When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him
Pilate at bay
I.
THE CLAMOUR. “Crucify Him!”
1. Its occasion: the presentation of Christ “therefore.” One would have expected, as Pilate doubtless did, that revenge would be satiated by the bleeding form of One who had offended them by His teaching, and by the humiliation of One whom they had charged with kingly ambition. Here surely was an end of His prestige--the people would never listen to Him again, or shout hosannahs any more. Instead of this, these human tigers having tasted bleed, only thirsted for more.
2. Its nature.
(1) Cowardly, inasmuch as its object was an innocent defenceless prisoner.
(2) Ferocious, for it called for a death, of all deaths the most humiliating and cruel. To have cried “Drown!” “Behead!” “Pelson!” would have argued some relic of pity; for these would have been comparatively painless means of putting their victim out of His misery.
3. Its accordance with the Divine plans. This was the form of death deliberately chosen and predicted by Jesus. Hence the clamour was an unconscious means of helping to fulfil His prophecies of being “lifted up.” “He causeth the wrath of man to praise Him.”
II. PILATE’S RESPONSE TO THE CLAMOUR. “Take ye Him,” &c. A response
1. Contemptuous: showing the governor’s repugnance to being the dirty tool of an unscrupulous and fanatical mob. All the Roman’s sense of right and pride of race come out here.
2. With a merciful design. It meant “I have nothing to crucify Him for; crucify ye Him if ye dare!” It was something like the reply of a British officer in India to a Brahmin who consulted him with reference to a Sutee. It was represented that the burning of a certain widow was in conformity with the laws of their religion. “Very good,” said the officer, “you carry out your laws and I will execute mine. According to mine, to burn a widow is murder, and I will hang every man connected with the murder.” Pilate doubtless thought that this would be an end to the matter. He little knew, apparently, those with whom he had to deal.
III. THE GROUND FOR PILATE’S RESPONSE, “I find no fault in Him.” This is the third time that Pilate made this confession. It should go for something, for it came from an experienced Roman judge--after a personal examination; after a trial, when all the odds were against the prisoner; after excruciating torture; and was made to a people whom Pilate had every reason to desire to propitiate. The only inference that can be drawn is that there was no fault in Jesus. And if Pilate found no fault in Him can we? (J. W. Burn.)
I find no fault in Him.
The faultlessness of Jesus
I. OF WHOM THIS IS SAID.
1. The Man Christ Jesus. Behold the Man! Can you find any fault
(1) With His character, which was “holy, harmless,” &c. “Which of you convinceth Me of sin?”
(2) With His words, which were untainted by falsehood, malice, wrath (except for hypocrisy and evil doing), but were full of grace, love, and truth.
(3) With His actions, which were all straightforward, righteous, beneficent.
2. The Teacher. Will you find fault with
(1) The matter of His teaching. Produce its like from pagan sages or even inspired prophets!
(2) The manner: so tender, illustrative, interesting, forceful. “Never man spake as this Man.”
3. The Saviour. Can you find fault with
(1) His power to save. “He is able to save to the uttermost.”
(2) His willingness. “Come unto Me.” “This Man receiveth sinners”--now.
4. The King. No fault can be found with One the principle of whose government is to cause all things to work together for His subjects’ good.
II. BY WHOM THIS IS SAID.
1. Pilate, the Roman judge, after the most careful examination. What would Pilate not have given had it been possible to find fault, and so extricate himself.
2. Judas His betrayer. I have shed innocent blood.” What would not that guilty conscience have given to have found one flaw on that spotless innocence.
3. The saved sinner who has trusted in Him and found mercy.
4. The afflicted believer who finds His grace sufficient.
5. The dying saint. “Yea, though I walk through the valley,” &c.
6. Angels and glorified spirits. “Worthy is the Lamb.”
What then is the conclusion to be drawn from all this?
1. All other men--the most wise and the most saintly--are faulty somewhere. But this Man had no fault.
2. Upon no other man has this verdict been passed. Friends or enemies, or himself, have found some fault. But neither friend nor foe could find fault with Jesus. Nor did He find fault with Himself. Was He not then the Holy One of God? (J. W. Burn.)
