And there were but very few exceptions. The Apostles and the small band of disciples professed their faith in Him. "Whom do men say that I am?" He asked them once; "and they said, Some say John the Baptist; some Elias; and others, Jeremias or one of the Prophets." None accepted Him as Messiah, their King. "But whom say ye that I am?" He went on to ask; "and Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (S. Matt. xvi. 13-16). So also Nathanael, the "Israelite indeed," boldly proclaimed his belief: "Rabbi, Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel" (S. John i. 49). And there was one bright flash of enthusiasm which carried all along exultingly to welcome Him on His last visit to the Holy City; when the crowds spread branches of the palm-trees, and cried, "Hosanna to the Son of David: blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord" (S. Matt. xxi. 9). "Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in Heaven, and glory in the highest" (S. Luke xix. 38). But it was within a few days after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem that the rulers of the Jews took the Lord Jesus, and having condemned Him in their own council for blasphemy, for professing Himself to be Messiah--"the Christ"--"the Son of God" (S. Luke xxii. 67-71), they charged Him before the Roman governor with treason, for saying "that He Himself is Christ a King" (S. Luke xxiii. 2). And this accusation, it may well be noticed, was not a different charge from the former. All that they did was to put cleverly before the earthly governor the earthly side of the spiritual crime, for which they had themselves condemned Him. If He was Messiah, He was their King. They condemned Him for professing to be Messiah; a charge on which no civil tribunal could give judgment. But professing to be Messiah, He professed to be King; and this they represented as an offence against the state, and to be punished accordingly. And the result was, that by the Providence of God He was not stoned to death, as was His first martyr Stephen, on the charge of blasphemy; but He was handed over to the civil power to be crucified for treason, as claiming to be King. And it came to pass, that after their persistent rejection of Him, the Jewish rulers were compelled to see Him acknowledged upon the cross as their King, in the words of the superscription containing the charge on which He was condemned. His cross became His throne, with His title above it, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews" (S. John xix. 19). Fit throne for Him who was "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow" (Phil. ii. 6-10). And all the efforts of the Jews to alter it were in vain. Pilate at length was firm: "What I have written, I have written" (S. John xix. 22).