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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
Satan instigated the cruel abuse of the debased mob, led on by
the priests and rulers, to provoke, if possible, retaliation from the
world’s Redeemer, or to drive him to deliver himself by a miracle from
the hands of his persecutors, and thus break up the plan of salvation.
One stain upon his human life, one failure of his humanity to bear
the terrible test imposed upon it, would make the Lamb of God an
imperfect offering, and the redemption of man would be a failure. But
he who could command the heavenly hosts, and in an instant call to
his aid legions of holy angels, one of whom could have immediately
overpowered that cruel mob,—he who could have stricken down his
tormentors by the flashing forth of his divine majesty,—submitted to
the coarsest insult and outrage with dignified composure. As the acts
of his torturers degraded them below humanity, into the likeness of
Satan, so did the meekness and patience of Jesus exalt him above the
level of humanity.
When Herod saw that Jesus submitted passively to all the indignity
that was heaped upon him, preserving an unparalleled serenity through
it all, he was moved by a sudden fear that after all this might not be a
common man who stood before him. He was greatly perplexed when
he looked upon the pure, pale face of the prisoner, and questioned
if he might not be a God come down to earth. The very silence of
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Jesus spoke conviction to the heart of the king, such as no words could
have done. Herod noticed that while some bowed before Jesus in
mockery, others, who came forward for the same purpose, looked into
the sufferer’s face and saw expressed there a look so like a king that
they turned back, ashamed of their own audacity. Herod was ill at
ease, and, hardened as he was, dared not ratify the condemnation of
the Jews; and he therefore sent Jesus back to Pilate.
The Saviour, tottering with weariness, pale and wounded, wearing
a robe of mockery and a crown of thorns, was mercilessly hurried back
to the court of the Roman governor. Pilate was very much irritated; for
he had congratulated himself on being rid of a fearful responsibility
when he referred the accusers of Jesus to Herod. He now impatiently
inquired of the Jews what they would have him do. He reminded them
that he had already examined the prisoner and found no blame in him;
that his accusers had failed to sustain a single charge against him; that
he had sent Jesus to Herod, a tetrarch of Galilee, and one of their own