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plans； and would perhaps cost them their lives。 Again the priests and rulers； in great anxiety； urged their accusations against Him。 Raising their voices； they declared； He is a traitor； a blasphemer。 He works His miracles through the power given Him by Beelzebub； the prince of the devils。 The hall became a scene of confusion； some crying one thing and some another。
Herod's conscience was now far less sensitive than when he had trembled with horror at the request of Herodias for the head of John the Baptist。 For a time he had felt the keen stings of remorse for his terrible act； but his moral perceptions had become more and more degraded by his licentious life。 Now his heart had become so hardened that he could even boast of the punishment he had inflicted upon John for daring to reprove him。 And he now threatened Jesus； declaring repeatedly that he had power to release or to condemn Him。 But no sign from Jesus gave evidence that He heard a word。
Herod was irritated by this silence。 It seemed to indicate utter indifference to his authority。 To the vain and pompous king； open rebuke would have been less offensive than to be thus ignored。 Again he angrily threatened Jesus； who still remained unmoved and silent。
The mission of Christ in this world was not to gratify idle curiosity。 He came to heal the brokenhearted。 Could He have spoken any word to heal the bruises of sin…sick souls； He would not have kept silent。 But He had no words for those who would but trample the truth under their unholy feet。
Christ might have spoken words to Herod that would have pierced the ears of the hardened king。 He might have stricken him with fear and trembling by laying before him the full iniquity of his life； and the horror of his approaching doom。 But Christ's silence was the severest rebuke that He could have given。 Herod had rejected the truth spoken to him by the greatest of the prophets； and no other message was he to receive。 Not a word had the Majesty of heaven for him。 That ear that had ever been open to human woe； had no room for Herod's commands。 Those eyes that had ever rested upon the penitent sinner in pitying； forgiving love had no look to bestow upon Herod。 Those lips that had uttered the most impressive truth； that in tones of tenderest entreaty had pleaded with the most sinful and the most degraded； were closed to the haughty king who felt no need of a Saviour。
Herod's face grew dark with passion。 Turning to the multitude； he
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angrily denounced Jesus as an impostor。 Then to Christ he said； If You will give no evidence of Your claim； I will deliver You up to the soldiers and the people。 They may succeed in making You speak。 If You are an impostor； death at their hands is only what You merit； if You are the Son of God； save Yourself by working a miracle。
No sooner were these words spoken than a rush was made for Christ。 Like wild beasts； the crowd darted upon their prey。 Jesus was dragged this way and that； Herod joining the mob in seeking to humiliate the Son of God。 Had not the Roman soldiers interposed； and forced back the maddened throng； the Saviour would have been torn in pieces。
〃Herod with his men of war set Him at nought； and mocked Him； and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe。〃 The Roman soldiers joined in this abuse。 All that these wicked； corrupt soldiers； helped on by Herod and the Jewish dignitaries； could instigate was heaped upon the Saviour。 Yet His divine patience failed not。
Christ's persecutors had tried to measure His character by their own； they had represented Him as vile as themselves。 But back of all the present appearance another scene intruded itself；a scene which they will one day see in all its glory。 There were some who trembled in Christ's presence。 While the rude throng were bowing in mockery before Him； some who came forward for that purpose turned back； afraid and silenced。 Herod was convicted。 The last rays of merciful light were shining upon his sin…hardened heart。 He felt that this was no common man； for divinity had flashed through humanity。 At the very time when Christ was encompassed by mockers； adulterers； and murderers； Herod felt that he was beholding a God upon His throne。
Hardened as he was； Herod dared not ratify the condemnation of Christ。 He wished to relieve himself of the terrible responsibility； and he sent Jesus back to the Roman judgment hall。
