April First.
PILATE'S DECLARATION.
"I am innocent of the blood of this just person."—Matt. xxvii. 24.
WHEN the Lord Jesus Christ had been denied by one apostle, betrayed by another, forsaken by all, and delivered by the mass of the Jewish people to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, as one worthy of death, for uttering sedition and blasphemy; Pilate, who knew that for envy they had delivered up Jesus for punishment, was anxious to release him; and, after hearing the false and frivolous charge brought against the Saviour by the multitude, who were urged on by the chief priests, said, I find no fault in Him! nothing worthy of death; I will therefore chastise Him and release Him: and as it was customary to give freedom to one prisoner at the feast, Pilate sought to release Jesus. At this the people cried out at once. Not this man! "Away with Jesus! and release unto us Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber." Still Pilate, willing to free Jesus, spake again to them; but they cried out "crucify Him!" Pilate said to them the third time, "Why? what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in Him: I will therefore chastise Him, and let Him go." To this WHY? no
