Then Pilate therefore took Jesus and scourged HIM. Observe here, 1. That as the death of the cross was. Roman punishment, so it was the manner of the Romans to whip their malefactors' before they crucified them. Accordingly Pilate TOOK JESUS, AND SCOURGED. O! amazing sight, the great God of heave... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold here. 1. The crown which they have prepared for him,. crown of thorns; and with great cruelty they press it closely to his sacred temples, whilst those sharp-pointed briars, piercing those tender parts, let out that blood, which in. short time was to be more freely poured forth for the redemp... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The great variety of our Saviour's sufferings: he is made the foot-ball of all cruelty and scorn; his sacred body is stript of his garments, and his back disguised with purple robes; his tender temples wounded with. thorny crown; his face spit upon, his cheeks buffeted, his head smi... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How ambitious the chief priests were that Christ should die under. colour of law: We HAVE. LAW, AND BY OUR LAW HE OUGHT TO DIE. The law which they allude to, is the law for putting false prophets and blasphemers to death; of which number they conclude Christ to be, because he made h... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How offended Pilate was at Christ's silence, and how unreasonably he boasts of his power and authority: HAVE NOT. POWER TO CRUCIFY THEE, AND POWER TO RELEASE THEE? It is the great sin and snare of men in power, to forget from whom they derive their power, and to think that they may... [ Continue Reading ]
Still observe, how unwilling Pilate was to put Christ to death; conscience bids him spare, popularity bids him kill: how frequently and how fervently did he contend with the Jews, till they make it. state case, and tacitly accuse him for. traitor to the Roman emperor, if he released him: IF THOU LET... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, how careful the Holy Ghost is to record and set down the time when Pilate gave sentence against Christ. In general, it was on the day of the preparation for the passover; that is, the day immediately before it, when they prepared everything needful for the solemnization: and, in parti... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. That it was. custom among the Romans to cause the person condemned to crucifying, to carry his own cross; accordingly our Saviour bare his own cross part of the way, till fainting under the burden of it they laid it upon another, not out of mercy, but malice, reserving him for. more... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The inscription wrote by Pilate over our suffering Saviour: THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. It was the manner of the Romans, when they crucified. malefactor, to publish the cause of his death in capital letters over his head, that so the equity of their proceedings... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have recorded our Saviour's sufferings from the soldiers; they stript him of his garments, before they fastened him to his cross, and divided those garments which could be parted amongst them, and cast lots on his woven coat which could not be divided. Little did these vile soldiers think th... [ Continue Reading ]
These words contain our Saviour's affectionate recommendation of his distressed mother to the care of. dear disciple. It was an argument of Christ's wonderful love to her, that when he was nailed to the cross, and ready to die, he was more concerned for his mother's sorrows than for his own sufferin... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The affliction or suffering which our Saviour complained of, and that is, thirst; there are two sorts of thirst, the one natural and proper, the other spiritual and figurative; Christ felt both at this time. His body thirsted by reason of those agonies which it laboured under. His s... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. Our Lord's last words, IT IS FINISHED. 2. His last act, HE BOWED HIS HEAD, AND GAVE UP THE GHOST. As to the former, his last words, IT IS FINISHED, this might be the probable intendment of it: 1. IT IS FINISHED; that is, now is my Father's eternal counsel concerning me accomplish... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses contain several remarkable passages tending to the confirmation of our faith, in the belief of the certainty and reality of our Saviour's death: in which the Jews, the soldiers, and St. John, do all five their several and sufficient evidences. Observe, 1. The Jews' part in clearing up h... [ Continue Reading ]
This last paragraph of the chapter gives us an account of our Lord's honourable burial: such. funeral as never was since graves were first digged. Where observe, 1. Our Lord's body must be begged before it could be buried, the dead bodies of malefactors being in the power and at the disposal of the... [ Continue Reading ]