the desire of ages-第128章

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　commands。　Those　eyes　that　had　ever　rested　upon　the　penitent　sinner　in　pitying；　forgiving　love　had　no　look　to　bestow　upon　Herod。　Those　lips　that　had　uttered　the　most　impressive　truth；　that　in　tones　of　tenderest　entreaty　had　pleaded　with　the　most　sinful　and　the　most　degraded；　were　closed　to　the　haughty　king　who　felt　no　need　of　a　Saviour。

Herod's　face　grew　dark　with　passion。　Turning　to　the　multitude；　he

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angrily　denounced　Jesus　as　an　impostor。　Then　to　Christ　he　said；　If　You　will　give　no　evidence　of　Your　claim；　I　will　deliver　You　up　to　the　soldiers　and　the　people。　They　may　succeed　in　making　You　speak。　If　You　are　an　impostor；　death　at　their　hands　is　only　what　You　merit；　if　You　are　the　Son　of　God；　save　Yourself　by　working　a　miracle。

No　sooner　were　these　words　spoken　than　a　rush　was　made　for　Christ。　Like　wild　beasts；　the　crowd　darted　upon　their　prey。　Jesus　was　dragged　this　way　and　that；　Herod　joining　the　mob　in　seeking　to　humiliate　the　Son　of　God。　Had　not　the　Roman　soldiers　interposed；　and　forced　back　the　maddened　throng；　the　Saviour　would　have　been　torn　in　pieces。

〃Herod　with　his　men　of　war　set　Him　at　nought；　and　mocked　Him；　and　arrayed　Him　in　a　gorgeous　robe。〃　The　Roman　soldiers　joined　in　this　abuse。　All　that　these　wicked；　corrupt　soldiers；　helped　on　by　Herod　and　the　Jewish　dignitaries；　could　instigate　was　heaped　upon　the　Saviour。　Yet　His　divine　patience　failed　not。

Christ's　persecutors　had　tried　to　measure　His　character　by　their　own；　they　had　represented　Him　as　vile　as　themselves。　But　back　of　all　the　present　appearance　another　scene　intruded　itself；a　scene　which　they　will　one　day　see　in　all　its　glory。　There　were　some　who　trembled　in　Christ's　presence。　While　the　rude　throng　were　bowing　in　mockery　before　Him；　some　who　came　forward　for　that　purpose　turned　back；　afraid　and　silenced。　Herod　was　convicted。　The　last　rays　of　merciful　light　were　shining　upon　his　sin…hardened　heart。　He　felt　that　this　was　no　common　man；　for　divinity　had　flashed　through　humanity。　At　the　very　time　when　Christ　was　encompassed　by　mockers；　adulterers；　and　murderers；　Herod　felt　that　he　was　beholding　a　God　upon　His　throne。

Hardened　as　he　was；　Herod　dared　not　ratify　the　condemnation　of　Christ。　He　wished　to　relieve　himself　of　the　terrible　responsibility；　and　he　sent　Jesus　back　to　the　Roman　judgment　hall。

Pilate　was　disappointed　and　much　displeased。　When　the　Jews　returned　with　their　prisoner；　he　asked　impatiently　what　they　would　have　him　do。　He　reminded　them　that　he　had　already　examined　Jesus；　and　found　no　fault　in　Him；　he　told　them　that　they　had　brought　complaints　against　Him；　but　they　had　not　been　able　to　prove　a　single　charge。　He　had　sent　Jesus　to　Herod；　the　tetrarch　of　Galilee；　and　one　of　their　own　nation；　but　he　also　had　found　in　Him　nothing　worthy　of　death。　〃I　will　therefore　chastise　Him；〃　Pilate　said；　〃and　release　Him。〃

Here　Pilate　showed　his　weakness。　He　had　declared　that　Jesus　was

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innocent；　yet　he　was　willing　for　Him　to　be　scourged　to　pacify　His　accusers。　He　would　sacrifice　justice　and　principle　in　order　to　compromise　with　the　mob。　This　placed　him　at　a　disadvantage。　The　crowd　presumed　upon　his　indecision；　and　clamored　the　more　for　the　life　of　the　prisoner。　If　at　the　first　Pilate　had　stood　firm；　refusing　to　condemn　a　man　whom　he　found　guiltless；　he　would　have　broken　the　fatal　chain　that　was　to　bind　him　in　remorse　and　guilt　as　long　as　he　lived。　Had　he　carried　out　his　convictions　of　right；　the　Jews　would　not　have　presumed　to　dictate　to　him。　Christ　would　have　been　put　to　death；　but　the　guilt　would　not　have　rested　upon　Pilate。　But　Pilate　had　taken　step　after　step　in　the　violation　of　his　conscience。　He　had　excused　himself　from　judging　with　justice　and　equity；　and　he　now　found　himself　almost　helpless　in　the　hands　of　the　priests　and　rulers。　His　wavering　and　indecision　proved　his　ruin。

