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From Heaven With Love
ment and knew that such a report would ruin him. He knew the Jews
would leave nothing undone to accomplish their revenge.
Pilate again presented Jesus to the people, saying, “Behold your
King!” Again the mad cry was heard, “Away with Him, crucify
Him.” In a voice that was heard far and near, Pilate asked, “Shall I
crucify your King?” But from profane, blasphemous lips went forth
the words, “We have no king but Caesar.”
Thus by choosing a heathen ruler, the Jewish nation rejected
God as their king. Henceforth they had no king but Caesar. To this
the priests and teachers had led the people. For this, with the fearful
results that followed, they were responsible. A nation’s sin and a
nation’s ruin were due to the religious leaders.
“When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a
tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the
multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just Person: see
ye to it.” Pilate looked upon the Saviour, and said in his heart, He is
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a God. Turning to the multitude he declared, I am clear of His blood.
Crucify Him, but I pronounce Him a just man. May He whom He
claims as His Father judge you and not me for this day’s work. Then
to Jesus he said, Forgive me for this act; I cannot save You. And
when he had again scourged Jesus, He delivered Him to be crucified.
Pilate longed to deliver Jesus, but he saw that he could not do
this and yet retain his own position. Rather than lose his worldly
power, he chose to sacrifice an innocent life. How many in like
manner sacrifice principle. Conscience and duty point one way, and
self-interest another. The current sets in the wrong direction, and he
who compromises with evil is swept away into the thick darkness of
guilt.
But in spite of his precautions, the very thing Pilate dreaded
came upon him. He was cast down from his high office, and, stung
by remorse and wounded pride, not long after the crucifixion he
ended his own life.
When Pilate declared himself innocent of the blood of Christ,
Caiaphas answered defiantly, “His blood be on us, and on our chil-
dren.” The awful words were echoed by the crowd in an inhuman
roar of voices. The whole multitude said, “His blood be on us, and
on our children.”