What did they say? What did Pilate then say to them? What did he affirm in regard to Jesus? Then was it right for him to say they might crucify him? He had before tried to rid himself of all responsibility in the case: do you think he was free from guilt? Why was he not? 7 WHAT did the Jews say to this declaration? They accused him of violating their law: to what law did they refer? - Lev. 24: 16. 8 PILATE before felt he was doing wrong: how did what the Jews said affect him? What had he probably seen in Jesus through all the trial that increased his fear? In what particulars do you think his conduct differed from what Pilate had ever witnessed? The Jews accused him falsely: if he had acted like other men, would he not have reproached and threatened them for it? He had power to deliver himself from his persecutors: why did he not use it? 9 WHAT did Pilate, in order to allay his own fears, again ask Jesus? How did Jesus treat the inquiry? What other cause had awakened the fear of Do you think the silence of Jesus increased or 10 PILATE endeavors to extort a reply from Jesus: how? What power did he say he possessed? By this declaration, what responsibility did he acknowledge? If he had power to preserve the life of Jesus, and did not, of what was he guilty? In all those concerned in this case, which seems to predominate, selfishness, or a love of truth and justice? Which do you think prevails in the world generally? Do you yield yourself to so base a principle? By which of these principles was Pharaoh influenced, when he refused to let the children of Israel go from Egypt? Will you give some account of Pharaoh's conduct in this transaction? LESSON XXXIII. Pilate in vain seeks to release Jesus. CH. xix. 11-18. 11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him; but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cesar's friend. Whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cesar. 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called The Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour: and he saith unto the Jews, Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cesar. 16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called The place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha : 18 Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and. Jesus in the midst. WHAT indignities did Jesus suffer while before In what condition did Pilate bring him out to the When he spoke of letting Jesus go, how did they receive it? Pilate had disclaimed all responsibility in the case: how did he assume it again?-V. 10. 11 How did Jesus reply to this declaration? How should that power which is derived from On whom did Jesus charge the greater guilt? Who was it that delivered Jesus up to Pilate? 12 WHAT effect did this declaration produce on the governor? This excited the Jews: what did they say? What would probably have been the consequence Were they trying to influence him by appealing to his sense of justice, or his love of honor? 13 WHAT effect on Pilate had this appeal to his love of honor? What had he before declared in regard to Jesus? Under such circumstances what should he have 14 WHEN Was this? At what time of the day? What did Pilate then do? 15 WHEN Pilate made this appeal, what did they say? What did he then say to them? Do you think Pilate meant this seriously, or in jest? How did the Jews reply to him? When Pilate saw that he did not allay the excitement, what did he do?- Matt. 27:24. Was the declaration that he was innocent true? Who then assumed the responsibility and the guilt?-Matt. 27: 25. After all this, what did Pilate do? -- Luke 23:24. 16 How did he now participate in their guilt, even though he had before been innocent? What prevailed over his sense of right? Then what did the Jews do? pro How did Judas feel, now that Jesus was in the hands of his enemies? Matt. 27:3, 4. Did the money which he had obtained make him happy? What did he do with it? What confession did he make?- Matt. 27: 4. What did they do with the money?- Matt. 27:7. 17 IN what manner did Jesus go away with them? The cross was heavy, and Jesus was weak from fatigue and suffering: whom did they compel to assist in carrying the cross?-Luke 23:26. Can you describe the cross? -(See Ripley's Notes on Matt. 27:32.) As he was going to the place of suffering, what occupied his mind?-Luke 23:28. To what place did they lead him? 18 AT that place, what did they do? Who were crucified with him? What does Luke call this place? What scripture was thus fulfilled? Luke 23:33. Isa. 53: 12. Will you, through the week, think of his sufferings, and consider for whom they were endured? GENERAL QUESTION. Can you give a particular account of the punishment of crucifixion? (See Malcom's Bible Dict.) 8* 19 What took place while Jesus was on the Cross. CH. xix. 19-30. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. 20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin. 21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews. 22 Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written. 23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucifie! Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it whose it shall be that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. 25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. 28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. How did the Jews prevail on Pilate again to con- What did he at last consent that they might do? 19 A title was put on the cross: who wrote it? Was this the crime of which the Jews accused him? 20 WHO read what the governor had written? In what languages was this written? 21 WAS this pleasing to the priests? What did they wish Pilate to substitute for what he had written? |