NOT GUILTY

Lake County Mail, Issue 42, 24 March 1948, Page 8

NOT GUILTY

If the Governor-General of this colony had the power of judging a man and condemning him „to death, which lie has not, and you told him that he would be remembered for such an action some two thousand years hence he would scarcely believe you. Neither would Pontius Pilate have believed you if you had told him that his name would be the most well-known Roman name of his day all over the world some two thousand years later. Why is it so well-known?. Because he condemned three natives of the Roman Colony of Palestine to death. That’s all, and life was cheap in those days. Certainly one of them seemed quite sincere, and Pilate acted up to the ’best traditions of the Roman Law and Roman Justice, of which he was proud, until the native priesthood of Palestine threatened him. They seemed to have some hold over him. At afiy rate there were crowds in the city, he had to keep order, there might have been, in fact it was on the verge of becoming a riot. First of all when the prisoner Jesus Christ, was brought before him Pilate pronounced him “Not Guilty”—then he wavered, “Not Guilty but shall be scourged ” to win, if it were possible the compassion and pity of that priental crowd. Plow he misjudged them —Back came the cry “.Crucify Him! ” And so Pilate ceremonially washed his hands of the whole business and condemned Jesus Christ to death. Pilate made his name that day, and we repeat “ Suffered under Pontius Pilate ” and it brings before our mind that scene in Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. So with his guard of Roman soldiers the Saviour of the world sets out amid the snarling crowd carrying a rough wooden cross, to pay the last price of all —He Himself had likened it to the merchantman, seeking goodly pearls, which when he found one he went and sold all that he had to buy it—that pearl of gr.eat price is your soul and mine! When we say those words let us remember how easy it is for us to deny our Lord. Faltering over a true judgment of a person or cause when we know that they are right, but when lo say so will lose us favour with other people. Fear of following the truth when it will make us unconventional. Backing away when Jesus leads us gently to the beginning of some great and wise action which will perhaps cost us our position in this world. Fear of people’s laughter, or ridicule of workmate or schoolmate, or friend. From time to time we have known these things, and when wo have known them Jesus is led away again to be crucified. Yes we, each one of us, have something of Pontius Pilate within ourselves. Let us remember those words, “ suffered under Pontius Pilate ” and remembering, take heed. PHILIP C. WILLIAMS.