PAPER 185
THE TRIAL BEFORE PILATE
185:0.1
SHORTLY after six o'clock on this Friday morning,
April 7, A.D. 30, Jesus was brought before Pilate,
the Roman procurator who governed Judea, Samaria,
and Idumea under the immediate supervision of the
legatus of Syria. The Master was taken into the
presence of the Roman governor by the temple guards,
bound, and was accompanied by about fifty of his
accusers, including the Sanhedrist court
(principally Sadduceans), Judas Iscariot, and the
high priest, Caiaphas, and by the Apostle John.
Annas did not appear before Pilate.
185:0.2
Pilate was up and ready to receive this group of
early morning callers, having been informed by those
who had secured his consent, the previous evening,
to employ the Roman soldiers in arresting the Son of
Man, that Jesus would be early brought before him.
This trial was arranged to take place in front of
the praetorium, an addition to the fortress of
Antonia, where Pilate and his wife made their
headquarters when stopping in Jerusalem.
185:0.3
Though Pilate conducted much of Jesus' examination
within the praetorium halls, the public trial was
held outside on the steps leading up to the main
entrance. This was a concession to the Jews, who
refused to enter any gentile building where leaven
might be used on this day of preparation for the
Passover. Such conduct would not only render them
ceremonially unclean and thereby debar them from
partaking of the afternoon feast of thanksgiving but
would also necessitate their subjection to
purification ceremonies after sundown, before they
would be eligible to partake of the Passover supper.
185:0.4
Although these Jews were not at all bothered in
conscience as they intrigued to effect the judicial
murder of Jesus, they were nonetheless scrupulous
regarding all these matters of ceremonial cleanness
and traditional regularity. And these Jews have not
been the only ones to fail in the recognition of
high and holy obligations of a divine nature while
giving meticulous attention to things of trifling
importance to human welfare in both time and
eternity.
1. PONTIUS PILATE
185:1.1
If Pontius Pilate had not been a reasonably good
governor of the minor provinces, Tiberius would
hardly have suffered him to remain as procurator of
Judea for ten years. Although he was a fairly good
administrator, he was a moral coward. He was not a
big enough man to comprehend the nature of his task
as governor of the Jews. He failed to grasp the fact
that these Hebrews had a
real
religion, a faith for which they were willing to
die, and that millions upon millions of them,
scattered here and there throughout the empire,
looked to Jerusalem as the shrine of their faith and
held the Sanhedrin in respect as the highest
tribunal on earth.
185:1.2
Pilate did not love the Jews, and this deep-seated
hatred early began to manifest itself. Of all the
Roman provinces, none was more difficult to govern
than Judea. Pilate never really understood the
problems involved in the management of the Jews and,
therefore, very early in his experience as governor,
made a series of almost fatal and well-nigh suicidal
blunders. And it was these blunders that gave the
Jews such power over him. When they wanted to
influence his decisions, all they had to do was to
threaten an uprising, and Pilate would speedily
capitulate. And this apparent vacillation, or lack
of moral courage, of the procurator was chiefly due
to the memory of a number of controversies he had
had with the Jews and because in each instance they
had worsted him. The Jews knew that Pilate was
afraid of them, that he feared for his position
before Tiberius, and they employed this knowledge to
the great disadvantage of the governor on numerous
occasions.
185:1.3
Pilate's disfavor with the Jews came about as a
result of a number of unfortunate encounters. First,
he failed to take seriously their deep-seated
prejudice against all images as symbols of idol
worship. Therefore he permitted his soldiers to
enter Jerusalem without removing the images of
Caesar from their banners, as had been the practice
of the Roman soldiers under his predecessor. A large
deputation of Jews waited upon Pilate for five days,
imploring him to have these images removed from the
military standards. He flatly refused to grant their
petition and threatened them with instant death.
Pilate, himself being a skeptic, did not understand
that men of strong religious feelings will not
hesitate to die for their religious convictions; and
therefore was he dismayed when these Jews drew
themselves up defiantly before his palace, bowed
their faces to the ground, and sent word that they
were ready to die. Pilate then realized that he had
made a threat which he was unwilling to carry out.
He surrendered, ordered the images removed from the
standards of his soldiers in Jerusalem, and found
himself from that day on to a large extent subject
to the whims of the Jewish leaders, who had in this
way discovered his weakness in making threats which
he feared to execute.
