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Humble Hero
declared, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die,
because He made Himself the Son of God.”
Jesus’ Kindness to Pilate
Pilate was startled—it might be a divine Being that stood before
him! Again he said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave
no answer. The Savior had spoken freely to Pilate, explaining His
mission. Pilate had disregarded the light. He had abused the high
office of judge by yielding to the demands of the mob. Jesus had no
further light for him. Irritated by His silence, Pilate said haughtily,
“Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power
to crucify You, and power to release You?”
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Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me
unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who
delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” Christ meant Caiaphas,
who represented the Jewish nation. They had light in the prophecies
that testified of Christ and unmistakable evidence of the divinity
of the One they condemned to death. The heaviest responsibility
belonged to those who stood in the highest places in the nation.
Pilate, Herod, and the Roman soldiers were comparatively ignorant
of Jesus. They had not had the light that the Jewish nation had
received so abundantly. If the light had been given to the soldiers,
they would not have treated Christ as they did.
Again Pilate proposed to release the Savior. “But the Jews cried
out, saying, ‘If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend.’”
Of all the opponents of Roman rule, the Jews were most bitter. But
to accomplish Christ’s destruction, they would profess loyalty to the
foreign rule that they hated.
“Whoever makes himself a king,” they continued, “speaks
against Caesar.” Pilate was under suspicion by the Roman gov-
ernment and knew that such a report would ruin him. He knew the
Jews would leave nothing undone to get their revenge.
Pilate again presented Jesus to the people, saying, “Behold your
King!” Again the mad cry arose, “Away with Him! Crucify Him!”
In a voice heard far and near, Pilate asked, “Shall I crucify your
King?” But from profane, blasphemous lips came the words, “We
have no king but Caesar!”