The Review and Herald
November 7, 1899
Jewish Hatred
“Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall.” RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 1
The Roman governor was called from his bedchamber in haste, and he determined to do his work as quickly as possible. He was prepared to deal with the prisoner with magisterial severity. Assuming his severest expression, he turned to see what kind of man he had to deal with, that he had been called from his repose at so early an hour. He knew that it must be some one whom the Jewish authorities were anxious to have tried and punished with haste. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 2
Pilate looked at the men who had Jesus in charge, and then his gaze rested searchingly upon Jesus. He continued to look at him; for he could not do otherwise. He had had to deal with all kinds of criminals; but the countenance of the man before him bore the signature of heaven, not of a criminal. Never before had one bearing such marks of goodness and nobility been brought before him. On his face Pilate saw no signs of guilt, no expression of fear, no boldness nor defiance. He saw a man of calm and dignified bearing, who heard the bitter accusations made against him without speaking a word to vindicate himself. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 3
Christ's appearance made a favorable impression upon Pilate. His better nature was roused. He had heard of Jesus and his works. His wife had told him something of the wonderful deeds performed by the Galilean prophet, who cured the sick and raised the dead. Now this revived as a dream in Pilate's mind. He recalled rumors that had reached him from several sources, even from his own relatives. He resolved that he would ask the Jews for their charges against the prisoner. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 4
Who is this man, and wherefore have ye brought him? he asked. What accusation bring ye against him? The Jews were disconcerted. knowing that they could not substantiate their charges against Christ, they did not desire a public examination. They answered that he was a deceiver called Jesus of Nazareth. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 5
Again Pilate asked, “What accusation bring ye against this man?” The priests did not answer this question; but in words that showed their irritation, they said, “If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.” When those composing the Sanhedrin, the first men of the nation, bring to you a man they deem worthy of death, is there need to ask for an accusation against him? They hoped to impress Pilate with a sense of their dignity and importance, and thus lead him to accede to their request without going through many preliminaries. They were eager to have their sentence ratified; for they knew that the people who had witnessed Christ's marvelous works could tell a story very different from the fabrication they were now rehearsing. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 6
The priests thought that with the weak and vacillating Pilate they could carry their plan through without any trouble. A pure, right-principled judge will never sign a death-warrant hastily, nor condemn a man merely because he is accused. To those who do this, the same will be done. But the Jews knew that this Pilate had previously signed the death-warrant hastily, condemning to death men whom they knew were not worthy of death. They hoped that he would now inflict the death penalty on Jesus without even giving him a hearing. This they asked as a favor on the occasion of their great national festival. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 7
But there was something in the prisoner that held Pilate back from this. He dared not do it. He read the purpose of the priests. He remembered how, not long before, Jesus had raised Lazarus, a man that had been dead four days; and he determined to know, before signing the warrant of condemnation, what the charges were against him, and whether they could be proved. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 8
If your judgment is sufficient, he said, why bring him to me? “Take ye him, and judge him according to your law.” Thus pressed, the priests said that they had already passed sentence on him, but they must have Pilate's sentence to render their condemnation valid. What is your sentence? Pilate asked. The death sentence, they answered; but it is not lawful for us to put any man to death. This privilege had been taken from the Jews by the Romans. The sentence against Christ could not be carried out without ratification, and the rulers now asked Pilate to take their word as to Christ's guilt, and enforce their sentence. They would take the responsibility of the result. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 9
Pilate was not a just nor a conscientious judge, but, weak though he was, he refused to grant the request of the Jewish rulers. Memories of the reports he had heard concerning this man's work revived in his mind. He refused to condemn Jesus until a charge had been brought against him. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 10
The priests were in dilemma. They had tried to make Pilate believe that their request was a reasonable one, but he had refused to comply with it blindly. They were much disappointed that he had not given them the power to do with Jesus as they would. They had condemned him for blasphemy. But in Roman law the death sentence was not inflicted for this offense. The priests saw that they must cloak their hypocrisy under the thickest concealment. They must not allow it to appear that Christ had been arrested on religious grounds. Were this put forward as a reason, their proceedings would have no weight with Pilate. They must make it appear that Jesus was working against the common law; then he could be punished as a political offender. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 11