185:1.4
Pilate subsequently determined to regain this lost
prestige and accordingly had the shields of the
emperor, such as were commonly used in Caesar
worship, put up on the walls of Herod's palace in
Jerusalem. When the Jews protested, he was adamant.
When he refused to listen to their protests, they
promptly appealed to Rome, and the emperor as
promptly ordered the offending shields removed. And
then was Pilate held in even lower esteem than
before.
185:1.5
Another thing which brought him into great disfavor
with the Jews was that he dared to take money from
the temple treasury to pay for the construction of a
new aqueduct to provide increased water supply for
the millions of visitors to Jerusalem at the times
of the great religious feasts. The Jews held that
only the Sanhedrin could disburse the temple funds,
and they never ceased to inveigh against Pilate for
this presumptuous ruling. No less than a score of
riots and much bloodshed resulted from this
decision. The last of these serious outbreaks had to
do with the slaughter of a large company of
Galileans even as they worshiped at the altar.
185:1.6
It is significant that, while this vacillating Roman
ruler sacrificed Jesus to his fear of the Jews and
to safeguard his personal position, he finally was
deposed as a result of the needless slaughter of
Samaritans in connection with the pretensions of a
false Messiah who led troops to Mount Gerizim, where
he claimed the temple vessels were buried; and
fierce riots broke out when he failed to reveal the
hiding place of the sacred vessels, as he had
promised. As a result of this episode, the legatus
of Syria ordered Pilate to Rome. Tiberius died while
Pilate was on the way to Rome, and he was not
reappointed as procurator of Judea. He never fully
recovered from the regretful condemnation of having
consented to the crucifixion of Jesus. Finding no
favor in the eyes of the new emperor, he retired to
the province of Lausanne, where he subsequently
committed suicide.
185:1.7
Claudia Procula, Pilate's wife, had heard much of
Jesus through the word of her maid-in-waiting, who
was a Phoenician believer in the gospel of the
kingdom. After the death of Pilate, Claudia became
prominently identified with the spread of the good
news.
185:1.8
And all this explains much that transpired on this
tragic Friday forenoon. It is easy to understand why
the Jews presumed to dictate to Pilate -- to get him
up at six o'clock to try Jesus -- and also why they
did not hesitate to threaten to charge him with
treason before the emperor if he dared to refuse
their demands for Jesus' death.
185:1.9
A worthy Roman governor who had not become
disadvantageously involved with the rulers of the
Jews would never have permitted these bloodthirsty
religious fanatics to bring about the death of a man
whom he himself had declared to be innocent of their
false charges and without fault. Rome made a great
blunder, a far-reaching error in earthly affairs,
when she sent the second-rate Pilate to govern
Palestine. Tiberius had better have sent to the Jews
the best provincial administrator in the empire.
2. JESUS APPEARS BEFORE PILATE
185:2.1
When Jesus and his accusers had gathered in front of
Pilate's judgment hall, the Roman governor came out
and, addressing the company assembled, asked, "What
accusation do you bring against this fellow?" The
Sadducees and councilors who had taken it upon
themselves to put Jesus out of the way had
determined to go before Pilate and ask for
confirmation of the death sentence pronounced upon
Jesus, without volunteering any definite charge.
Therefore did the spokesman for the Sanhedrist court
answer Pilate: "If this man were not an evildoer, we
should not have delivered him up to you."
185:2.2
When Pilate observed that they were reluctant to
state their charges against Jesus, although he knew
they had been all night engaged in deliberations
regarding his guilt, he answered them: "Since you
have not agreed on any definite charges, why do you
not take this man and pass judgment on him in
accordance with your own laws?"
185:2.3
Then spoke the clerk of the Sanhedrin court to
Pilate: "It is not lawful for us to put any man to
death, and this disturber of our nation is worthy to
die for the things which he has said and done.
Therefore have we come before you for confirmation
of this decree."
185:2.4
To come before the Roman governor with this attempt
at evasion discloses both the ill-will and the
ill-humor of the Sanhedrists toward Jesus as well as
their lack of respect for the fairness, honor, and
dignity of Pilate. What effrontery for these subject
citizens to appear before their provincial governor
asking for a decree of execution against a man
before affording him a fair trial and without even
preferring definite criminal charges against him!
