The angels as they left heaven, in sadness laid off their glittering
crowns. They could not wear them while their Commander was suffering
and was to wear a crown of thorns. Satan and his angels were busy
in the judgment hall to destroy human feeling and sympathy. The
very atmosphere was heavy and polluted by their influence. The
chief priests and elders were inspired by them to insult and abuse
Jesus in a manner the most difficult for human nature to bear.
Satan hoped that such mockery and violence would call forth from
the Son of God some complaint or murmur; or that He would manifest
His divine power, and wrench Himself from the grasp of the multitude,
and that thus the plan of salvation might at last fail.
Peter followed his Lord after His betrayal. He was anxious to
see what would be done with Jesus. But when he was accused of
being one of His disciples, fear for his own safety led him to
declare that he knew not the man. The disciples were noted for
the purity of their language, and Peter, to convince his accusers
that he was not one of Christ's disciples, denied the charge the
third time with cursing and swearing. Jesus, who was at some distance
from Peter, turned a sorrowful reproving gaze upon him. Then the
disciple remembered the words which Jesus had spoken to him in
the upper chamber, and also his own zealous assertion, "Though
all men shall be offended because of Thee, yet will I never be
offended." He had denied his Lord, even with cursing and
swearing; but that look of Jesus' melted Peter's heart and saved
him. He wept bitterly and repented of his great sin, and was converted,
and then was prepared to strengthen his brethren.
The multitude were clamorous for the blood of Jesus. They cruelly
scourged Him, and put upon Him an old purple kingly robe, and
bound His sacred head with a crown of thorns. They put a reed
into His hand, and bowed to Him, and mockingly saluted Him, "Hail,
king of the Jews!" They then took the reed from His hand
and smote Him with it upon the head, causing the thorns to penetrate
His temples, sending the blood trickling down His face and beard.
It was difficult for the angels to endure the sight. They would
have delivered Jesus, but the commanding angels forbade them,
saying that it was a great ransom which was to be paid for man;
but it would be complete and would cause the death of him who
had the power of death. Jesus knew that angels were witnessing
the scene of His humiliation. The weakest angel could have caused
that mocking throng to fall powerless and could have delivered
Jesus. He knew that if He should desire it of His Father, angels
would instantly release Him. But it was necessary that He should
suffer the violence of wicked men, in order to carry out the plan
of salvation.
Jesus stood meek and humble before the infuriated multitude, while
they offered Him the vilest abuse. They spit in His face--that
face from which they will one day desire to hide, which will give
light to the city of God and shine brighter than the sun. Christ
did not cast upon the offenders an angry look. They covered His
head with an old garment, blindfolding Him, and then struck Him
in the face and cried out, "Prophesy, who is it that smote
Thee?" There was commotion among the angels. They would have
rescued Him instantly; but their commanding angels restrained
them.
Some of the disciples had gained confidence to enter where Jesus
was and witness His trial. They expected that He would manifest
His divine power, and deliver Himself from the hands of His enemies,
and punish them for their cruelty toward Him. Their hopes would
rise and fall as the different scenes transpired. Sometimes they
doubted, and feared that they had been deceived. But the voice
heard at the mount of transfiguration, and the glory they there
beheld, strengthened their faith that He was the Son of God. They
called to mind the scenes which they had witnessed, the miracles
which they had seen Jesus perform in healing the sick, opening
the eyes of the blind, unstopping the deaf ears, rebuking and
casting out devils, raising the dead to life, and even calming
the wind and the sea. They could not believe that He would die.
They hoped that He would yet rise in power, and with His commanding
voice disperse that bloodthirsty multitude, as when He entered
the temple and drove out those who were making the house of God
a place of merchandise, when they fled before Him as if pursued
by a company of armed soldiers. The disciples hoped that Jesus
would manifest His power and convince all that He was the King
of Israel.
Judas was filled with bitter remorse and shame at his treacherous
act in betraying Jesus. And when he witnessed the abuse which
the Saviour endured, he was overcome. He had loved Jesus, but
had loved money more. He had not thought that Jesus would suffer
Himself to be taken by the mob which he led on. He had expected
Him to work a miracle, and deliver Himself from them. But when
he saw the infuriated multitude in the judgment hall, thirsting
for blood, he deeply felt his guilt; and while many were vehemently
accusing Jesus, Judas rushed through the multitude, confessing
that he had sinned in betraying innocent blood. He offered the
priests the money which they had paid him, and entreated them
to release Jesus, declaring that He was entirely innocent.
For a short time vexation and confusion kept the priests silent.
They did not wish the people to know that they had hired one of
the professed followers of Jesus to betray Him into their hands.
