people turn against J esus? What an argument Is here for the Inherent goodness of men, or for the brotherhood of all men! (1 Sam. 8: 7.) "And fhe Lord anffl unto Samuel, Heark– en unto the voice of the people In nil that they any unto thee; for they have not rejected t.hee. but tJ1ey hft"\'e rejected me. that I •hould not rel1n1 over them." Would the people have rejected Jesus if the leaders had not done so? Is not this the picture of pretense? They shout for Caesar, whom they hate.
They ally themselves with the Roman government, which they despise. Hate has the mastery and unconsciously they fulfill the Scripture (Gen. 49:10). "The •cep"lre shnJI not depart from J111tnl1. nor a Ja,vgtver from between ht• feet, until Shiloh come: und unto him aha.II the 1eutherlnic of the 11eo1de be." It must needs be that offenses come, but a bitter woe ls pronounced upon those by whom the offense cometh. God's program must be carried out to the letter. (Ezek. 21:27.) "I ·wi11 overturn. o'•erturn, overturn, It; onfl It Hhall he no more. until he come whm1e rJght ft IH; nml I ·will give lt to hl111." Is the voice of the people the voice of God? Are men capable of self-govern- ment? prevail? Can h li man government ever Read the history of nations. What about our own beloved land? What Is our hope? Are we not compelled to go back to the Book and rest upon Its infallible prophecy? There can be no safe, satisfactory, human govern– ment. Human nature has never changed. The centuries testify to It. The rightful heir must come; the God– appointed Man who alone is capable and competent for the task; and to Him and for Him we look and pray. ( 4) THE CONSCIENCELESS SEN– TENCE, v. 16 : "Then delivered h e him • • • to be crucified." Jesus was charged by the J ews with blasphemy, but He was sentenced for se– dition. History shows no parallel. It was a burlesque upon a court, a travesty upon justice. He was turned over to the howling mob for a trial. J ew and Gen– tile united in making Him a laugbing stock. Who was responsible for His death? (1 Thess. 2:14, 15.) •'1'"'or ye, brethren. became follon•er• ot the churcheH of God which In Jud~a are In Chrh1t Jesu.s; for ye nhm hnve Huffered like thlnF:s of your own countrymen. even a. they l1a''e of the Jews; 'Vho both kllled the Lord JesuH, and their owu pro1•heb. nod have per•ecuted us; und Otey JJlenMe not God, and are con– trary to all 1nen." Pilate attempted the impossible (Luke 16:13). "No servant cnn Nerve two n•a•ter-.1 tor either be will bate the one and love the
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