Condemnation of Jesus
97
of human woe, was closed to the haughty king who felt no need of a
Saviour.
The silence of Jesus could no longer be borne by Herod; his face
grew dark with passion, and he angrily threatened Jesus; but the cap-
tive still remained unmoved. Herod then turned to the multitude and
denounced him as an impostor. His accusers well knew that he was no
impostor; they had seen too many evidences of his power to be thus
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misled. They knew that even the grave had opened at his command,
and the dead had walked forth, clothed again with life. They had been
greatly terrified when Herod commanded him to work a miracle; for of
all things they dreaded an exhibition of his divine power, which would
prove a death-blow to their plans, and would perhaps cost them their
lives. Therefore the priests and rulers began to cry out vehemently
against him, accusing him of working miracles through the power
given him of Beelzebub, the prince of devils.
Some cried out that he claimed to be the Son of God, the King
of Israel. Herod, hearing this, said, in derision, A king, is he? Then
crown him, and upon him a royal robe, and worship your king. Then
turning to Jesus he angrily declared that if he refused to speak, he
should be delivered into the hands of the soldiers, who would have
little respect for his claims or his person; if he was an impostor it
would be no more than he deserved; but if he was the Son of God
he could save himself by working a miracle. No sooner were these
words uttered than the mob, at the instigation of the priests, made a
rush toward Jesus. Had not the Roman soldiers forced them back, the
Saviour would have been torn in pieces.
At the suggestion of Herod, a crown was now plaited from a vine
bearing sharp thorns, and this was placed upon the sacred brow of
Jesus; and an old tattered purple robe, once the garment of a king,
was placed upon his noble form, while Herod and the Jewish priests
encouraged the insults and cruelty of the mob. Jesus was then placed
upon a large block, which was derisively called a throne, an old reed
was placed in his hand as a scepter, and, amid satanic laughter, curses,
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and jeers, the rude throng bowed to him mockingly as to a king.
Occasionally some murderous hand snatched the reed that had been
placed in his hand, and struck him on the head with it, forcing the
thorns into his temples, and causing the blood to flow down his face
and beard.