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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1721)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>M A R K.</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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What we read of the sufferings of Christ, in the foregoing chapter, was
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but the prologue or introduction; here we have the completing of them.
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We left him condemned by the chief priests; but they could only show
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their teeth, they could not bite. Here we have him,
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I. Arraigned and accused before Pilate the Roman governor,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. Cried out against by the common people, at the instigation of the
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priests,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:6-14">ver. 6-14</A>.
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III. Condemned to be crucified immediately,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:15">ver. 15</A>.
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IV. Bantered and abused, as a mock-king, by the Roman soldiers,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:16-19">ver. 16-19</A>.
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V. Led out to the place of execution with all possible ignominy
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and disgrace,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:20-24">ver. 20-24</A>.
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VI. Nailed to the cross between two thieves,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:25-28">ver. 25-28</A>.
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VII. Reviled and abused by all that passed by,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:29-32">ver. 29-32</A>.
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VIII. Forsaken for a time by his father,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:33-36">ver. 33-36</A>.
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IX. Dying, and rending the veil,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:37,38">ver. 37, 38</A>.
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X. Attested and witnessed to by the centurion and others,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:39-41">ver. 39-41</A>.
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XI. Buried in the sepulchre of Joseph of Arimathea,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:42-47">ver. 42-47</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Mr15_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ Brought before Pilate.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a
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consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council,
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and bound Jesus, and carried <I>him</I> away, and delivered <I>him</I> to
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Pilate.
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2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he
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answering said unto him, Thou sayest <I>it.</I>
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3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he
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answered nothing.
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4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing?
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behold how many things they witness against thee.
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5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
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6 Now at <I>that</I> feast he released unto them one prisoner,
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whomsoever they desired.
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7 And there was <I>one</I> named Barabbas, <I>which lay</I> bound with
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them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed
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murder in the insurrection.
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8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire <I>him to do</I> as
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he had ever done unto them.
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9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto
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you the King of the Jews?
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10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for
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envy.
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11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should
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rather release Barabbas unto them.
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12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye
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then that I shall do <I>unto him</I> whom ye call the King of the
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Jews?
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13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
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14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And
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they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here we have,
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I. A <I>consultation</I> held by the great Sanhedrim for the effectual
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prosecution of our Lord Jesus. They met <I>early in the morning</I>
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about it, and went into a grand committee, to find out <I>ways and
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means</I> to get him put to death; they lost no time, but followed
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their blow in good earnest, lest there should be an <I>uproar among the
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people.</I> The unwearied industry of wicked people in doing that which
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is evil, should shame us for our backwardness and slothfulness in that
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which is good. They that <I>war</I> against Christ and thy soul, are up
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early; <I>How long then wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The delivering of him up a prisoner to Pilate; they <I>bound
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him.</I> He was to be the great sacrifice, and sacrifices must be bound
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with cords,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+118:27">Ps. cxviii. 27</A>.
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Christ was bound, to make bonds easy to us, and enable us, as Paul and
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Silas, to sing in bonds. It is good for us often to <I>remember the
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bonds</I> of the Lord Jesus, as bound with him who was <I>bound for
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us.</I> They led him through the streets of Jerusalem, to expose
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<I>him</I> to contempt, who, while he taught in the temple, but a day
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or two before, was had in veneration; and we may well imagine how
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miserably he looked after such a night's usage as he had had; so
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buffeted, spit upon, and abused. Their delivering him to the Roman
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power was a type of ruin of their church, which hereby they merited,
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and brought upon themselves; it signified that the promise, the
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covenant, and the oracles, of God, and the visible state church, which
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were the glory of Israel, and had been so long in their possession,
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should now be delivered up to the Gentiles. By delivering up the
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<I>king</I> they do, in effect, deliver up the <I>kingdom of God,</I>
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which is therefore, as it were, by their own consent, taken from them,
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and given to another nation. If they had delivered up Christ, to
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gratify the desires of the Romans, or to satisfy and jealousies of
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theirs concerning him, it had been another matter; but they voluntarily
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betrayed him that was <I>Israel's crown,</I> to them that were
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<I>Israel's yoke.</I></P>
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<P>
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III. The examining of him by Pilate upon interrogatories
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>);
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"<I>Art thou the king of the Jews?</I> Dost thou pretend to be so, to
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be that Messiah whom the Jews expect as a temporal prince?"--"Yea,"
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saith Christ, "it is as <I>thou sayest,</I> I am that Messiah, but not
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such a one as they expect." He is the king that rules and protects his
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Israel according to the spirit, who are Jews inwardly by the
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circumcision of the spirit, and the king that will restrain and punish
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the carnal Jews, who continue in unbelief.</P>
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<P>
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IV. The articles of impeachment exhibited against him, and his silence
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under the charge and accusation. The chief priests forgot the dignity
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of their place, when they turned informers, and did in person <I>accuse
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Christ of many things</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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and witness against him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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Many of the Old-Testament prophets charge the priests of their times
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with great wickedness, in which <I>well did they prophesy</I> of these
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priests; see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eze+22:26,Ho+5:1,6:9,Mic+3:11,Zep+3:4,Mal+1:6,2:8">Ezek. xxii. 26;
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Hos. v. 1; vi. 9; Mic. iii. 11; Zeph. iii. 4; Mal. i. 6; ii. 8</A>.
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The destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans is said to be for the
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<I>iniquity of the priests that shed the blood of the just,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+4:13">Lam. iv. 13</A>.
