1._Then Pilate therefore took Jesus. _Pilate adheres to his original intention; but to the former ignominy he adds a second, hoping that, when Christ shall have been scourged, the Jews will be satisfied with this light chastisement. When he labors so earnestly, and without any success, we ought to r... [ Continue Reading ]
2._And the soldiers, platting a crown of thorns. _This was unquestionably done by the authority of Pilate, in order to affix a mark of infamy on the Son of God, for having _made himself a king; _and that in order to satisfy the rage of the Jews, as if he had been convinced that the accusations which... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Take you him. _He did not wish to deliver Christ into their hands, or to abandon him to their fury; only he declares that he will not be their executioner. This is evident from the reason immediately added, when he says that _he finds no guilt in him; _as if he had said, that he will never be per... [ Continue Reading ]
7._We have a law. _They mean that, in proceeding against Christ, they do what is right, and are not actuated by hatred or sinful passion; for they perceived that Pilate had indirectly reproved them. Now, they speak as in the presence of a man who was ignorant of _the law; _as if they had said, “We a... [ Continue Reading ]
8._He was the more afraid. _These words may be explained in two ways. The first is, that Pilate dreaded lest some blame should be imputed to him, if a tumult arose, because he had not condemned Christ. The second is, that, after having heard the name of _the Son of God, _his mind was moved by religi... [ Continue Reading ]
9._And he entered again into the hall, and said to Jesus; Whence Art Thou? _It is evident from this that he was in a state of perplexity and anguish, because _he was afraid _that he would be punished for sacrilege, if he laid his hand on _the Son of God _It ought to be observed that, when he asks _w... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee? _This shows that the dread with which Pilate had been suddenly seized was transitory, and had no solid root; for now, forgetting all fear, he breaks out into haughty and monstrous contempt of God. He threatens Christ, as if there had not been a... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Thou wouldest have no power. _Some explain this in a general sense, that nothing is done in the world but by the permission of God; as if Christ had said, that Pilate, though he thinks that he can do all things, will do nothing more than God permits. The statement is, no doubt, true, that this w... [ Continue Reading ]
12._From that time Pilate sought to release him. _Though _Pilate _does not conduct himself conscientiously, and is actuated more by ambition than by a regard to justice, and, on that account, is wretchedly irresolute, yet his modesty is commendable on this ground, that, when he is severely reproved... [ Continue Reading ]
13._And sat down on the judgment-seat. _Hence we see what conflicting opinions passed through the mind of Pilate, as if he had been a stage-player who was acting two characters. He ascends _the judgment-seat, _in order to pronounce sentence of death on Christ solemnly, and in the customary form; (16... [ Continue Reading ]
14._About the sixth hour. _The Evangelists appear to differ, and even to contradict each other, in the computation of time. The other three Evangelists say that _the darkness _came on _about the sixth hour, _while Christ was hanging on the cross, (Matthew 27:45; Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44.) Mark, too sa... [ Continue Reading ]
15._We have no king but Caesar. _This is a display of shocking madness, that the priests, who ought to have been well acquainted with the Law, reject Christ, in whom the salvation of the people was wholly contained, on whom all the promises depended, and on whom the whole of their religion was found... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Then, therefore, he delivered him to them to be crucified. _Pilate was, no doubt constrained by their importunity to _deliver _Christ; and yet this was not done in a tumultuous manner, but he was solemnly condemned in the ordinary form, because there were also two robbers who, after having been... [ Continue Reading ]
17._He went forth to a place. _The circumstances which are here related contribute greatly, not only to show the truth of the narrative, but likewise to build up our faith. We must look for righteousness through the satisfaction made by Christ. To prove that he is the sacrifice for our sins, he wish... [ Continue Reading ]
18._And two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. _As if the severity of the punishment had not been sufficient of itself, he is hanged _in the midst _between two robbers, as if he not only had deserved to be classed with other robbers, but had been the most wicked and the mos... [ Continue Reading ]
19._And Pilate wrote also a title. _The Evangelist relates a memorable action of Pilate, after having pronounced the sentence. It is perhaps true that it was customary to affix _titles, _when malefactors were executed, that the cause of the punishment might be known to all, and might serve the purpo... [ Continue Reading ]
21._The chief priests of the Jews said therefore to Pilate. _They feel that they are sharply rebuked; and, therefore, they would wish that _the title _were changed, so as not to involve the nation in disgrace, but to throw the whole blame on Christ. But yet they do not conceal their deep hatred of t... [ Continue Reading ]
