The Final Pilgrimage

‎Even in the face of that last outcry, Pilate did not wholly yield to the Jewish priests. He was impressed, awed, by this conflict between such deep malignity on the one side, such patient endurance on the other. Again he questioned Jesus but was told with a gentle rebuke that all Rome’s power was only such as God saw fit to give it. Again Pilate pleaded with the Jews until their crafty leaders threatened to accuse him also if he refused to punish this rebel against Rome.

‎Poor, easy-minded man of intellect rather than of force, Pilate yielded then. “Shall I crucify your king?” he asked the rabble. And the priests answered for them with false lip-loyalty, “We have no king but Cæsar.” “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.”

‎The aim of the priesthood was accomplished. The plot of Caiaphas was successful. One man was to die that many might be saved. It was not yet noon on Friday, “Good Friday” to be called forever after, when Jesus set forth at last upon his final earthly pilgrimage, from Pilate’s house to the execution place, from the splendid Roman palace to Golgotha, the barren hill of death. A Roman guard surrounded Him; a hooting mob followed Him; upon His bruised and beaten shoulder's He dragged the heavy cross on which He was to make the final Expiation.