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438
From Heaven With Love
been an imperfect offering, and the redemption of man a failure.
But He submitted with perfect calmness 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 sought.
His meekness and patience proved His kinship to God. The 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 Saviour had
departed in no particular from the will of His Father.
Compromise Leads to Ruin
When Pilate gave Jesus up to be scourged, he hoped the multitude
would decide that this was sufficient punishment. But with keen
perception the Jews saw the weakness of punishing a man who had
been declared innocent. They were determined that Jesus should not
be released.
Pilate now sent for Barabbas to be brought into the court, the two
prisoners side by side. Pointing to the Saviour 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 stained 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.
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In striking contrast was the prisoner at His side. Every line of
the countenance of Barabbas proclaimed him a hardened ruffian.
The contrast spoke to every beholder. As some looked on 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 upon their minds. The scene was never to be
effaced until they either acknowledged Him as the Christ, or by
rejecting Him decided their own destiny.
Pilate did not doubt that the sight of this Man in contrast with
Barabbas would move the Jews to sympathy. But he did not under-