22._What I have written I have written. _Pilate’s firmness must be ascribed to the providence of God; for there can be no doubt that they attempted, in various ways, to change his resolution. Let us know, therefore, that he was held by a Divine hand, so that he remained unmoved. Pilate did not yield... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Then the soldiers. _The other Evangelists also mention the _parting _of Christ’s _garments among the soldiers, _(Matthew 27:35; Mark 15:24; Luke 23:34.) There _were four _soldiers who _parted _among themselves all his _garments, _except _the coat, _which, being _without seam _could not be divide... [ Continue Reading ]
25._Now there stood by the cross of Jesus. _The Evangelist here mentions incidentally, that while Christ obeyed God the Father, he did not fail to perform the duty which he owed, as a son, towards _his mother. _True, he forgot himself, and he forgot every thing, so far as was necessary for the disch... [ Continue Reading ]
26._Woman, behold thy son! _(175) As if he had said, “Henceforth I shall not be an inhabitant of the earth, so as to have it in my power to discharge to thee the duties of a _son; _and, therefore, I put this man in my room, that he may perform my office.” The same thing is meant, when he says to Joh... [ Continue Reading ]
27._The disciple took her to his own home. _It is a token of the reverence due by a _disciple _to his master, that John so readily obeys the command of Christ. Hence also it is evident, that the Apostles had their families; for John could not have exercised hospitality towards the mother of Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]
28._Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished. _John purposely passes by many things which are related by the other three Evangelists. He now describes the last act, which was an event of the greatest importance.When John says that _a vessel was placed there, _he speaks of it as a thing t... [ Continue Reading ]
29._And, having filled a sponge with vinegar, they fixed it on hyssop. _When he says that they _fixed the sponge on hyssop, _the meaning is, that they fastened it to the end of a bunch of _hyssop, _that it might be raised to Christ’s mouth; for, in that country, _hyssops _grow as large as small shru... [ Continue Reading ]
30._It is finished. _He repeats the same word which he had lately employed, (181) Now this word, which Christ employs, well deserves our attention; for it shows that the whole accomplishment of our salvation, and all the parts of it, are contained in his death. We have already stated that his resurr... [ Continue Reading ]
31._For it was the preparation. _This narrative also tends to the edification of our faith; first, because it shows that what had been foretold in the Scriptures is fulfilled in the person of Christ; and, secondly, because it contains a mystery of no ordinary value. The Evangelist says, that _the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
33._But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was already dead. _That they break the legs of the two robbers, and after having done so, find that Christ is already dead, and therefore do not touch his body, appears to be a very extraordinary work of the providence of God. Ungodly men will, no dou... [ Continue Reading ]
34._But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear. _When _the soldier pierced Christ’s side with his spear, _he did so for the purpose of ascertaining if he was dead; but God had a higher object in view, as we shall immediately see. It was a childish contrivance of the Papists, when, out of... [ Continue Reading ]
36._A bone of him shall not be broken. _This citation is made from Exodus 12:46, and Numbers 9:12, where Moses treats of the paschal lamb. Note, Moses takes for granted that that lamb was a figure of the true and only sacrifice, by which the Church was to be redeemed. Nor is this inconsistent with t... [ Continue Reading ]
37._They shall look on him whom they pierced. _This passage is violently tortured by those who endeavor to explain it literally as referring to Christ. Nor is this the purpose for which the Evangelist quotes ib but rather to show that Christ is that God who formerly complained, by Zechariah, that th... [ Continue Reading ]
38._Joseph of Arimathea besought Pilate. _John now relates by whom, and in what place, and with what magnificence, Christ was buried. He mentions two persons who buried Christ; namely, _Joseph _and _Nicodemus, _the former of whom requested Pilate to give him the dead body, which otherwise would have... [ Continue Reading ]
40._As the custom of the Jews is to bury. _When Christ had endured extreme ignominy on the cross, God determined that his burial should be honourable, that it might serve as a preparation for the glory of his resurrection. The money expended on it by _Nicodemus _and _Joseph _is very great, and may b... [ Continue Reading ]
41._Now, in the place where he was crucified there was a garden. _This is the _third _point, as I have said, which ought to be observed in the history of the burial. It is related by the Evangelist for various reasons. In the first place, it did not happen by accident, but by an undoubted providence... [ Continue Reading ]