Even　now　Pilate　was　not　left　to　act　blindly。　A　message　from　God　warned　him　from　the　deed　he　was　about　to　commit。　In　answer　to　Christ's　prayer；　the　wife　of　Pilate　had　been　visited　by　an　angel　from　heaven；　and　in　a　dream　she　had　beheld　the　Saviour　and　conversed　with　Him。　Pilate's　wife　was　not　a　Jew；　but　as　she　looked　upon　Jesus　in　her　dream；　she　had　no　doubt　of　His　character　or　mission。　She　knew　Him　to　be　the　Prince　of　God。　She　saw　Him　on　trial　in　the　judgment　hall。　She　saw　the　hands　tightly　bound　as　the　hands　of　a　criminal。　She　saw　Herod　and　his　soldiers　doing　their　dreadful　work。　She　heard　the　priests　and　rulers；　filled　with　envy　and　malice；　madly　accusing。　She　heard　the　words；　〃We　have　a　law；　and　by　our　law　He　ought　to　die。〃　She　saw　Pilate　give　Jesus　to　the　scourging；　after　he　had　declared；　〃I　find　no　fault　in　Him。〃　She　heard　the　condemnation　pronounced　by　Pilate；　and　saw　him　give　Christ　up　to　His　murderers。　She　saw　the　cross　uplifted　on　Calvary。　She　saw　the　earth　wrapped　in　darkness；　and　heard　the　mysterious　cry；　〃It　is　finished。〃　Still　another　scene　met　her　gaze。　She　saw　Christ　seated　upon　the　great　white　cloud；　while　the　earth　reeled　in　space；　and　His　murderers　fled　from　the　presence　of　His　glory。　With　a　cry　of　horror　she　awoke；　and　at　once　wrote　to　Pilate　words　of　warning。

While　Pilate　was　hesitating　as　to　what　he　should　do；　a　messenger　pressed　through　the　crowd；　and　handed　him　the　letter　from　his　wife；　which　read：

〃Have　thou　nothing　to　do　with　that　just　Man：　for　I　have　suffered　many　things　this　day　in　a　dream　because　of　Him。〃

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Pilate's　face　grew　pale。　He　was　confused　by　his　own　conflicting　emotions。　But　while　he　had　been　delaying　to　act；　the　priests　and　rulers　were　still　further　inflaming　the　minds　of　the　people。　Pilate　was　forced　to　action。　He　now　bethought　himself　of　a　custom　which　might　serve　to　secure　Christ's　release。　It　was　customary　at　this　feast　to　release　some　one　prisoner　whom　the　people　might　choose。　This　custom　was　of　pagan　invention；　there　was　not　a　shadow　of　justice　in　it；　but　it　was　greatly　prized　by　the　Jews。　The　Roman　authorities　at　this　time　held　a　prisoner　named　Barabbas；　who　was　under　sentence　of　death。　This　man　had　claimed　to　be　the　Messiah。　He　claimed　authority　to　establish　a　different　order　of　things；　to　set　the　world　right。　Under　satanic　delusion　he　claimed　that　whatever　he　could　obtain　by　theft　and　robbery　was　his　own。　He　had　done　wonderful　things　through　satanic　agencies；　he　had　gained　a　following　among　the　people；　and　had　excited　sedition　against　the　Roman　government。　Under　cover　of　religious　enthusiasm　he　was　a　hardened　and　desperate　villain；　bent　on　rebellion　and　cruelty。　By　giving　the　people　a　choice　between　this　man　and　the　innocent　Saviour；　Pilate　thought　to　arouse　them　to　a　sense　of　justice。　He　hoped　to　gain　their　sympathy　for　Jesus　in　opposition　to　the　priests　and　rulers。　So；　turning　to　the　crowd；　he　said　with　great　earnestness；　〃Whom　will　ye　that　I　release　unto　you？　Barabbas；　or　Jesus　which　is　called　Christ？〃

Like　the　bellowing　of　wild　beasts　came　the　answer　of　the　mob；　〃Release　unto　us　Barabbas！〃　Louder　and　louder　swelled　the　cry；　Barabbas！　Barabbas！　Thinking　that　the　people　had　not　understood　his　question；　Pilate　asked；　〃Will　ye　that　I　release　unto　you　the　King　of　the　Jews？〃　But　they　cried　out　again；　〃Away　with　this　Man；　and　release　unto　us　Barabbas〃！　〃What　shall　I　do　then　with　Jesus　which　is　called　Christ？〃　Pilate　asked。　Again　the　surging　multitude　roared　like　demons。　Demons　themselves；　in　human　form；　were　in　the　crowd；　and　what　could　be　expected　but　the　answer；　〃Let　Him　be　crucified〃？

