unto us Barabbas: (who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spoke again to them. But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. And he said to them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I find no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and let him go. And they were urgent with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that their request should be granted. And he *released. unto them him, that for sedition and murder had been cast into prison, whom they desired; but he delivered Jesus up to their will. And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus. And there followed him a great company of people, and of women who also bewailed+ and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them, said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not over me, but weep over yourselves and over your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For § if they do these things in * He released a murderer, and knowingly gave up the innocent and righteous Jesus to the fury of his enemies. + Or beat their breasts. This is a prophecy of the dreadful calamities which happened during the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. § This is a proverb, intimating that if they treated him thus who was innocent, how dreadfully would the wrath of the green wood, what shall be done in the dry?And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary there they crucified him, and the malefactors; one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus,+ Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be the Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, and saying, If thou be the King of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription was written over him, in Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew letters, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. And one of the malefactors who were hanged, reviled him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering, rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, since thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss. : God consume the Jewish people, whose sins made them ripe for destruction: even as dry wood is fitter for the flames than that which is green. * Or Golgotha, the place of a skull. + Our Lord had often preached forgiveness of injuries; here he practices it in an exemplary manner towards his murderers. "They parted my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture." Psalms xxii. 12. (Douay xxi. 19.) It seems that they parted his garments into four pieces, one to each soldier; but his vesture being without seam, woven throughout, they cast lots for it; thus literally fulfilling David's prophecy. And he said to Jesus, Remember me, Lord, when' thou comest in thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him, Verily I say to thee, To-day thou shalt be with me in Paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the vail of the temple was rent in the midst. And Jesus crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit; and having said thus, he expired. Now the centurion seeing what was done, glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. And all the multitudes that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, returned smiting their breasts. And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things. And, behold, a man named* Joseph, a counsellor; a good and just man, (the same had not consented to their council and deed :) of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God; this man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, in which no man ever before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.t And the women also, that came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the *Joseph was a member of the Jewish council or Sanhedrim, but protested against the sentence of death decreed by the rest. "He waited for the kingdom of God," that is, he expected that about that time there would be redemption in Israel. +For the evening twilight was the beginning of each day with the Jews; and not midnight as with us. sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested on the sabbath,+ according to the commandment. QUESTIONS ON LESSON XXIV. WHAT are the contents of this Lesson? In what manner was Jesus treated by those who held him? What question was he asked in the council? his answer? What was What reason did the council assign for condemning him? Why was it necessary that he should be brought to Pilate? What was Pilate? What were the charges brought against Christ by the elders and chief priests? Can you show that these charges were false? What question did Pilate ask of Jesus, and what was the answer? What did Pilate say to the accusers respecting Jesus? Why was Jesus sent to Herod? Why was Herod glad to see Jesus? Did Jesus gratify Herod's wish? In what manner was Jesus treated by Herod? What took place between Pilate and Herod at this time? *It does not appear that either Joseph or the women expected the resurrection of Christ. The spices and ointments were for embalming the body. They rested, that is, having prepared materials for embalming, they went no further then, it being the beginning of the Sabbath, and neither finished the embalming, nor visited the sepulchre. The crucifixion took place on the sixth day of the week (Friday), the resurrection on the morning of the first day of the following week (Sunday). What observation did Pilate make respecting Christ's innocence? What was the reply of the accusers, and whom did they wish to be released? What were the crimes of Barabbas? How many attempts did Pilate make to save Jesus? What punishment did the accusers wish to be inflicted on Jesus ? Who carried the cross after Jesus? What was the conduct of the women who followed him? What was Christ's observation to the women? To what calamity did he allude? With what proverb did he conclude, and what was the meaning of it?' Was Jesus alone crucified on that day? What prophecy was fulfilled by his crucifixion with malefactors? What was the name of the place where he was crucified? What was the meaning of Calvary? What prayer did Jesus offer up? What became of his garments, and what prophecy was fulfilled thereby? In what way did the Rulers deride him? What did the soldiers offer him? and what did they say? What was the superscription over him, and in what languages was it? What difference was there in the conduct of the two malefactors? What testimony did one malefactor give in Christ's favour? What request did he make to Christ, and what was the answer? What does the word "Paradise" mean? What extraordinary appearances occurred during the crucifixion? How long did the darkness continue? What did our Lord say immediately before he expired? What effect had these things on the Centurion? How did the multitudes act, having seen all that happened? Who was Joseph of Arimathea, and what did he ask of Pilate? How did Joseph dispose of the body? On what day was Christ crucified? What preparation did the women make, and for what purpose? |