Early Writings
by Ellen G. White
The Trial of Christ
The angels as they left heaven, in sadness laid off their
glittering crowns. They could not wear them while their Commander was suffering
and was to wear a crown of thorns. Satan and his angels were busy in the
judgment hall to destroy human feeling and sympathy. The very atmosphere was
heavy and polluted by their influence. The chief priests and elders were
inspired by them to insult and abuse Jesus in a manner the most difficult for
human nature to bear. Satan hoped that such mockery and violence would call
forth from the Son of God some complaint or murmur; or that He would manifest
His divine power, and wrench Himself from the grasp of the multitude, and that
thus the plan of salvation might at last fail. {EW 169.1}
Peter followed his Lord after His betrayal. He was anxious
to see what would be done with Jesus. But when he was accused of being one of
His disciples, fear for his own safety led him to declare that he knew not the
man. The disciples were noted for the purity of their language, and Peter, to
convince his accusers that he was not one of Christ's disciples, denied the
charge the third time with cursing and swearing. Jesus, who was at some
distance from Peter, turned a sorrowful reproving gaze upon him. Then the
disciple remembered the words which Jesus had spoken to him in the upper
chamber, and also his own zealous assertion, "Though all men shall be
offended because of Thee, yet will I never be offended." He had denied his
Lord, even with cursing and swearing; but that look of Jesus' melted Peter's
heart and saved him. He wept bitterly and repented of his great sin, and [170]
was converted, and then was prepared to strengthen his brethren. {EW 169.2}
The multitude were clamorous for the blood of Jesus. They
cruelly scourged Him, and put upon Him an old purple kingly robe, and bound His
sacred head with a crown of thorns. They put a reed into His hand, and bowed to
Him, and mockingly saluted Him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" They then
took the reed from His hand and smote Him with it upon the head, causing the
thorns to penetrate His temples, sending the blood trickling down His face and
beard. {EW 170.1}
It was difficult for the angels to endure the sight. They
would have delivered Jesus, but the commanding angels forbade them, saying that
it was a great ransom which was to be paid for man; but it would be complete
and would cause the death of him who had the power of death. Jesus knew that
angels were witnessing the scene of His humiliation. The weakest angel could
have caused that mocking throng to fall powerless and could have delivered
Jesus. He knew that if He should desire it of His Father, angels would
instantly release Him. But it was necessary that He should suffer the violence
of wicked men, in order to carry out the plan of salvation. {EW 170.2}
Jesus stood meek and humble before the infuriated multitude,
while they offered Him the vilest abuse. They spit in His face—that
face from which they will one day desire to hide, which will give light to the
city of God and shine brighter than the sun. Christ did not cast upon the
offenders an angry look. They covered His head with an old garment,
blindfolding Him, and then struck Him in the face and cried out,
"Prophesy, who is it that smote Thee?" There was commotion among the
angels. They would have rescued Him instantly; but their commanding angels
restrained them. [171] {EW 170.3}
Some of the disciples had gained confidence to enter where
Jesus was and witness His trial. They expected that He would manifest His divine
power, and deliver Himself from the hands of His enemies, and punish them for
their cruelty toward Him. Their hopes would rise and fall as the different
scenes transpired. Sometimes they doubted, and feared that they had been
deceived. But the voice heard at the mount of transfiguration, and the glory
they there beheld, strengthened their faith that He was the Son of God. They
called to mind the scenes which they had witnessed, the miracles which they had
seen Jesus perform in healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind,
unstopping the deaf ears, rebuking and casting out devils, raising the dead to
life, and even calming the wind and the sea. They could not believe that He
would die. They hoped that He would yet rise in power, and with His commanding
voice disperse that bloodthirsty multitude, as when He entered the temple and
drove out those who were making the house of God a place of merchandise, when
they fled before Him as if pursued by a company of armed soldiers. The
disciples hoped that Jesus would manifest His power and convince all that He
was the King of Israel. {EW
171.1}
Judas was filled with bitter remorse and shame at his
treacherous act in betraying Jesus. And when he witnessed the abuse which the
Saviour endured, he was overcome. He had loved Jesus, but had loved money more.