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Note, Wicked priests are generally the worst of men. The better any
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thing is, the worse it is when it is corrupted. Lay persecutors have
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been generally found more compassionate than ecclesiastics. These
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priests were very eager and noisy in their accusation; but Christ
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<I>answered nothing,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
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When Pilate urged him to clear himself, and was desirous he should
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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yet still he stood mute
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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he <I>answered nothing,</I> which Pilate thought very strange. He gave
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Pilate a direct answer
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>),
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but would not answer the prosecutors and witnesses, because the things
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they alleged, were notoriously false, and he knew Pilate himself was
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convinced they were so. Note, As Christ <I>spoke</I> to admiration, so
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he <I>kept silence</I> to admiration.</P>
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<P>
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V. The proposal Pilate made to the people, to have Jesus released to
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them, since it was the custom of the feast to grace the solemnity with
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the release of one prisoner. The people expected and demanded that he
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should do <I>as he had ever done to them</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>);
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it was not an ill usage, but they would have it kept up. Now Pilate
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perceived that the chief priests delivered up Jesus <I>for envy,</I>
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because he had got such a reputation among the people as eclipsed
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theirs,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>.
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It was easy to see, comparing the eagerness of the prosecutors with the
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slenderness of the proofs, that it was not his <I>guilt,</I> but his
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<I>goodness,</I> not any thing <I>mischievous</I> or <I>scandalous,</I>
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but something <I>meritorious</I> and <I>glorious,</I> that they were
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provoked at. And therefore, hearing how much he was the darling of the
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crowd, he thought that he might safely appeal from the priests to the
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people, and that they would be proud of rescuing him out of the
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priests' hands; and he proposed an expedient for their doing it without
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danger of an <I>uproar;</I> let them demand him to be <I>released,</I>
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and Pilate will be ready to do it, and stop the mouths of the priests
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with this--that the people insisted upon his release. There was indeed
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another prisoner, <I>one Barabbas,</I> that had an interest, and would
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have some votes; but he questioned not but Jesus would out-poll
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him.</P>
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<P>
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VI. The unanimous outrageous clamours of the people have <I>Christ put
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to death,</I> and particularly to have him <I>crucified.</I> It was a
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great surprise to Pilate, when he found the people so much under the
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influence of the priests, that they all agreed to desire that Barabbas
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might be <I>released,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>.
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Pilate opposed it all he could; "<I>What will ye that I shall do to him
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whom ye call the King of the Jews?</I> Would not ye then have him
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released too?"
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>.
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No, say they, <I>Crucify him.</I> The priests having put that in their
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mouths, the insist upon it; when Pilate objected, <I>Why, what evil has
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he done?</I> (a very material question in such a case), they did not
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pretend to answer it, but <I>cried out more exceedingly,</I> as they
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were more and more instigated and irritated by the priests, <I>Crucify
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him, crucify him.</I> Now the priests, who were very busy dispersing
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themselves and their creatures among the mob, to keep up the cry,
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promised themselves that it would influence Pilate two ways to condemn
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him.
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1. It might incline him to believe Christ <I>guilty,</I> when there was
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so general an out-cry against him. "Surely," might Pilate think, "he
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must needs be a bad man, whom all the world is weary of." He would now
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conclude that he had been <I>misinformed,</I> when he was told what an
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interest he had in the people, and that the matter was not so. But the
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priest had hurried on the prosecution with so much expedition, that we
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may suppose that they who were Christ's friends, and would have opposed
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this cry, were at the other end of the town, and knew nothing of the
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matter. Note, It has been the common artifice of Satan, to put Christ
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and his religion into an ill name, and so to run them down. When once
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this sect, as they called it, comes to be <I>every where spoken
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against,</I> though <I>without cause,</I> then that is looked upon as
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<I>cause enough</I> to condemn it. But let us <I>judge</I> of persons
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and things by their merits, and the standard of God's word, and not
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prejudge by common fame and the cry of the country.
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2. It might induce him to condemn Christ, to <I>please</I> the people,
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and indeed for <I>fear of displeasing</I> them. Though he was not so
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<I>weak</I> as to be governed by their opinion, to believe him guilty,
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yet he was so <I>wicked</I> as to be swayed by their outrage, to
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condemn him, though he believed him innocent; induced thereunto by
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reasons of state, and the wisdom of the world. Our Lord Jesus dying as
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a <I>sacrifice</I> for the <I>sins of many,</I> he fell a sacrifice to
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the <I>rage of many.</I></P>
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<A NAME="Mr15_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Mr15_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Christ Insulted and Condemned.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>15 And <I>so</I> Pilate, willing to content the people, released
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Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged
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<I>him,</I> to be crucified.
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16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called
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Prætorium; and they call together the whole band.
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17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of
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thorns, and put it about his <I>head,</I>
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18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
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19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit
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upon him, and bowing <I>their</I> knees worshipped him.
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20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from
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him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify
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him.
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21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming
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out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear
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his cross.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. Pilate, to gratify the Jews' malice, delivers Christ to be
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<I>crucified,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
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<I>Willing to content the people,</I> to <I>do enough</I> for them (so
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the word is), and make them easy, that he might keep them quiet, he
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<I>released Barabbas unto them,</I> who was the scandal and plague of
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their nation, and <I>delivered Jesus</I> to be <I>crucified,</I> who
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was the glory and blessing of their nation. Though he <I>had scourged
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him</I> before, hoping that would <I>content</I> them, and then not
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designing to crucify him, yet he went on to that; for no wonder that he
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who could persuade himself to <I>chastise</I> one that was innocent
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+23:16">Luke xxiii. 16</A>),
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could by degrees persuade himself to <I>crucify</I> him.</P>
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<P>
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Christ was <I>crucified,</I> for that was,
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1. A <I>bloody</I> death, and <I>without blood no remission,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:22">Heb. ix. 22</A>.
