THESE WORDS; the words of the wonderful prayer which he had just offered. CEDRON; or Kidron, a torrent-bed which ran through the valley of Jehoshaphat, on the east side of Jerusalem, between the city and the mount of Olives. It has water only in the rainy season. 2 Samuel 15:23. By communing with G... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus is betrayed. Matthew 26:47-56.... [ Continue Reading ]
The sufferings and death of Christ were all foreseen by him, and were perfectly voluntary. He carefully avoided committing himself to his enemies, or suffering them to take him before his time had come; but then he made no attempt to escape. He even went forth and met them, and committed himself to... [ Continue Reading ]
FELL TO THE GROUND; prostrated themselves before him under the influence of his divine power. This showed that they were completely in his power; had he seen fit, he could easily have escaped their hands, or summoned legions of angels to his rescue.... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE; his disciples. Such was the love of Christ to his disciples, and such his delight in their enjoyment, that he was more ready to save them from their enemies, than to save himself from the agonies of the cross.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOST NONE; chap John 17:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CUP; the sufferings which my Father hath appointed for me, shall I not endure them?... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ before Caiaphas. Chap John 11:49-52; MATTHEW 26:57.... [ Continue Reading ]
The words of Scripture sometimes have a twofold meaning. They may express a meaning which the speaker had in his own mind; they may also express a more important meaning, intended by the Holy Spirit, though the speaker did not apprehend that meaning. Others may afterwards apprehend, and be more bene... [ Continue Reading ]
ANOTHER DISCIPLE; supposed to be John, the writer of this gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT IN PETER; into the hall or court, which was a square space open above, around which the palace was built. The chamber in which the trial of Jesus was going on was open in front, so that Peter could witness the trial, and Jesus could see Peter. Mark 14:66; LUKE 22:61.... [ Continue Reading ]
ASKED JESUS; questioned him, as if he and the Sanhedrin needed information on these points.... [ Continue Reading ]
OPENLY; Matthew 26:55.... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK THEM WHICH HEARD ME; this was the legal and proper way of gaining evidence.... [ Continue Reading ]
Men may violate law, commit injustice, and act the part of tyrants, out of professed regard to the ministers and institutions of religion; and while instigated by the devil and their own evil passions, they may think that they are serving God. Chap John 16:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Peter's denial. Matthew 26:69-75.... [ Continue Reading ]
HALL OF JUDGMENT; the place where Pilate the Roman governor held his court. LEST THEY SHOULD BE DEFILED; they would not enter this apartment of a Gentile, lest they should be unfitted to partake of the passover; so careful were they about contracting ceremonial pollution, while they were seeking to... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ before Pilate. Matthew 27:1-25.... [ Continue Reading ]
MALEFACTOR; an evil-doer, violater of law.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE YE HIM, AND JUDGE HIM; see note to chap John 19:6. NOT LAWFUL; the power to put one to death had been taken away from the Jews by the Roman government; and this was the reason why they sought to have Pilate condemn him.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAYING OF JESUS; crucifixion was a Roman punishment, while the Jewish punishment for the crime of which they accused him was that of stoning. Leviticus 24:11; Leviticus 24:15-16. By taking him to the Roman governor, they fulfilled his own prediction concerning the manner of his death. Matthew 20... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU THE KING OF THE JEWS? this question was put in consequence of the Jews having charged him with pretending to be a king, which they said was rebellion against Caesar. Luke 23:2; JOHN 19:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THYSELF; have you observed any thing treasonable in me; or do you ask this question in consequence of what others have told you?... [ Continue Reading ]
AM I A JEW? as much as to say, Since I am not a Jew, I cannot be supposed to be acquainted with the controversy which thine own countrymen the Jews have with thee. I wish to hear from thine own mouth in respect to this charge of making thyself a king.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT OF THIS WORLD; not an earthly kingdom. The kingdom of Jesus Christ is a spiritual kingdom. He reigns by truth and love over the hearts and lives of men. the friends of truth obey his voice, and find in doing it great reward. 2 Corinthians 4:2; PSALMS 19:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU A KING THEN? a king of any sort? THOU SAYEST; this was equivalent to replying, I am a king. He then proceeded to show what kind of a king he was; one who came into the world to make known the truth, and to govern men not by force, but by spiritual influence. Pilate saw that his claims were... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS TRUTH? by this question Pilate manifested both his ignorance of our Lord's meaning, and his indifference in respect to His doctrine. I FIND IN HIM NO FAULT; this the Holy Ghost caused to be written on an imperishable record, that it might stand an eternal monument of the falsehood of the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE A CUSTOM; Matthew 27:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT THIS MAN, BUT BARABBAS; Pilate had asked them which they would have him set at liberty, Barabbas or Christ. Matthew 27:17. Barabbas was guilty of sedition, the crime which they wrongfully charged upon Jesus; he was also a robber and a murderer. Yet they preferred him to the Son of God, the Savio... [ Continue Reading ]