STORY OF JESUS -5
At the Passover Supper
Story-JesusMP3s/15-SOJ.mp3
The Children of Israel ate the first Passover supper at the time of their
release from bondage in Egypt.
God had promised to set them free. He had told them that the first-born
son in every family of the Egyptians was to be slain.
He had told them to mark their own door posts with the blood of the slain
lamb, that the angel of death might pass them by.
The lamb itself they were to roast and eat at night, with unleavened
bread and with bitter herbs, which represented the bitterness of their slavery.
When they ate the lamb, they must be all ready for a journey. They must
have their shoes on their feet, and their staves in their hands.
They did as the Lord had said, and that very night the king of Egypt sent
them word that they might go free. In the morning they started on their way to
the land of promise.
So every year, the same night on which they left Egypt, all the
Israelites kept the feast of the Passover at Jerusalem. And this feast each
family had a roasted lamb, with bread and bitter herbs, as their forefathers had
in Egypt. And they told their children the story of God's goodness in freeing
His people from slavery.
The time had now come when Christ was to keep the feast with His
disciples, and He told Peter and John to find a place, and make ready the
Passover supper.
A great many people came to Jerusalem at this time, and those who lived
in the city were always ready to give a room in their houses for visitors to
keep the feast.
The Saviour told Peter and John that when they had gone into the street,
they would meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Him they were to follow, and
they were to go into the house where he went. And they were to say to the good
man of that house:
"The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I
shall eat the Passover with My disciples?"
This man would then show them a large upper room furnished for their
needs; there they were to prepare the Passover supper. And it all happened just
as the Saviour had told them it would.
At the Passover supper the disciples were alone with Jesus. The time they
spent with Him at these feasts had always been a time of joy; but now He was
troubled in spirit.
At last He said to them in tones of touching sadness:
"With desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I
suffer."
There was sweet wine on the table, and He took a cup of it, "and
gave thanks, and said:
"Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I
will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall
come." Luke 22:11, 15, 17, 18.
This was the last time that Christ was to keep the feast with His
disciples. It was really the last Passover that was ever to be kept. For the
lamb was slain to teach the people about Christ's death; and when Christ, the
Lamb of God, should be slain for the sins of the world, there would be no need
of slaying a lamb to represent His death.
When the Jews sealed their rejection of Christ by putting Him to death,
they rejected all that gave to this feast its value and significance. Henceforth
its observance by them was a worthless form.
As Christ joined in the Paschal service, there was before His mind the
scene of His last great sacrifice. He was now in the shadow of the cross, and
the pain was torturing His heart. He knew all the anguish that awaited Him.
He knew the ingratitude and cruelty that would be shown Him by those He
had come to save. But it was not of His own suffering that He thought. He pitied
those who would reject their Saviour and lose eternal life.
And the thought of His disciples was uppermost in His mind. He knew that
after His own suffering was over, they would be left to struggle in the world.
He had much to tell them that would be a stay to their hearts when He
should walk no more with them. Of these things He had hoped to speak at this
their last meeting before His death.
But He could not tell them now. He saw that they were not ready to
listen.
There had been a contention among them. They still thought that Christ
was soon to be made king, and each of them wanted the highest place in His
kingdom. So they had jealous and angry feelings toward one another.
There was another cause of trouble. At a feast it was the custom for a
servant to wash the feet of the guests, and on this occasion preparation had
been made for the service. The pitcher of water, the basin, and the towel were
there, ready for the feet-washing. But no servant was present, and it was the
disciples' part to perform it.
But each of the disciples thought that he would not be a servant to his
brethren. He was not willing to wash their feet. So, in silence they had taken
their places at the table.
Jesus waited awhile to see what they would do. Then He Himself rose from
the table. He girded Himself with the towel, poured water into the basin, and
began to wash the disciples' feet. He had been grieved by their contention, but
He did not reprove them by sharp words. He showed His love by acting as a
servant to His own disciples. When He had finished, He said to them:
"If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that ye should
do as I have done to you." John 13:14, 15.
In this way Christ taught them that they ought to help one another.
Instead of seeking the highest place for himself, each should be willing to
serve his brethren.
The Saviour came into the world to work for others. He lived to help and
save those who are needy and sinful. He wants us to do as He did.
