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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 asked； 〃Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews？〃 But they cried out again； 〃Away with this Man； and release unto us Barabbas〃！ 〃What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ？〃 Pilate asked。 Again the surging multitude roared like demons。 Demons themselves； in human form； were in the crowd； and what could be expected but the answer； 〃Let Him be crucified〃？
Pilate was troubled。 He had not thought it would come to that。 He shrank from delivering an innocent man to the most ignominious and cruel death that could be inflicted。 After the roar of voices had ceased； he turned to the people； saying； 〃Why； what evil hath He done？〃 But the case had gone too far for argument。 It was not evidence of Christ's innocence that they wanted； but His condemnation。
Still Pilate endeavored to save Him。 〃He said unto them the third time； Why； what evil hath He done？ I have found no cause of death
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in Him： I will therefore chastise Him； and let Him go。〃 But the very mention of His release stirred the people to a tenfold frenzy。 〃Crucify Him； crucify Him；〃 they cried。 Louder and louder swelled the storm that Pilate's indecision had called forth。
Jesus was taken； faint with weariness and covered with wounds； and scourged in the sight of the multitude。 〃And the soldiers led Him away into the hall； called Praetorium； and they call together the whole band。 And they clothed Him with purple； and platted a crown of thorns； and put it about His head； and began to salute Him； Hail； King of the Jews！ And they 。 。 。 did spit upon Him； and bowing their knees worshiped Him。〃 Occasionally some wicked hand snatched the reed that had been placed in His hand； and struck the crown upon His brow； forcing the thorns into His temples； and sending the blood trickling down His face and beard。
Wonder； O heavens！ and be astonished； O earth！ Behold the oppressor and the oppressed。 A maddened throng enclose the Saviour of the world。 Mocking and jeering are mingled with the coarse oaths of blasphemy。 His lowly birth and humble life are commented upon by the unfeeling mob。 His claim to be the Son of God is ridiculed； and the vulgar jest and insulting sneer are passed from lip to lip。
Satan led the cruel mob in its abuse of the Saviour。 It was his purpose to provoke Him to retaliation if possible； or to drive Him to perform a miracle to release Himself； and thus break up the plan of salvation。 One stain upon His human life； one failure of His humanity to endure the terrible test； and the Lamb of God would have been an imperfect offering； and the redemption of man a failure。 But He who by a command could bring the heavenly host to His aidHe who could have driven that mob in terror from His sight by the flashing forth of His divine majestysubmitted with perfect calmness to the coarsest insult and outrage。
Christ's enemies had demanded a miracle as evidence of His divinity。 They had evidence far greater than any they had sought。 As their cruelty degraded His torturers below humanity into the