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The blood is <I>the life</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+9:4">Gen. ix. 4</A>);
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it is the <I>vehicle</I> of the <I>animal</I> spirits, which
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<I>connect</I> the soul and body, so that the exhausting of the blood
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is the exhausting of the life. Christ was to lay down <I>his life</I>
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for us, and therefore <I>shed his blood.</I> Blood <I>made atonement
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for the soul</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+17:11">Lev. xvii. 11</A>),
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and therefore in every sacrifice of propitiation special order was
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given for the <I>pouring out</I> of the blood, and the
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<I>sprinkling</I> of that before the Lord. Now, that Christ might
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answer all these types, he <I>shed his blood.</I>
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2. It was a <I>painful</I> death; the pains were exquisite and acute,
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for death made its assaults upon the vitals by the exterior parts,
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which are <I>quickest of sense.</I> Christ died, so as that he might
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<I>feel himself die,</I> because he was to be both the priest and the
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sacrifice; so that he might be <I>active</I> in dying; because he was
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to <I>make his soul an offering</I> for sin. Tully calls crucifixion,
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<I>Teterrimum supplicium--A most tremendous punishment:</I> Christ
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would meet death in its greatest terror, and so conquer it.
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3. It was a <I>shameful</I> death, the death of slaves, and the vilest
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malefactors; so it was accounted among the Romans. The <I>cross</I> and
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the <I>shame</I> are put together. God having been injured in his
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honour by the sin of man, it is <I>in his honour</I> that Christ makes
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him <I>satisfaction,</I> not only by denying himself in, and divesting
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himself of, the honours due to his divine nature, for a time, but by
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submitting the greatest reproach and ignominy the human nature was
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capable of being loaded with. Yet this was not the worst.
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4. It was a <I>cursed</I> death; thus it was branded by the Jewish law
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+21:23">Deut. xxi. 23</A>);
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<I>He that is hanged, is accursed of God,</I> is under a particular
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mark of God's displeasure. It was the death that Saul's sons were put
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to, when the guilt of their father' bloody house was to be expiated,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+21:6">2 Sam. xxi. 6</A>.
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Haman and his sons were <I>hanged,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Es+7:10,9:13">Esth. vii. 10; ix. 13</A>.
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We do not read any of the prophets of the Old Testament that were
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<I>hanged;</I> but now that Christ has submitted to be <I>hanged upon a
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tree,</I> the reproach and curse of that kind of death are quite rolled
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away, so that it ought to be any hindrance to the comfort of those who
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die either innocently or penitently, nor any diminution from, but
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rather an addition to, the glory of those who die martyrs for Christ,
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to be as he was, hanged upon a tree.</P>
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<P>
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II. Pilate, to gratify the gay humour of the Roman soldiers, delivered
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him to them, to be abused and spitefully treated, while they were
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preparing for the execution. They called together <I>the whole
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regiment</I> that was then in waiting, and they went into an inner
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|
hall, where they ignominiously abused our Lord Jesus, as a king, just
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|
as in the high priest's hall his servants had ignominiously abused him
|
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as a Prophet and Saviour.
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1. Do kings wear robes of purple or scarlet? They <I>clothed him with
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purple.</I> This abuse done to Christ in his apparel should be an
|
|
intimation to Christians, not to make the putting on of apparel
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<I>their adorning,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Pe+3:4">1 Pet. iii. 4</A>.
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Shall a purple or scarlet robe be matter of pride to a Christian, which
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was matter of reproach and shame to Christ.
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2. Do kings wear <I>crowns?</I> They <I>platted a crown of thorns,</I>
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|
and <I>put it on his head.</I> A crown of straw, or rushes, would have
|
|
been banter enough; but this was pain also. He wore the crown of thorns
|
|
which we had deserved, that we might wear the crown of glory which he
|
|
merited. Let us be <I>taught</I> by these <I>thorns,</I> as Gideon
|
|
taught the men of Succoth, to hate sin, and be uneasy under it, and to
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be in love with Jesus Christ, who is here a lily among thorns. If we be
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at any time afflicted with a <I>thorn in the flesh,</I> let it be our
|
|
comfort, that our high priest is touched with the feelings of our
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infirmities, having himself known what <I>thorns in the flesh</I>
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meant.
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3. Are kings attended with the acclamations of their subjects, <I>O
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|
king, live for ever?</I> That also is mimicked; they saluted him with
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|
"<I>Hail, King of the Jews;</I> such a prince, and such a people, even
|
|
good enough for one another."
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4. Kings have <I>sceptres</I> put into their hand, marks of dominion,
|
|
as the crown is of dignity; to imitate this, they put a <I>reed in his
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|
right hand.</I> Those that despise the authority of Jesus Christ, as
|
|
not to be observed and obeyed, who regard not either the precepts of
|
|
his word, or the threatenings of his wrath, do, in effect, <I>put a
|
|
reed in his hand;</I> nay, and, as these here, <I>smite him on the
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|
head</I> with it, such is the indignity they do him.
