Part 257 (1/2)

Then they shouted, saying, ”Crucify him, crucify him.” And he said unto them the third time, ”Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for.

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[Ill.u.s.tration]

A STREET IN JERUSALEM, LEADING TO THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER

From a photograph belonging to Miss Julia W. Snow, and used by her kind permission

This picture shows the street leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, one of those streets which have steps and are therefore accessible only to foot pa.s.sengers.

[End ill.u.s.tration]

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But Jesus he scourged. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; and they came unto him, and said, ”Hail, King of the Jews!” and they struck him with their hands.

And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, ”Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him.”

Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, ”Behold, the man!”

When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, ”Crucify him, crucify him.”

Pilate saith unto them, ”Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him.”

The Jews answered him, ”We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of G.o.d.”

When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid; and he entered into the palace again, and saith unto Jesus, ”Whence art thou?”

But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith unto him, ”Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee?”

Jesus answered him, ”Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin.”

Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, ”If thou release this man, thou art not {280} Caesar's friend: everyone that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.”

When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation of the pa.s.sover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, ”Behold, your King!”

They therefore cried out, ”Away with him, away with him, crucify him.”

Pilate saith unto them, ”Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, ”We have no king but Caesar.”

Then therefore he delivered him unto them to be crucified.

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IX

THE CRUCIFIXION

_How the Lord Jesus Died on the Cross_.