LET us turn back in thought 1900 years to the land of Palestine. We will enter Jerusalem and step into the judgment hall of Pilate.
Before him stands a remarkable Prisoner. His face is scarred and sorrowful, but a commingling of meekness and majesty and divine love illumine the features. It is the lowly Jesus; the One whose ear had listened to every tale of misery and distress; the One whose loving heart yearned over sorrowing humanity; the One who went about doing good.
We look for His accusers, and see with astonishment that they are the Scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day.
Their faces scowl with envy and bitter hatred while they set up lying witnesses against Him. All their influence has been put forth to procure sentence of death, and outside the populace are thirsting for His blood.
But after due examination the judge is forced to proclaim, “I find no fault in this man, I will therefore chastise him and release him.” Then the storm of hatred bursts forth as the accusers fear their intended victim will escape, and one cry rings out from all, “Crucify him, crucify him!”
At this outburst Pilate is perplexed. He desires to please the people, for he covets popularity; but how can he condemn a man he has proclaimed to be innocent?
Perhaps hoping that the sight would soften and subdue, Pilate leads Jesus out clothed in royal purple, with a reed for scepter in His hand, a crown of platted thorns piercing His brow, and to the assembled crowd says, “Behold your King.”
But blinded with passion they cared not for His sufferings, but with one voice cried out, “Away with him, away with him.” “We will not have this man to reign over us,” was the sentiment expressed. And Pilate fearing to thwart the mob delivered Jesus over to the death His enemies desired.
Thus Pilate perpetrated the fearful crime of sentencing to death One whom he knew to be innocent.
Reader, I would ask your judgment about the Prisoner. Methinks I hear you reply, “I find no fault in this man. I believe He lived a perfect life, and died to save men from their sins.” I ask you then —Have you come out boldly on the side of Christ?
Do you say No? Then you, like Pilate, admit that Christ is guiltless and yet stand with His foes. What the Jews so wickedly said with their lips, you as plainly declare by your life— “We will not have this man to reign over us.” Since the murder of Christ the friendship of the world is enmity against God.
God is now calling upon men to take sides, and the Lord Jesus Himself says, “He that is not with me is against me.”
Pilate’s sin was great, and if he died unrepentant; great will be his punishment. But the man that today refuses Christ is guilty of sin even mon flagrant, and is risking punishment still more terrible.
For Pilate knew nothing of the love of Jesus; he knew not that Jesus, as Lamb of God, was yielding Himself as sacrifice for sin, but you are doubtless well acquainted with the story of His love. Consider the grave peril to which your soul is exposed. Of what sore punishment shall he be thought worthy that wittingly refuses the love of Christ?
Let one beseech you to at once abandon the ranks of Christ’s enemies. Put your trust in the once crucified but now exalted Saviour, and then come forth in a bold confession of His name. It is written, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” But it is also written, “Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
ANON.