_CHRIST IS SCOURGED, CROWNED WITH THORNS, AND BEATEN. PILATE IS DESIROUS TO RELEASE HIM, BUT BEING OVERCOME WITH THE OUTRAGE OF THE JEWS, HE DELIVERETH HIM TO BE CRUCIFIED. THE SOLDIERS CAST LOTS FOR HIS GARMENTS: HE COMMENDETH HIS MOTHER TO JOHN: HE DIETH: HIS SIDE IS PIERCED, HE IS BURIED BY JOSEP... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SOLDIERS PLATTED A CROWN OF THORNS,— See the note on Matthew 27:29. To what has been said there concerning the _crown of thorns,_ the following observations may be added. The form of the sentence for execution passed upon criminals, as recited by Cicero, was this: _I, lictor, colliga manus,... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD THE MAN!— While thesoldiers were acting their impious buffooneries, Pilate entered, and, seeing the humiliating condition of the suffering Jesus, he thought that now at least the rage of his enemies would be satiated, and that the most envenomed heart would relent at the appearance of so sad... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE CHIEF PRIESTS THEREFORE AND OFFICERS SAW HIM,— The priests, whose rage and malice had extinguished not only the sentiments ofjustice, and all the feelings of pity, but that love which countrymen bear to one another,—no sooner saw Jesus, than they began to fear that the fickle populace might... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN PILATE THEREFORE HEARD THAT SAYING, HE WAS THE MORE AFRAID;— When Pilate heard that Jesus called himself the Son of God, he was more perplexed than ever. Knowing the obstinacy of the Jews in all matters of religion, he was afraid they would make a tumult in earnest; and he might be the more rea... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWEST THOU NOT THAT I HAVE POWER, &C.— See the note on ch. John 18:31. To what Pilate urged, our Lord replies, "_Thou couldst have no power against me, unless it were given thee from above_;—from the permission of the God of heaven, whose providence should be acknowledged in all events. _Therefore... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FROM THENCEFORTH— An inattentive reader may perhaps understand these words, as if this was Pilate's first attempt to release Jesus; nevertheless they cannot justly be thus interpreted, as St. John himself tells us expressly, that Pilate once before endeavoured to release him: ch. John 18:39. To... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS THE PREPARATION— The governor being frightened into compliance, contrary to his inclination, was angry with the priests for stirring up the people to such a pitch of madness, and resolved to affront them. He therefore brought Jesus out a second time on the pavement, wearing the purple rob... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL I CRUCIFY YOUR KING?— According to most commentators, Pilate said this mocking them; but it is more agreeable to his general behaviour in this affair to suppose, that he spoke it with a view to move the populace, who, he knew, had once held Jesus in great esteem as the Messiah: for we are told... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PILATE WROTE A TITLE,— The governor, as usual, put up a title or writing on the cross, signifying the crime for which Jesus was condemned: this writing was in black characters, on a whitened board, and in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages, that foreigners, as well as natives, might be able... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MADE FOUR PARTS,— Because four soldiers are mentioned in the division of the clothes, it does not follow that there were but four present at the crucifixion. Since soldiers were necessary at all, a great number must have been present to keep off the crowds which usually press to see such spectac... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE STOOD BY THE CROSS OF JESUS, HIS MOTHER, &C.— Neither her own danger, nor the sadness of the spectacle, nor the reproaches and insults of the people, could restrain our Lord's mother from performing the last sad office of duty and tenderness to her divine Son on the cross. Grotius justly obser... [ Continue Reading ]
WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON!— We have elsewhere observed, that Joseph was probably dead some time before. See on ch. John 2:1; John 6:42. And as Jesus now shewed the tender concern he had for his mother, in committing her to the care of St. John; so this concern which he expressed for her support, must ha... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS FINISHED:— See on Matthew 27:50.... [ Continue Reading ]
_JOHN 19:31_. (_FOR THAT SABBATH-DAY WAS AN HIGH DAY,_)— It was not only a sabbath, but the second day of the feast of unleavened bread, from whence they reckoned the weeks to Pentecost, and also the day for presenting and offering the sheaf of new corn; so that it was indeed a treble solemnity. The... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FORTHWITH, &C.— Whether this was, as Dr. Drake and several others suppose, the small quantity of water inclosed in the _pericardium,_ in which the heart swims, or whether the _cruor_ was now almost coagulated, and separated from the _serum;_ either way it was an indisputable proof of Christ's de... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THIS JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA,— We have observed on ch. John 18:31 that Joseph of Arimathea seems to have been personally acquainted with Pilate, as he went to him, and begged leave to bury the body of Jesus. We can have no doubt of their being acquainted, if Joseph was one of the council who a... [ Continue Reading ]
ABOUT AN HUNDRED POUND WEIGHT.— The author of the _Observations_ has the following remark: "What Joseph and Nicodemus did with the mixture ofmyrrh and aloes, doth not appear: Dr. Lardner supposes, that they might possibly form a bed of spices. But with respect to the quantity, which he tells us, fro... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN TOOK THEY THE BODY— Those who have written upon the manners and customs of the Jews, tell us, that they sometimes embalmed their dead with an aromatic mixture of myrrh, aloes, and other gums or spices; whichthey rubbed on the body more or less profusely, according to their circumstances, and th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE GARDEN A NEW SEPULCHRE,— In the description of the sepulchre given by the evangelists, it is particularly remarked, that it was nigh to the place where Jesus was crucified, consequently nigh to Jerusalem. By this circumstance all the cavils are prevented, which might otherwise have been o... [ Continue Reading ]