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Humble Hero
“Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus
who is called Christ?” Like the bellowing of wild beasts came the
answer, “Release to us Barabbas.” Thinking that the people had not
understood his question, Pilate asked, “Do you want me to release to
you the King of the Jews?” But they cried out again, “Away with this
Man, and release to us Barabbas.” “What then shall I do with Jesus
who is called Christ?” Demons in human form were in the crowd,
and what could be expected but the answer, “Let Him be crucified!”
Pilate Did Not Foresee the Consequences
Pilate had not thought it would come to that. He shrank from
delivering an innocent Man to the most cruel death that could be
inflicted. “Why, what evil has He done?” But the case had gone too
far for argument.
Still Pilate tried to save Christ. “He said to them the third time,
‘Why, what evil has He done?’” But the very mention of His release
stirred the people to frenzy. Louder and louder they cried, “Crucify
Him, crucify Him!”
Faint and covered with wounds, Jesus was scourged. “Then
the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they
called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with
purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and
began to salute Him, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ Then they ... spat
on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And ... they ...
mocked Him.” Occasionally some wicked hand struck the crown,
forcing the thorns into His temples and sending the blood trickling
down His face.
A maddened crowd surrounded the Savior of the world. Mocking
and jeering mingled with oaths of blasphemy. Satan led the mob.
It was his plan, if possible, to provoke the Savior to retaliate or to
drive Him to perform a miracle to release Himself. One stain upon
His human life, and the Lamb of God would have been an imperfect
offering and the redemption of humanity a failure. But with perfect
calmness He submitted to the coarsest insult and outrage.
Christ’s enemies had demanded a miracle as evidence of His
divinity. They had evidence far greater than any they had asked for.
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His meekness and patience proved His relationship to God. The