He had not thought that Jesus would suffer Himself to be taken by the mob which
he led on. He had expected Him to work a miracle, and deliver Himself from
them. But when he saw the infuriated multitude in the judgment hall, thirsting
for blood, he deeply felt his guilt; and while many were vehemently accusing
Jesus, Judas rushed through the multitude, confessing that he had sinned in
betraying [172] innocent blood. He offered the priests the
money which they had paid him, and entreated them to release Jesus, declaring
that He was entirely innocent. {EW 171.2}
For a short time vexation and confusion kept the priests
silent. They did not wish the people to know that they had hired one of the
professed followers of Jesus to betray Him into their hands. Their hunting
Jesus like a thief and taking Him secretly, they wished to hide. But the
confession of Judas, and his haggard, guilty appearance, exposed the priests
before the multitude, showing that it was hatred that had caused them to take
Jesus. As Judas loudly declared Jesus to be innocent, the priests replied,
"What is that to us? see thou to that." They had Jesus in their
power, and were determined to make sure of Him. Judas, overwhelmed with
anguish, threw the money that he now despised at the feet of those who had
hired him, and, in anguish and horror, went and hanged himself. {EW 172.1}
Jesus had many sympathizers in the company about Him, and
His answering nothing to the many questions put to Him amazed the throng. Under
all the mockery and violence of the mob, not a frown, not a troubled
expression, rested upon His features. He was dignified and composed. The
spectators looked upon Him with wonder. They compared His perfect form and
firm, dignified bearing with the appearance of those who sat in judgment
against Him, and said to one another that He appeared more like a king than any
of the rulers. He bore no marks of being a criminal. His eye was mild, clear,
and undaunted, His forehead broad and high. Every feature was strongly marked
with benevolence and noble principle. His patience and forbearance were so
unlike man that many trembled. Even Herod and Pilate were greatly troubled at
His noble, Godlike bearing. [173] {EW 172.2}
From the first, Pilate was convicted that Jesus was no
common man. He believed Him to be an excellent character, and entirely innocent
of the charges brought against Him. The angels who were witnessing the scene
marked the convictions of the Roman governor, and to save him from engaging in
the awful act of delivering Christ 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 her husband was engaged, and that He was an innocent
sufferer. She immediately sent a message to Pilate, stating that she had
suffered many things in a dream on account of Jesus and warning him to have
nothing to do with that holy man. The messenger, pressing hastily through the
crowd, placed the letter in the hands of Pilate. As he read, he trembled and
turned pale, and at once determined to have nothing to do with putting Christ
to death. If the Jews would have the blood of Jesus, he would not give his
influence to it, but would labor to deliver Him. {EW 173.1}
When Pilate heard that Herod was in Jerusalem, he was
greatly relieved; for he hoped to free himself from all responsibility in the
trial and condemnation of Jesus. He at once sent Him, with His accusers, to
Herod. This ruler had become hardened in sin. The murder of John the Baptist had
left upon his conscience a stain from which he could not free himself. When he
heard of Jesus and the mighty works wrought by Him, he feared and trembled,
believing Him to be John the Baptist risen from the dead. When Jesus was placed
in his hands by Pilate, Herod considered the act an acknowledgment of his
power, authority, and judgment. This had the effect to make friends of the two
rulers, who had before been enemies. Herod was pleased to see Jesus, expecting
Him to work some mighty miracle for his satisfaction. But it was not the [174]
work of Jesus to gratify curiosity or to seek His own safety. His divine,
miraculous power was to be exercised for the salvation of others, but not in
His own behalf. {EW 173.2}
Jesus answered nothing to the many questions put to Him by
Herod; neither did He reply to 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 he derided, mocked, and abused the Son of God. Yet he was astonished
at the noble, Godlike appearance of Jesus when shamefully abused, and fearing
to condemn Him, he sent Him again to Pilate. {EW 174.1}
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 part in
condemning Jesus others would; the multitude were thirsting for His blood; and
if he did not deliver Him to be crucified, he would lose his power and worldly
honor and would be denounced as a believer on the impostor. Through fear of
losing his power and authority, Pilate 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, his love of honor from the great men of earth, he
delivered an innocent man to die. If Pilate had followed his own convictions,
he would have had nothing to do with condemning Jesus. {EW 174.2}
The appearance and words of Jesus during His trial made a
deep impression upon the minds of many who were present on that occasion. The
result of the influence thus exerted was apparent after His resurrection. Among
those who were then added to the church, there were many whose conviction dated
from the time of Jesus' trial. [175] {EW 174.3}
Satan's rage was great as he saw that all the cruelty which
he had led the Jews to inflict on Jesus had not called forth from Him the
slightest murmur. Although He had taken upon Himself man's nature, He was
sustained by a Godlike fortitude, and departed not in the least from the will
of His Father. {EW 175.1}
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