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Trial of Christ
175
and abused the Son of God. Yet he was astonished at the noble,
Godlike appearance of Jesus when shamefully abused, and fearing
to condemn Him, he sent Him again to Pilate.
Satan and his angels were tempting Pilate and trying to lead him
on to his own ruin. They suggested to him that if he did not take part
in condemning Jesus others would; the multitude were thirsting for
His blood; and if he did not deliver Him to be crucified, he would lose
his power and worldly honor and would be denounced as a believer
on the impostor. Through fear of losing his power and authority,
Pilate consented to the death of Jesus. And notwithstanding he
placed the blood of Jesus upon His accusers, and the multitude
received it, crying, “His blood be on us, and on our children,” yet
Pilate was not clear; he was guilty of the blood of Christ. For his
own selfish interest, his love of honor from the great men of earth,
he delivered an innocent man to die. If Pilate had followed his own
convictions, he would have had nothing to do with condemning
Jesus.
The appearance and words of Jesus during His trial made a
deep impression upon the minds of many who were present on that
occasion. The result of the influence thus exerted was apparent after
His resurrection. Among those who were then added to the church,
there were many whose conviction dated from the time of Jesus’
trial.
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Satan’s rage was great as he saw that all the cruelty which he
had led the Jews to inflict on Jesus had not called forth from Him
the slightest murmur. Although He had taken upon Himself man’s
nature, He was sustained by a Godlike fortitude, and departed not in
the least from the will of His Father.