Pilate　was　troubled。　He　had　not　thought　it　would　come　to　that。　He　shrank　from　delivering　an　innocent　man　to　the　most　ignominious　and　cruel　death　that　could　be　inflicted。　After　the　roar　of　voices　had　ceased；　he　turned　to　the　people；　saying；　〃Why；　what　evil　hath　He　done？〃　But　the　case　had　gone　too　far　for　argument。　It　was　not　evidence　of　Christ's　innocence　that　they　wanted；　but　His　condemnation。

Still　Pilate　endeavored　to　save　Him。　〃He　said　unto　them　the　third　time；　Why；　what　evil　hath　He　done？　I　have　found　no　cause　of　death

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in　Him：　I　will　therefore　chastise　Him；　and　let　Him　go。〃　But　the　very　mention　of　His　release　stirred　the　people　to　a　tenfold　frenzy。　〃Crucify　Him；　crucify　Him；〃　they　cried。　Louder　and　louder　swelled　the　storm　that　Pilate's　indecision　had　called　forth。

Jesus　was　taken；　faint　with　weariness　and　covered　with　wounds；　and　scourged　in　the　sight　of　the　multitude。　〃And　the　soldiers　led　Him　away　into　the　hall；　called　Praetorium；　and　they　call　together　the　whole　band。　And　they　clothed　Him　with　purple；　and　platted　a　crown　of　thorns；　and　put　it　about　His　head；　and　began　to　salute　Him；　Hail；　King　of　the　Jews！　And　they　。　。　。　did　spit　upon　Him；　and　bowing　their　knees　worshiped　Him。〃　Occasionally　some　wicked　hand　snatched　the　reed　that　had　been　placed　in　His　hand；　and　struck　the　crown　upon　His　brow；　forcing　the　thorns　into　His　temples；　and　sending　the　blood　trickling　down　His　face　and　beard。

Wonder；　O　heavens！　and　be　astonished；　O　earth！　Behold　the　oppressor　and　the　oppressed。　A　maddened　throng　enclose　the　Saviour　of　the　world。　Mocking　and　jeering　are　mingled　with　the　coarse　oaths　of　blasphemy。　His　lowly　birth　and　humble　life　are　commented　upon　by　the　unfeeling　mob。　His　claim　to　be　the　Son　of　God　is　ridiculed；　and　the　vulgar　jest　and　insulting　sneer　are　passed　from　lip　to　lip。

Satan　led　the　cruel　mob　in　its　abuse　of　the　Saviour。　It　was　his　purpose　to　provoke　Him　to　retaliation　if　possible；　or　to　drive　Him　to　perform　a　miracle　to　release　Himself；　and　thus　break　up　the　plan　of　salvation。　One　stain　upon　His　human　life；　one　failure　of　His　humanity　to　endure　the　terrible　test；　and　the　Lamb　of　God　would　have　been　an　imperfect　offering；　and　the　redemption　of　man　a　failure。　But　He　who　by　a　command　could　bring　the　heavenly　host　to　His　aidHe　who　could　have　driven　that　mob　in　terror　from　His　sight　by　the　flashing　forth　of　His　divine　majestysubmitted　with　perfect　calmness　to　the　coarsest　insult　and　outrage。

Christ's　enemies　had　demanded　a　miracle　as　evidence　of　His　divinity。　They　had　evidence　far　greater　than　any　they　had　sought。　As　their　cruelty　degraded　His　torturers　below　humanity　into　the　likeness　of　Satan；　so　did　His　meekness　and　patience　exalt　Jesus　above　humanity；　and　prove　His　kinship　to　God。　His　abasement　was　the　pledge　of　His　exaltation。　The　blood　drops　of　agony　that　from　His　wounded　temples　flowed　down　His　face　and　beard　were　the　pledge　of　His　anointing　with　〃the　oil　of　gladness〃　（Heb。　1：9。）　as　our　great　high　priest。

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Satan's　rage　was　great　as　he　saw　that　all　the　abuse　inflicted　upon　the　Saviour　had　not　forced　the　least　murmur　from　His　lips。　Although　He　had　taken　upon　Him　the　nature　of　man；　He　was　sustained　by　a　godlike　fortitude；　and　departed　in　no　particular　from　the　will　of　His　Father。

When　Pilate　gave　Jesus　up　to　be　scourged　and　mocked；　he　thought　to　excite　the　pity　of　the　multitude。　He　hoped　they　would　decide　that　this　was　sufficient　punishment。　Even　the　malice　of　the　priests；　he　thought；　would　now　be　satisfied。　But　with　keen　perception　the　Jews　saw　the　weakness　of　thus　punishing　a　man　who　had　been　declared　innocent。　They　knew　that　Pilate　was　trying　to　save　the　life