March 22

And they began to accuse him, saying, we found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.—Luke 23:2.

HAVING brought Jesus before Pilate, thereby to obtain his authority to put him to death, we certainly should expect that the crimes with which he had been charged, and the evidence by which his guilt had been proved, would have been placed before him. But instead of this, their old charge of blasphemy is abandoned. That for which they had condemned him, is never once named. They now represent him, as "perverting the people, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar." Never was a more wicked and false charge brought against any criminal. Why, Jesus had published and acknowledged the rights of Cæsar, when the coin with his superscription, was given into his hands, and said, "Render unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar's." And so far was he from sowing sedition, and interfering with the authorities which then existed, that he ever taught, and was himself the model, of peace and goodwill to men. On one occasion, the people would fain have laid hold of him, that they might make him their king, but he escaped from them. In fact, this was the great stumblingblock to the Jew, that Christ had not come with earthly power and glory; and because they saw no probability of being delivered by him from the Roman yoke. Christ had never insinuated that he laid claim to any such authority. It was manifest that his kingdom was one within the heart, and that his empire extended only over the world of mind. If he had been an earthly king, if he had designed to usurp temporal power, then would he have raised soldiers; then he would have taught the science of war; then would he have employed his Almighty power in destroying his adversaries. But his followers were unarmed, plain, and peaceable men. His doctrine was peace, peace always, and peace to all men. His power was employed in blessing men, by healing their maladies, and forgiving their sins