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thought of the wickedness itself. Thus Judas was lost, while Peter was re stored to fellowship with Christ; Peter had been in the wrong place, among the Lord’s enemies; in the wrong at titude, fearing the Lord’s enemies; and had met the wrong result,' a de nial and a lie. III. T h e F a il u r e of P il a t e (15 :12-15) Pilate was a judge, but ’he proved himself an unjust one. His own tes timony shows that he knew the ac cusations against Jesus were false. But instead o f being an admihistrator of justice, he became a criminal. Per haps it would be difficult to find greater wickedness than that which is done by a judge in giving decisions against that which he knows is truth. Pilate failed to allow his conscience a place in his decision (v. 14). He al lowed the voice of the people, whom he knew to be prejudiced enemies of truth, to prevail. Because it rests in the hands of faulty men, even Roman justice, upon which most of our own laws are founded, is here revealed imperfect. Willingness “to content the people” always has been Satan’s bait, dangled before the eyes of men in authority; grasping thig, Pilate threw all honesty aside (v. 15). Eternal sorrow will be the part of all who trample upon jus tice, conscience, and honesty, whether they be in places of high responsi bility, -or on the most lowly plane of life. Points and Problems Today’s lesson sets before us three outstanding men, each of whom ap pears in a sad light. The' faithfulness of God’s Word is seen in that it pre sents its characters just as they were, whether in a favorable or an unfavor able aspect. 1. "And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went . . . to bptray him" (14:10). No man ever moved in a more privileged circle than did Judas. He was chosen by the Lord to be an apos tle. He lived intimately with Christ for three years. He was an eyewitness of His mighty works. Yet this man be trayed the Lord for a few pieces of silver. The love of money had cap tured his soul. Covetousness had en slaved his heart. The Scripture de clares plainly that “ he was a thief” (John 12:6). The awful fact of the fall of Judas suggests two things: (1) En vironment alone is utterly unable to save a man. (2) One sin unchecked and uncleansed can bring great ruin. A little leak w ill sink a great ship. A little fire may burn down a city. Love of money can blind a soul to the need of Christ and send that soul to hell. • 2. "And Peter . , . warmed himself at the ftre" (14:54), Peter was in a
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dangerous place, a place of tempta tion. The enemies of Christ were all about him. Peter already had forsaken his Lord and fled from His presence. He was now in no condition to with stand the trials forthcoming at the enemies’ fire. Consequently, it took nothing more than the simple remark o f “ a maid” to send him reeling into an awful fall. He lied. He swore. He denied his Lord. Let Christians take warning from Peter’s sad experience, and stay away from the enemies’ fire. “Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fa ll” (1 Cor. 10:12). 3. "And so Pilate, willing to con tent the people, released Barabbas” (15:15). Pilate knew Christ was inno cent of the charges laid against Him. He testified to His faultless character. But in order to please the Jews, he did the thing that brought him everlast ing disgrace, and the ruin of his soul. Alas, how many there are today like him! In order to please others, or to evade some clear path of duty, or to overcome hostile criticism, they turn their backs upon Christ. They choose Barabbas. A devoted mother, in her old age, failed in her mind. Her son had left home as a stalwart, bright lad, and had gone away to Jamaica to seek his fortune. He stayed there a good many years; and after he had accumulated wealth, he journeyed home to see his mother. Those many years in Jamaica had written their marks on his buoy ant frame, and had sprinkled the gray hairs thickly through his once raven locks. When he arrived home the old lady said she did not know him. . . . “Mother,” he said, “I am your son, John.’’ No, no! You are not my son. Go away! Go away) My son was a bright young lad,” exclaimed his mother. With a breaking heart he went back to .Jamaica without his mother having recognized him. On the journey he was stricken with illness through sheer sorrow that she whom he loved had not received him. Ah, Jesus Christ, in this picture of human life we can get a little inkling of what Thou didst feel, when Thou Golden Text Illustration I s a ia h 5 3 :3
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