Their hunting Jesus like a thief and taking Him secretly, they
wished to hide. But the confession of Judas, and his haggard,
guilty appearance, exposed the priests before the multitude, showing
that it was hatred that had caused them to take Jesus. As Judas
loudly declared Jesus to be innocent, the priests replied, "What
is that to us? see thou to that." They had Jesus in their
power, and were determined to make sure of Him. Judas, overwhelmed
with anguish, threw the money that he now despised at the feet
of those who had hired him, and, in anguish and horror, went and
hanged himself.
Jesus had many sympathizers in the company about Him, and His
answering nothing to the many questions put to Him amazed the
throng. Under all the mockery and violence of the mob, not a frown,
not a troubled expression, rested upon His features. He was dignified
and composed. The spectators looked upon Him with wonder. They
compared His perfect form and firm, dignified bearing with the
appearance of those who sat in judgment against Him, and said
to one another that He appeared more like a king than any of the
rulers. He bore no marks of being a criminal. His eye was mild,
clear, and undaunted, His forehead broad and high. Every feature
was strongly marked with benevolence and noble principle. His
patience and forbearance were so unlike man that many trembled.
Even Herod and Pilate were greatly troubled at His noble, Godlike
bearing.
From the first, Pilate was convicted that Jesus was no common
man. He believed Him to be an excellent character, and entirely
innocent of the charges brought against Him. The angels who were
witnessing the scene marked the convictions of the Roman governor,
and to save him from engaging in the awful act of delivering Christ
to be crucified, an angel was sent to Pilate's wife, and gave
her information through a dream that it was the Son of God in
whose trial her husband was engaged, and that He was an innocent
sufferer. She immediately sent a message to Pilate, stating that
she had suffered many things in a dream on account of Jesus and
warning him to have nothing to do with that holy man. The messenger,
pressing hastily through the crowd, placed the letter in the hands
of Pilate. As he read, he trembled and turned pale, and at once
determined to have nothing to do with putting Christ to death.
If the Jews would have the blood of Jesus, he would not give his
influence to it, but would labor to deliver Him.
When Pilate heard that Herod was in Jerusalem, he was greatly
relieved; for he hoped to free himself from all responsibility
in the trial and condemnation of Jesus. He at once sent Him, with
His accusers, to Herod. This ruler had become hardened in sin.
The murder of John the Baptist had left upon his conscience a
stain from which he could not free himself. When he heard of Jesus
and the mighty works wrought by Him, he feared and trembled, believing
Him to be John the Baptist risen from the dead. When Jesus was
placed in his hands by Pilate, Herod considered the act an acknowledgment
of his power, authority, and judgment. This had the effect to
make friends of the two rulers, who had before been enemies. Herod
was pleased to see Jesus, expecting Him to work some mighty miracle
for his satisfaction. But it was not the work of Jesus to gratify
curiosity or to seek His own safety. His divine, miraculous power
was to be exercised for the salvation of others, but not in His
own behalf.
Jesus answered nothing to the many questions put to Him by Herod;
neither did He reply to His enemies, who were vehemently accusing
Him. Herod was enraged because Jesus did not appear to fear his
power, and with his men of war he derided, mocked, and abused
the Son of God. Yet he was astonished at the noble, Godlike appearance
of Jesus when shamefully abused, and fearing to condemn Him, he
sent Him again to Pilate.
Satan and his angels were tempting Pilate and trying to lead him
on to his own ruin. They suggested to him that if he did not take
part in condemning Jesus others would; the multitude were thirsting
for His blood; and if he did not deliver Him to be crucified,
he would lose his power and worldly honor and would be denounced
as a believer on the impostor. Through fear of losing his power
and authority, Pilate consented to the death of Jesus. And notwithstanding
he placed the blood of Jesus upon His accusers, and the multitude
received it, crying, "His blood be on us, and on our children,"
yet Pilate was not clear; he was guilty of the blood of Christ.
For his own selfish interest, his love of honor from the great
men of earth, he delivered an innocent man to die. If Pilate had
followed his own convictions, he would have had nothing to do
with condemning Jesus.
The appearance and words of Jesus during His trial made a deep
impression upon the minds of many who were present on that occasion.
The result of the influence thus exerted was apparent after His
resurrection. Among those who were then added to the church, there
were many whose conviction dated from the time of Jesus' trial.
Satan's rage was great as he saw that all the cruelty which he
had led the Jews to inflict on Jesus had not called forth from
Him the slightest murmur. Although He had taken upon Himself man's
nature, He was sustained by a Godlike fortitude, and departed
not in the least from the will of His Father. -