_Then said Pilate_ THE CONDUCT OF CHRIST CONTRASTED WITH THE CONDUCT OF OTHER PUBLIC CHARACTERS I. Amongst the philosophers of the heathen world not one can be named, who did not admit some favourite vice into his system of good morals; and who was not more than suspected of some criminal indulgen... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad_ DIVINE RESERVE; OR, CHRISTIANITY IN RELATION TO OUR MENTAL MOODS I. THAT ALL SUBJECTS REVEAL THEMSELVES ACCORDING TO THE MENTAL MOOD IN WHICH THEY ARE EXAMINED. That which is looked for, is found or thought to be found. The same person or principle exa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Release unto us Barabbas_ BARABBAS OR CHRIST? We speak of the choice in the Lord’s passion, which is-- I. A SIGN OF THE LORD’S GRACE AND PATIENCE. II. A SIGN OF THE PEOPLE’S DEEP SHAME AND GUILT. 1. It was six o’clock in the morning. Conscience-smitten, as never before, Pilate perceives the mob... [ Continue Reading ]
_He delivered Jesus to their will--_ THE ILLEGAL TRIAL AND CONDEMNATION OF OUR LORD I. THE TRIAL OF CHRIST FOR HIS LIFE WAS MANAGED MOST MALICIOUSLY AND ILLEGALLY AGAINST HIM, BY HIS UNRIGHTEOUS JUDGES. 1. Was Christ thus used when He stood before the great Council, the Scribes and Elders of Isra... [ Continue Reading ]
_Simon, a Syrenian_ THE CROSS-BEARER There is a series of very beautiful pictures in the cathedral at Antwerp, which represent Christ hearing His cross from the Praetorium to Calvary. These pictures embody the popular idea of Christ’s weakness and exhaustion. In one He stands calm and erect, in a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Daughters of Jerusalem_ THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM I. WHY DID THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM WEEP? 1. He was innocent. All they had heard about Him was favourable. 2. He was benevolent. His gifts were uncommon and priceless. Wherever He went, He left behind Him the footprint of mercy. 3. He was th... [ Continue Reading ]
_There they crucified Him_ THE CRUCIFIXION I. THE PLACE WHERE OUR LORD SUFFERED. Calvary, or Golgotha: a small eminence, half a mile from Jerusalem; the common place of execution, where the vilest offenders were put to death. 1. The place where Jesus suffered marks the malignant design of His ene... [ Continue Reading ]
_Father, forgive them, for they know not_ THE UNKNOWN DEPTHS OF SIN I. HOW DO SINNERS COME AT THEIR NOTION THAT SIN IS SO TRIFLING AN AFFAIR? 1. They have a very limited view of their own feelings and purposes while in a course of sin; and infer that they cannot be very guilty, because they have... [ Continue Reading ]
_He saved others, let Him save Himself_ GOD IN SOVEREIGNTY OFTEN SELECTS AS HIS INSTRUMENTS THOSE WHO HAVE NO DESIRE TO BE SUBORDINATE TO HIS WILL Some passengers on the ship’s deck may be walking forward, and some walking aft, and some standing still; but all, and all alike, are borne onward to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_A superscription also was written over Him_ THE SUPERSCRIPTION AFFIXED TO THE CROSS OF CHRIST It was the custom of the Romans, that the equity of their proceedings might more clearly appear when they crucified any man, to publish the cause of his death in a table written in capital letters, and p... [ Continue Reading ]
_And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on Him_ THE IMPENITENT MALEFACTOR I. THIS MAN’S TREATMENT OF CHRIST suggests several things for our consideration. “He railed on Him.” 1. What inhumanity. The suffering of Jesus ought surely to have moved his heart to pity. 2. The friendlessne... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom_ THE PENITENT ROBBER’S FAITH AND PRAYER I. HIS WONDERFUL FAITH. “When Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” When Charles I. of England, or Maximilian, the brilliantly brief Mexican emperor, were about to suffer death, suppose such an expectation had b... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was a darkness over all the earth_ THE THREE HOURS’ DARKNESS What a call must that mid-day midnight have been to the careless sons of men! They knew not that the Son of God was among them; nor that He was working out human redemption. The grandest hour in all history seemed likely to pass... [ Continue Reading ]
_The veil of the temple was rent_ THE RENT VEIL This miraculous event was plainly typical of several important things. 1. This was a type of the violent rending of Christ’s body on the cross. 2. This typified our Lord’s own entrance into heaven. 3. This miracle intimated that, by the death of C... [ Continue Reading ]
_Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit_ THAT DYING BELIEVERS ARE BOTH WARRANTED, AND ENCOURAGED, BY CHRIST’S EXAMPLE, BELIEVINGLY TO COMMEND THEIR SOULS INTO THE HANDS OF GOD I. WHAT IS IMPLIED IN A BELIEVER’S COMMENDING OR COMMITTING HIS SOUL INTO THE HAND OF GOD AT DEATH? 1. That the soul... [ Continue Reading ]
_Certainly this was a righteous man_ THE CROSS, THE SOURCE OF COMPUNCTION Many reasons have been given to account for that providence of God which determined that the Cross should be the kind of death that Christ should die; and that He should not end His life by sword or fire, by which the animal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Smote their breasts_ THE SPECTATORS OF THE CRUCIFIXION SMITING THEIR BREASTS I. BEHOLDING CHRIST ON THE CROSS. Look on the multitude now--see how they who before had triumphed in His misery, are struck with deep astonishment. One says, “Surely this was a righteous man.” Another says, “This is the... [ Continue Reading ]
_A man named Joseph_ JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA 1. We have here an illustration of the slow process by which some are brought to the full acknowledgment of the truth. 2. An illustration of how the very extremity of a cause brings fresh adherents from unexpected quarters. 3. An illustration of how the... [ Continue Reading ]