Sermons by the Monday Club John 19:1 Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. Shows — I. THE PERPLEXITY AND SHAME LIKELY TO BE EXPERIENCED BY ONE WHO ACTS FROM SELFISH EXPEDIENCY INSTEAD OF HIS CONVICTIONS OF RIGHT. Poor mockery of a ruler! Set by the Eternal to do right upon earth, and afraid to do it; told so by his own bosom; strong enough in his legions and in the truth itself to have saved the Innocent One and kept his own soul, he could only think of the apparently expedient! Type of the politician in all ages, who forgets that only the right is the strong or the wise. II. THE POWER OF POPULAR CLAMOUR, AND THE NECESSITY AT TIMES OF RESISTING IT. Very impressive is the voice of a multitude. Its applause is intoxicating, its condemnation dreadful, its strenuous demand most difficult to deny. When this voice represents the ripe moral sentiment of an intelligent people, or when it is the swift, honest judgment of that people in regard to wrong, then Vox populi est vox Dei. But the clamour by which Pilate was swayed was a different thing. It was the voice of a mob inflamed by passion, worked upon by wicked and crafty leaders — the voice of Satan. Whenever a crowd is foolish or mad, has a cumulative force, and reaches a colossal magnitude. Hence the horrors of the French revolution, and the toleration and support given now and then by the people of a nation to great wrongs. In such cases public opinion is not to be heeded. "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil." It is well then to stand up like Luther at Worms and say, "To act against conscience is unsafe and unholy. Here stand I, God help me. Amen." This was the spirit of the apostles, martyrs, and reformers. III. THAT CHRIST'S CLAIM TO KINGSHIP, WHICH EXCITED SUCH RIDICULE, WAS A TRUE AND VALID CLAIM. Some of the most precious doctrines were first uttered in derision. The grace of Christ to sinners was the subject of a sneer — "He receiveth sinners," &c. The necessity which constrained Him to die for the salvation of man was set forth in the jeer, "He saved others, Himself He cannot save." Here before Pilate His claim of Kingship was made the occasion of brutal merriment. But Jesus was indeed a King! As such He came attended by a retinue of angels, and inquired for by the wise men. Through all the centuries since His kingly dignity has been owned. When the Crusaders proposed to crown Geoffrey of Bouillon king of Jerusalem, Geoffrey said, "I will not wear a crown of gold in the city where my Saviour had a crown of thorns!" He is — 1. A beneficent King. He rules in the interests of His subjects. "Woe to the conquered" was the old cry. But Christ's conquests bring good to the conquered. The more perfect their submission, the more perfect their felicity. 2. A perpetual King. His throne is established for ever. "Conceive of Caesar," said Napoleon, "the eternal emperor watching over the destinies of Rome. Such is the power of Christ." 3. His kingdom is constantly advancing. Because the tide ebbs, no intelligent man, viewing the naked sand, would say, "The sea is losing its dominion." He would answer, "Wait awhile," confident that it would reoccupy its lost ground. So with Christianity. In Damascus there is a mosque which was once a Church. Over its portal the Christian inscription still stands — "Thy kingdom, O Christ, is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth through all generations." For twelve centuries that writing has been contradicted, seemingly, and probably the Moslem has suffered it to remain to convict Christianity of a vain boast. But that inscription may be regarded as a solemn prophecy that the Moslem sway is but temporary, and that the faith which has been driven from its sanctuary will return. Even now the signs of its return appear. IV. THE SPIRITUAL CHARACTER OF CHRIST'S KINGDOM. He explicitly said to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world," &c. But He did not leave His cause impotent and defenceless. There are other forces besides armed battalions. The Word of God, the Spirit of truth, the religious faculties on which they act, faith, hope, love, duty, sacrifice, and prayer; by means of these Christ sent forth His apostles to conquer the world. Christ's patience, self-restraint, and forgiving Spirit were potent even at His trial and crucifixion. They invested Him with that majesty which could not be obscured by indignities, which awed the scoffing Pilate into respect, and moved him to an unwonted desire to do justly; which brought the thief on the cross to repentance, and led the centurion to exclaim, "Truly, this was the Son of God." And in proportion as the followers of Christ have trusted these forces, they have been successful. Alliance with secular power, or reliance on physical force, has proved disastrous. (Sermons by the Monday Club.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him. |
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