74
The Story of Jesus
Now he had become still more hardened. He could not bear the
silence of Jesus. His face grew dark with passion, and he angrily
threatened the Saviour, who still remained unmoved and silent.
Christ had come into the world to heal the broken-hearted. Could
He have spoken any word to heal the bruises of sin-sick souls, He
would not have kept silent. But He had no words for those who would
but trample the truth under their unholy feet.
The Saviour might have spoken to Herod words that would have
pierced the ears of the hardened king. He might have stricken him
with fear and trembling by laying before him the full iniquity of his
life, and the horror of his approaching doom. But Christ’s silence was
the severest rebuke that He could have given.
That ear which had ever been open to the cry of human woe, had
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no place for the command of Herod. That heart, ever touched by the
plea of even the worst sinners, was closed to the haughty king who felt
no need of a Saviour.
In anger, Herod turned to the multitude, and denounced Jesus as
an imposter. But the accusers of the Saviour knew that He was no
imposter. They had seen too many of His mighty works to believe this
charge.
Then the king began to shamefully abuse and ridicule the Son of
God. “And Herod with his men of war set Him at naught, and mocked
Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe.”
Luke 23:11
.
As the wicked king saw Jesus accepting all this indignity in silence,
he was moved with a sudden fear that this was no common man before
him. He was perplexed with the thought that this prisoner might be a
heavenly being come down to the earth.
Herod dared not ratify the condemnation of Jesus. He wished to
relieve himself of the terrible responsibility, and so sent the Saviour
back to Pilate.
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