626
The Desire of Ages
But He had no words for those who would but trample the truth under
their unholy feet.
Christ might have spoken words to Herod that would have pierced
the ears of the hardened king. He might have stricken him with fear
and trembling by laying before him the full iniquity of his life, and
the horror of his approaching doom. But Christ’s silence was the
severest rebuke that He could have given. Herod had rejected the truth
spoken to him by the greatest of the prophets, and no other message
was he to receive. Not a word had the Majesty of heaven for him. That
ear that had ever been open to human woe, had no room for Herod’s
commands. Those eyes that had ever rested upon the penitent sinner in
pitying, forgiving love had no look to bestow upon Herod. Those lips
that had uttered the most impressive truth, that in tones of tenderest
entreaty had pleaded with the most sinful and the most degraded, were
closed to the haughty king who felt no need of a Saviour.
Herod’s face grew dark with passion. Turning to the multitude,
he angrily denounced Jesus as an impostor. Then to Christ he said, If
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You will give no evidence of Your claim, I will deliver You up to the
soldiers and the people. They may succeed in making You speak. If
You are an impostor, death at their hands is only what You merit; if
You are the Son of God, save Yourself by working a miracle.
No sooner were these words spoken than a rush was made for
Christ. Like wild beasts, the crowd darted upon their prey. Jesus
was dragged this way and that, Herod joining the mob in seeking to
humiliate the Son of God. Had not the Roman soldiers interposed, and
forced back the maddened throng, the Saviour would have been torn
in pieces.
“Herod with his men of war set Him at nought, and mocked Him,
and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe.” The Roman soldiers joined
in this abuse. All that these wicked, corrupt soldiers, helped on by
Herod and the Jewish dignitaries, could instigate was heaped upon the
Saviour. Yet His divine patience failed not.
Christ’s persecutors had tried to measure His character by their
own; they had represented Him as vile as themselves. But back of all
the present appearance another scene intruded itself,—a scene which
they will one day see in all its glory. There were some who trembled
in Christ’s presence. While the rude throng were bowing in mockery
before Him, some who came forward for that purpose turned back,