Before Pilate.
Matt. 27.
WHEN the chief priests and elders of the people, had taken counsel together, and decided that Jesus should die, they led Him to Pontius Pilate the governor, to secure the death warrant from him.
Luke tells us that they charged Him before Pilate, with perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, claiming that He Himself was a king. But Pilate knew that for envy they had delivered Him, and while Jesus owned to Pilate that He was King of the Jews, he nevertheless, desired to release Him. He declared to the chief priests and to the people, that he found no fault in Him. But they were only the more fierce, “saying He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.” Pilate then asked if Jesus was a Galilean, and finding that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to that ruler, who also was at Jerusalem at that time.
Pilate had no love for Jesus, but he knew that the accusations of the Jews were false, and, no doubt, desiring not to offend the Jews, nor yet to condemn Jesus without cause, he thought he would shift the responsibility to Herod. So he sent Jesus to Him.
We are told in Luke 23, that when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, because he had long desired to see Him having heard many things about Him, and hoping also that he would see Jesus do some miracle. But alas! Herod was sadly disappointed, for when he questioned Jesus with many words, He answered him nothing. He was not here to satisfy the vain curiosity of worldly men, nor was He seeking to deliver Himself out of the hands of the wicked. This He could have clone in a moment, but He had come to die, and He would in silent meekness allow these wicked men to show out the horrible malice that was in their hearts. The chief priests and scribes stood before Herod, and vehemently accused Jesus. In the calm dignity of His glorious majesty He bore it all. Jesus was silent before Herod because He was innocent, and could commit His righteous soul to Him who judges righteously. But a day will come when Herod will stand dumb before Jesus, because guilty, and without excuse. What will Herod’s royalty and self-importance be worth then? Herod and his men of war set Jesus at nought, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him to Pilate. This but showed the malice and wickedness of their wretched hearts. No doubt they found great sport in thus treating the lowly Nazarene. But the Nazarene was the Son of God, and as Judge He will sit on the great white throne another day, and the sport of these heartless and wicked wretches will then be turned into unspeakable terror, as they have to answer to Him.
Oh! think of this, young reader, when you would indulge in some cruel sport at the expense of the innocent. Such things may be done thoughtlessly, but when the light of eternity is shed upon them, they will be manifested to be wickedness proceeding from a heart that is far from God.
Pilate and Herod had been at enmity with each other. But now they were made friends. Sad exhibition of what the human heart is! The worst enemies in the world can unite in their condemnation of Jesus. What had Pilate done to win the friendship of Herod? He had tried to shift to Herod the responsibility of judging Jesus. That was all. And what did Herod do to win the friendship of Pilate. He had insulted and made sport of the Son of God, and returned Him to Pilate for judgment. That was all. Enemies united in their hatred of the Son of God! Oh! what wickedness.
ML 06/03/1906