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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
his dignity, and lost control of the crowd. The priests saw that though
he was convinced of the innocence of Jesus, he could be intimidated
by them, and they determined to carry their point. So when Pilate
inquired, “What shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?” they
with one accord cried out, “Let him be crucified!”
“And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they
cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.” Here Pilate again
revealed his weakness, in submitting the sentence of Jesus to a lawless
and infuriated mob. How true were the words of the prophet: “Judg-
ment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth
is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” The governor’s cheek
paled as he heard the terrible cry: “Crucify him!” He had not thought
it would come to that—a man whom he had repeatedly pronounced
innocent, to be consigned to the most dreaded of deaths. He now saw
what a terrible thing he had done in placing the life of a just man in
the balance against the decision of those, who, from envy and malice,
had delivered him up to trial. Pilate had taken step after step in the
violation of his conscience, and in excusing himself from judging with
equity and fairness, as his position demanded he should do, until now
he found himself almost helpless in the hands of the Jews.
Again he asked the question, “Why, what evil hath de done?” and
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again they cried out, “Crucify him!” Once more Pilate expostulated
with them against ting to death one against whom they could prove
nothing. Again, to conciliate them, he proposed to chastise him and
let him go. It was not enough that the Saviour of the world, faint with
weariness and covered with wounds, must be subjected to the shameful
humiliation of such a trial; but his sacred flesh must be bruised and
mangled to gratify the satanic fury of the priests and rulers. Satan,
with his hellish army had gained possession of them.
Pilate, in the vain hope of exciting their pity, that they might decide
this was sufficient punishment, now caused Jesus to be scourged in
the presence of the multitude. The pale sufferer, with a crown of
thorns upon his head, and stripped to the waist, revealing the long,
cruel stripes, from which the blood flowed freely, was then placed side
by side with Barabbas. Although the face of Jesus was stained with
blood, and bore marks of exhaustion and pain, yet his noble character
could not be hidden, but stood out in marked contrast with that of the