Christ's Death by Crucifixion

    Christ was to die on a cross. This was predicted, and this was accounted by the Jews an accursed death. "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Christ, then, who was made a curse for his people, must die on a cross. But how is this to be brought about? It was properly the Jews who put him to death ; and had they performed the business without the intervention of the Roman government, he would not have been so executed. He was condemned by the Jews for blasphemy, and the blasphemer was stoned to death by the law of Moses. Pilate acquits Jesus, and how can he crucify him? He saw that the thing was inconsistent, and, therefore, when he yielded to the importunity of the Jews, he gave him up into their hands to do with him as they pleased. "Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews, therefore, said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death." Here is the hand of Divine Providence. The power of life and death was now taken from the Jews, otherwise Christ would not have been put to death by crucifixion. He would have died in the way in which the Jews put blasphemers to death. But there is another providential interposition in this matter. Pilate, unwilling to put Jesus to death himself, offered to give him into the hands of the Jews to put him to death in their own manner. Yet they would not accept the offer. How scrupulous they have become! The men who a thousand times endeavoured to kill Jesus without even the colour of trial, now refuse to execute him when he is given up into their hands! What did they fear? Could they really fear the Roman government, when the Roman governor gave up the prisoner to them, and desired them to judge him according to their law? Were the Jews, on other occasions, so very conscientious in yielding obedience to the Roman authority? Whatever might be their reasons, it was evidently of God that they refused to execute Jesus according to their own customs. They refused, and Pilate complied. Why did he comply? Had he not here a good pretext for saving Jesus as he wished? Might he not have said, I have judged him innocent. As you have judged him guilty according to your law, you must put him to death, or let him live. Why did he not reason thus? Why did he yield? The reason is, "That the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which he spake, signifying what death he should die." How wonderfully does God work in his Providence! He does his pleasure as well by his enemies as by his friends. Pilate and the Jews, on this occasion, were the ministers of Providence, and fulfilled his purpose, while they broke his law!