ss of
the Jews and the futile endeavors of Pilate to avoid the judicial murder
which he finally committed. The Jewish rulers had asked Pilate to
pronounce sentence without hearing the charge; this Pilate properly
refused to do. When the accusation was made, Luke shows most clearly how
craftily the decision of the Jewish court was perverted, and how forcibly
the false charge was presented. Jesus had been convicted of claiming to be
the divine Messiah. It was the claim of deity, and thus of blasphemy, on
which he was condemned. The Jews knew that this would make no impression
on Pilate. However, the office of Messiah did imply rule and authority,
and therefore the claim of Jesus was distorted into a political offense
and he was charged with sedition, with forbidding tribute to Caesar, and
with claiming to be a king.

How absurd all these accusations were, Pilate soon learned; he probably
was not a little suspicious of the sudden zeal for their Roman tyrants
shown by these rebellious Jews. However, he lacked the courage of his
convictions; he declared Jesus to be innocent, but fearing to offend the
rulers and the crowds whom they had won to their will, he hesitated to
release Jesus. That was a fatal step; the only thing to do is to act with
decision and promptness as soon as one sees what is right. It is surely
true in matters of conscience that "he who hesitates is lost."

Then Pilate did what all weak men are apt to do: he attempted to avoid
making a decision; he tried to shift the responsibility; he learned that
Jesus was from Galilee, and so Pilate sent Jesus to be judged by King
Herod, within whose realm Galilee lay. Herod was then in Jerusalem, and he
was eager to see Jesus, of whom he had heard so much, and he hoped that
his curiosity might be gratified by seeing Jesus perform some miracle.
However, when appearing before Herod, Jesus refused even to answer him by
a single word. Jesus has a message for every penitent, and a miracle for
every believer; but for the murderer of John and for the shallow, sinful
profligate there is only silence and contempt.

To wreak upon Jesus a petty revenge, Herod mocked Jesus by clothing him
with royal apparel, and sent him back thus arrayed to Pilate. It was a
cruel jest, but it was an acquittal of Jesus as guilty of no political
offense. Thus Pilate was forced to act as judge; others cannot decide for
us questions of conscience. When compelled to act, Pilate attempted a
second ma