Part 20 (1/2)

Pilate said to Jesus,

”Well, are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered simply,

”You have said it.”

Then the priests and rulers burst out with all kinds of evil stories about Jesus.

Pilate spoke to Jesus again, and said:

”Aren't you going to say anything? Listen to what they are saying about you!”

But Jesus did not speak. Pilate was astonished. He could see that the only reason the council had brought Jesus to him was that they were jealous of Jesus and hated him.

By now a large crowd had gathered to watch the trial. Many of the people in it had been Jesus' followers, but they followed him no longer. When they saw Jesus being tried like a criminal they decided that their priests and rulers had been right all along. They began to talk against Jesus, among themselves.

Pilate wondered how he could let Jesus go. Suddenly he remembered a Jewish custom: every Pa.s.sover a prisoner was set free.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Pilate said: ”Every year at this time I set a prisoner free. Now you can have your choice. You know we have a man named Barabbas in jail--he's the fellow that started a rebellion a little while ago. We were going to crucify him. And now here is Jesus. Which one shall I let go? Barabbas the murderer or Jesus who is called the Christ?”

A great shout went up,

”Barabbas!”

Pilate did not know what to do now. He spoke again to the crowd,

”Well, what shall I do to Jesus who is called the Christ?”

Again there was a great shout:

”Crucify him! Hang him up on a cross till he is dead!”

Everyone seemed to be against Jesus now. However, Pilate tried once more.

”But,” he protested, ”I can't find that he has been guilty of any crime!”

The Jewish rulers replied, ”We have a law which says he ought to die because he pretends to be the Son of G.o.d.”

Pilate was worried now. He spoke to Jesus again, and again Jesus did not answer.

”Aren't you going to speak to me?” Pilate asked. ”Don't you know that I can crucify you or let you go?”

Jesus answered, ”You wouldn't have any power over me unless G.o.d had given it to you.”

Pilate, when he heard this, tried once more to save Jesus. But the crowd was bigger, and louder, and more bloodthirsty than ever.

Everyone was shouting:

”Crucify! Crucify!”