In Pilate’s Judgment Hall
631
cruel stripes, from which the blood flowed freely. His face was stained
with blood, and bore the marks of exhaustion and pain; but never had
it appeared more beautiful than now. The Saviour’s visage was not
marred before His enemies. Every feature expressed gentleness and
resignation and the tenderest pity for His cruel foes. In His manner
there was no cowardly weakness, but the strength and dignity of long-
suffering. In striking contrast was the prisoner at His side. Every
line of the countenance of Barabbas proclaimed him the hardened
ruffian that he was. The contrast spoke to every beholder. Some of the
spectators were weeping. As they looked upon Jesus, their hearts were
full of sympathy. Even the priests and rulers were convicted that He
was all that He claimed to be.
The Roman soldiers that surrounded Christ were not all hardened;
some were looking earnestly into His face for one evidence that He
was a criminal or dangerous character. From time to time they would
turn and cast a look of contempt upon Barabbas. It needed no deep
insight to read him through and through. Again they would turn to
the One upon trial. They looked at the divine sufferer with feelings of
deep pity. The silent submission of Christ stamped upon their minds
[736]
the scene, never to be effaced until they either acknowledged Him as
the Christ, or by rejecting Him decided their own destiny.
Pilate was filled with amazement at the uncomplaining patience of
the Saviour. He did not doubt that the sight of this Man, in contrast
with Barabbas, would move the Jews to sympathy. But he did not
understand the fanatical hatred of the priests for Him, who, as the
Light of the world, had made manifest their darkness and error. They
had moved the mob to a mad fury, and again priests, rulers, and people
raised that awful cry, “Crucify Him, crucify Him.” At last, losing all
patience with their unreasoning cruelty, Pilate cried out despairingly,
“Take ye Him, and crucify Him: for I find no fault in Him.”
The Roman governor, though familiar with cruel scenes, was
moved with sympathy for the suffering prisoner, who, condemned
and scourged, with bleeding brow and lacerated back, still had the
bearing of a king upon his throne. But the priests declared, “We have
a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the
Son of God.”
Pilate was startled. He had no correct idea of Christ and His
mission; but he had an indistinct faith in God and in beings superior