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Christ’s Trial Before the Roman Governor
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their unholy feet. Herod had rejected the truth spoken to him by the
greatest of the prophets, and no other message was he to receive.
Not a word had the Majesty of heaven for him. Those lips were
closed to the haughty king who felt no need of a Saviour.
Herod’s face grew dark with passion. He angrily denounced
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Jesus as an impostor. Then to Christ he said, If You will give no
evidence of Your claim, I will deliver You up to the soldiers and the
people. If You are an impostor, death is what You merit; if You are
the Son of God, save Yourself by working a miracle.
No sooner were these words spoken than, like wild beasts, the
crowd darted upon their prey. Jesus was dragged this way and that,
Herod joining the mob in seeking to humiliate the Son of God. Had
not the Roman soldiers interposed, the Saviour would have been
torn in pieces.
“Herod with his men of war set Him at nought, and mocked Him,
and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe.” The Roman soldiers joined in
this abuse. All that these corrupt soldiers and the Jewish dignitaries
could instigate was heaped upon the Saviour. Yet His patience failed
not.
Some Trembled Before Jesus
But there were some who trembled in Christ’s presence. Some
who came forward for mockery turned back, afraid and silenced.
Herod was convicted. The last rays of merciful light were shining
on his sin-hardened heart. Divinity had flashed through humanity.
Herod felt that he was beholding a God upon His throne. Hardened
as he was, he dared not ratify the condemnation of Christ. He sent
Jesus back to the Roman judgment hall.
Pilate was disappointed when the Jews returned with their pris-
oner. He reminded them that he had already examined Jesus and
found no fault in Him. They had not been able to prove a single
charge. And Herod, one of their own nation, also had found in Him
nothing worthy of death. “I will therefore chastise Him and release
Him.”
Here Pilate showed his weakness. Jesus was innocent, yet he
was willing to sacrifice justice in order to pacify His accusers. This
placed him at a disadvantage. The crowd presumed upon his inde-