“THAT sight” an never be forgotten. No, never! Lost souls in hell will recall it with horror. Redeemed ones in heaven will find it a fitting theme for their eternal song.
People are very fond of sight-seeing in this day. There never was such a time, when pleasure was so eagerly sought after, and catered for, giving us a sure mark of the last days―one feature of which is, “Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.”
But this sight is not of modern days. Nearly two thousand years have rolled by since the eager crowds flocked to behold it. Jerusalem is the city with which its memory is connected; and never before had such a sight been witnessed, as the eager throng pressed forward on that memorable day. With the early dawn the trial of a Prisoner had taken place, whom the chief priests and elders had succeeded in taking the night before, as, with a few of His disciples, He had withdrawn into a lonely garden to pray. Having long before planned His death, they were determined that He should die; but not having the power to carry it out, they led Him to Pilate, the Roman governor, that he might give sentence against Him. After examination, Pilate said, “I find no fault in this man,” and would have acquitted Him, had not His captors persisted in His condemnation.
But who was He? and what had He done? we may well inquire. His name was “Jesus,” meaning “Jehovah the Saviour,” and such He was― Jehovah’s fellow, “God manifest in the flesh.” He had come to save His people from their sins, but they only hated and rejected Him; and this, their crowning act, was His unjust condemnation. “He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.”
Pilate, hearing that Jesus belonged to Galilee, sent Him to Herod, the Tetrarch of Galilee, who happened to be in Jerusalem at that time, doubtless thinking thereby to relieve himself of Him; and when Herod saw Jesus
HE WAS EXCEEDING GLAD
to see Him. Not that he was a needy sinner, longing, like Zaccheus (Luke 19), to see the blessed Saviour of sinners; but idle curiosity led him thus to long to see Him. In calm dignity Jesus stood before him, and to his questions He gave no answer. Failing in this, Herod, with his soldiers, in brutal sport mocked Him, putting on Him a gorgeous robe, and then sent Him back to Pilate.
HIS WISH WAS GRATIFIED,
and he returned that Holy Prisoner to Pilate again, and they together shook hands over Him, thereby renewing a friendship that had long been broken.
The court again assembled, and Prisoner and witnesses again stood before the judge. “I find no fault in him” was the just verdict given, when instantly a cry was raised by the angry crowd who had assembled there, “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.” Barabbas was a felon, who for sedition and murder had been put into prison, and him they desired to be released unto them instead of Jesus, whom Pilate had proposed to release unto them. Again Pilate bore witness to His innocency, and would have set Him at liberty, but with loud voices they cried out that He should be crucified, and to please the people Pilate gave sentence against Him. Jesus was given up to their will to be hanged, while Barabbas was set free, as they desired.
AWFUL CHOICE!
The Prince of Life was rejected, and a murderer chosen in His place. Little did the world think what it was doing when they chose Barabbas instead of Jesus. One came from God, the other was of the devil; and in their cry, “Not this man, but Barabbas,” we read the world’s choice―
“NOT GOD BUT THE DEVIL!”
And today, instead of Christ being owned as Lord, and all being subject to Him, Satan is its god and prince, and to him thousands are bowing down, and receiving favors from his hands. Base deceiver! But the time is coming when all shall bow to the earth-rejected Jesus, for God has decreed that to Him every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess. All shall yet own Him Lord, as all disowned Him when in lowly grace He was here on earth. All were against Him. One disciple denied Him, another betrayed Him, while Pilate condemned Him. Priest and people, Jews and Gentiles, together combined to taunt and insult Him; while a poor wretched thief reviled Him, and soldiers mocked Him, as He hung there on that cross of shame.
OH, WHAT A SIGHT!
Jesus hanging between two thieves―a spectacle to angels, to devils, and to men. And only one―and that a poor thief hanging at His side―was found to speak a word in His favor, saying, “This man hath done nothing amiss.” In that dread hour, with but a step between his soul and hell, he confessed Jesus as Lord, saying, “Lord, remember me.” Was he forgotten? No, indeed! for he proved most blessedly the truth of those words, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved;” and the Saviour’s words gave him the fullest assurance„ “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
JESUS DIED,
and as they watched Him expiring on that cross, they heard His dying cry, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” “And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things that were done, smote their breasts and returned.”
Reader, may THAT SIGHT be engraven on your heart, that with adoration you may be able to say, “CHRIST DIED FOR ME.” E. E. N.