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5. Subjects, when they swear allegiance, were wont to <I>kiss</I> their
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|
sovereign; and this they offered to do, but, instead of that, <I>spit
|
|
upon him.</I>
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6. Kings used to be addressed upon the <I>knee;</I> and this also they
|
|
brought into the jest, they <I>bowed the knee, and worshipped him;</I>
|
|
this they did in scorn, to make themselves and one another laugh. We
|
|
were by sin become liable to <I>everlasting shame and contempt,</I> to
|
|
deliver us from which, our Lord Jesus submitted to this shame and
|
|
contempt for us. He was thus mocked, not in <I>his own clothes,</I> but
|
|
in another's, to signify that he suffered not for his own sin; the
|
|
crime was ours, the shame his. Those who pretend subjection to Christ,
|
|
but at the same time give themselves up to the service of the world and
|
|
the flesh, do, in effect, the same that they did, who bowed the knee to
|
|
him in mockery, and abused him with, <I>Hail, king of the Jews,</I>
|
|
when they said, <I>We have no king but Cæsar.</I> Those that bow
|
|
the knee to Christ, but do not bow the soul, that <I>draw nigh to him
|
|
with their mouths,</I> and <I>honour him with their lips,</I> but
|
|
<I>their hearts are far from him,</I> put the same affront upon him
|
|
that these here did.</P>
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<P>
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|
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III. The soldiers, at the hour appointed, led him away from Pilate's
|
|
judgment-hall to the place of execution
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:20"><I>v.</I> 20</A>),
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|
as a sheep to the slaughter; he was <I>led forth with the workers of
|
|
iniquity,</I> though he did no sin. But lest his death, under the load
|
|
of his cross, which he was to carry, should prevent the further
|
|
cruelties they intended, they compelled one Simon of Cyrene to carry
|
|
his cross for him. He <I>passed by, coming out of the country</I> or
|
|
out of the <I>fields,</I> not thinking of any such matter. Note, We
|
|
must not think it strange, if crosses come upon us suddenly, and we be
|
|
surprised by them. The cross was a very troublesome unwieldy load: but
|
|
he that carried it a few minutes, had the honour to have his name upon
|
|
the record in the book of God, though otherwise an obscure person; so
|
|
that, wherever this gospel is preached; so that, wherever this gospel
|
|
is preached, there shall this be told for a memorial to him: in like
|
|
manner, though <I>no affliction,</I> no cross, <I>for the present, be
|
|
joyous, but grievous,</I> yet afterward it yields a crown of glory to
|
|
them that are exercised thereby.</P>
|
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|
<A NAME="Mr15_22"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Mr15_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_24"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Mr15_25"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Mr15_26"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Mr15_27"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Mr15_28"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Mr15_29"> </A>
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|
<A NAME="Mr15_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_32"> </A>
|
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|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Crucifixion.</I></FONT></TD>
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|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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|
</TABLE>
|
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being
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|
interpreted, The place of a skull.
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23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he
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|
received <I>it</I> not.
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24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments,
|
|
casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
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|
25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.
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|
26 And the superscription of his accusation was written over,
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|
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
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|
27 And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right
|
|
hand, and the other on his left.
|
|
28 And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was
|
|
numbered with the transgressors.
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|
29 And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads,
|
|
and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest
|
|
<I>it</I> in three days,
|
|
30 Save thyself, and come down from the cross.
|
|
31 Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among
|
|
themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot
|
|
save.
|
|
32 Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross,
|
|
that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with
|
|
him reviled him.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
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|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We have here the <I>crucifixion</I> of our Lord Jesus.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. The <I>place where</I> he was crucified; it was called
|
|
<I>Golgotha--the place of a scull:</I> some think, because of the heads
|
|
of malefactors that were there cut off: it was the common place of
|
|
execution, as Tyburn, for he was in all respects numbered with the
|
|
transgressors. I know not how to give any credit to it, but divers of
|
|
the ancients mention it as a current tradition, that in this place our
|
|
first father Adam was buried, and they think it highly congruous that
|
|
there Christ should be crucified; for as in Adam all die, so in Christ
|
|
shall all be made alive. Tertullian, Origen, Chrysostom, and Epiphanius
|
|
(great names), take notice of it; nay, Cyprian adds, <I>Creditur
|
|
à piis--Many good people believe</I> that the blood of Christ
|
|
crucified did trickle down upon the scull of Adam, who was buried in
|
|
