The Trial of Christ

Satan and his angels were busy in the judgment hall, destroying human feeling and sympathy. The very atmosphere was heavy and polluted by their influence. They inspired the chief priests and elders to insult and abuse Jesus in the most difficult way for human nature to bear. Satan hoped that such mockery and violence would draw some complaint or murmur from the Son of God, or that He would display His divine power and wrench Himself from the grasp of the mob, so that in this way the plan of salvation might at last fail.SH 63.2

Peters Denial—Peter followed his Lord after His betrayal. He was anxious to see what would happen to Jesus. But when he was accused of being one of His disciples, fear for his own safety led him to declare that he did not know the Man. The disciples were known 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 some distance away from Peter, turned a sorrowful, reproving gaze on him. Then the disciple remembered the words Jesus had spoken to him in the upper room, and also his own passionate assertion, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.” Matthew 26:33. 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 was converted, and then he was prepared to strengthen his brethren.SH 63.3

In the Judgment Hall—The mob clamored for the blood of Jesus. The soldiers cruelly scourged Him, put an old purple kingly robe on Him, and encircled His sacred head with a crown of thorns. They put a reed into His hand and bowed to Him, mockingly greeting Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” John 19:3. They then took the reed from His hand and struck Him on the head with it, causing the thorns to pierce His temples, sending the blood trickling down His face and beard.SH 64.1

Jesus knew that angels were witnessing the scene of His humiliation. The weakest angel could have delivered Jesus, causing that mocking crowd to fall powerless. Jesus knew that if He asked His Father, angels would instantly release Him. But it was necessary for Him to suffer the violence of wicked men, in order to carry out the plan of salvation.SH 64.2

Jesus stood meek and humble before the infuriated mob while they inflicted on Him the vilest abuse. They spat in His face— that face from which they will one day want to hide, which will give light to the city of God and will shine brighter than the sun. Christ did not so much as cast an angry look at the offenders. They covered His head with an old garment, blindfolding Him, and then struck Him in the face and demanded, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” Luke 22:64.SH 64.3

Some of the disciples had gained confidence to enter where Jesus was and witness His trial. They expected Him to show His divine power, 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 unfolded. Sometimes they doubted, fearing that they had been deceived. But the voice they had heard at the mount of transfiguration, and the glory they had seen there, strengthened their faith that He was the Son of God. They called to mind the scenes they had witnessed, the miracles 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.SH 64.4

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 mob, as when He entered the temple and drove out the vendors and money-changers who were making the house of God a place of merchandise, when they ran from Him as if a company of armed soldiers was pursuing them. The disciples hoped that Jesus would display His power and convince all that He was the King of Israel.SH 65.1

Judas’s Confession—Judas was filled with bitter remorse and shame at his treacherous act in betraying Jesus. And when he witnessed the abuse that the Savior endured, he was overcome. He had loved Jesus, but had loved money more. He had not thought that Jesus would allow Himself to be taken by the mob that he had led. He had expected Him to work a miracle and deliver Himself from them. But when he saw the infuriated crowd in the judgment hall, thirsting for blood, he deeply felt his guilt. While many were vehemently accusing Jesus, Judas rushed through the crowd, confessing that he had sinned in betraying innocent blood. He offered the priests the money they had paid him, and he begged them to release Jesus, declaring that He was entirely innocent.SH 65.2

For a short time, anger and confusion kept the priests silent. They did not want the people to know that they had hired one of the professed followers of Jesus to betray Him into their hands. They wanted to hide the fact that they had hunted Jesus like a thief and taken Him secretly. But the confession of Judas and his haggard, guilty appearance exposed the priests before the crowd, showing that it was hatred that had caused them to arrest Jesus. As Judas loudly declared that Jesus was innocent, the priests replied, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Matthew 27:4. They had Jesus in their power and were determined to carry out their plans. 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.SH 65.3

Jesus had many sympathizers in the assembly around Him, and His answering nothing to the many questions put to Him amazed the crowd. Under all the mockery and violence of the mob, not a frown, not a troubled expression, rested on His features. He was dignified and composed. The spectators looked at Him with amazement. They compared His perfect form and firm, dignified bearing with the appearance of those who sat in judgment against Him, and they said to one another that He appeared more like a king than any of the rulers. He bore no signs of being a criminal. His eye was mild, clear, and undaunted, His forehead broad and high. Every feature was strongly marked with kindness and noble principle. His patience and self-restraint were so unlike an ordinary human that many trembled. Even Herod and Pilate were greatly troubled at His noble, Godlike bearing.SH 66.1

Jesus Before Pilate—From the first, Pilate was convinced that Jesus was no common man. He believed Him to be of excellent character and entirely innocent of the charges brought against Him. The angels who were witnessing the scene noticed the convictions of the Roman governor, and to save him from the awful act of delivering Christ to be crucified, an angel was sent to Pilate’s wife, who 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 because of Jesus and warning him to have nothing to do with that holy Man. The messenger, pushing hastily through the crowd, placed the letter in Pilate’s hands. As he read, he trembled and turned pale, and immediately determined to have nothing to do with putting Christ to death. If the Jews wanted the blood of Jesus, he would not give his influence to it, but would work to deliver Him.SH 66.2

Sent to Herod—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. Immediately he sent Him, with His accusers, to Herod. This ruler had become hardened in sin. The murder of John the Baptist had left on his conscience a stain from which he could not free himself. When he heard of Jesus and the mighty works done by Him, he feared and trembled, believing Him to be John the Baptist risen from the dead. When Pilate turned Jesus over to him, Herod considered the act an acknowledgment of his power, authority, and judgment. This had the effect of making friends of the two rulers, who before this had been enemies. Herod was pleased to see Jesus, expecting Him to work some mighty miracle for his satisfaction. But it was not the work of Jesus to gratify curiosity or iu seek His own safety. He would exercise His divine, miraculous power for the salvation of others, but not in His own behalf.SH 66.3

Jesus answered nothing to the many questions Herod put to Him, nor 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, afraid to condemn Him, he sent Him back to Pilate.SH 67.1

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 crowd was thirsting for His blood, and if Pilate did not deliver Him to be crucified, he would lose his power and worldly honor and would be denounced as a believer in the impostor. Through fear of losing his power and authority, Pilate consented to the death of Jesus. And even though he placed the blood of Jesus upon His accusers, and the mob received it, crying, “His blood be on us, and on our children” (Matthew 27:25), yet Pilate was not clear of responsibility; 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.SH 67.2

The appearance and words of Jesus during His trial made a deep impression on the minds of many who were there. The result of this influence 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.SH 68.1

Satan’s rage was great as he saw that all the cruelty he had led the Jews to inflict on Jesus had not called forth from Him the slightest complaint. Although He had taken upon Himself human nature, He was sustained by a Godlike fortitude, and He did not depart in the least from the will of His Father.SH 68.2