Part 2. This 5-part series from Truth of the Spirit describes the Trials of Jesus after He was arrested until his final condemnation by Pilate and the people as given to Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich in visions and recorded in the journal of Clement Brentano, edited by Very Rev. C.E. Schmöger, CSSR, published in 1914. It is narrated by Patti Brunner of Truth of the Spirit. Excerpts are taken from Anne Catherine Emmerich’ “The Lowly Life and Bitter Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, Volume IV”. As with all private revelation we invite your discernment.
Welcome to Truth of the Spirit. I am your narrator, Patti Brunner. This series contains excerpts directly taken from the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich writings of the Dolorous Passion of Christ[i]. This episode is the Trial of Jesus Part 2- Before Pilate.
According to our reckoning of time, it was about six in the morning when the procession of the High Priests and Pharisees, with the frightfully maltreated Saviour, reached the palace of Pilate. Between the large square and the entrance into the praetorium were seats on either side of the road where Annas, Caiaphas, and the members of the Council that had accompanied them placed themselves. Jesus, however, still bound by cords, was dragged forward by the executioners to the foot of the steps that led up to Pilates judgment seat. Officers and soldiers surrounded him, and they too wore badges indicative of Roman dominion. The High Priests and Jews kept far from the tribunal because, according to their Law, to approach it would have defiled them. They would not step over a certain boundary line. When Pilate saw the mob hurrying forward with great tumult and clamor, and the maltreated Jesus led to the foot of his steps, he arose and addressed them with a scornful air. “What have you come about so early? Why have you handled the poor Man so roughly? You began early to flay Him, to slaughter Him.” But they cried out to the executioners: “Onward with Him into the judgment hall!” Then turning to Pilate, they said: “Listen to our accusation against this malefactor. We cannot, for fear of defilement, enter the judgment hall.”
“Scarcely had this outcry died away when a tall, powerful, venerable looking man from the crowd, pressing behind in the forum, cried out: “True, indeed, ye dare not enter that judgment hall, for it has been consecrated with innocent blood! Only He dares enter! Only He among all the Jews is pure as the Innocents!” After uttering these words with great emotion, he disappeared in the crowd. His name was Zadoch. He was a wealthy man and a cousin of the husband of Seraphia, who was afterward called Veronica. Two of his little boys had, at Herod’s command, been slaughtered among the innocent children in the court of the judgment hall. Since that time he had entirely withdrawn from the world and, like an Essenian, lived with his wife in continency. He had once seen Jesus at Lazarus’s and listened to His teaching. At this moment, in which he beheld the innocent Jesus dragged in so pitiable a manner up the steps, the painful recollection of his murdered babes tore his heart, and he uttered that cry as a testimony to the Lords innocence.”
“Jesus was dragged by the executioners up the lofty flight of marble steps and placed in the rear of the terrace, from which Pilate could speak with His accusers below. When Pilate beheld before him Jesus, of whom he had heard so many reports, so shockingly abused and disfigured, and still with that dignity of bearing which no ill-treatment could change, his loathing contempt for the Jewish priests and Council increased. These latter had sent word to him at an early hour that they were going to hand over to him Jesus of Nazareth, who was guilty of death, that he might pronounce sentence upon Him. Pilate, however, let them see that he was not going to condemn Him without some well-proved accusation. In an imperious and scornful manner, therefore, he addressed the High Priests: “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” To which they answered angrily: “If we did not know Him to be a malefactor, we should not have delivered Him to you.” “Take Him,” replied Pilate, “and judge Him according to your Law.” “Thou knowest,” they retorted, “that it is not lawful for us to condemn any man to death.”
“The enemies of Jesus were full of rage and fury. Their whole desire seemed to be to put an end to Him before the legal festival, that they might then slaughter the Paschal lamb. For this end they wished to proceed in the most violent hurry. They knew not that He was the true Paschal Lamb, He whom they themselves had dragged before the tribunal of an idolatrous judge, over whose threshold they did not dare to pass for fear of defiling themselves and thus being unable to eat the typical Paschal lamb.
As the Governor summoned them to bring forward their accusations, they laid three principal charges against Him, for each of which they produced ten witnesses. They worded them in such a way that Jesus might be made to appear as an offender against the Emperor, and Pilate be forced to condemn Him. It was only in cases pertaining to the laws of religion and the Temple that they had a right to take things into their own hands. The first charge they alleged was: “Jesus is a seducer of the people, a disturber of the peace, an agitator,” and then they brought forth some witnesses to substantiate the charge. Next they said: “He goes about holding great meetings, breaking the Sabbath, and healing on the Sabbath.” Here Pilate interrupted them scornfully: “It is easily seen that none of you were sick, else you would not be scandalized at healing on the Sabbath.” They continued: “He seduces the people by horrible teaching, for He says that to have eternal life, they must eat His Flesh and Blood.” Pilate was provoked at the furious hate with which they uttered this charge. He glanced at his officers and with a smile said sharply to the Jews: “It would almost appear that you yourselves are following His teaching and are aiming at eternal life, since you, too, seem so desirous of eating His Flesh and His Blood.”
