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id； 〃and they began to accuse Him； saying； We found this fellow 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。
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 a deep plot had been laid to destroy an innocent man who stood in the way of the Jewish dignitaries。 Turning to Jesus he asked； 〃Art Thou the King of the Jews？〃 The Saviour answered； 〃Thou sayest it。〃 And as He spoke； His countenance lighted up as if a sunbeam were shining upon it。
When they heard His answer； Caiaphas and those that were with him called Pilate to witness that Jesus had admitted the crime with which He was charged。 With noisy cries； priests； scribes； and rulers demanded that He be sentenced to death。 The cries were taken up by the mob； and the uproar was deafening。 Pilate was confused。 Seeing that Jesus made no answer to His accusers； Pilate said to Him； 〃Answerest Thou nothing？ behold how many things they witness against Thee。 But Jesus yet answered nothing。〃
Standing behind Pilate； in view of all in the court； Christ heard the abuse； but to all the false charges against Him He answered not a word。 His whole bearing gave evidence of conscious innocence。 He stood unmoved by the fury of the waves that beat about Him。 It was as if the heavy surges of wrath； rising higher and higher； like the waves of the boisterous ocean； broke about Him； but did not touch Him。 He stood silent； but His silence was eloquence。 It was as a light shining from the inner to the outer man。
Pilate was astonished at His bearing。 Does this Man disregard the proceedings because He does not care to save His life？ he asked himself。 As he looked at Jesus； bearing insult and mockery without retaliation； he felt that He could not be as unrighteous and unjust as were the clamoring priests。 Hoping to gain the truth from Him and to escape the tumult of the crowd； Pilate took Jesus aside with him； and again questioned； 〃Art Thou the King of the Jews？〃
Jesus did not directly answer this question。 He knew that the Holy
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Spirit was striving with Pilate； and He gave him opportunity to acknowledge his conviction。 〃Sayest thou this thing of thyself；〃 He asked； 〃or did others tell it thee of Me？〃 That is； was it the accusations of the priests； or a desire to receive light from Christ； that prompted Pilate's question？ Pilate understood Christ's meaning； but pride arose in his heart。 He would not acknowledge the conviction that pressed upon him。 〃Am I a Jew？〃 he said。 〃Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee unto me： what hast Thou done？〃
Pilate's golden opportunity had passed。 Yet Jesus did not leave him without further light。 While He did not directly answer Pilate's question； He plainly stated His own mission。 He gave Pilate to understand that He was not seeking an earthly throne。
〃My kingdom is not of this world；〃 He said； 〃if My kingdom were of this world； then would My servants fight； that I should not be delivered to the Jews： but now is My kingdom not from hence。 Pilate therefore said unto Him； Art Thou a king then？ Jesus answered； Thou sayest that I am a king。 To this end was I born； and for this cause came I into the world； that I should bear witness unto the truth。 Everyone that is of the truth heareth My voice。〃
Christ affirmed that His word was in itself a key which would unlock the mystery to those who were prepared to receive it。 It had a self…commending power； and this was the secret of the spread of His kingdom of truth。 He desired Pilate to understand that only by receiving and appropriating truth could his ruined nature be reconstructed。
Pilate had a desire to know the truth。 His mind was confused。 He eagerly grasped the words of the Saviour； and his heart was stirred with a great longing to know what it really was； and how he could obtain it。 〃What is truth？〃 he inquired。 But he did not wait for an answer。 The tumult outside recalled him to the interests of the hour； for the priests were clamorous for immediate action。 Going out to the Jews； he declared emphatically； 〃I find in Him no fault at all。〃
These words from a heathen judge were a scathing rebuke to the perfidy and falsehood of the rulers of Israel who were accusing the Saviour。 As the priests and elders heard this from Pilate； their disappointment and rage knew no bounds。 They had long plotted and waited for this opportunity。 As they saw the prospect of the release of Jesus； they seemed ready to tear Him in pieces。 They loudly denounced Pilate； and threatened him with the censure of the Roman government。 They
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accused him of refusing to condemn Jesus； who； they affirmed； had set Himself up against Caesar。
Angry voices were now heard； declaring that the seditious influence of Jesus was well known throughout the country。 The priests said； 〃He stirreth up the people； teaching throughout all Jewry； beginning from Galilee to this place。〃
Pilate at this time had no thought of condemning Jesus。 He knew that the Jews had accused Him through hatred and prejudice。 He knew what his duty was。 Justice demanded that Christ should be immediately released。 But Pilate dreaded the ill will of the people。 Should he refuse to give Jesus into their hands； a tumult would be raised； and this he feared to meet。 When he heard that Christ was from Galilee； he decided to send Him to Herod； the ruler of that province； who was then in Jerusalem。 By this course； Pilate thought to shift the responsibility of the trial from himself to Herod。 He also thought this a good opportunity to heal an old quarrel between himself and Herod。 And so it proved。 The two magistrates made friends over the trial of the Saviour。
Pilate delivered Jesus again to the soldiers； and amid the jeers and insults of the mob He was hurried to the judgment hall of Herod。 〃When Herod saw Jesus； he was exceeding glad。〃 He had never before met the Saviour； but 〃he was desirous to see Him of a long season； because he had heard many things of Him； and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him。〃 This Herod was he whose hands were stained with the blood of John the Baptist。 When Herod first heard of Jesus； he was terror…stricken； and said； 〃It is John； whom I beheaded：
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he is risen from the dead；〃 〃therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him。〃 Mark 6：16； Matt。 14：2。 Yet Herod desired to see Jesus。 Now there was opportunity to save the life of this prophet； and the king hoped to banish forever from his mind the memory of that bloody head brought to him in a charger。 He also desired to have his curiosity gratified； and thought that if Christ were given any prospect of release； He would do anything that was asked of Him。
A large company of the priests and elders had accompanied Christ to Herod。 And when the Saviour was brought in； these dignitaries； all speaking excitedly； urged their accusations against Him。 But Herod paid little regard to their charges。 He commanded silence； desiring an opportunity to question Christ。 He ordered that the fetters of Christ should be unloosed； at the same time charging His enemies with roughly treating Him。 Looking with compassion into the serene face of the world's Redeemer； he read in it only wisdom and purity。 He as well as Pilate was satisfied that Christ had been accused through malice and envy。
Herod questioned Christ in many words； but throughout the Saviour maintained a profound silence。 At the command of the king； the decrepit and maimed were then called in； and Christ was ordered to prove His claims by working a miracle。 Men say that Thou canst heal the sick； said Herod。 I am anxious to see that Thy widespread fame has not been belied。 Jesus did not respond； and Herod still continued to urge： If Thou canst work miracles for others； work them now for Thine own good； and it will serve Thee a good purpose。 Again he commanded； Show us a sign that Thou hast the power with which rumor hath accredited Thee。 But Christ was as one who heard and saw not。 The Son of God had taken upon Himself man's nature。 He must do as man must do in like circumstances。 Therefore He would not work a miracle to save Himself the pain and humiliation that man must endure when placed in a similar position。
Herod promised that if Christ would perform some miracle in his presence； He should be released。 Christ's accusers had seen with their own eyes the mighty works wrought by His power。 They had heard Him command the grave to give up its dead。 They had seen the dead come forth obedient to His voice。 Fear seized them lest He should now work a miracle。 Of all things they most dreaded an exhibition of His power。 Such a manifestation would prove a deathblow to their
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plans； and would perhaps cost them their lives。 Again the priests and rulers； in great anxiety； urged their accusations against