From Heaven With Love

Pilate Did Not Foresee the Consequences

Pilate had not thought it would come to that. He shrank from delivering an innocent man to the most cruel death that could be inflicted. “Why, what evil hath He done?” But the case had gone too far for argument. HLv 489.3

Still Pilate endeavored to save Christ. “He said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath He done?” But the very mention of His release stirred the people to frenzy. Louder and louder they cried, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” HLv 489.4

Faint and covered with wounds, Jesus was scourged, “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. And ... they ... mocked Him.” Occasionally some wicked hand struck the crown, forcing the thorns into His temples, and sending the blood trickling down His face. HLv 489.5

A maddened throng enclosed the Saviour of the world. Mocking and jeering were mingled with oaths of blasphemy. Satan led the mob. It was his purpose to provoke the Saviour to retaliation if possible, or to drive Him to perform a miracle to release Himself. One stain upon His human life, and the Lamb of God would have been an imperfect offering, and the redemption of man a failure. But He submitted with perfect calmness to the coarsest insult and outrage. HLv 490.1

Christ's enemies had demanded a miracle as evidence of His divinity. They had evidence far greater than any they had sought. His meekness and patience proved His kinship to God. The blood drops that flowed from His wounded temples were the pledge of His anointing with “the oil of gladness” as our great High Priest. See Hebrews 1:9. Satan's rage was great as he saw that the Saviour had departed in no particular from the will of His Father. HLv 490.2