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The Trial of Christ
The angels as they left heaven, in sadness laid off their glittering
crowns. They could not wear them while their Commander was suf-
fering 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
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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
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