“Their second accusation was: “Jesus stirs up the people not to pay tribute to the Emperor.” Here Pilate interrupted them angrily. As one whose office it was to know about such things, he retorted with emphasis: “That is a great lie! I know better than that!” Then the Jews shouted out their third accusation: “Let it be so! This Man of low, obscure, and doubtful origin, puts Himself at the head of a large party and cries woe to Jerusalem. He scatters also among the people parables of double meaning of a king who is preparing a wedding feast for his son. The people gathered in great crowds around Him on a mountain, and once they wanted to make Him king; but it was sooner than He wished, and so He hid Himself. During the last few days He came forward more boldly. He made a tumultuous entrance into Jerusalem, causing regal honors to be shown Him, while the people, by His orders, cried: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed be the reign of our Father David which is now come!” Besides this, He teaches that He is the Christ, the Anointed of the Lord, the Messiah, the promised King of the Jews, and allows Himself so to be called.” This third charge, like the two preceding, was supported by ten witnesses.”
“At the word that Jesus caused Himself to be called the Christ, the King of the Jews, Pilate became somewhat thoughtful. He went from the open terrace into the adjoining apartment, casting as he passed Him a scrutinizing glance upon Jesus, and ordered the guard to bring the Lord into the judgment chamber.”
“Pilate was a fickle, weak-minded, superstitious pagan. He had all kinds of dark forebodings concerning the sons of his gods who had lived upon earth, and he was not ignorant of the fact that the Jewish Prophets had long ago foretold One who was to be the Anointed of God, a Redeemer, a Deliverer, a King, and that many of the Jews were looking for His coming. He knew also that Kings from the East had come to Herod the Elder, inquiring after a newborn King, that they might honor Him; and that after this many children were put to death at Herod’s order. He knew indeed the traditions relating to a Messiah, a King of the Jews; but zealous idolater that he was, he put no faith in them, he could not fancy what kind of a king was meant, the accusation that Jesus, standing before him so poor, so miserable, so disfigured, should give Himself out for that Anointed of the Lord, for that King, appeared to him truly ridiculous. But because the enemies of Jesus had brought forward the charge as injurious to the rights of the Emperor, Pilate caused the Saviour to be conducted to his presence for an examination.”
“Pilate regarded Jesus with astonishment as he addressed Him: “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” And Jesus made answer: “Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of Me?” Pilate, a little offended that Jesus should esteem him so foolish as, of his own accord, to ask so poor and miserable a creature whether he was a king, answered evasively something to this effect: “Am I a Jew, that I should know about things so nonsensical? Thy people and their priests have delivered Thee to me for condemnation as one deserving of death. Tell me, what hast Thou done?” Jesus answered solemnly: “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, I should certainly have servants who would combat for Me, that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But My Kingdom is not here below.” Pilate heard these earnest words of Jesus with a kind of shudder, and said to Him thoughtfully: “Art Thou then indeed a king?” And Jesus answered: “As thou sayest! Yes, I am the King. I was born, and I came into this world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone that is of the truth, hears My voice.” Pilate cast a glance on Him and, rising, said: “Truth! What is truth?”
“Pilate went out again to the terrace. He could not comprehend Jesus, but he knew this much about Him, that He was not a king who would prove mischievous to the Emperor, and that He laid no claim to any kingdom of this world. As to a kingdom belonging to another world, the Emperor troubled himself little about that. Pilate therefore called down from the terrace to the High Priests below: “I find no kind of crime in this Man!” Thereupon the enemies of Jesus were seized with new fury. They launched out into a torrent of accusations against Him, while Jesus stood in silence praying for the poor creatures. Pilate turned to Him and asked: “Hast Thou nothing to say to all these charges?” But Jesus answered not a word. Pilate regarded Him in amazement as he said: “I see plainly that they are acting falsely against Thee!” But the accusers, whose rage was on the increase, cried out: “What! Thou findest no guilt in Him? Is it no crime to stir up the people? He has spread His doctrine throughout the whole country, from Galilee up to these parts.”
“When Pilate caught the word Galilee, he reflected a moment and then called down: “Is this Man from Galilee a subject of Herod?” The accusers answered: “Yes. His parents once lived in Nazareth, and now His own dwelling is near Capharnaum.” Pilate then said: “Since He is a Galilean and subject to Herod, take Him to Herod. He is here for the feast, and can judge Him at once.” He then caused Jesus to be taken from the judgment chamber and led down again to His enemies, while at the same time he sent an officer to inform Herod that one of his subjects, a Galilean, Jesus of Nazareth, was being brought to him to be judged. Pilate was rejoiced to be able in this way to escape passing sentence on Jesus, for the whole affair made him feel uncomfortable. At the same time, he had a motive of policy in showing this act of courtesy to Herod, between whom and himself there was an estrangement, for he knew that Herod was very desirous of seeing Jesus. Jesus’ enemies were in the highest degree exasperated at being thus dismissed before the populace, at being thus obliged to lead Jesus away to another tribunal; consequently, they vented their rage upon Him. With renewed fury they surrounded Him, bound Him anew and, along with the clamoring soldiers, drove Him in furious haste with cuffs and blows across the crowded forum and through the street that led to the palace of Herod not far off. Some Roman soldiers accompanied them.”
