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Christ’s Trial Before the Roman Governor
441
blood drops that flowed from His wounded temples were the pledge
of His anointing with “the oil of gladness” as our great High Priest.
See
Hebrews 1:9
. Satan’s rage was great as he saw that the Savior
had not departed in any detail from the will of His Father.
Compromise Leads to Ruin
When Pilate gave Jesus up to be scourged, he hoped the crowd
would decide that this was enough punishment. But with keen
perception, the Jews saw the weakness of punishing a Man who had
been declared innocent. They were determined not to let Jesus be
released.
Pilate now sent for Barabbas to be brought into the court and
presented the two prisoners side by side. Pointing to the Savior
he said, “Behold the Man!” There stood the Son of God, stripped
to the waist, His back showing the long stripes from which blood
flowed freely. His face was bloodstained and bore the marks of pain,
but never had it appeared more beautiful than now. Every feature
expressed the tenderest pity for His cruel foes. In His manner there
was the strength and dignity of long-suffering.
In striking contrast was the prisoner at His side. Every line of
Barabbas’s face proclaimed him a hardened criminal. The contrast
spoke to every onlooker. As some gazed at Jesus they wept, their
hearts full of sympathy. 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.
They looked at the divine Sufferer with feelings of pity, His silent
submission stamped on their minds. They would never forget that
scene until they either acknowledged Him as the Christ or decided
their own destiny by rejecting Him.
Pilate had no doubt that the sight of this Man in contrast with
Barabbas would move the Jews to sympathy. But he did not under-
stand the priests’ fanatical hatred. Again priests, rulers, and people
raised that awful cry, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Finally, losing all
patience with their unreasoning cruelty, Pilate cried out despairingly,
“You take 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. But the priests