Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 17
Andyouknowhowthepriests’quickwhisperingsledthemobtocryoutforthereleaseofthemurdererBar-Abba.
InvainPilatestruggledagainstthefatebeingthrustuponhimbythepriests.Bysneerandjibehehopedtomakeafarceofthetransaction.HelaughinglycalledJesustheKingoftheJewsandorderedhimtobescourged.Hishopewasthatallwouldendinlaughterandinlaugherbeforgotten.
IamgladtosaythatnoRomansoldierstookpartinwhatfollowed.ItwasthesoldiersoftheauxiliarieswhocrownedandcloakedJesus,putthereedofsovereigntyinhishand,and,kneeling,hailedhimKingoftheJews.Althoughitfailed,itwasaplaytoplacate.AndI,lookingon,learnedthecharmofJesus.Despitethecruelmockeryofsituation,hewasregal.AndIwasquietasIgazed.Itwashisownquietthatwentintome.Iwassoothedandsatisfied,andwaswithoutbewilderment.Thisthinghadtobe.Allwaswell.TheserenityofJesusintheheartofthetumultandpainbecamemyserenity.Iwasscarcemovedbyanythoughttosavehim.
Ontheotherhand,Ihadgazedontoomanywondersofthehumaninmywildandvariedyearstobeaffectedtofoolishactsbythisparticularwonder.Iwasallserenity.Ihadnowordtosay.Ihadnojudgmenttopass.Iknewthatthingswereoccurringbeyondmycomprehension,andthattheymustoccur.
StillPilatestruggled.Thetumultincreased.