The disciples were now ashamed of their jealousy and selfishness. Their
hearts were filled with love for their Lord and for one another. Now they could
give heed to Christ's teaching.
As they were still at the table, Jesus took bread, and gave thanks, and
broke it, and gave to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for
you: this do in remembrance of Me.
"Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new
testament in My blood, which is shed for you." Luke 22:19, 20.
The Bible says, "As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup,
ye do show the Lord's death till He come." 1 Corinthians 11:26.
The bread and the wine represent the body and the blood of Christ. As the
bread was broken, and the wine poured out, so on the cross Christ's body was
broken, and His blood shed to save us.
By eating the bread and drinking the wine, we show that we believe this.
We show that we repent of our sins, and that we receive Christ as our Saviour.
As the disciples sat at the table with Jesus, they saw that He still
seemed greatly troubled. A cloud settled on them all, and they ate in silence.
At last Jesus spoke and said, "Verily I say unto you, that one of
you shall betray Me."
The disciples were grieved and amazed at these words. Each began to look
into his heart to see if there was any shadow of an evil thought against their
Master.
One after another they asked, "Lord, is it I?"
Judas alone remained silent. This drew the eyes of all to him. When he
saw that he was observed, he too asked, "Master, is it I?"
And Jesus solemnly replied, "Thou hast said." Matthew 26:21,
22, 25.
Jesus had washed the feet of Judas, but this had not caused him to love
the Saviour more. He was angry that Christ should do a servant's work. Now he
knew that Christ would not be made king, and he was the more determined to
betray Him.
When he saw that his purpose was known, even this did not cause him to
fear. In anger he quickly left the room, and went away to carry out his wicked
plan. The going of Judas was a relief to all present. The Saviour's face
lighted, and at this the shadow was lifted from the disciples.
Christ now talked for some time with His disciples. He was going to His
Father's house, He said, to make a place ready for them, and He would come again
to take them to Himself.
He promised to send the Holy Spirit to be their teacher and comforter
while He was gone. He told them to pray in His name, and their prayers would
surely be answered.
He then prayed for them, asking that they might be kept from evil, and
might love one another as He had loved them.
Jesus prayed for us as well as for the first disciples. He said:
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall
believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art
in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may
believe that Thou hast sent Me, . . . and hast loved them, as Thou hast loved
Me." John 17:20-23.
In Gethsemane
Story-JesusMP3s/16-SOJ.mp3
The Saviour's life on earth was a life of prayer. Many were the hours He
spent alone with God. Often did He send up His earnest petitions to His heavenly
Father. Thus He received strength and wisdom to sustain Him in His work, and to
keep Him from falling under the temptations of Satan.
After eating the Passover supper with His disciples, Jesus went with them
to the garden of Gethsemane, where He often went to pray. As He walked, He
talked with them, and taught them; but as they neared the garden, He became
strangely silent.
All His life, Jesus had lived in the presence of His Father. The Spirit
of God had been His constant guide and support. He always gave God the glory for
His works on earth, and said, "I can of Mine own self do nothing."
John 5:30.
We can do nothing of ourselves. It is only by relying on Christ for all
our strength that we can overcome, and do His will on earth. We must have the
same simple, childlike trust in Him that He had in His Father. Christ said,
"Without Me ye can do nothing." John 15:5.
The terrible night of agony for the Saviour began as they neared the
garden. It seemed that the presence of God, which had been His support, was no
longer with Him. He was beginning to feel what it was to be shut out from His
Father.
Christ must bear the sins of the world. As they were now laid upon Him,
they seemed more than He could endure. The guilt of sin was so terrible, He was
tempted to fear that God could no longer love Him.
As He felt the awful displeasure of the Father against evil, the words
were forced from Him, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto
death."
Near the gate of the garden, Jesus had left all His disciples except
Peter, James, and John, and He had gone into the garden with these three. They
were His most earnest followers, and had been His closest companions. But He
could not bear that even they should witness the suffering He was to endure. He
said to them:
"Tarry ye here, and watch with Me." Matthew 26:38.
He went a short distance from them, and fell prostrate upon the ground.
He felt that by sin He was being separated from the Father. The gulf between
them appeared so broad, so black, so deep, that He shuddered before it.
