us,

n

26. Then released. This is the conclusion of the whole matter-the tragic act of Pilate-washing his hands of the crime, and delivering up Jesus to their will. He was an unjust judgea self-deceiver-bound to have pronounced Christ innocent, and to have set Him free as such, without any resort to the provision of that festival. Behold, then, how Christ is at once acquitted and condemned by the same parties! He dies for sin vet He is not a sinner-He is under condemnation in the sinner's place; but He is without fault. The Father calls Him His beloved, yet lays on Him our iniquities. How strangely wonderful, yet essential! Barabbas must have been executed, but for His stepping in where Barabbas, the sinner, should have died. He stood in his stead. And now Barabbas may go free, and trust in Christ. He may feel thankful for such an one to stand in his room, and his sins-seditious, murderous-sins as scarlet and red like crimson-may be washed in the blood of that Paschal sacrifice, which gives release and cleanses from all sin.- T Scourged Jesus. This was customary where a slave was to be crucified. Christ, then, was not merely crucified, but most ignominiouslyas a common slave. This scourging was inflicted on the back with a rod, sometimes sharpened by points of iron (see note, Matt. 10. 17). ¶Delivered Him-i.e.,officially-"gave sentence that it should be as they required." Luke shows his education

n I8.53.5. Lu.18.33.

in his accurate statement here, of the formal judgment pronounced by Pilate, which is only implied in the other Evangelists. The release of Barabbas involves the condemnation of Christ. The choice of "the multitude" is a rejection of the Saviour. "If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in Him;" yet the interposition of Christ to take the sinner's place, is the only hope of the world. We annex here, in a note, a most singular document, entitled the Death Warrant of Christ.

Pilate at last condemned Christ.

Sentence rendered by Pontius Pilate, acting Governor of Lower Galilee, stating that Jesus of Nazareth shall suffer death on the cross.

'In the year seventeen of the empire Tiberius Cæsar, and the 25th day of March, the city of holy

Jerusalem, Anna and Caiaphas being priests, sacrificators of the people of God, Pontius Pilate, dential chair of the Prætory, condemns Jesus of Nazareth to die on the cross between two thieves saying -the great and notorious evidence of the people

Governor of Lower Galilee, sitting on the presi

1. Jesus is a seducer. 2. He is seditious.

3. He is an enemy of the law.

4. He calls himself falsely the Son of God. 5. He calls himself falsely the King of Israel. 6. He entered into the temple, followed by a multitude bearing palm branches in their hands. Order the first centurion, Quillus Cornellus, to lead him to the place of execution.

Forbid to any person whomsoever, either poor or rich, to oppose the death of Jesus.

The witnesses that signed the condemnation of

Jesus are, viz. :--1. Daniel Robani, a Pharisee; 2. Joannas Rorobable; 3. Raphdel Robani; 4. Capet, a citizen.

Jesus shall go out of the city of Jerusalem by the gate of Struenus."

The above sentence is engraved on a copper

"

plate; on one side are written these words: A similar plate is sent to each tribe." It was found vating in the ancient city of Aquilla, in the kingin an antique vase of white marble, while exca

dom of Naples, in the year 1820,and was discovered by the Commissariats of Arts, attached to the French armies. At the expedition of Naples, it was found enclosed in a box of ebony, in the sa of Caserta. The French translation was mande cristy of the Chartrom-the vase in the chapel by the members of the Commission of Arts. The original is in the Hebrew language. The Chartrom requested earnestly that the plate might not be taken away from them. The request was granted as a reward for the sacrifice they had caused a plate to be made of the same model, on made for the army. M. Denon, one of the savans,

which he had engraved the above sentence. At bought by Lord Howard for 2,890 francs. the sale of his collection of antiquities, &c., i' was

1 Or, governor's house.

"He was vacillating-fearful for his office, and even for his life-for he served 'the dark and unrelenting Tiberius."" The charge against Him was of treason against the state. Hence the people accused Pilate of opposition to Cesar, in showing lenity toward Christ (John 19. 12). Pilate gave Him up to the people.

27. The common hall-called (patτωριον) Toplov) Pretorium-the governor's palace or house (avλn) (Mark 15. 16.) Pilate's judgment seat was in an open, public place, from which Christ was now led to the house of Pilate. The Jews would not enter in there, because contact with the heathen soldiers would defile them for the passover (John 18. 28). The whole band. This was a cohort in the Roman army of from 4 to 600 men-the tenth part of a legion.

28. A scarlet robe. This was put upon Him in mockery, because He claimed to be king, and this was the kind of robe worn by Roman officials. Mark says it was purple. The former was a military cloak-the latter was worn by the Roman emperors. Very probably in their deep derision, an old cast-off general's cloak was put on Him, as a мOCK PURPLE, to deride His claims as king. This intent appears from next verse. Hence it is said by Mark, "they clothed Him with purple," &c.

29. A crown of thorns. This was a chaplet or wreath of the thorn bush, woven or platted so as to fit upon His head, and further to mock His kingly pretensions. Instead of His crown of glory, they assign Him a crown of thorns. Instead of adorning His brow, it pierces His temples. reed. This mocks His sceptre.

A

In

30 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

o Ps.69.19,20. p Is.49.7; 50.6; 53.3,7.

stead of a golden or ivory staff of office, which kings commonly bore, they put in His right hand a frail reed, that would bruise and break almost at the touch.

- They bowed the knee. This was further mockery, tantalizing Him with such pretence of subjection, and thus playing off the ridiculous farce to show how thoroughly they despised His claims as king. How vile is the human heart! What was the ground of all this bitter enmity that could not possibly be satisfied with mockeries or cruelties ? "The carnal mind is ENMITY against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Human nature, at best, can only present a mock subjection-a profane bowing of the knee, more scoffing, than spiritual or sincere. To crown all the derision, they shout aloud a mock salutation" Hail, King of the Jews" which they used toward their emperors.