185:2.5
Pilate knew something of Jesus' work among the Jews,
and he surmised that the charges which might be
brought against him had to do with infringements of
the Jewish ecclesiastical laws; therefore he sought
to refer the case back to their own tribunal. Again,
Pilate took delight in making them publicly confess
that they were powerless to pronounce and execute
the death sentence upon even one of their own race
whom they had come to despise with a bitter and
envious hatred.
185:2.6
It was a few hours previously, shortly before
midnight and after he had granted permission to use
Roman soldiers in effecting the secret arrest of
Jesus, that Pilate had heard further concerning
Jesus and his teaching from his wife, Claudia, who
was a partial convert to Judaism, and who later on
became a full-fledged believer in Jesus' gospel.
185:2.7
Pilate would have liked to postpone this hearing,
but he saw the Jewish leaders were determined to
proceed with the case. He knew that this was not
only the forenoon of preparation for the Passover,
but that this day, being Friday, was also the
preparation day for the Jewish Sabbath of rest and
worship.
185:2.8
Pilate, being keenly sensitive to the disrespectful
manner of the approach of these Jews, was not
willing to comply with their demands that Jesus be
sentenced to death without a trial. When, therefore,
he had waited a few moments for them to present
their charges against the prisoner, he turned to
them and said: "I will not sentence this man to
death without a trial; neither will I consent to
examine him until you have presented your charges
against him in writing."
185:2.9
When the high priest and the others heard Pilate say
this, they signaled to the clerk of the court, who
then handed to Pilate the written charges against
Jesus. And these charges were:
185:2.10
"We find in the Sanhedrist tribunal that this man is
an evildoer and a disturber of our nation in that he
is guilty of:
"1. Perverting our nation and stirring up our people
to rebellion.
"2. Forbidding the people to pay tribute to Caesar.
"3. Calling himself the king of the Jews and
teaching the founding of a new kingdom."
185:2.11
Jesus had not been regularly tried nor legally
convicted on any of these charges. He did not even
hear these charges when first stated, but Pilate had
him brought from the praetorium, where he was in the
keeping of the guards, and he insisted that these
charges be repeated in Jesus' hearing.
185:2.12
When Jesus heard these accusations, he well knew
that he had not been heard on these matters before
the Jewish court, and so did John Zebedee and his
accusers, but he made no reply to their false
charges. Even when Pilate bade him answer his
accusers, he opened not his mouth. Pilate was so
astonished at the unfairness of the whole proceeding
and so impressed by Jesus' silent and masterly
bearing that he decided to take the prisoner inside
the hall and examine him privately.
185:2.13
Pilate was confused in mind, fearful of the Jews in
his heart, and mightily stirred in his spirit by the
spectacle of Jesus' standing there in majesty before
his bloodthirsty accusers and gazing down on them,
not in silent contempt, but with an expression of
genuine pity and sorrowful affection.
3. THE PRIVATE EXAMINATION BY PILATE
185:3.1
Pilate took Jesus and John Zebedee into a private
chamber, leaving the guards outside in the hall, and
requesting the prisoner to sit down, he sat down by
his side and asked several questions. Pilate began
his talk with Jesus by assuring him that he did not
believe the first count against him: that he was a
perverter of the nation and an inciter to rebellion.
Then he asked, "Did you ever teach that tribute
should be refused Caesar?" Jesus, pointing to John,
said, "Ask him or any other man who has heard my
teaching." Then Pilate questioned John about this
matter of tribute, and John testified concerning his
Master's teaching and explained that Jesus and his
apostles paid taxes both to Caesar and to the
temple. When Pilate had questioned John, he said,
"See that you tell no man that I talked with you."
And John never did reveal this matter.
185:3.2
Pilate then turned around to question Jesus further,
saying: "And now about the third accusation against
you, are you the king of the Jews?" Since there was
a tone of possibly sincere inquiry in Pilate's
voice, Jesus smiled on the procurator and said:
"Pilate, do you ask this for yourself, or do you
take this question from these others, my accusers?"
Whereupon, in a tone of partial indignation, the
governor answered: "Am I a Jew? Your own people and
the chief priests delivered you up and asked me to
sentence you to death. I question the validity of
their charges and am only trying to find out for
myself what you have done. Tell me, have you said
that you are the king of the Jews, and have you
sought to found a new kingdom?"