the same place. Something more credible is the tradition, that this
|
|
mount Calvary was <I>that mountain in the land of Moriah</I> (and in
|
|
the land of Moriah it certainly was, for so the country about Jerusalem
|
|
was called), on which Isaac was to be offered; and the ram was offered
|
|
instead of him; and then Abraham had an eye to <I>this day</I> of
|
|
Christ, when he called the place <I>Jehovah-jireh--The Lord will
|
|
provide,</I> expecting that so it would be seen in the <I>mount of the
|
|
Lord.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The <I>time when</I> he was crucified; it was the <I>third
|
|
hour,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:25"><I>v.</I> 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was brought before Pilate about the sixth hour
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+19:14">John xix. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
according to the Roman way of reckoning, which John uses, with which
|
|
ours at this day agrees, that is at six o'clock in the morning; and
|
|
then, at the <I>third hour,</I> according to the Jews' way of
|
|
reckoning, that is, about nine of the clock in the morning, or soon
|
|
after, they nailed him to the cross. Dr. Lightfoot thinks the <I>third
|
|
hour</I> is here mentioned, to intimate an aggravation of the
|
|
wickedness of the priests, they were here prosecuting Christ to the
|
|
death, though it was after the <I>third hour,</I> when they ought to
|
|
have been attending the service of the temple, and offering the
|
|
peace-offerings; it being the first day of the <I>feast of unleavened
|
|
bread,</I> when there was to be a <I>holy convocation.</I> At that very
|
|
time, when they should have been, according to the duty of their place,
|
|
presiding in the public devotions, were they here venting their malice
|
|
against the Lord Jesus; yet these were the men that seemed so zealous
|
|
for the temple, and condemned Christ for speaking against it. Note,
|
|
There are many who pretend to be <I>for the church,</I> who yet care
|
|
not how seldom they <I>go to church.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The indignities that were done him, when he was nailed to the
|
|
cross; as if that had not been ignominious enough, they added several
|
|
things to the ignominy of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. It being the custom to give <I>wine</I> to persons that were to be
|
|
<I>put to death,</I> they <I>mingled</I> his with <I>myrrh,</I> which
|
|
was <I>bitter,</I> and made it <I>nauseous;</I> he <I>tasted</I> it,
|
|
but would not drink it; was willing to admit the bitterness of it, but
|
|
not the benefit of it.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
2. The garments of those that were crucified, being, as with us, the
|
|
executioners' fee, the soldiers <I>cast lots</I> upon his garments
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:24"><I>v.</I> 24</A>),
|
|
|
|
threw dice (as our soldiers do upon a drum-head), for them: so making
|
|
themselves merry with his misery, and sitting at their sport while he
|
|
was hanging in pain.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. They set up a superscription over his head, by which they intended
|
|
to reproach him, but really did him both justice and honour, <I>The
|
|
king of the Jews,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:26"><I>v.</I> 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
Here was no crime alleged, but his sovereignty owned. Perhaps Pilate
|
|
meant to cast disgrace upon Christ as a baffled king, or upon the Jews,
|
|
who by their importunity had forced him, against his conscience, to
|
|
condemn Christ, as a people that deserved no better a king than he
|
|
seemed to be: however, God intended it to be the proclaiming even of
|
|
Christ upon the cross, the <I>king of Israel;</I> though Pilate know
|
|
not what he wrote, any more than Caiaphas what he said,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+11:51">John xi. 51</A>.
|
|
|
|
Christ crucified is king of his church, his spiritual Israel; and even
|
|
then when he hung on the cross, he was like a king, <I>conquering</I>
|
|
his and his people's enemies, and <I>triumphing</I> over them,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Col+2:15">Col. ii. 15</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now he was writing his laws in his own blood, and preparing his favours
|
|
for his subjects. Whenever we look unto Christ crucified, we must
|
|
remember the inscription over his head, that he is a king, and we must
|
|
give up ourselves to be his subjects, as Israelites indeed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
4. They crucified <I>two thieves</I> with him, <I>one on his right
|
|
hand, the other on his left,</I> and him in the midst as the worst of
|
|
the three
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>);
|
|
|
|
so great a degree of dishonour did they hereby intend him. And, no
|
|
doubt, it gave him <I>disturbance</I> too. Some that have been
|
|
imprisoned in the common gaols, for the testimony of Jesus, have
|
|
complained of the company of cursing, swearing prisoners, more than any
|
|
other of the grievances of their prison. Now, in the midst of such our
|
|
Lord Jesus was <I>crucified;</I> while he lived he had, and there was
|
|
occasion, <I>associated</I> with sinners, to do them good; and now when
|
|
he died, he was for the same purpose joined with them, for he <I>came
|
|
into the world,</I> and went out of it, to <I>save sinners,</I> even
|
|
the chief. But this evangelist takes particular notice of the
|
|
fulfilling of the scriptures in it,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>.
|
|
|
|
In that famous prediction of Christ's sufferings
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:12">Isa. liii. 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
it was foretold that he should be numbered with the
|
|
<I>transgressors,</I> because he was made <I>sin for us.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
5. The spectators, that is, the generality of them, instead of
|
|
condoling with him in his misery, added to it by insulting over him.
|
|
Surely never was such an instance of barbarous inhumanity toward the
|
|
vilest malefactor: but thus the devil showed the utmost rage against
|
|
him, and thus he submitted to the greatest dishonours that could be
|
|
done him.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Even they that <I>passed by,</I> that were no way concerned,
|
|
<I>railed on him,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:29"><I>v.</I> 29</A>.
