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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 3
he had no farther words for a man who so abused the high office of
judge as to yield his principles and authority to the demands of a blood-
thirsty rabble. Pilate was vexed at the silence of Jesus, and haughtily
addressed him:—
“Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power
to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou
couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee
from above; therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater
sin.” Jesus here laid the heaviest burden of guilt upon the Jewish judges,
who had received unmistakable evidence of the divinity of Him whom
they had condemned to death, both from the prophecies and his own
teachings and miracles. What a scene was this to hand down to the
world through all time! The pitying Saviour, in the midst of his intense
suffering and grief, excuses as far as possible the act of Pilate, who
might have released him from the power of his enemies.
Pilate was now more convinced than before of the superiority of
the man before him, and tried again and again to save him. “But the
Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar’s
friend; whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”
This was touching Pilate in a weak point. He had been looked upon
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with some suspicion by the government; and he knew that a report of
unfaithfulness on his part would be likely to cost him his position. He
knew that if the Jews became his enemies he could hope for no mercy at
their hands; for he had before him an example of the perseverance with
which they sought to destroy one whom they hated without reason.
The implied threat in the declaration of the priests, regarding his
allegiance to Caesar, intimidated Pilate, so that he yielded to the de-
mands of the mob, and delivered Jesus up to the crucifixion rather than
risk losing his position. But the very thing he dreaded came upon him
afterward in spite of his precautions. His honors were stripped from
him; he was cast down from his high office; and, stung by remorse and
wounded pride, he committed suicide not long after the crucifixion.
“When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather
a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the
multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see
ye to it.” Caiaphas answered defiantly, “His blood be on us, and on our
children;” and his words were echoed by the priests and rulers, and