IN THE JUDGMENT HALL

The people noisily shouted that they wanted Jesus killed. The soldiers cruelly whipped Jesus. The soldiers put an old purple king's coat on Jesus. The soldiers put a crown of thorns on Jesus' sacred head. The soldiers also put a rod in Jesus' hand. Then they bowed mockingly to Jesus. "Long live the king of the Jews!" they shouted. (John 19:3). The soldiers took the rod from Jesus' hand and hit Him on the forehead. Blood ran down Jesus' face and onto His beard.SRme 1.938

The angels could not watch Jesus suffer on the cross. They wanted to save Jesus. But the commanding angels held them back. The angels were told that this was the great price that had to be paid for man's salvation. They were told the plan of salvation would be 100 percent complete. Jesus' death would cause the destruction of Satan who had brought death to this world.SRme 1.939

Jesus knew the angels were watching Him being humiliated. The weakest angel could save Jesus, making His persecutors have no power. Jesus also knew that if He asked His Father, angels would instantly free Him. But Jesus knew He must let wicked men torture Him. Only in this way could the plan of salvation be completed.SRme 1.940

Jesus stood gentle and humble before the angry people who treated Him cruelly. The people spat in Jesus' face. Someday they will try to hide from Jesus face. Someday Jesus' face will give light to the city of God and will shine brighter than the sun. Jesus did not give the people insulting Him an angry look.SRme 1.941

The soldiers covered Jesus' head with an old cloth so that He could not see. Then the soldiers hit Jesus in the face and cried mockingly, "'Who hit You? Guess!'" (Luke 22:64). The holy angels wanted to rescue Jesus, but their commanding angels held them back.SRme 1.942

Some of the disciples gained enough courage to enter the place where Jesus was. These disciples wanted to watch Jesus' trial. They expected Jesus to use His divine power to deliver Himself. The disciples were sure Jesus would punish His enemies for being cruel to Him. At times the hopes of the disciples rose. At other times their hopes fell. Sometimes the disciples feared they had been deceived. But the voice the disciples heard and the glory they had seen on the mountain where Jesus was glorified strengthened their faith. They knew that Jesus was truly the Son of God. The disciples remembered seeing Jesus heal the sick, make the blind see, and make the deaf hear. They thought of the times Jesus had cast out devils. They remembered Jesus raising the dead to life. They remembered when He had calmed the winds and the sea.SRme 1.943

The disciples did not believe Jesus would die. They hoped to hear Jesus' commanding voice scatter the people who wanted to kill Him. Earlier that week, Jesus had entered the temple and commanded the buyers and sellers to leave. Those wicked people had run away from Him as if chased by a group of armed soldiers. The disciples hoped that Jesus would show His power again. They wanted Jesus to prove He was the King of Israel.SRme 1.944