They were forced to bring another charge against Christ; and in order to do this they resorted to a lie. Some time before this they had formed a plot whereby they hoped to lead Christ to condemn himself before the Romans who were present. They sent to him men professing to be just men, in search of truth, who, after using words of flattery, asked him questions regarding the payment of tribute. But Christ had unveiled their hypocrisy, and the Romans saw only the utter failure of the plotters and their discomfiture at Christ's answer. “Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” the spies asked. “Show me a penny,” Christ said. “Whose image and superscription hath it?” They answered, “Caesar.” “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar,” Christ said, “and unto God the things which be God's.” RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 12
Now the priests thought to make it appear that on this occasion Christ had taught what they hoped he would. But they knew that while the course they had pursued as religionists had rendered them objectionable in the eyes of the Romans, nothing could in truth be brought against Christ as a creator of sedition. He had avoided everything that looked like condemning or resisting the policy of the government. When one came to him, asking him to decide a question regarding the division of property, he answered, “Who made me a judge or a divider over you?” RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 13
As a nation, the Jews questioned Caesar's right to tax them. They regarded the Roman emperor as a usurper. If they had dared, they would have broken the Roman yoke. They were ready to imperil their lives in an effort to regain their national liberty. Forty years afterward they attempted this, and history bears record to the destruction of themselves and their city. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 14
The Jewish rulers had given ample evidence of their hatred toward the Roman authority, and yet they now brought a charge of treason against Christ. Having failed several times to make him commit himself, or to wrest from him some expression that could be used against him, they were obliged to make a false charge. In their extremity they called false witnesses to their aid. “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow [the only begotten Son of God] perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a King.” Three charges, each without foundation. The priests knew this, but they were willing to commit perjury could they but secure their end. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 15
Pilate saw through their purpose. He did not believe that the prisoner had plotted against the government. His meek and humble appearance was altogether out of harmony with the charge. Pilate was convinced that Jesus was innocent, and he tried to release him. Had he acted decidedly, he would have done what was right. But he allowed other interests to take possession of his mind. The Jews cried out, saying, “If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend;” and Pilate allowed himself to be intimidated by these words. He was afraid of the representation that would be carried to Rome if he released Jesus. He proved false to his own convictions, and false to the message sent from heaven to his wife. “When he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.” RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 16
So God's people will always be persecuted when religious bigotry is allowed to rule. In his zeal, Paul thought that in persecuting the church of God, and leading Christ's followers bound to Jerusalem to be thrust into prison and killed, he was doing God a service. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 17
Let those who would trust to human nature to act mercifully and compassionately when men are brought into strait place, read Old and New Testament history, especially the record of the trial, condemnation, and crucifixion of Christ. Let them learn from this whether human beings may be trusted to act mercifully when their false theories and religious customs or traditions are interfered with. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 18
It makes every difference whose side we are on in the contest. Unless sinners come to Christ, seeking him with the whole heart, and asking for his grace, they will make no attempt to oppose the enemy of God, but to the end of their days will remain his willing captives. Every man who transgresses the law of God places himself on the wrong side. His nature changes, and he becomes evil. All such will assuredly oppress their fellow men. God's people will suffer persecution from those who, if they had the Spirit of the Master, would manifest the same pitying love. But they are moved by a power from beneath, and they teach for doctrine the commandments of men. They do battle against God in the person of his saints; but God would have us remember that we are not to retaliate under provocation. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 19
There is no enmity between Satan and evil men. Those who do Satan's work are not at enmity with him. He inspires the inventions which bring pain to those who are determined to worship God in accordance with his word. Satan is God's enemy, and he seeks to deprive God's people of the right to follow the convictions of the Holy Spirit. He has formed an alliance with men against heaven's decrees. Fallen men and fallen angels are sure to join in a desperate companionship. Through apostasy both are evil, and, wherever evil exists, will league against good. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 20
Right principles may be acted out, righteous deeds may be done, by those who are persecuted. So it was with Christ. Touched by all human woe, the divine Healer never turned a suppliant away. Wherever he went, blessings attended his footsteps. Suffering humanity received his attention. For all diseases he had a balm. He went about doing good, relieving the oppressed, and comforting the afflicted. All who came to him received his blessing. He brought to men the richest gifts that heaven could bestow. To those who received him he gave blessings as free and abundant as the light of the sun; for he is the light of the world. He came to break down every wall of partition between man and his fellow man. But he was despised and rejected by the very ones he came to bless and save. He came to his own, and his own received him not. RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 21
The experience of those who are loyal to God will be in accordance with Christ's words: “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.” “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.” RH November 7, 1899, Art. A, par. 22