the desire of ages-第178章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Pilate longed to deliver Jesus。 But he saw that he could not do this； and yet retain his own position and honor。 Rather than lose his worldly power； he chose to sacrifice an innocent life。 How many； to escape loss or suffering； in like manner sacrifice principle。 Conscience and duty point one way； and self…interest points another。 The current sets strongly in the wrong direction； and he who compromises with evil is swept away into the thick darkness of guilt。
Pilate yielded to the demands of the mob。 Rather than risk losing his position； he delivered Jesus up to be crucified。 But in spite of his precautions； the very thing he dreaded afterward came upon him。 His honors were stripped from him； he was cast down from his high office； and； stung by remorse and wounded pride； not long after the crucifixion he ended his own life。 So all who compromise with sin will gain only sorrow and ruin。 〃There is a way which seemeth right unto a man； but the end thereof are the ways of death。〃 Prov。 14：12。
When Pilate declared himself innocent of the blood of Christ； Caiaphas answered defiantly； 〃His blood be on us； and on our children。〃 The awful words were taken up by the priests and rulers； and echoed by the crowd in an inhuman roar of voices。 The whole multitude answered and said； 〃His blood be on us； and on our children。〃
The people of Israel had made their choice。 Pointing to Jesus they
739
had said； 〃Not this man； but Barabbas。〃 Barabbas； the robber and murderer； was the representative of Satan。 Christ was the representative of God。 Christ had been rejected； Barabbas had been chosen。 Barabbas they were to have。 In making this choice they accepted him who from the beginning was a liar and a murderer。 Satan was their leader。 As a nation they would act out his dictation。 His works they would do。 His rule they must endure。 That people who chose Barabbas in the place of Christ were to feel the cruelty of Barabbas as long as time should last。
Looking upon the smitten Lamb of God； the Jews had cried； 〃His blood be on us； and on our children。〃 That awful cry ascended to the throne of God。 That sentence； pronounced upon themselves； was written in heaven。 That prayer was heard。 The blood of the Son of God was upon their children and their children's children； a perpetual curse。
Terribly was it realized in the destruction of Jerusalem。 Terribly has it been manifested in the condition of the Jewish nation for eighteen hundred years；a branch severed from the vine； a dead； fruitless branch； to be gathered up and burned。 From land to land throughout the world； from century to century； dead； dead in trespasses and sins！
Terribly will that prayer be fulfilled in the great judgment day。 When Christ shall come to the earth again； not as a prisoner surrounded by a rabble will men see Him。 They will see Him then as heaven's King。 Christ will come in His own glory； in the glory of His Father； and the glory of the holy angels。 Ten thousand times ten thousand； and thousands of thousands of angels； the beautiful and triumphant sons of God； possessing surpassing loveliness and glory； will escort Him on His way。 Then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory； and before Him shall be gathered all nations。 Then every eye shall see Him； and they also that pierced Him。 In the place of a crown of thorns； He will wear a crown of glory；a crown within a crown。 In place of that old purple kingly robe； He will be clothed in raiment of whitest white； 〃so as no fuller on earth can white them。〃 Mark 9：3。 And on His vesture and on His thigh a name will be written； 〃King of kings； and Lord of lords。〃 Rev。 19：16。 Those who mocked and smote Him will be there。 The priests and rulers will behold again the scene in the judgment hall。 Every circumstance will appear before them； as if written in letters of fire。 Then those who prayed； 〃His blood be on us； and on our children；〃 will receive the answer to their prayer。 Then the whole world will know
740
and understand。 They will realize who and what they； poor； feeble； finite beings； have been warring against。 In awful agony and horror they will cry to the mountains and rocks； 〃Fall on us； and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne； and from the wrath of the Lamb： for the great day of His wrath is come； and who shall be able to stand？〃 Rev。 6：16； 17。
（741）
Chapter 78
Calvary
〃And when they were come to the place； which is called Calvary； there they crucified Him。〃
〃That He might sanctify the people with His own blood；〃 Christ 〃suffered without the gate。〃 Heb。 13：12。 For transgression of the law of God； Adam and Eve were banished from Eden。 Christ； our substitute； was to suffer without the boundaries of Jerusalem。 He died outside the gate； where felons and murderers were executed。 Full of significance are the words； 〃Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law； being made a curse for us。〃 Gal。 3：13。
A vast multitude followed Jesus from the judgment hall to Calvary。 The news of His condemnation had spread throughout Jerusalem； and people of all classes and all ranks flocked toward the place of crucifixion。 The priests and rulers had been bound by a promise not to molest Christ's followers if He Himself were delivered to them； and the disciples and believers from the city and the surrounding region joined the throng that followed the Saviour。
As Jesus passed the gate of Pilate's court； the cross which had been prepared for Barabbas was laid upon His bruised and bleeding shoulders。 Two companions of Barabbas were to suffer death at the same time with Jesus； and upon them also crosses were placed。 The Saviour's burden
742
was too heavy for Him in His weak and suffering condition。 Since the Passover supper with His disciples； He had taken neither food nor drink。 He had agonized in the garden of Gethsemane in conflict with satanic agencies。 He had endured the anguish of the betrayal； and had seen His disciples forsake Him and flee。 He had been taken to Annas； then to Caiaphas； and then to Pilate。 From Pilate He had been sent to Herod； then sent again to Pilate。 From insult to renewed insult； from mockery to mockery； twice tortured by the scourge；all that night there had been scene after scene of a character to try the soul of man to the uttermost。 Christ had not failed。 He had spoken no word but that tended to glorify God。 All through the disgraceful farce of a trial He had borne Himself with firmness and dignity。 But when after the second scourging the cross was laid upon Him； human nature could bear no more。 He fell fainting beneath the burden。
The crowd that followed the Saviour saw His weak and staggering steps； but they manifested no compassion。 They taunted and reviled Him because He could not carry the heavy cross。 Again the burden was laid upon Him； and again He fell fainting to the ground。 His persecutors saw that it was impossible for Him to carry His burden farther。 They were puzzled to find anyone who would bear the humiliating load。 The Jews themselves could not do this； because the defilement would prevent them from keeping the Passover。 None even of the mob that followed Him would stoop to bear the cross。
At this time a stranger； Simon a Cyrenian； coming in from the country； meets the throng。 He hears the taunts and ribaldry of the crowd； he hears the words contemptuously repeated； Make way for the King of the Jews！ He stops in astonishment at the scene； and as he expresses his compassion； they seize him and place the cross upon his shoulders。
Simon had heard of Jesus。 His sons were believers in the Saviour； but he himself was not a disciple。 The bearing of the cross to Calvary was a blessing to Simon； and he was ever after grateful for this providence。 It led him to take upon himself the cross of Christ from choice； and ever cheerfully stand beneath its burden。
Not a few women are in the crowd that follow the Uncondemned to His cruel death。 Their attention is fixed upon Jesus。 Some of them have seen Him before。 Some have carried to Him thei