Christ was not suffering for his own sins, but for the sins of the world.
He was feeling the displeasure of God against sin as the sinner will feel it in
the great judgment day.
In His agony, Christ clung to the cold ground. From His pale lips came
the bitter cry, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me;
nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt." Matthew 26:39.
For an hour Christ bore this terrible suffering alone. Then He came to
the disciples, hoping for some word of sympathy. But no sympathy awaited Him,
for they were asleep. They awoke at the sound of His voice, but they hardly knew
Him, His face was so changed by anguish. Addressing Peter, He said:
"Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour?" Mark
14:37.
Just before He bent His footsteps to the garden, Christ had said to the
disciples, "All ye shall be offended because of Me this night." They
had given Him the strongest assurance that they would go with Him to prison and
to death. And poor, self-sufficient Peter had added, "Although all shall be
offended, yet will not I." Mark 14:27, 29.
But the disciples trusted to themselves. They did not look to the Mighty
Helper as Christ had counselled them to do. So when the Saviour was most in need
of their sympathy and prayers, they were found asleep. Even Peter was sleeping.
And John, the loving disciple who had leaned upon the breast of Jesus,
was asleep. Surely the love of John for his Master should have kept him awake.
His earnest prayers should have mingled with those of his loved Saviour in the
time of His great agony. The Redeemer had spent whole nights in praying for His
disciples, that their faith might not fail in the hour of trial. Yet they could
not remain awake with Him even one hour.
Had Christ now asked James and John, "Can ye drink of the cup that I
drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" they
would not have answered so readily as they did before, "We can." Mark
10:38, 39.
The Saviour's heart was filled with pity and sympathy at the weakness of
His disciples. He feared that they could not endure the test which His suffering
and death would bring upon them.
Yet He did not sternly reprove them for their weakness. He thought of the
trials that were before them, and said:
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation."
He made an excuse for their failure in duty toward Him: "The spirit
indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Matthew 26:41. What an example
of the tender, loving pity of the Saviour!
Again the Son of God was seized with superhuman agony. Fainting and
exhausted, He staggered back, and prayed as He had prayed before:
"O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink
it, Thy will be done." Matthew 26:42.
The agony of this prayer forced drops of blood from His pores. Again He
sought the disciples for sympathy, and again He found them sleeping. His
presence aroused them. They looked upon His face with fear, for it was stained
with blood. They could not understand the anguish of mind which His face
expressed.
The third time He sought the place of prayer. A horror of great darkness
overcame Him. He had lost the presence of His Father. Without this, He feared
that in His human nature He could not endure the test.
The third time He prays the same prayer as before. Angels long to bring
relief, but it may not be. The Son of God must drink this cup, or the world will
be lost forever. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The
woes of a doomed world pass in review before Him.
He makes the final decision. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He
has left the courts of Heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to
save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression, and He
will not turn from His purpose. His prayer now breathes only submission:
"If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will
be done."
The Saviour now falls dying to the ground. No disciple is there, to place
his hand tenderly beneath his Master's head, and bathe that brow, marred indeed
more than the sons of men. Christ is alone; of all the people there are none
with Him.
But God suffers with His Son. Angels behold the Saviour's agony. There is
silence in Heaven. No harp is touched. Could men have viewed the amazement of
the angelic host as in silent grief they watched the Father separating His beams
of light, love, and glory from His beloved Son, they would better understand how
offensive in His sight is sin.
A mighty angel now comes to the side of Christ. He lifts the head of the
divine sufferer upon his bosom, and points toward Heaven. He tells Him that He
has come off victor over Satan. As the result, millions will be victors in His
glorious kingdom.
A heavenly peace rests upon the Saviour's blood-stained face. He has
borne that which no human being can ever bear; for He has tasted the sufferings
of death for every man.
Again Christ sought His disciples, and again He found them sleeping. Had
they remained awake, watching and praying with their Saviour, they would have
received help for the trial before them. Missing this, they had no strength in
their hour of need.
Looking sorrowfully on them, Christ said, "Sleep on now, and take
your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the
hands of sinners."
Even as He spoke these words, He heard the footsteps of the mob in search
of Him, and said:
"Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray
Me." Matthew 26:45, 46.
