622
The Desire of Ages
who stood in the way of the Jewish dignitaries. Turning to Jesus
he asked, “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” The Saviour answered,
“Thou sayest it.” And as He spoke, His countenance lighted up as if a
sunbeam were shining upon it.
When they heard His answer, Caiaphas and those that were with
him called Pilate to witness that Jesus had admitted the crime with
which He was charged. With noisy cries, priests, scribes, and rulers
demanded that He be sentenced to death. The cries were taken up
by the mob, and the uproar was deafening. Pilate was confused.
Seeing that Jesus made no answer to His accusers, Pilate said to Him,
“Answerest Thou nothing? behold how many things they witness
against Thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing.”
Standing behind Pilate, in view of all in the court, Christ heard
the abuse; but to all the false charges against Him He answered not a
word. His whole bearing gave evidence of conscious innocence. He
stood unmoved by the fury of the waves that beat about Him. It was as
if the heavy surges of wrath, rising higher and higher, like the waves
of the boisterous ocean, broke about Him, but did not touch Him. He
stood silent, but His silence was eloquence. It was as a light shining
from the inner to the outer man.
Pilate was astonished at His bearing. Does this Man disregard
the proceedings because He does not care to save His life? he asked
himself. As he looked at Jesus, bearing insult and mockery without
retaliation, he felt that He could not be as unrighteous and unjust as
were the clamoring priests. Hoping to gain the truth from Him and to
escape the tumult of the crowd, Pilate took Jesus aside with him, and
again questioned, “Art Thou the King of the Jews?”
Jesus did not directly answer this question. He knew that the
Holy Spirit was striving with Pilate, and He gave him opportunity to
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acknowledge his conviction. “Sayest thou this thing of thyself,” He
asked, “or did others tell it thee of Me?” That is, was it the accusations
of the priests, or a desire to receive light from Christ, that prompted
Pilate’s question? Pilate understood Christ’s meaning; but pride arose
in his heart. He would not acknowledge the conviction that pressed
upon him. “Am I a Jew?” he said. “Thine own nation and the chief
priests have delivered Thee unto me: what hast Thou done?”
Pilate’s golden opportunity had passed. Yet Jesus did not leave him
without further light. While He did not directly answer Pilate’s ques-