XXXIX.
"IT IS FINISHED."
It was early morning, about four o'clock. Already
the Sanhedrists were hastening to a second meeting to
confirm the condemnation passed during the night,
and to discuss the best means of extorting from the
Roman Governor the sentence of death which they
were not allowed to carry out themselves. Being a
Gentile, Pilate would not take much notice of the
charge of blasphemy, but his well-known dread of falling
into disgrace with Cæsar could be turned to account.
By this time it had spread all over the City that Jesus of Nazareth had been taken and found guilty of death. Everyone was talking of Him. Some were surprised that a man who had spent his days in doing good should be so persecuted. Others said it had been found out that his wonderful works were done by the power of the devil. The priests had declared—and surely they should know best—that he was a dangerous man, who must be got out of the way, or he would bring ruin on the nation.
And what were his feelings who had betrayed Him? Perhaps Judas had persuaded himself that our Lord would escape unharmed from His enemies as He had often done before. At all events, the tidings that He had been condemned to death, and was being taken to Pilate that the sentence might be confirmed, filled him with unspeakable horror. What could he do to still the remorse of conscience that was torturing him? People said the priests were even now entering the Temple on their way to the Prætorium. He would