The Betrayal and Arrest
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No traces of His recent suffering were to be seen as the Saviour stepped
forth to meet His betrayer. Standing in advance of His disciples, He asked the
mob:
"Whom seek ye?"
They answered, "Jesus of Nazareth."
Jesus replied, "I am He." John 18:4, 5.
As Jesus spoke these words, the angel who had recently ministered to Him
moved between Him and the mob. A divine light illuminated the Saviour's face,
and a dovelike form overshadowed Him.
In the presence of this divine glory the murderous throng could not stand
for a moment. They staggered back. The priests, elders, and soldiers dropped as
dead men to the ground.
The angel withdrew, and the light faded away. Jesus could have escaped,
but He remained, calm and self-possessed. His disciples were too much amazed to
utter a word.
The Roman soldiers soon started to their feet. With the priests and
Judas, they gathered about Christ. They seemed ashamed of their weakness, and
fearful that He would escape. Again the question was asked by the Redeemer:
"Whom seek ye?"
Again they answered, "Jesus of Nazareth." The Saviour then
said, "I have told you that I am He: if therefore ye seek Me, let these
[pointing to His disciples] go their way." John 18:7,8.
In this hour of trial, Christ's thoughts were for His beloved disciples.
He did not wish to have them suffer, even though He must go to prison and to
death.
Judas, the betrayer, did not forget the part he
was to act. He came to Jesus, and kissed Him.
Jesus said to him, "Friend, wherefore art thou come?" Matthew
26:50. His voice trembled as He added, "Betrayest thou the Son of man with
a kiss?" Luke 22:48.
These gentle words should have touched the heart of Judas; but all
tenderness and honor seemed to have left him. Judas had yielded himself to the
control of Satan. He stood boldly before the Lord, and was not ashamed to give
Him up to the cruel mob.
Christ did not refuse the traitor's kiss. In this He gave us an example
of forbearance, love, and pity. If we are His disciples, we must treat our
enemies as He treated Judas.
The murderous throng became bold as they saw Judas touch the form which
had so recently been glorified before their eyes. They now laid hold of the
Saviour, and bound those hands that had ever been employed in doing good.
The disciples did not think that Christ would allow Himself to be taken.
They knew that the power which could strike down the mob as dead men could keep
them helpless till Christ and His companions should escape.
They were disappointed and indignant as they saw the cords brought
forward to bind the hands of Him whom they loved. Peter, in his anger, rashly
drew his sword, and tried to defend his Master. But he only cut off an ear of
the high priest's servant.
When Jesus saw what was done, He released His hands, though held firmly
by the Roman soldiers, and saying, "Suffer ye thus far" (Luke 22:51),
He touched the wounded ear, and it was instantly made whole.
He then said to Peter, "Put up again thy sword into his place: for
all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I
cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve
legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it
must be?" Matthew 26:52-54. "The cup which My Father hath given Me,
shall I not drink it?" John 18:11.
Christ then turned to the chief priests and the captains of the temple,
who were with the mob, and said, "Are ye come out as against a thief, with
swords and with staves to take me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching,
and ye took Me not: but the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Mark 14:48, 49.
The disciples were offended when they saw that the Saviour made no effort
to deliver Himself from His enemies. They blamed Him for not doing so. They
could not understand His submission to the mob, and, terror-stricken, they
forsook Him and fled.
Christ had foretold this desertion. "Behold," He had said,
"the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man
to his own, and shall leave Me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father
is with Me." John 16:32.
Before Annas, Caiaphas, and
the Sanhedrin
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Jesus was followed from the garden of Gethsemane by the hooting mob. He
moved painfully, for His hands were tightly bound, and He was closely guarded.
He was taken first to the house of Annas, who had formerly been the high
priest, but whose place was then filled by his son-in-law, Caiaphas. The wicked
Annas had requested that he might be the first to see Jesus of Nazareth a bound
captive. He hoped to draw from Him some evidence by which to secure His
condemnation.
With this in view he questioned the Saviour with regard to His disciples
and His teachings. Christ answered:
"I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in
the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said
nothing."
Then, turning upon the questioner, He said, "Why askest thou Me? Ask
them which heard Me, what I have said." John 18:20, 21.
