THE KING’S BUSINESS
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ling” hope when He heard the Lord had risen? But what joy he had when he heard, “ Go, tell my disciples and P eter .” Some where they met that day, Jesus and Peter (Luke 24:33, 34; 1 Cor. 15:4, 5). John tells us of the public restoration and com mission of Peter (John 21:15-17) and how he predicted that he should and would one day die rather than deny his Lord (John 21:18, 19), and so he did. a n d P il a t e .— Matt. 27:11-31; at then shall I do with Jesus who is called begging for his insolent life! But Jesus “ stood” that we might stand. The indignities of that day “nor tongue nor pen can tell.” N o; nor imagination conceive; we stand ap palled, dumb. Pilate asked, “A rt thou king of the Jewst" —All the gospels emphasize "Thou.” “ Thou, poor Jew, with none of the trappings of royalty, art thou a king?” Pilate had no eyes to see what we see. If ever one appeared a king it was Christ be fore Pilate. Jesus said, “ Thou sayest,” i. e. “I am .”— He was, is, and will soon be manifested, King o f Jew and gentile, the veritable Caesar. “ Be wise now therefore, O1 ye kings: be instructed ye judges (ye Pilates) of the earth” (Psa. 2:10). Jesus did not say, “My kingdom is not in, but not “of” or “ from” this world, or order. He said also “not now,” a time word (John 18:36). Not by force of arms but of Truth His kingdom comes. Pilate took Him for a harmless fanatic. 2. The Jews Demand His Death. Pilate finding no “cause of death in him,” the priests clamorously alleged “ many things” against Him. That He stirred up the peo ple from Galilee to Jerusalem (Luke 23:5). This was true, but a half truth and so a whole lie of the basest kind. Thousands had flocked to Him from Galilee to Jeru salem as He went about “ doing good” (Acts "H e left H is starry crown, H e laid H is robes aside; On wings of love came down - And groaned and bled and died."
in the darkness, that look, as a ray of hope. And he had left the Lord now, alone with His foes—no comforter—all for saken —"And when he thought thereon he wept." God give us such tears if we so fall. V. P eter ' s R estoration . Our space is gone. But let them that fall never despair. Had Peter a “ tremb LESSON VIII.—November 2 2 - Luke 23 :l-25. G olden T ext . —Pilate saith unto them, Christ? —Matt. 27:22. I. J esus L ed to P ilate . 1. The Reason For It. Deprived by Rome of the right to execute the death penalty the Jews appealed to the governor. This secured death by crucifixion (Ps. 22: 14-18; Zee. 12:1 0 ); with blood shedding (Lev. 17:11); without breaking of bones (Exod. 12:46); and involved the Gentiles in the deed. The Jews stoned basphemers. 2. Pilate the Governor. Pontius Pilate, Caesar’s representative or procurator, was a cold, cruel, craven petty 'tyrant, but with the Roman sense of judicial fairness that led him to defend Jesus till he feared being accused to Caesar (John 19:12), then jus tice yielded to interest. 3. New Charges Preferred. Roman mag istrates ignored religious litigation (Acts 18:12-16). When Pilate refused to yield the death of Jesus outright (John 18:29, 30), they trumped up political charges: se dition, forbidding tribute, claiming to be king (Luke 23:2). II. J esus B efore P ilate —Matt. 27:11-14; Luke 23 :l-5. 1. Pilate Examines Jesus. John’s ac count is fullest here (John 18:28-38). Bear ing the marks of that night of agony and torture, “ his visage marred more than any man” (Isa. 52:14), our blessed Jesus, Lamb of God, and Lord of all, “ stood before the governor" to give account of Himself to the meanest of men. Oh, for some invis ible hand to fling “the governor” at His ieet
-J e s u s
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