Chapter 9—Condemnation of Jesus
When Jesus was asked the question, Art thou the Son of God? he
knew that to answer in the affirmative would make his death certain;
a denial would leave a stain upon his humanity. There was a time to
be silent, and a time to speak. He had not spoken until plainly inter-
rogated. In his lessons to his disciples he had declared: “Whosoever,
therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before
my Father who is in Heaven.” When challenged, Jesus did not deny
his relationship with God. In that solemn moment his character was at
stake and must be vindicated. He left on that occasion an example for
man to follow under similar circumstances. He would teach him not
to apostatize from his faith to escape suffering or even death.
Had the Jews possessed the authority to do so, they would have
executed Jesus at once upon the hasty condemnation of their judges;
but such power had passed from them into the hands of the Romans,
and it was necessary that the case be referred to the proper authorities
of that government for final decision. The Jews were anxious to hasten
the trial and execution of Jesus, because if it were not brought about at
once there would be a delay of a week on account of the immediate
celebration of the passover. In that case Jesus would be kept in bonds,
and the intense excitement of the mob that was clamoring for his life,
would have been allayed, and a natural reaction would have set in. The
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better part of the people would have become aroused in his behalf, and
in all probability his release would be accomplished. The priests and
rulers felt that there was no time to lose.
The whole Sanhedrim, followed by the multitude, escorted Je-
sus to the judgment hall of Pilate, the Roman governor, to secure a
confirmation of the sentence they had just pronounced. The Jewish
priests and rulers could not themselves enter Pilate’s hall for fear of
ceremonial defilement, which would disqualify them for taking part
in the paschal feast. In order to condemn the spotless Son of God,
they were compelled to appeal for judgment to one whose threshold
they dared not cross for fear of defilement. Blinded by prejudice and
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