The priests themselves had set spies to watch Christ and report His every
word. Through these spies they knew of His sayings and of His works at every
gathering of the people He had attended. The spies had sought to entrap Him in
His words, that they might find something by which to condemn Him. So the
Saviour said, "Ask them which heard Me." Go to your spies. They have
heard what I have said. They can tell you what My teaching has been.
The words of Christ were so searching and pointed that the priest felt
that his prisoner was reading his very soul.
But one of the servants of Annas, thinking that his master was not
treated with proper respect, struck Jesus in the face saying: "Answerest
Thou the high priest so?"
To this Jesus mildly said: "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of
the evil: but if well, why smitest thou Me?" John 18:22, 23.
Christ could have summoned legions of angels from Heaven to His aid. But
it was a part of His mission to endure in His humanity all the taunts and
insults that men might heap upon Him.
From the house of Annas, the Saviour was taken to the palace of Caiaphas.
He was to be tried before the Sanhedrin, and while its members were being called
together, Annas and Caiaphas again questioned Him, but they gained no advantage.
When the members of the Sanhedrin had assembled, Caiaphas took his seat
as the president. On each side were the judges; before them stood the Roman
soldiers guarding the Saviour; back of these was the accusing mob.
Caiaphas then bade Jesus work one of His mighty miracles before them. But
the Saviour gave no sign that He heard a word. Had He responded by even one
soul-searching look, such as He gave the buyers and sellers in the temple, the
whole murderous throng would have been compelled to flee from His presence.
The Jews were at this time subject to the Romans, and were not allowed to
punish any one with death. The Sanhedrin could only examine the prisoner, and
pass judgment to be ratified by the Roman authorities.
To accomplish their wicked purpose, they must find something against the
Saviour that would be regarded as criminal by the Roman governor. They could
secure abundant evidence that Christ had spoken against the Jewish traditions
and many of their ordinances. It was easy to prove that He had denounced the
priests and scribes, and that He had called them hypocrites and murderers. But
this would not be listened to by the Romans, for they themselves were disgusted
with the pretensions of the Pharisees.
Many charges were brought against Christ, but either the witnesses
disagreed, or the evidence was of such a nature that it would not be accepted by
the Romans. They tried to make Him speak in answer to their accusations, but He
appeared as if He had not heard them. The silence of Christ at this time had
been thus described by the prophet Isaiah:
"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His
mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her
shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth." Isaiah 53:7.
The priests began to fear that they would fail of
obtaining any evidence which they could bring against their prisoner before
Pilate. They felt that one last effort must be made. The high priest raised his
right hand toward Heaven, and addressed Jesus in the form of a solemn oath:
"I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be
the Christ, the son of God." Matthew 26:63.
The Saviour never denied His mission or His relation to the Father. He
could remain silent to personal insult, but He ever spoke plainly and decidedly
when His work or Sonship to God was called in question.
Every ear was bent to listen, and every eye was fixed upon Him as He
answered: "Thou hast said."
In the custom of those days this was the same as answering,
"Yes," or, "It is as thou hast said." This was the strongest
form of an affirmative answer. A heavenly light seemed to illuminate the pale
countenance of the Saviour as He added:
"Nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man
sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven."
Matthew 26:64.
In this statement the Saviour presented the reverse of the scene then
taking place. He pointed forward to the time when He will occupy the position of
supreme Judge of Heaven and earth. He will then be seated upon the Father's
throne, and from His decisions there will be no appeal.
He brought before His hearers a view of that day, when, instead of being
surrounded and abused by a riotous mob, He will come in the clouds of Heaven
with power and great glory. Then He will be escorted by legions of angels. Then
He will pronounce sentence upon His enemies, among whom will be that same
accusing throng.
As Jesus spoke the words declaring Himself to be the Son of God, and
Judge of the world, the high priest rent his robe, as if to show his horror. He
lifted his hands toward Heaven, and said:
"He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?
Behold, now ye have heard His blasphemy. What think ye?"
The judges answered, "He is guilty of death." Matthew 26:65,
66.
It was contrary to the Jewish law to try a prisoner by night. Though the
condemnation of Christ had been determined, there must be a formal trial by day.
Jesus was taken to the guard room, and there suffered mockery and abuse
from the soldiers and the rabble.
