These verses describe our Lord’s appearance before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. That sight must have been wonderful to the angels of God. He who will one day judge the world allowed himself to be judged and condemned, though “He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.” (Isa. 53:9) He, from whose lips Pilate and Caiaphas will one day receive their eternal sentence suffered silently, an unjust sentence to be passed upon Him. Those silent sufferings fulfilled the words of Isaiah: “as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” (Isa. 53:7) To those silent sufferings believers owe all their peace and hope. Through them they will have boldness in the day of judgment, who in themselves would have nothing to say.

Let us learn, from the conduct of Pilate, how pitiful is the condition of an unprincipled great man.