Condemnation of Jesus
95
of Herod, he embraced the opportunity to spare himself from farther
difficulty, and refused to decide the case, sending him to Herod, who
was then in Jerusalem.
Jesus was faint and weary from loss of sleep and food, and the
ill-treatment he had received; yet his suffering condition awakened
no pity in the hearts of his persecutors. He was dragged away to the
judgment hall of Herod amid the hooting and insults of the merciless
mob. Besides escaping responsibility in regard to the trial of Jesus,
Pilate thought this would be a good opportunity to heal an old quarrel
between himself and Herod. He thought that this act on his part would
[135]
be regarded by Herod as an acknowledgment of his superior authority,
and would thus bring about a reconciliation. In this he was not wrong,
for the two magistrates made friends over the trial of the Saviour.
When Herod had first heard of Jesus and the mighty works wrought
by him, he was terror-stricken, and said, “It is John whom I beheaded;
he is risen from the dead;” “therefore mighty works do show forth
themselves in him.” Herod had never before met Jesus, but he had long
desired to see him, and witness his marvelous power. He was pleased
that he was brought to him a prisoner, for he made no doubt that he
could force him to work a miracle as a condition of saving his life.
Herod’s conscience was far less sensitive than when he had trembled
with horror at the request of Herodias for the head of John the Baptist.
For a time he had felt the keen stings of remorse for the terrible act he
had committed to gratify the revenge of a cruel woman; but his moral
perceptions had become more and more degraded by his licentious
life, till his sins appeared but trifles in his eyes. The men who are
capable of the worst crimes are those who have once been convicted
by the Spirit of truth, and have turned away from the light into the
darkness of iniquity. Herod had very nearly become a disciple of John;
but at the very point of decision, he had fallen into the snare of Satan
and to death one whom he knew to be a true prophet.
As the Saviour was brought before Herod, the rabble surged and
pressed about, crying out against the prisoner, some charging him with
[136]
one crime and some with another. Herod commanded silence and
directed that Jesus be unbound, for he wished to interrogate him. He
looked with curiosity, mingled with an impulse of pity, upon the pale,
sad face of the Saviour, which was marked with deep wisdom and
purity, but showed extreme weariness and suffering. Herod, as well as