neuver familiar to all weak souls; he proposed to compromise. He
would do what was wrong but he would avoid the crime of murder. He offered
to scourge Jesus, whom he declared to be absolutely innocent, or to
release him as a notable criminal, as one such was usually released at
this feast. On the one hand, he would be subjecting Jesus to the most
agonizing bodily torture; on the other, he would brand Jesus as a
malefactor who had deserved death. Compromise in a case of conscience is
always a sign of weakness, and the enemy is sure to press his advantage.
As the rulers saw Pilate yielding thus far, they asked for the release of
a notorious murderer by the name of Barabbas; and as they saw Jesus coming
forth from the scourging, torn and bleeding, they cried out for his life,
"Crucify him, crucify him." As Pilate hesitated, the rulers used their
most deadly weapon; they suggested that they would report Pilate to the
emperor as shielding a political revolutionist; they would imperil the
position and life of the governor. This attack Pilate could not withstand;
when some personal loss was involved conscience was no longer to be
considered. He decided to do what he knew to be wrong; he "gave sentence
that what they asked for should be done;" and so doing he placed himself
near the head of that long list of moral cowards who share his eternal
infamy for fearing to do the right.

The degradation of the Jewish rulers was even greater. With all their
knowledge of the moral law, they who professed to be special
representatives of God put to death his Son, and chose a murderer instead
of the Saviour. To the tragedy of such a choice Luke refers with horror in
the only personal comment he makes upon the scene. V. 25. Are not
thousands, however, making that same choice to-day? There can be no
neutral ground; indecision is impossible: one must choose either Barabbas
or Christ.

H. The Crucifixion. Ch. 23:26-38

26 And when they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon of
Cyrene, coming from the country, and laid on him the cross, to
bear it after Jesus.

27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of
women who bewailed and lamented him. 28 But Jesus turning unto
them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for
yourselves, and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are
coming, in which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the
wombs that ne