185:3.3
Then said Jesus to Pilate: "Do you not perceive that
my kingdom is not of this world? If my kingdom were
of this world, surely would my disciples fight that
I should not be delivered into the hands of the
Jews. My presence here before you in these bonds is
sufficient to show all men that my kingdom is a
spiritual dominion, even the brotherhood of men who,
through faith and by love, have become the sons of
God. And this salvation is for the gentile as well
as for the Jew."
185:3.4
"Then you are a king after all?" said Pilate. And
Jesus answered: "Yes, I am such a king, and my
kingdom is the family of the faith sons of my Father
who is in heaven. For this purpose was I born into
this world, even that I should show my Father to all
men and bear witness to the truth of God. And even
now do I declare to you that every one who loves the
truth hears my voice."
185:3.5
Then said Pilate, half in ridicule and half in
sincerity, "Truth, what is truth -- who knows?"
185:3.6
Pilate was not able to fathom Jesus' words, nor was
he able to understand the nature of his spiritual
kingdom, but he was now certain that the prisoner
had done nothing worthy of death. One look at Jesus,
face to face, was enough to convince even Pilate
that this gentle and weary, but majestic and
upright, man was no wild and dangerous revolutionary
who aspired to establish himself on the temporal
throne of Israel. Pilate thought he understood
something of what Jesus meant when he called himself
a king, for he was familiar with the teachings of
the Stoics, who declared that "the wise man is
king." Pilate was thoroughly convinced that, instead
of being a dangerous seditionmonger, Jesus was
nothing more or less than a harmless visionary, an
innocent fanatic.
185:3.7
After questioning the Master, Pilate went back to
the chief priests and the accusers of Jesus and
said: "I have examined this man, and I find no fault
in him. I do not think he is guilty of the charges
you have made against him; I think he ought to be
set free." And when the Jews heard this, they were
moved with great anger, so much so that they wildly
shouted that Jesus should die; and one of the
Sanhedrists boldly stepped up by the side of Pilate,
saying: "This man stirs up the people, beginning in
Galilee and continuing throughout all Judea. He is a
mischief-maker and an evildoer. You will long regret
it if you let this wicked man go free."
185:3.8
Pilate was hard pressed to know what to do with
Jesus; therefore, when he heard them say that he
began his work in Galilee, he thought to avoid the
responsibility of deciding the case, at least to
gain time for thought, by sending Jesus to appear
before Herod, who was then in the city attending the
Passover. Pilate also thought that this gesture
would help to antidote some of the bitter feeling
which had existed for some time between himself and
Herod, due to numerous misunderstandings over
matters of jurisdiction.
185:3.9
Pilate, calling the guards, said: "This man is a
Galilean. Take him forthwith to Herod, and when he
has examined him, report his findings to me." And
they took Jesus to Herod.
4. JESUS BEFORE HEROD
185:4.1
When Herod Antipas stopped in Jerusalem, he dwelt in
the old Maccabean palace of Herod the Great, and it
was to this home of the former king that Jesus was
now taken by the temple guards, and he was followed
by his accusers and an increasing multitude. Herod
had long heard of Jesus, and he was very curious
about him. When the Son of Man stood before him, on
this Friday morning, the wicked Idumean never for
one moment recalled the lad of former years who had
appeared before him in Sepphoris pleading for a just
decision regarding the money due his father, who had
been accidentally killed while at work on one of the
public buildings. As far as Herod knew, he had never
seen Jesus, although he had worried a great deal
about him when his work had been centered in
Galilee. Now that he was in custody of Pilate and
the Judeans, Herod was desirous of seeing him,
feeling secure against any trouble from him in the
future. Herod had heard much about the miracles
wrought by Jesus, and he really hoped to see him do
some wonder.
185:4.2
When they brought Jesus before Herod, the tetrarch
was startled by his stately appearance and the calm
composure of his countenance. For some fifteen
minutes Herod asked Jesus questions, but the Master
would not answer. Herod taunted and dared him to
perform a miracle, but Jesus would not reply to his
many inquiries or respond to his taunts.
185:4.3
Then Herod turned to the chief priests and the
Sadducees and, giving ear to their accusations,
heard all and more than Pilate had listened to
regarding the alleged evil doings of the Son of Man.