|
|
|
|
If their hearts were so hardened, that their compassions were not moved
|
|
with such a spectacle, yet they should have thought it enough to have
|
|
their curiosity gratified; but that will not serve: as if they were not
|
|
only divested of all humanity, but were devils in human shape, they
|
|
taunted him, and expressed themselves with the utmost detestation of
|
|
him, and indignation at him, and shot thick at him their arrows, even
|
|
<I>bitter words.</I> The chief priests, no doubt, put these sarcasms
|
|
into their mouths, <I>Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it
|
|
in three days, now,</I> if thou canst, <I>save thyself,</I> and <I>come
|
|
down from the cross.</I> They triumph as if now that they had got him
|
|
to the cross, there were no danger of his <I>destroying the temple;</I>
|
|
whereas the <I>temple</I> of which <I>he</I> spoke, he was now
|
|
<I>destroying,</I> and did within <I>three days build it up;</I> and
|
|
the temple of which <I>they</I> spoke, he did by men, that were <I>his
|
|
sword</I> and <I>his hand,</I> destroy not many years after. When
|
|
secure sinners think the danger is over, it is then most ready to seize
|
|
them: the day of the Lord <I>comes as a thief</I> upon those that
|
|
<I>deny</I> his coming, and say, Where is the promise of it? much more
|
|
upon those that <I>defy</I> his coming, and say, <I>Let him make speed,
|
|
and hasten his work.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Even the chief priests, who, being <I>taken from among men</I> and
|
|
ordained for men, should have compassion even on those that are out of
|
|
the way, should be tender of those that are suffering and dying
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+5:1,2">Heb. v. 1, 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
yet they poured vinegar instead of oil into his wounds, they <I>talked
|
|
to the grief</I> of him <I>whom God had smitten</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+69:26">Ps. lxix. 26</A>),
|
|
|
|
they <I>mocked him,</I> they said, <I>He saved others,</I> healed and
|
|
helped them, but now it appears that it was not by his own power, for
|
|
<I>himself he cannot save.</I> They challenged him to <I>come down from
|
|
the cross,</I> if he could,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
|
|
|
Let them but <I>see</I> that, and they would <I>believe;</I> whereas
|
|
they would not believe, when he gave them a more convincing sign than
|
|
that, when he came up from the grave. These chief priests, one would
|
|
think, might now have found themselves <I>other work</I> to do: if they
|
|
would not go to do their duty in <I>the temple,</I> yet they might have
|
|
been employed in an office not foreign to their profession; though they
|
|
would not offer any counsel or comfort to the Lord Jesus, yet they
|
|
might have given some help to the thieves in their dying moments (the
|
|
monks and priests in Popish countries are very officious about
|
|
criminals broken upon the wheel, a death much like that of the cross);
|
|
but they do not think that their business.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(3.) Even they that were crucified with him, reviled him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>);
|
|
|
|
one of them did, so wretchedly was his heart hardened even in the depth
|
|
of misery, and at the door of eternity.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_41"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Crucifixion.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over
|
|
the whole land until the ninth hour.
|
|
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
|
|
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My
|
|
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
|
|
35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard <I>it,</I> said,
|
|
Behold, he calleth Elias.
|
|
36 And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put
|
|
<I>it</I> on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us
|
|
see whether Elias will come to take him down.
|
|
37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.
|
|
38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to
|
|
the bottom.
|
|
39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw
|
|
that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this
|
|
man was the Son of God.
|
|
40 There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was
|
|
Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of
|
|
Joses, and Salome;
|
|
41 (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and
|
|
ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him
|
|
unto Jerusalem.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here we have an account of Christ's dying, how his enemies abused him,
|
|
and God honoured him at his death.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. There was a thick <I>darkness</I> over <I>the whole land</I> (some
|
|
think over the whole earth), for three hours, from noon till three of
|
|
the clock. Now the scripture was fulfilled
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+8:9">Amos viii. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>I will cause the sun to go down at noon,</I> and I will <I>darken
|
|
the earth in the clear day;</I> and
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+15:9">Jer. xv. 9</A>,
|
|
|
|
<I>Her sun is gone down while it is yet day.</I> The Jews have often
|
|
demanded of Christ a <I>sign from heaven;</I> and now they had one, but
|
|
such a one as signified the blinding of their eyes. It was a sign of
|
|
the darkness that was come, and coming, upon the Jewish church and
|
|
nation. They were doing their utmost to extinguish the Sun of
|
|
righteousness, which was now setting, and the rising again of which
|
|
they would never own; and what then might be expected among them but a
|
|
worse than Egyptian darkness? This intimated to them, that the things
|
|
which belonged to their peace, were now <I>hid from their eyes,</I> and
|
|
that the day of the Lord was at hand, which should be to them a <I>day
|
|
of darkness and gloominess,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joe+2:1,2">Joel ii. 1, 2</A>.
|
|
|
|
It was the power of darkness that they were now under, the works of
|
|
darkness that they were now doing; and such as this should their doom
|
|
justly be, who <I>loved darkness rather than light.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Toward the close of this darkness, our Lord Jesus, in the agony of
|
|
his soul, cried out, <I>My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:34"><I>v.</I> 34</A>.
|
|
|
|
The darkness signified the present cloud which the human soul of Christ
|
|
was under, when he was making it an <I>offering for sin.</I> Mr. Fox,
|
|
in his <I>Acts and Monuments</I> (vol. 3, p. 160), tells of one Dr.