At daybreak He was again brought before His judges, and the final
sentence of condemnation was pronounced.
A satanic fury then took possession of the leaders and the people. The
roar of voices was like that of wild beasts. They made a rush for Jesus, crying,
"He is guilty, put Him to death!" and had it not been for the
soldiers, He would have been torn in pieces. But Roman authority interposed, and
by force of arms restrained the violence of the mob.
Priests, rulers, and the rabble joined in abusing the Saviour. An old
garment was thrown over His head; and His persecutors struck Him in the face,
saying:
"Prophesy unto us, Thou Christ, Who is he that smote Thee?"
Matthew 26:68.
When the garment was removed, one of the mocking throng spat in the
Saviour's face.
The angels of God faithfully recorded every insulting look, word, and act
against their beloved Commander. One day those base men who scorned and spat
upon the calm, pale face of Christ will look upon it in its glory, shining
brighter than the sun.
Judas
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The Jewish rulers had been anxious to get Jesus into their power, but for
fear of raising a tumult among the people they had not dared to take Him openly.
So they had sought some one who would secretly betray Him, and had found in
Judas, one of the twelve disciples, the man who would do this base act.
Judas had naturally a strong love for money, but he had not always been
wicked and corrupt enough to do such a deed as this. He had fostered the evil
spirit of avarice until it had become the ruling motive of his life, and he
could now sell his Lord for thirty pieces of silver (about $17.00), the price of
a slave. (Exodus 21:28-32.) He could now betray the Saviour with a kiss in
Gethsemane.
But he followed every step of the Son of God, as He went from the garden
to the trial before the Jewish rulers. He had no thought that the Saviour would
allow the Jews to kill Him, as they had threatened to do.
At every moment he expected to see Him released and protected by divine
power, as had been done in the past. But as the hours went by, and Jesus quietly
submitted to all the indignities that were heaped upon Him, a terrible fear came
to the traitor, that he had indeed betrayed his Master to His death.
As the trial drew to a close, Judas could endure the torture of his
guilty conscience no longer. All at once there rang through the hall a hoarse
voice, which sent a thrill of terror to the hearts of all present:
"He is innocent. Spare Him, O Caiaphas. He has done nothing worthy
of death!"
The tall form of Judas was seen pressing through the startled crowd. His
face was pale and haggard, and large drops of sweat stood on his forehead.
Rushing to the throne of judgment, he threw down before the high priest the
pieces of silver that had been the price of his Lord's betrayal.
He eagerly grasped the robe of Caiaphas, and begged him to release Jesus,
declaring that He had done no wrong. Caiaphas angrily shook him off, and said
with scorn:
"What is that to us? See thou to that." Matthew 27:4.
Judas then threw himself at the Saviour's feet. He confessed that Jesus
was the Son of God, and begged Him to deliver Himself from His enemies.
The Saviour knew that Judas did not really repent for what he had done.
The false disciple feared that punishment would come upon him for his terrible
deed; but he felt no real sorrow because he had betrayed the spotless Son of
God.
Yet Christ spoke to him no word of condemnation. He looked with pity upon
Judas, and said:
"For this hour came I into the world."
A murmur of surprise ran through the assembly. With amazement they beheld
the forbearance of Christ toward His betrayer.
Judas saw that his entreaties were in vain, and he rushed from the hall,
crying:
"It is too late! It is too late!"
He felt that He could not live to see Jesus crucified, and in despair
went out and hanged himself.
Later that same day, on the road from Pilate's judgment hall to Calvary,
the wicked throng were leading the Saviour to the place of crucifixion. Suddenly
there came an interruption to their shouts and jeers. As they passed a retired
spot, they saw at the foot of a lifeless tree the dead body of Judas.
It was a revolting sight. His weight had broken the cord by which he had
hanged himself to the tree. In falling, his body had been horribly mangled, and
the dogs were now devouring it.
His remains were immediately buried out of sight; but there was less
mockery, and many a pale face revealed the fearful thoughts within. Retribution
seemed already to be visiting those who were guilty of the blood of Jesus.
Before Pilate
After Christ had been condemned by the judges of the Sanhedrin, He was
taken at once to Pilate, the Roman governor, to have the sentence confirmed and
executed.