Finally, being convinced that Jesus would neither
talk nor perform a wonder for him, Herod, after
making fun of him for a time, arrayed him in an old
purple royal robe and sent him back to Pilate. Herod
knew he had no jurisdiction over Jesus in Judea.
Though he was glad to believe that he was finally to
be rid of Jesus in Galilee, he was thankful that it
was Pilate who had the responsibility of putting him
to death. Herod never had fully recovered from the
fear that cursed him as a result of killing John the
Baptist. Herod had at certain times even feared that
Jesus was John risen from the dead. Now he was
relieved of that fear since he observed that Jesus
was a very different sort of person from the
outspoken and fiery prophet who dared to expose and
denounce his private life.
5. JESUS RETURNS TO PILATE
185:5.1
When the guards had brought Jesus back to Pilate, he
went out on the front steps of the praetorium, where
his judgment seat had been placed, and calling
together the chief priests and Sanhedrists, said to
them: "You brought this man before me with charges
that he perverts the people, forbids the payment of
taxes, and claims to be king of the Jews. I have
examined him and fail to find him guilty of these
charges. In fact, I find no fault in him. Then I
sent him to Herod, and the tetrarch must have
reached the same conclusion since he has sent him
back to us. Certainly, nothing worthy of death has
been done by this man. If you still think he needs
to be disciplined, I am willing to chastise him
before I release him."
185:5.2
Just as the Jews were about to engage in shouting
their protests against the release of Jesus, a vast
crowd came marching up to the praetorium for the
purpose of asking Pilate for the release of a
prisoner in honor of the Passover feast. For some
time it had been the custom of the Roman governors
to allow the populace to choose some imprisoned or
condemned man for pardon at the time of the
Passover. And now that this crowd had come before
him to ask for the release of a prisoner, and since
Jesus had so recently been in great favor with the
multitudes, it occurred to Pilate that he might
possibly extricate himself from his predicament by
proposing to this group that, since Jesus was now a
prisoner before his judgment seat, he release to
them this man of Galilee as the token of Passover
good will.
185:5.3
As the crowd surged up on the steps of the building,
Pilate heard them calling out the name of one
Barabbas. Barabbas was a noted political agitator
and murderous robber, the son of a priest, who had
recently been apprehended in the act of robbery and
murder on the Jericho road. This man was under
sentence to die as soon as the Passover festivities
were over.
185:5.4
Pilate stood up and explained to the crowd that
Jesus had been brought to him by the chief priests,
who sought to have him put to death on certain
charges, and that he did not think the man was
worthy of death. Said Pilate: "Which, therefore,
would you prefer that I release to you, this
Barabbas, the murderer, or this Jesus of Galilee?"
And when Pilate had thus spoken, the chief priests
and the Sanhedrin councilors all shouted at the top
of their voices, "Barabbas, Barabbas!" And when the
people saw that the chief priests were minded to
have Jesus put to death, they quickly joined in the
clamor for his life while they loudly shouted for
the release of Barabbas.
185:5.5
A few days before this the multitude had stood in
awe of Jesus, but the mob did not look up to one
who, having claimed to be the Son of God, now found
himself in the custody of the chief priests and the
rulers and on trial before Pilate for his life.
Jesus could be a hero in the eyes of the populace
when he was driving the money-changers and the
traders out of the temple, but not when he was a
nonresisting prisoner in the hands of his enemies
and on trial for his life.
185:5.6
Pilate was angered at the sight of the chief priests
clamoring for the pardon of a notorious murderer
while they shouted for the blood of Jesus. He saw
their malice and hatred and perceived their
prejudice and envy. Therefore he said to them: "How
could you choose the life of a murderer in
preference to this man's whose worst crime is that
he figuratively calls himself the king of the Jews?"
But this was not a wise statement for Pilate to
make. The Jews were a proud people, now subject to
the Roman political yoke but hoping for the coming
of a Messiah who would deliver them from gentile
bondage with a great show of power and glory. They
resented, more than Pilate could know, the
intimation that this meek-mannered teacher of
strange doctrines, now under arrest and charged with
crimes worthy of death, should be referred to as
"the king of the Jews." They looked upon such a
remark as an insult to everything which they held
sacred and honorable in their national existence,
and therefore did they all let loose their mighty
shouts for Barabbas's release and Jesus' death.
