t character. He believed him to be entirely
innocent. The angels who were witnessing the whole scene
noticed the convictions of Pilate, and marked his sympathy
and compassion for Jesus; and to save him from engaging in
the awful act of delivering Jesus to be crucified, an angel was
sent to Pilate’s wife, and gave her information through a dream
that it was the Son of God in whose trial Pilate was engaged,
and that he was an innocent sufferer. She immediately sent
word to Pilate that she had suffered many things in a dream
on account of Jesus, and warned him to have nothing to do
with that holy man. The messenger bearing the communication
pressed hastily through the crowd, and handed it to Pilate. As
he read it he trembled and turned pale. He at once thought he
would have nothing to do in the matter; that
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if they would have the blood of Jesus he would not give his
influence to it, but would labor to deliver him.
When Pilate heard that Herod was at Jerusalem, he was
glad, and hoped to free himself from the disagreeable matter
altogether, and have nothing to do in condemning Jesus. He
sent him, with his accusers, to Herod. Herod was hardened.
His murdering John left a stain upon his conscience which
he could not free himself from, and when he heard of Jesus,
and the mighty works done by him, he thought it was John
risen from the dead. He feared and trembled, for he bore a
guilty conscience. Jesus was placed in Herod’s hands by Pilate.
Herod considered this act an acknowledgment from Pilate of
his power, authority and judgment. They had previously been
enemies, but then they were made friends. Herod was glad to
see Jesus, for he expected that he would work some mighty
miracle for his satisfaction. But it was not the work of Jesus
to gratify his curiosity. His divine and miraculous power was
to be exercised for the salvation of others, but not in his own
behalf.
Jesus answered nothing to the many questions put to him by
Herod; neither did he regard his enemies who were vehemently
accusing him. Herod was enraged because Jesus did not appear
to fear his power, and with his men of war, derided, mocked and
abused the
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Son of God.. Herod was astonished at the noble, God-like
appearance of Jesus, when shamefully abused, and feared to
condemn him, and he sent him again to Pilate.
Satan and his angels were tempting Pilate, and trying to
lead him on to his own ruin. They suggested to him that if
he did not take any part in condemning Jesus, others would;
the multitude were thirsting for his blood; and if he did not
deliver Jesus to be crucified, he would lose his power and
worldly honor, and would be denounced as a believer on the
impostor, as they termed him. Pilate, through fear of losing
his power and authority, consented to the death of Jesus. And
notwithstanding he placed the blood of Jesus upon his accusers,
and the multitude received it, crying, His blood be on us and on
our children, yet Pilate was not clear; he was guilty of the blood
of Christ. For his own selfish interest, and love of honor from
the great men of earth, he delivered an innocent man to die. If
Pilate had followed his conviction, he would have had nothing
to do with condemning Jesus.
The trial and condemnation of Jesus were working on the
minds of many; and impressions were being made which were
to appear after his resurrection; and many were to be added to
the Church whose experience and conviction should be dated
from the time of Jesus’ trial.
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Satan’s rage was great as he saw that all the cruelty which
he had led the chief priests to inflict on Jesus had not called
forth from him the least murmur. I saw that, although Jesus had
taken man’s nature, a power and fortitude that was God-like
sustained him, and he did not depart from the will of his Father
in the least.
*****
Chapter IX. - The Crucifixion of
Christ.
The Son of God was delivered to the people to be crucified.
They led the dear Saviour away. He was weak and feeble
through pain and suffering, caused by the scourging and blows
which he had received, yet they laid on him the heavy cross
upon which they were soon to nail him. But Jesus fainted
beneath the burden. Three times they laid on him the heavy
cross, and three times he fainted. They then seized one of his
followers, a man who had not openly professed faith in Christ,
yet believed on him. They laid on him the cross, and he bore
it to the fatal spot. Companies of angels were marshaled in the
air above the place. A number of his disciples followed him
to Calvary in sorrow, and with bitter weeping. They called to
mind Jesus’ riding
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triumphantly into Jerusalem, and they following him, crying,
Hosanna in the highest! and strewing their garments in the
way, and the beautiful palm branches. They thought that he
was then to take the kingdom and reign a temporal prince over
Israel. How changed the scene! How blighted their prospects!
They followed Jesus; not with rejoicing; not with bounding
hearts and cheerful hopes; but with hearts stricken with fear
and despair they slowly, sadly followed him who had been
disgraced and humbled, and who was about to die.
The mother of Jesus was there. Her heart was pierced with
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anguish, such as none but a fond mother can feel. Her stricken
heart still hoped, with the disciples, that her Son would work
some mighty miracle, and deliver himself from his murderers.
She could not endure the thought that he would suffer himself
to be crucified. But the preparations were made, and they laid
Jesus upon the cross. The hammer and the nails were brought.
The heart of his disciples fainted within them. The mother
of Jesus was agonized, almost beyond endurance, and as they
stretched Jesus upon the cross, and were about to fasten his
hands with the cruel nails to the wooden arms,