Deliverance from the Cross — Page 55
follow conjecture; they certainly did not compass his death; indeed, God exalted him to Himself; God is Mighty, Wise'. (an-Nisa', 4:158-159) Several biographers of Jesus have, in recent years, expressed grave doubts about his death on the cross. According to them all the circumstances surrounding the event of the crucifixion point very strongly to the probability that he escaped such a death. For instance: 'Pilate, then, would have liked to save Jesus. . . . . According to a tradition, Jesus found a supporter in the wife of the Procurator himself and the idea that the blood of this beautiful young man was about to be spilt, weighed upon her mind. Certain it is that Jesus found Pilate prepossessed in his favour. The Governor questioned him with kindness, and with the desire to find an excuse for sending him away pardoned. ” Therefore Pilate endeavoured to release him, but the Jews cried out: 'If thou release this man, thou art no friend of Caesar. Whosoever claimeth to be a king denieth the claim of Caesar. ' On hearing these words Pilate brought Jesus forth and sat down on the judgment-seat in a place called the Pavement, in Hebrew, Gabbatha. It was the preparation-day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews: Behold your King; but they cried out: Away with 1 Renan, Ernest, Life of Jesus Christ, p. 352. 55