185:5.7
Pilate knew Jesus was innocent of the charges
brought against him, and had he been a just and
courageous judge, he would have acquitted him and
turned him loose. But he was afraid to defy these
angry Jews, and while he hesitated to do his duty, a
messenger came up and presented him with a sealed
message from his wife, Claudia.
185:5.8
Pilate indicated to those assembled before him that
he wished to read the communication which he had
just received before he proceeded further with the
matter before him. When Pilate opened this letter
from his wife, he read: "I pray you have nothing to
do with this innocent and just man whom they call
Jesus. I have suffered many things in a dream this
night because of him." This note from Claudia not
only greatly upset Pilate and thereby delayed the
adjudication of this matter, but it unfortunately
also provided considerable time in which the Jewish
rulers freely circulated among the crowd and urged
the people to call for the release of Barabbas and
to clamor for the crucifixion of Jesus.
185:5.9
Finally, Pilate addressed himself once more to the
solution of the problem which confronted him, by
asking the mixed assembly of Jewish rulers and the
pardon-seeking crowd, "What shall I do with him who
is called the king of the Jews?" And they all
shouted with one accord, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
The unanimity of this demand from the mixed
multitude startled and alarmed Pilate, the unjust
and fear-ridden judge.
185:5.10
Then once more Pilate said: "Why would you crucify
this man? What evil has he done? Who will come
forward to testify against him?" But when they heard
Pilate speak in defense of Jesus, they only cried
out all the more, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
185:5.11
Then again Pilate appealed to them regarding the
release of the Passover prisoner, saying: "Once more
I ask you, which of these prisoners shall I release
to you at this, your Passover time?" And again the
crowd shouted, "Give us Barabbas!"
185:5.12
Then said Pilate: "If I release the murderer,
Barabbas, what shall I do with Jesus?" And once more
the multitude shouted in unison, "Crucify him!
Crucify him!"
185:5.13
Pilate was terrorized by the insistent clamor of the
mob, acting under the direct leadership of the chief
priests and the councilors of the Sanhedrin;
nevertheless, he decided upon at least one more
attempt to appease the crowd and save Jesus.
6. PILATE'S LAST APPEAL
185:6.1
In all that is transpiring early this Friday morning
before Pilate, only the enemies of Jesus are
participating. His many friends either do not yet
know of his night arrest and early morning trial or
are in hiding lest they also be apprehended and
adjudged worthy of death because they believe Jesus'
teachings. In the multitude which now clamors for
the Master's death are to be found only his sworn
enemies and the easily led and unthinking populace.
185:6.2
Pilate would make one last appeal to their pity.
Being afraid to defy the clamor of this misled mob
who cried for the blood of Jesus, he ordered the
Jewish guards and the Roman soldiers to take Jesus
and scourge him. This was in itself an unjust and
illegal procedure since the Roman law provided that
only those condemned to die by crucifixion should be
thus subjected to scourging. The guards took Jesus
into the open courtyard of the praetorium for this
ordeal. Though his enemies did not witness this
scourging, Pilate did, and before they had finished
this wicked abuse, he directed the scourgers to
desist and indicated that Jesus should be brought to
him. Before the scourgers laid their knotted whips
upon Jesus as he was bound to the whipping post,
they again put upon him the purple robe, and
plaiting a crown of thorns, they placed it upon his
brow. And when they had put a reed in his hand as a
mock scepter, they knelt before him and mocked him,
saying, "Hail, king of the Jews!" And they spit upon
him and struck him in the face with their hands. And
one of them, before they returned him to Pilate,
took the reed from his hand and struck him upon the
head.
185:6.3
Then Pilate led forth this bleeding and lacerated
prisoner and, presenting him before the mixed
multitude, said: "Behold the man! Again I declare to
you that I find no crime in him, and having scourged
him, I would release him."
185:6.4
There stood Jesus of Nazareth, clothed in an old
purple royal robe with a crown of thorns piercing
his kindly brow. His face was bloodstained and his
form bowed down with suffering and grief. But
nothing can appeal to the unfeeling hearts of those
who are victims of intense emotional hatred and
slaves to religious prejudice. This sight sent a
mighty shudder through the realms of a vast
universe, but it did not touch the hearts of those
who had set their minds to effect the destruction of
Jesus.
