Chapter 77—In Pilate’s Judgment Hall
This chapter is based on
Matthew 27:2, 11-31
;
Mark 15:1-20
;
Luke
23:1-25
;
John 18:28-40
;
John 19:1-16
In the judgment hall of Pilate, the Roman governor, Christ stands
bound as a prisoner. About Him are the guard of soldiers, and the hall
is fast filling with spectators. Just outside the entrance are the judges
of the Sanhedrin, priests, rulers, elders, and the mob.
After condemning Jesus, the council of the Sanhedrin had come to
Pilate to have the sentence confirmed and executed. But these Jewish
officials would not enter the Roman judgment hall. According to their
ceremonial law they would be defiled thereby, and thus prevented from
taking part in the feast of the Passover. In their blindness they did
not see that murderous hatred had defiled their hearts. They did not
see that Christ was the real Passover lamb, and that, since they had
rejected Him, the great feast had for them lost its significance.
When the Saviour was brought into the judgment hall, Pilate looked
upon Him with no friendly eyes. The Roman governor had been called
from his bedchamber in haste, and he determined to do his work as
quickly as possible. He was prepared to deal with the prisoner with
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magisterial severity. Assuming his severest expression, he turned to
see what kind of man he had to examine, that he had been called from
his repose at so early an hour. He knew that it must be someone whom
the Jewish authorities were anxious to have tried and punished with
haste.
Pilate looked at the men who had Jesus in charge, and then his
gaze rested searchingly on Jesus. He had had to deal with all kinds of
criminals; but never before had a man bearing marks of such goodness
and nobility been brought before him. On His face he saw no sign of
guilt, no expression of fear, no boldness or defiance. He saw a man of
calm and dignified bearing, whose countenance bore not the marks of
a criminal, but the signature of heaven.
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