THE KING OF HEAVEN AT THE BAR OF PILATE.
Pilate, the Roman Governor, who had come up from Caesarea by the sea to
keep order in Jerusalem during the Passover, was in his fine palace
called "The Praetorium." Adjoining was "The Hall of Judgment," where
cases were brought to the Governor to be judged, and just outside this
Hall was a place called "The Pavement." It was a broad floor of
many-colored marbles, open toward the city, and having an ivory
judgment-seat.
While the morning was lighting the gold of the Temple roof to splendor,
there was a deep shadow over the friends of Jesus. Their Lord was
being led through the streets of Jerusalem by Roman guards, condemned
to die. His mother and the women who believed in Him were in the city
and saw Him, perhaps, as He was hurried by, pale and weak from the
cruelty of wicked men. The priests would not go into the Judgment Hall
for fear of defilement at the time of their Feast, so Pilate came out
to "The Pavement" and sat down upon the ivory judgment seat. He was a
stern, proud man wearing a white toga with a rich purple border--the
robe of a Roman ruler.
"What accusation do you bring against this man," asked Pilate, looking
at the pure, pallid face of the Divine Man, and turning to the dark and
evil faces of His accusers. To their complaining remark, "If he were
not a malefactor we would not have delivered him up unto thee," Pilate
replied,
"Take ye him and judge him according to your law."
When they replied that (under Roman rule) it was not lawful for them to
put any man to death. Pilate did not wish to condemn that just One of
whom he had known nothing but good, for he had heard of His miracles,
and had doubtless heard his wife speak of the young Rabbi. He rose and
went into the Hall, ordering the guards to bring Jesus to him. Then he
questioned Him,
"Art thou the King of the Jews?" he asked.
"My Kingdom is not of this world," said Jesus. "If my Kingdom was of
this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be
delivered to the Jews; but now my Kingdom is not from hence."
"Art thou a king then?" said Pilate.
"Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this
cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.
Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
"What is truth?" said Pilate, wondering, perhaps, what kingdom of truth
this harmless man was dreaming of, and then he rose and went forth to
the people on "The Pavement" who were saying that this man was stirring
up the people from Galilee to Jerusalem.
Pilate, hearing that Jesus was a Galilean, sent him to the palace of
Herod Antipas, who ruled over that province, and who was now in
Jerusalem, but He was sent back to Pilate crowned with thorns and
wearing a faded purple robe. The Roman soldiers had jested about His
kingship, and Antipas had cruelly carried it out in returning Him in
this dress to Pilate, through the streets of the city. He had been
tried the fourth time and now Pilate made another effort to set Him
free, He questioned Him again and heard the complaints of the Jews, but
Jesus would not defend Himself.
[Illustration: Jesus crowned with thorns]
"Hearest thou not how many things, they witness against thee?" said
Pilate. "Answerest thou nothing?" If Jesus would only defend Himself!
Then Pilate thought he would scourge Jesus to satisfy His enemies, and
let Him go.
"Ye have brought this man unto me," he said to the chief priests, "as
one that perverteth the people, and behold, I, having examined him
before you, have found no fault in this man. No, nor yet Herod. I
will therefore chastise him and release him."
[Illustration: Jesus before Pilate]
The cry of "Crucify him! crucify him!" rose again.
A message was sent to Pilate from his wife, which deepened the shadow
on his face. "Have thou nothing to do with that just man," she said,
"for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him."
The people had been persuaded by the priests to ask for Barabbas, and
when Pilate asked which of the two he should release to them, they
cried,
"Barabbas!"
"What shall I do with Jesus, which is called Christ?" and all cried,
"Let him be crucified!"
"Why, what evil hath he done?" asked Pilate, but the cry was so great
he could bear it no longer, and calling a slave to bring water, he
washed his hands before them as a sign that he took no blame for the
act, and said,
"I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it," but
they cried,
"His blood be upon us, and upon our children." And when Pilate had
given the order to scourge and crucify Jesus, he went into his palace.