Pilate was disappointed and much displeased。 When the Jews returned with their prisoner； he asked impatiently what they would have him do。 He reminded them that he had already examined Jesus； and found no fault in Him； he told them that they had brought complaints against Him； but they had not been able to prove a single charge。 He had sent Jesus to Herod； the tetrarch of Galilee； and one of their own nation； but he also had found in Him nothing worthy of death。 〃I will therefore chastise Him；〃 Pilate said； 〃and release Him。〃
Here Pilate showed his weakness。 He had declared that Jesus was
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innocent； yet he was willing for Him to be scourged to pacify His accusers。 He would sacrifice justice and principle in order to compromise with the mob。 This placed him at a disadvantage。 The crowd presumed upon his indecision； and clamored the more for the life of the prisoner。 If at the first Pilate had stood firm； refusing to condemn a man whom he found guiltless； he would have broken the fatal chain that was to bind him in remorse and guilt as long as he lived。 Had he carried out his convictions of right； the Jews would not have presumed to dictate to him。 Christ would have been put to death； but the guilt would not have rested upon Pilate。 But Pilate had taken step after step in the violation of his conscience。 He had excused himself from judging with justice and equity； and he now found himself almost helpless in the hands of the priests and rulers。 His wavering and indecision proved his ruin。
Even now Pilate was not left to act blindly。 A message from God warned him from the deed he was about to commit。 In answer to Christ's prayer； the wife of Pilate had been visited by an angel from heaven； and in a dream she had beheld the Saviour and conversed with Him。 Pilate's wife was not a Jew； but as she looked upon Jesus in her dream； she had no doubt of His character or mission。 She knew Him to be the Prince of God。 She saw Him on trial in the judgment hall。 She saw the hands tightly bound as the hands of a criminal。 She saw Herod and his soldiers doing their dreadful work。 She heard the priests and rulers； filled with envy and malice； madly accusing。 She heard the words； 〃We have a law； and by our law He ought to die。〃 She saw Pilate give Jesus to the scourging； after he had declared； 〃I find no fault in Him。〃 She heard the condemnation pronounced by Pilate； and saw him give Christ up to His murderers。 She saw the cross uplifted on Calvary。 She saw the earth wrapped in darkness； and heard the mysterious cry； 〃It is finished。〃 Still another scene met her gaze。 She saw Christ seated upon the great white cloud； while the earth reeled in space； and His murderers fled from the presence of His glory。 With a cry of horror she awoke； and at once wrote to Pilate words of warning。
While Pilate was hesitating as to what he should do； a messenger pressed through the crowd； and handed him the letter from his wife； which read：
〃Have thou nothing to do with that just Man： for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him。〃
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Pilate's face grew pale。 He was confused by his own conflicting emotions。 But while he had been delaying to act； the priests and rulers were still further inflaming the minds of the people。 Pilate was forced to action。 He now bethought himself of a custom which might serve to secure Christ's release。 It was customary at this feast to release some one prisoner whom the people might choose。 This custom was of pagan invention； there was not a shadow of justice in it； but it was greatly prized by the Jews。 The Roman authorities at this time held a prisoner named Barabbas； who was under sentence of death。 This man had claimed to be the Messiah。 He claimed authority to establish a different order of things； to set the world right。 Under satanic delusion he claimed that whatever he could obtain by theft and robbery was his own。 He had done wonderful things through satanic agencies； he had gained a following among the people； and had excited sedition against the Roman government。 Under cover of religious enthusiasm he was a hardened and desperate villain； bent on rebellion and cruelty。 By giving the people a choice between this man and the innocent Saviour； Pilate thought to arouse them to a sense of justice。 He hoped to gain their sympathy for Jesus in opposition to the priests and rulers。 So； turning to the crowd； he said with great earnestness； 〃Whom will ye that I release unto you？ Barabbas； or Jesus which is called Christ？〃
Like the bellowing of wild beasts came the answer of the mob； 〃Release unto us Barabbas！〃 Louder and louder swelled the cry； Barabbas！ Barabbas！ Thinking that the people had not understood his question； Pilate