Condemnation of Jesus
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cruelty, they could not discern that their passover festival was of no
value, since they had defiled their souls by the rejection of Christ. The
great salvation that he brought was typified by the deliverance of the
children of Israel, which event was commemorated by the feast of
the passover. The innocent lamb slain in Egypt, the blood of which
sprinkled upon the door-posts caused the destroying angel to pass
over the homes of Israel, prefigured the sinless Lamb of God, whose
merits can alone avert the judgment and condemnation of fallen man.
The Saviour had been obedient to the Jewish law, and observed all its
divinely appointed ordinances. He had just identified himself with the
paschal lamb as its great antitype, by connecting the Lord’s supper
with the passover. What a bitter mockery then was the ceremony about
to be observed by the priestly persecutors of Jesus! Pilate beheld, in
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the accused, a man bearing the marks of violence, but with a serene
and noble countenance and dignified bearing. Many cases had been
tried before the Roman governor, but never before had there stood in
his presence a man like this. He discovered no trace of crime in his
face; and something in the prisoner’s appearance excited his sympathy
and respect. He turned to the priests, who stood just without the door,
and asked, “What accusation bring ye against this man?”
They were not prepared for this question. They had not designed to
state the particulars of the alleged crime of Jesus. They had expected
that Pilate would, without delay, confirm their decision against the
Saviour. However they answered him that they had tried the prisoner
according to their law and found him deserving of death. Said they,
“If he were not a malefactor we would not have delivered him up unto
thee.” But Pilate was not satisfied with the explanation of the Jews,
and reminded them of their inability to execute the law. He intimated
that if their judgment only was necessary to procure his condemnation,
it was useless to bring the prisoner to him. Said he, “Take ye him, and
judge him according to your law.”
The treacherous priests felt that they were outwitted; they saw that
it would not do to specify the grounds for their condemnation of Jesus.
The charge of blasphemy would be regarded by Pilate as the expression
of religious bigotry and priestly jealousy; and the case would be at
once dismissed. But if they could excite the apprehensions of the
Roman governor that Jesus was a leader of sedition, their purpose
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would be accomplished. Tumults and insurrections were constantly