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THE KING’S BUSINESS
(2) His W ife’s Warning. What she suf fered in her dream is not told. Perhaps she saw the awful consequence of the mur derous sentence, and Pilate before Jesus in that dread day. God uses dreams to effect His ends (Judges 7:13; Dan. 2:28). That dream should “ come true” that turns from wrong and leads to right. Pilate was su perstitious and feared the portent. (3) Jesus’ Mysterious Saying. T o all the rest must be added Jesus’ word, “ Thou couldest have no power over me at all ex cept it were given thee from above” (John 19:11). 2. Pilate’s Proposals. (1) To scourge Jesus and let him go. That would be as unjust as to crucify Him and almost as cruel. Roman scourging was unspeakably horrible. (2) To release (according to a custom. Matt. 27 :15) either Jesus or Bar- abbas, a "notable" prisoner charged with “ sedition” and “ murder.” Even Pilate pre sumed there could be but one alternative between such characters. 3. The People’s Choice. They cried, “Away with this man; and release unto us Barabbas!” —These are the age-long alter natives: Christ or Barabbas. Choose one— reject the other. There is no third some what. That men should free Barabbas then and hang Christ, is of the same spirit in which they choose sin now and refuse Christ; and equally incredible. The inci dent, providentially, affords a wonderful ob ject lesson. Barabbas, like other sinners, could gaze on the Cross and say, “ There were I but for Thee.” ' V. P ilate ’ s S entence . 1. The Judge asked, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" His wife had said, “Have thou nothing to do with that just man!” That was and is impossible. Every man must handle that question; and his answer determines what that just Man will do with him. 2. The multitude howled back, “ Crucify him, crucify him!” Nothing but the blood of Jesus could satisfy them; nothing but the blood of Jesus could satisfy for them.
10:36-38). They said nothing of “ good.” III. J esus B efore H erod .—Luke 23:6-12. 1. Herod. This was Herod Antipas, son of him who sought “the young child to destroy him” (Matt. 2:13), and murderer of John (Matt. 14:1-10), a voluptuary, pleasure was his god. He never had a serious thought or worthy purpose, and kingship to him was opportunity for lust. 2. Jesus Sent to Herod. At the men tion of Galilee Pilate “ sent him to Herod,” (this was the- crowning insult), tor he ruled Galilee and was now at Jerusalem. He rod had heard of Jesus (Matt. 14:2). He was curious to see a miracle and “ exceed ing glad” (Luke 23:8) to see the Wonder Worker, for he did not doubt that He would perform for him. 3. Set at Nought. To Herod’s inquiries and demands Jesus was silent. He set Herod at nought, for a cipher he was. No true miracle was done for men’s amuse ment or mere amazement. This distin guishes them from all “ lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9 ). Therefore all trifling Herods, and scientific Herods are set at naught and set Him at naught. “ Herod and his men of war” made nothing of Him who is made all things to us. They made sport of the Samson who soon brought their games to an end (Judges 16:25, 30; Matt. 24:1, 2). IV. P ilate L abors to R elease J esus .— Matt. 27:15-23; Luke 23:13-22. 1. Why Pilate Would Clear Jesus. (1) He found “no fault” in Him, nor did his wife, nor did the people, who said, “ He hath done all things well.” In the mid day sun He was the “ Crystal Christ.” If Jesus is not Christ and God belief in right eous Providence is impossible. The riddle of the Cross, the crucifixion of the Spotless, is solved only by the doctrine of substitu tionary atonement. “ He had done no vio lence, neither was any deceit in his mouth; yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; but he was wounded for our trans gressions, with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:9, 10, 5).
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