THE DEATH OF THE MESSIAH.
Imprisonment and Death of John the Baptist—Trial
and Crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.
While the Roman Procurator Pilate governed in Jerusalem, Herod Antipas,
the son of Herod the Great, reigned in Galilee under the title of
Tetrarch. It was this prince who, on being reproved by the prophet John
the Baptist for an unlawful marriage with his brother’s wife, first
threw his faithful monitor into prison, and afterwards, through the
arts of the wicked Herodias, was persuaded to put him to death.
About two years after the perpetration of this crime, occurred at
Jerusalem that awful EVENT on which hung the eternal destinies of a
world. Before the tribunal of Pontius Pilate appeared the future Judge
of all mankind! Accused by His own people of perverting the nation, and
forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, the incarnate Son of God stood a
prisoner in the presence of the Roman procurator.
Upon the details of the awful scenes that followed, it is not the
province of this history to dwell. There was a struggle in the mind of
Pilate, who was convinced of the innocence of the Accused. Unwilling to
condemn the guiltless Prisoner, he was yet reluctant to oppose himself
to the fanatical fury of the Jews, who clamoured for the blood of their
Victim. An argument was at length brought forward by the wily Jews,
which added to Pilate’s fear of offending the people the yet stronger
dread of drawing down upon himself the wrath of the emperor of Rome.
“If thou let this Man go,” they cried, “thou art not Cæsar’s friend.
Whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cæsar.”
Overcome by that fear of man which bringeth a snare, the procurator at
length gave the fatal command which consigned the spotless Jesus to the
terrible death of crucifixion.
[Illustration: CHRIST BEFORE PILATE.]
And then was consummated that awful sacrifice which had been determined
on in the counsels of the Almighty, before the foundation of the world.
Rejected by His own people, betrayed by an apostle, delivered up by the
cowardice of His judge to the malice of His merciless foes, the Lord
Jesus, “for us men, and for our salvation,” poured out His life’s blood
on the altar of the cross.