185:6.5
When they had recovered from the first shock of
seeing the Master's plight, they only shouted the
louder and the longer, "Crucify him! Crucify him!
Crucify him!"
185:6.6
And now did Pilate comprehend that it was futile to
appeal to their supposed feelings of pity. He
stepped forward and said: "I perceive that you are
determined this man shall die, but what has he done
to deserve death? Who will declare his crime?"
185:6.7
Then the high priest himself stepped forward and,
going up to Pilate, angrily declared: "We have a
sacred law, and by that law this man ought to die
because he made himself out to be the Son of God."
When Pilate heard this, he was all the more afraid,
not only of the Jews, but recalling his wife's note
and the Greek mythology of the gods coming down on
earth, he now trembled at the thought of Jesus
possibly being a divine personage. He waved to the
crowd to hold its peace while he took Jesus by the
arm and again led him inside the building that he
might further examine him. Pilate was now confused
by fear, bewildered by superstition, and harassed by
the stubborn attitude of the mob.
7. PILATE'S LAST INTERVIEW
185:7.1
As Pilate, trembling with fearful emotion, sat down
by the side of Jesus, he inquired: "Where do you
come from? Really, who are you? What is this they
say, that you are the Son of God?"
185:7.2
But Jesus could hardly answer such questions when
asked by a man-fearing, weak, and vacillating judge
who was so unjust as to subject him to flogging even
when he had declared him innocent of all crime, and
before he had been duly sentenced to die. Jesus
looked Pilate straight in the face, but he did not
answer him. Then said Pilate: "Do you refuse to
speak to me? Do you not realize that I still have
power to release you or to crucify you?" Then said
Jesus: "You could have no power over me except it
were permitted from above. You could exercise no
authority over the Son of Man unless the Father in
heaven allowed it. But you are not so guilty since
you are ignorant of the gospel. He who betrayed me
and he who delivered me to you, they have the
greater sin.
185:7.3
This last talk with Jesus thoroughly frightened
Pilate. This moral coward and judicial weakling now
labored under the double weight of the superstitious
fear of Jesus and mortal dread of the Jewish
leaders.
185:7.4
Again Pilate appeared before the crowd, saying: "I
am certain this man is only a religious offender.
You should take him and judge him by your law. Why
should you expect that I would consent to his death
because he has clashed with your traditions?"
185:7.5
Pilate was just about ready to release Jesus when
Caiaphas, the high priest, approached the cowardly
Roman judge and, shaking an avenging finger in
Pilate's face, said with angry words which the
entire multitude could hear: "If you release this
man, you are not Caesar's friend, and I will see
that the emperor knows all." This public threat was
too much for Pilate. Fear for his personal fortunes
now eclipsed all other considerations, and the
cowardly governor ordered Jesus brought out before
the judgment seat. As the Master stood there before
them, he pointed to him and tauntingly said, "Behold
your king." And the Jews answered, "Away with him.
Crucify him!" And then Pilate said, with much irony
and sarcasm, "Shall I crucify your king?" And the
Jews answered, "Yes, crucify him! We have no king
but Caesar." And then did Pilate realize that there
was no hope of saving Jesus since he was unwilling
to defy the Jews.
8. PILATE'S TRAGIC SURRENDER
185:8.1
Here stood the Son of God incarnate as the Son of
Man. He was arrested without indictment; accused
without evidence; adjudged without witnesses;
punished without a verdict; and now was soon to be
condemned to die by an unjust judge who confessed
that he could find no fault in him. If Pilate had
thought to appeal to their patriotism by referring
to Jesus as the "king of the Jews," he utterly
failed. The Jews were not expecting any such a king.
The declaration of the chief priests and the
Sadducees, "We have no king but Caesar," was a shock
even to the unthinking populace, but it was too late
now to save Jesus even had the mob dared to espouse
the Master's cause.
185:8.2
Pilate was afraid of a tumult or a riot. He dared
not risk having such a disturbance during Passover
time in Jerusalem. He had recently received a
reprimand from Caesar, and he would not risk
another. The mob cheered when he ordered the release
of Barabbas. Then he ordered a basin and some water,
and there before the multitude he washed his hands,
saying: "I am innocent of the blood of this man. You
are determined that he shall die, but I have found
no guilt in him. See you to it. The soldiers will
lead him forth." And then the mob cheered and
replied, "His blood be on us and on our children."
*
|