|
|
Hunter, a martyr in queen Mary's time, who, being fastened to the
|
|
stake, to be burnt, put up this short prayer, <I>Son of God, shine upon
|
|
me;</I> and immediately the sun in the firmament shone out of the dark
|
|
cloud, so full in his face, that he was forced to look another way,
|
|
which was very comfortable to him. But our Lord Jesus, on the contrary,
|
|
was denied the light of the sun, when he was in his sufferings, to
|
|
signifying the withdrawing of the light of God's countenance. And this
|
|
he complained of more than any thing; he did not complain of his
|
|
disciples' forsaking him, but of his Father's,
|
|
|
|
1. Because this <I>wounded his spirit;</I> and that is a thing <I>hard
|
|
to bear</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+18:14">Prov. xviii. 14</A>);
|
|
|
|
brought the waters into his soul,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+69:1-3">Ps. lxix. 1-3</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. Because in this especially he was <I>made sin for us;</I> our
|
|
iniquities had deserved <I>indignation and wrath</I> upon the soul
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+2:8">Rom. ii. 8</A>),
|
|
|
|
and therefore, Christ, being made a <I>sacrifice,</I> underwent as much
|
|
of it as he was capable of; and it could not but bear hard indeed upon
|
|
him who had lain <I>in the bosom</I> of the Father from eternity, and
|
|
was <I>always his light.</I> These symptoms of divine wrath, which
|
|
Christ was under in his sufferings, were like that fire from heaven
|
|
which had been sent sometimes, in extraordinary cases, to consume the
|
|
sacrifices (as
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Le+9:24,2Ch+7:1,1Ki+18:38">Lev. ix. 24;
|
|
2 Chron. vii. 1; 1 Kings xviii. 38</A>);
|
|
|
|
and it was always a token of God's acceptance. The fire that should
|
|
have fallen upon the <I>sinner,</I> if God had not been
|
|
<I>pacified,</I> fell upon the <I>sacrifice,</I> as a token that he was
|
|
so; therefore it now fell upon Christ, and extorted him from this
|
|
<I>loud</I> and <I>bitter</I> cry. When Paul was to be <I>offered</I>
|
|
as a sacrifice for the <I>service of saints,</I> he could <I>joy</I>
|
|
and <I>rejoice</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Php+2:17">Phil. ii. 17</A>);
|
|
|
|
but it is another thing to be offered as a sacrifice for <I>the sin of
|
|
sinners.</I> Now, at the <I>sixth hour,</I> and so to the <I>ninth,</I>
|
|
the <I>sun</I> was <I>darkened</I> by an extraordinary eclipse; and if
|
|
it be true, as some astronomers compute, that in the evening of this
|
|
day on which Christ died there was an eclipse of the moon, that was
|
|
natural and expected, in which seven digits of the moon were darkened,
|
|
and it continued from five o'clock till seven, it is remarkable, and
|
|
yet further significant of the darkness of the time that then was. When
|
|
the <I>sun</I> shall be <I>darkened,</I> the <I>moon</I> also shall
|
|
<I>not give her light.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. Christ's prayer was bantered by them that stood by
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:35,36"><I>v.</I> 35, 36</A>);
|
|
|
|
because he cried, <I>Eli, Eli,</I> or (as Mark has it, according to the
|
|
Syriac dialect) <I>Eloi, Eloi,</I> they said, <I>He calls for
|
|
Elias,</I> though they knew very well what he said, and what it
|
|
signified, <I>My God, My God.</I> Thus did they represent him as
|
|
<I>praying to saints,</I> either because he had abandoned God, or God
|
|
had abandoned him; and hereby they would make him more and more odious
|
|
to the people. One of them <I>filled a sponge with vinegar,</I> and
|
|
reached it up to him upon a reed; "Let him cool his mouth with that, it
|
|
is a drink good enough for him,"
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:36"><I>v.</I> 36</A>.
|
|
|
|
This was intended for a further affront and abuse to him; and whoever
|
|
it was that checked him who did it, did but add to the reproach;
|
|
"<I>Let him alone;</I> he has called for Elias: <I>let us see whether
|
|
Elias will come take him down;</I> and if not, we may conclude that he
|
|
also hath abandoned him."</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
IV. Christ did again <I>cry with a loud voice,</I> and so <I>gave up
|
|
the ghost,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>.
|
|
|
|
He was now commending his soul into his Father's hand; and though God
|
|
is not moved with any <I>bodily exercise,</I> yet this loud voice
|
|
signified the great strength and ardency of affection wherewith he did
|
|
it; to teach us, in every thing wherein we have to do with God, to put
|
|
forth our utmost vigour, and to perform all the duties of religion,
|
|
particularly that of <I>self-resignation,</I> with our whole heart and
|
|
whole soul; and then, though speech fails, that we cannot <I>cry with a
|
|
loud voice,</I> as Christ did, yet if God be the <I>strength of the
|
|
heart,</I> that will not fail. Christ was really and truly <I>dead,</I>
|
|
for he <I>gave up the ghost;</I> his human soul departed to the world
|
|
of spirits, and left his body a breathless clod of clay.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
V. Just at that instant that Christ died upon <I>mount Calvary,</I> the
|
|
veil of the <I>temple</I> was <I>rent in twain from the top to the
|
|
bottom,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
|
|
|
This bespoke a great deal,
|
|
|
|
1. Of the terror of the unbelieving Jews; for it was a presage of the
|
|
utter destruction of their church and nation, which followed not long
|
|
after; it was like the cutting asunder of the <I>staff of beauty</I>
|
|
(for this veil was exceedingly splendid and glorious,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+26:31">Exod. xxvi. 31</A>),
|
|
|
|
and that was done at the same time when they gave for his price
|
|
<I>thirty pieces of silver</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+11:10,12">Zech. xi. 10, 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
to <I>break the covenant which he had made with that people.</I> Now it
|
|
was time to cry, <I>Ichabod, The glory is departed from Israel.</I>
|
|
Some think that the story which Josephus relates, of the temple door
|
|
opening of its own accord, with that voice, <I>Let us depart hence,</I>
|
|
some years before the destruction of Jerusalem, is the same with this;
|
|
but that is not probable: however, this had the same signification,
|
|
according to that
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+5:14">Hos. v. 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>I will tear, and go away.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. It bespeaks a great deal of comfort to all believing Christians, for
|
|
it signifies the consecrating and laying open to us of a <I>new and
|
|
living way into the holiest</I> by the <I>blood of Jesus.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VI. The centurion who commanded the detachment which had the oversight
|
|
of the execution was convinced, and confessed that this Jesus was the
|
|
<I>Son of God,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>.