The Jewish priests and rulers could not themselves enter the judgment
hall of Pilate. By the ceremonial laws of their nation, they would become
defiled by so doing, and thus be debarred from taking part in the feast of the
Passover.
In their blindness they did not see that Christ was the real Passover
lamb, and that since they had rejected Him, this great feast had for them lost
its meaning.
As Pilate beheld Jesus, he saw a man of noble countenance and dignified
bearing. No trace of crime was to be seen in His face. Pilate turned to the
priests and asked:
"What accusation bring ye against this man?" John 18:29.
His accusers did not wish to state particulars, and so were not prepared
for this question. They knew that they could bring no truthful evidence on which
the Roman governor would condemn Him. So the priests called the false witnesses
to their aid. "And they began to accuse Him, saying,
"We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give
tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ a King." Luke 23:2.
This was false, for Christ had plainly sanctioned the payment of tribute
to Caesar. When the lawyers had tried to entrap Him in regard to this very
matter, He had said:
"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's."
Matthew 22:21.
Pilate was not deceived by the testimony of the false witnesses. He
turned to the Saviour, and asked:
"Art Thou the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Thou sayest." Matthew 27:11.
When they heard this answer, Caiaphas and those who were with him called
Pilate to witness that Jesus had admitted the crime of which they accused Him.
With noisy cries they demanded that He be sentenced to death.
As Christ made no answer to His accusers, Pilate said to Him: "Answerest
Thou nothing? Behold how many things they witness against Thee.
"But Jesus yet answered nothing." Mark 15:4, 5.
Pilate was perplexed. He saw no evidence of crime in Jesus, and he had no
confidence in those who were accusing Him. The noble appearance and quiet manner
of the Saviour were in direct contrast to the excitement and fury of His
accusers. Pilate was impressed with this, and was well satisfied of His
innocence.
Hoping to gain the truth from Him, he took Jesus by Himself, and
questioned Him: "Art Thou the King of the Jews?"
Christ did not give a direct answer to this question, but asked: "Sayest
thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of Me?"
The Spirit of God was striving with Pilate. The question of Jesus was
intended to lead him to examine his own heart more closely. Pilate understood
the meaning of the question. His own heart was opened before him, and he saw
that his soul was stirred by conviction. But pride arose in his heart, and he
answered:
"Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered
Thee unto me: what hast Thou done?"
Pilate's golden opportunity had passed. But Jesus desired Pilate to
understand that He had not come to be an earthly king, therefore He said:
"My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world,
then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but
now is My kingdom not from hence."
Pilate then asked, "Art Thou a king then?"
Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am
a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I
should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My
voice."
Pilate had a desire to know the truth. His mind was confused. He eagerly
grasped the words of the Saviour, and his heart was stirred with a great longing
to know what the truth really was, and how he could obtain it. He asked Jesus:
"What is truth?"
But he did not wait to receive an answer. The tumult of the crowd outside
the hall of justice had increased to a roar. The priests were clamorous for
immediate action, and Pilate was recalled to the interests of the hour. Going
out to the people, he declared: "I find in Him no fault at all." John
18:33-38.
These words from a heathen judge were a scathing rebuke to the base
perfidy and falsehood of the rulers of Israel who were accusing the Saviour.
As the priests and elders heard this from Pilate, their disappointment
and rage knew no bounds. They had long plotted and waited for this opportunity.
As they saw the prospect of the release of Jesus, they seemed ready to tear Him
in pieces.
They lost all reason and self-control, and gave vent to curses, behaving
more like demons than like men. They loudly denounced Pilate, and threatened him
with the censure of the Roman government. They accused Pilate of refusing to
condemn Jesus, who, they affirmed, had set Himself up against Caesar. Then they
raised the cry:
"He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning
from Galilee to this place." Luke 23:5.
Pilate at this time had no thought of condemning Jesus. He was sure of
His innocence. But when he heard that Christ was from Galilee, he decided to
send Him to Herod, the ruler of that province, who was then in Jerusalem. By
this course Pilate thought to shift the responsibility of the trial from himself
to Herod.
Jesus was faint from hunger, and weary from loss of sleep. He was also
suffering from the cruel treatment He had received. But Pilate delivered Him
again to the soldiers, and He was dragged away, amid the jeers and insults of
the merciless mob.
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