30. Spit upon Him. This was the mark of utmost spite and contempt, both in ancient and modern times (see ch. 26. 67). Compare Isa. 50. 6. This indignity would show us the abhorrence of which our sins are worthy, and men may now see, in all this, the infinite dishonour which they deserve, as the curse of sin; for it was in the capacity of the sinner's substitute that our Lord passed through all these bitter experiences.

John

- Smote Him. This despite was further shown the Sufferer. has it "they smote Him with their hands." Matthew and Mark speak of a reed being also used, and on the head. Mark also adds that “bowing their knees they worshipped Him."All this was in mingled spite and derision.

31 And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him. 32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene,

q Nu.15 35. 1K.21.10,13. Ac.7.58. He. 13.12.

OBSERVE, (1.) Pilate delivers Christ to be crucified, but He is delivered up also by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2. 23). (2.) The enmity of the heart against the claims of Christ is unprovoked and unmitigated. (3.) Men call for Christ to be crucified, and when this death is shown to be for the salvation of sinners, they reject Him even in this. (4.) Some shall awake to shame and everlasting contempt (Dan. 12. 2).

§ 152. JESUS IS LED AWAY TO BE CRUCIFIED. SIXTH day of the week. Jerusalem.

Matt.

John.

27.31-34 15.20-23 23.26-33 19.16,17

31. The robe. Mark says, the purple, viz., the mock purple.

32. As they came out-viz., of the city; for the execution of criminals was commonly outside the gates. The soldiers led Him out, for they were the common executioners under the Roman governors.- TA man of Cyrene. Mark and Luke both speak of this man as "coming out of the country" towards the city, which would show that they found him as they passed out of the city gate. Mark adds that he was "the father of Alexander and Rufus." Cyrene was in Africa, where there were Jews residing. The district was called Pentapolis Cyrenaica. It is stated by John (19. 17), that Christ went forth "bearing His cross," which was the custom for criminals. They impressed this man Simon, "and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus." (See Luke 23. 26.) The cross was a high post with a cross-beam near the top, and fastened

firmly in the ground. It usually stood some ten feet out of ground, and was in size and weight such as a man could carry with difficulty. A small seat belonged to it (about the middle), that the crucified person might rest upon it, and_not_hang entirely by the hands. The hands and feet were sometimes fastened to the cross with spikes, and sometimes bound fast to it with ropes. In our Saviour's case, the former method was used, as the most cruel. Christ is to be crucified for His people. Yet He would bring men into a mysterious and glorious partaking with Him of His sufferings and of His glory. The place of execution lay to the the bodies of the beasts that were sacnorth-west, and near the city. As rificed as types of Him were burned without the camp, so He suffered without the gate (Heb. 13. 11, 12). See Map of Mod. Jerusalem, where the spot standing outside the old walls, but afterwards enclosed, is indicated by the site of "the Holy Sepulchre." (K.) On the swell of Acra, beyond the Second Wall, (see "View of Jerusalem as besieged by Titus,") the crucifixion took place.Bartlett's "Walks about Jerusalem," p. 38.

33. Golgotha-"a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha "(John)-" the place Golgotha" (Mark)" the place which is called Calvary" (Luke). This was also the meaning of Calvary in the Latin-" a skull. Though called Mount Calvary, it was rather a knoll, just sufficient to designate the spot. It received its name, doubtless, from its being used for the execution of criminals. Comp. 2 Kings 9. 35.

34. Vinegar mingled with gall

t

35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled

8 Ps.22.16. Mar.15.24,&c. L. 23,34,&c. Jno.19.24, &c. t Pg.22.18.

This was a mixture offered in derision, it would seem. Mark speaks of another potion, viz., wine, or winevinegar, mingled with myrrh, which was the usual stupefying drink for criminals about to suffer death. It served as an opiate, like laudanum, to relieve the extreme sufferings. This fulfilled the prophecy in Psalm 69. 21.—¶ He would not drink. Here again He was to show how willingly he endured the curse. If He had sought relief, He could have had it from heaven, or could have destroyed His enemies at His will. He would now refuse any alleviations which His murderers would administer. He would drink the cup to the dregs, for it was given Him of His Father. He endured the curse voluntarily and fully.

phet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my ves ture did they cast lots.

36 And sitting down, they watched him there;

37 And set up over his head

the superintendence of a centurion, were the common executioners. These drove each a nail into the hand or foot of the man, sometimes before, and sometimes after the cross had been set up in its place in the ground. Resting on the small seat which was fixed about the middle of the eross, the person could be nailed to it after it was set up. It was a slow and severe death, not exceeded in physical suffering, perhaps, by any method of torture. It was also the most ignominious punishment, "as it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Robbers and slaves were generally doomed to this kind of death. Hence "the offence of the cross." Hence the wonder of Christ's humiliation, "EVEN the death of THE CROSS." Such suffering must needs be short, showing how poorly our weak nature can bear the curse of sin. A person gen

Matt.

John.

With the Jews it was not lawful that a malefactor's body hang on the cross

Mark. + Luke. ¡ 34, 38

the soldier tried with the spear to see if He was yet dead, else they would break his bones to hasten His decease. Parted His garments. The soldiers who acted as executioners were entitled to the garments of the deceased. They "made four parts, (says John), to every soldier a part," and for His coat they cast lots. This was a method of deciding such a doubtful point by appealing to what was ostensibly regarded in the case