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THE KING'S BUSINESS
comes to His coronation, but receives a crown of thorns instead. Though chosen by God to be King of Israel, yet Israel said, "We have no king but Caesar." They hated Caesar, but they hated Christ the more. He came unto His own, but they cried out, "We will not have this Man to reign over us." We behold Him not in kingly apparel, but arrayed in robes of royal mockery. All power bad been given unto Him of the Father; but they placed in His hand a reed, a scepter of derision. He came not with head anointed, but with visage marred more than any man. He re– ceived not homage and worship, but in– sult and contumely. The noblest of kings and the kindest of men is spurned and scourgea and spat upon. He whose bands were raised only in prayer and blessing, was cruelly smitten by the .bands of brutal soldiers. He who blessed fore Him. Pilate found no fault in Him, yet he delivered Him to be crucified. He sought to release Him, but they cried out against Him, "Away with him, crucify h1m, crucify him." The people prevailed, and Pilate yielded. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter and He opened not his moulh. Legions of angels were at His command, yet they led Him away to Golgotha. The Via Dolorosa Indeed. Poor Pilate, weak, n1iserable, igno– minious, vacillating Pilate; treacher– ous, cruel, cowardly Pilate,-superstl– tions, haunted, unstable, infirm of pur– pose. The name of Pilate has found a place in the creeds of the churches, but bow like unto the name of Judas, who also betrayed Him 1 He suffered under Pontius Pilate. It Is the preparation of the Passover, He who loved was liated. He who was
other; or el•e he will hold to the one and de•Pl•e the other. Ye cannot •erve God and Matnmon.'' Judgment came upon Israel. They declared, "We have no king but Caesar," and they have had no king but Caesar from that day to this. Judgment came upon Pilate (Prov. 17 : 15). "He thnt Justltleth the wJeked, and he that l'Onde1n.neth Oae Just, t-,·en they bo~h are abo111lnntlon to the Lord." The purpose of It all was that J esus Christ might be a blessing (Rom. 4: 25; 8: 32). "Wiio ·wa8 delivered for our offence• and wns rulsed nguln for our JnsUflcatlon." ..He thnt &pared not HIJJ o\VD Son, but dellveretl him 111) for us all. ho'\v shall be not nh•o '\Vlth him freely gh·e us all thing•?" Topics for Study (1) Why were the Jewish leaders so antagonistic to the truth? ( 2) Are we to expect that some peo– ple will reject the truth? some Christians to weaken con– cerning the real Deity of our Lord, and why? ( 6) What would be your criticism of Pilate, and why? ( 7) How do you account for tbe clamor of the people for the death of J esus? ( 8) What would your estimate of the character of Judas be? SUGGESTIVE COMMENT T. T. Holloway, Attorney, Dallas, Texas As Jesus, the Man of sorrows and ac– quainted witb grief, is nearing the end, let us behold the MAN,-our KING, our HIGH PRIEST and our REDEEMER. The Son of David, anointed of God, faith In God's work? why not?
(3) It they do, will that weaken our was reviled; He who forgave was con-
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( 4) Will true believers often be ever true and faithful was betrayed by falsely charged? His own familiar friend, denied by His ( 5) Do you think that there is today chief disci pie, and for•aken by all. a tendency upon the part of Barabbas, the murderer, was chosen be-
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