“The Blessed Virgin, standing with Magdalen and John in a corner of the forum hall, had with unspeakable pain beheld the whole of the dreadful scene just described, had heard the clamorous shouts and cries.”
“Claudia Procla, the lawful wife of Pilate, had while Pilate was treating with the Jews sent a servant to tell her husband that she was very anxious to speak with him. As Jesus was now being led to Herod, she stood concealed upon an elevated balcony, and with deep anxiety and trouble of mind watched Him being led across the forum.”
While Jesus was being taken to Herod and while He was enduring mockery at his tribunal, I saw Pilate going to his wife, Claudia Procla. Claudia was trembling and agitated. She conversed long with Pilate and conjured him by all that was sacred to him not to injure Jesus, the Prophet, the Holy of Holies, and then she related some things from the dreams, or visions, which she had had of Jesus the night before. I remember that she saw the Annunciation to Mary, the Birth of Christ, the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Kings, the Prophecies of Simeon and Anna, the Flight into Egypt, the Massacre of the Holy Innocents, the Temptation in the Desert, and other scenes from the holy life of Jesus. She saw Him always environed with light, while the malice and wickedness of His enemies appeared under the most terrible pictures. She saw the sanctity and anguish of His Mother and His own infinite sufferings under symbols of unchanging love and patience. She endured unspeakable anguish and sadness, for these visions, besides being something very unusual for her, were irresistibly impressive and convincing. Some of them, as for instance, the Massacre of the Innocents and Simeon’s Prophecy in the Temple, she beheld as taking place even in the neighborhood of her own house. When next morning alarmed by the uproar of the tumultuous mob, she looked out upon the forum, she recognized in the Lord the One shown her in vision the night before. She saw Him now the object of all kinds of abuse and ill-treatment, while being led by His enemies across the forum to Herod. In terrible anguish, she sent at once for Pilate to whom, frightened and anxious, she related the visions she had seen in her dreams as far as she could make herself understood. She entreated and implored, and clung to Pilate in the most touching manner.”
“Pilate was greatly astonished, and somewhat troubled at what she related. He compared it with all that he had heard of Jesus, with the fury of the Jews, with Jesus’ silence, and with His dignified and wonderful answers to all the questions he had put to Him. He wavered uneasily in his own mind, but soon yielded to his wife’s representations and said: “I have already declared that I find no guilt in Jesus. I shall not condemn Him, for I know the utter wickedness of the Jews.” He spoke at length of Jesus bearing toward himself, quieted his wife’s fears, and even went so far as to give her a pledge of assurance (a piece of jewelry) that he would not condemn Him. With this understanding they parted.”
“I saw Pilate as a crack-brained, covetous, proud, vacillating man, with a great fund of meanness in his character. He was deterred by no high fear of God from working out his own ends, could give himself to the meanest actions, and at the same time practiced the lowest, the most dastardly kind of superstitious idolatry and divination when he found himself in any difficulty. So now, off he hurried to his gods, before whom in a retired apartment of his house he burned incense and demanded of them all kinds of signs.”
“At one time he thought that Jesus ought to be released as innocent; again, he feared that his own gods would take vengeance on him if he saved the life of a man who exercised so singular an influence upon him that he believed him some kind of demi-god, for Jesus might do much harm to his divinities. “Perhaps,” thought he, “He is indeed a kind of Jewish god. There are so many Prophecies that point to a King of the Jews who shall conquer all things. Kings from the star worshippers of the East have already been here seeking such a king in this country. He might, perhaps, elevate Himself above my gods and my Emperor, and so I should have much to answer for, if He does not die. Perhaps His death would be a triumph for my gods.” Then came before him the remembrance of the wonderful dreams of his wife, who had never seen Jesus, and this remembrance weighed heavily in favor of Jesus’ release in the wavering scales held by Pilate. It looked now as if he were resolved to release Him. He wanted to be just, but he attained not his aim for the same reason that he had not waited for an answer from Jesus to his own question, “What is truth?”
Truth of the Spirit will continue this series with The Trial of Jesus Part 3: Herod’sTrial. We invite you to subscribe with notification so you don’t miss the next episode. The transcript of this episode is available at PatriarchMinistries.com/312. Come back for more. With the Holy Spirit there’s always more. Amen.
[i] VISIONS OF VENERABLE ANNE CATHERINE (jesus-passion.com)
“The Lowly Life and Bitter Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother, Volume IV”. FROM THE VISIONS OF BLESSED ANNE CATHERINE EMMERICH AS RECORDED IN THE JOURNAL OF CLEMENT BRENTANO AND EDITED BY VERY REV. C.E.SCHMÖGER, C.SS.R. 1914
Life_of_Our_Lord_Jesus_Christ_Vol_IV.pdf (jesus-passion.com)
