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172
Early Writings
smote Him with it upon the head, causing the thorns to penetrate
His temples, sending the blood trickling down His face and beard.
It was difficult for the angels to endure the sight. They would
have delivered Jesus, but the commanding angels forbade them,
saying that it was a great ransom which was to be paid for man;
but it would be complete and would cause the death of him who
had the power of death. Jesus knew that angels were witnessing the
scene of His humiliation. The weakest angel could have caused that
mocking throng to fall powerless and could have delivered Jesus. He
knew that if He should desire it of His Father, angels would instantly
release Him. But it was necessary that He should suffer the violence
of wicked men, in order to carry out the plan of salvation.
Jesus stood meek and humble before the infuriated multitude,
while they offered Him the vilest abuse. They spit in His face—that
face from which they will one day desire to hide, which will give
light to the city of God and shine brighter than the sun. Christ did
not cast upon the offenders an angry look. They covered His head
with an old garment, blindfolding Him, and then struck Him in the
face and cried out, “Prophesy, who is it that smote Thee?” There
was commotion among the angels. They would have rescued Him
instantly; but their commanding angels restrained them.
[171]
Some of the disciples had gained confidence to enter where Jesus
was and witness His trial. They expected that He would manifest His
divine power, and deliver Himself from the hands of His enemies,
and punish them for their cruelty toward Him. Their hopes would
rise and fall as the different scenes transpired. Sometimes they
doubted, and feared that they had been deceived. But the voice heard
at the mount of transfiguration, and the glory they there beheld,
strengthened their faith that He was the Son of God. They called
to mind the scenes which they had witnessed, the miracles which
they had seen Jesus perform in healing the sick, opening the eyes of
the blind, unstopping the deaf ears, rebuking and casting out devils,
raising the dead to life, and even calming the wind and the sea. They
could not believe that He would die. They hoped that He would
yet rise in power, and with His commanding voice disperse that
bloodthirsty multitude, as when He entered the temple and drove out
those who were making the house of God a place of merchandise,
when they fled before Him as if pursued by a company of armed