|
|
|
|
One thing that satisfied him, was, that he <I>so cried out, and gave up
|
|
the ghost:</I> that one who was ready to give up the ghost, should be
|
|
able to cry out so, was very surprising. Of all the sad spectacles of
|
|
this kind he never observed the like; and that one who had strength to
|
|
cry so loud, should yet immediately give up the ghost, this also made
|
|
him wonder; and he said, to the honour of Christ, and the shame of
|
|
those that abused him, <I>Truly this man was the Son of God.</I> But
|
|
what reason had he to say so? I answer,
|
|
|
|
1. He had reason to say that he suffered <I>unjustly,</I> and had a
|
|
great deal of wrong done him. Note, He suffered for saying that he was
|
|
<I>the Son of God;</I> and it was true, he did say so, so that if he
|
|
suffered unjustly, as it was plain by all the circumstances of his
|
|
suffering that he did, then what he said was true, and he was indeed
|
|
the <I>Son of God.</I>
|
|
|
|
2. He had reason to say that he was a <I>favourite of heaven,</I> and
|
|
one for whom the almighty power was particularly engaged, seeing how
|
|
Heaven did him honour at his death, and frowned upon his persecutors.
|
|
"Surely," thinks he, "this must be some divine person, highly beloved
|
|
of God." This he expresses by such words as denote his eternal
|
|
generation as God, and his special designation to the office of
|
|
Mediator, though he meant not so. Our Lord Jesus, even in the depth of
|
|
his sufferings and humiliation, was the Son of God, and was declared to
|
|
be so <I>with power.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
VII. There were some of his friends, the good women especially, that
|
|
attended him
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:40,41"><I>v.</I> 40, 41</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>There were women looking on afar off:</I> the <I>men</I> durst not
|
|
be seen at all, the mob was so very outrageous; <I>Currenti cede
|
|
furori--Give way to the raging torrent,</I> they thought, was good
|
|
counsel now. The women durst not come near, but stood at a distance,
|
|
overwhelmed with grief. Some of these women are here named. <I>Mary
|
|
Magdalene</I> was one; she had been his patient, and owed all her
|
|
comfort to his power and goodness, which rescued her out of the
|
|
possession of seven devils, in gratitude for which she thought she
|
|
could never do enough for him. <I>Mary</I> also was there, <I>the
|
|
mother of James the little, Jacobus parvus,</I> so the word is;
|
|
probably, he was so called because he was, like Zaccheus, little of
|
|
stature. This Mary was the wife of Cleophas or Alpheus, sister to the
|
|
virgin Mary. These women had followed Christ <I>from Galilee,</I>
|
|
though they were not required to attend the feast, as the males were;
|
|
but it is probably that they came, in expectation that his temporal
|
|
kingdom would now shortly be set up, and big with hopes of preferment
|
|
for themselves, and their relations under him. It is plain that the
|
|
mother of Zebedee's children was so
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mt+20:21">Matt. xx. 21</A>);
|
|
|
|
and now to see <I>him</I> upon a cross, whom they thought to have seen
|
|
upon a throne, could not but be a great disappointment to them. Note,
|
|
Those that follow Christ, in expectation of great things in this world
|
|
by him, and by the profession of his religion, may probably live to see
|
|
themselves sadly disappointed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_45"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Mr15_47"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Burial of Christ; The Women at the Sepulchre.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TR><TD><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>42 And now when the even was come, because it was the
|
|
preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
|
|
43 Joseph of Arimathæa, an honourable counsellor, which also
|
|
waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto
|
|
Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
|
|
44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling
|
|
<I>unto him</I> the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any
|
|
while dead.
|
|
45 And when he knew <I>it</I> of the centurion, he gave the body to
|
|
Joseph.
|
|
46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him
|
|
in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a
|
|
rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.
|
|
47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary <I>the mother</I> of Joses beheld
|
|
where he was laid.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
We are here attending the funeral of our Lord Jesus, a solemn, mournful
|
|
funeral. O that we may by grace be planted in the likeness of it!
|
|
Observe,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
I. How the body of Christ was <I>begged.</I> It was, as the dead bodies
|
|
of malefactors are, at the disposal of the government. Those that
|
|
hurried him to the cross, designed that he should make <I>his grave
|
|
with the wicked;</I> but God designed he should make it <I>with the
|
|
rich</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+53:9">Isa. liii. 9</A>),
|
|
|
|
and so he did. We are here told,</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
1. When the body of Christ was begged, in order to its being buried,
|
|
and why such haste was made with the funeral; <I>The even was come,</I>
|
|
and it was <I>the preparation,</I> that is, <I>the day before the
|
|
sabbath,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:42"><I>v.</I> 42</A>.
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The Jews were more strict in the observation of the sabbath than of any
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other feast; and therefore, though this day was itself a
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<I>feast-day,</I> yet they observed it more religiously as the
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<I>eve</I> of the <I>sabbath;</I> when they prepared their houses and
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tables for the <I>splendid</I> and <I>joyful</I> solemnizing of the
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sabbath day. Note, The day before the sabbath should be a day of
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preparation for the sabbath, not of our houses and tables, but of our
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hearts, which, as much as possible, should be <I>freed</I> from the
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cares and business of the world, and <I>fixed,</I> and put in frame for
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the service and enjoyment of God. Such work is to be done, and such
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advantages are to be gained on the sabbath day, that it is requisite we
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should get ready for it a day before; nay, the whole week should be
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divided between the improvement of the foregoing sabbath and the
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preparation for the following sabbath.</P>
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<P>
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2. Who was it that begged the body, and took care for the decent
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interment of it; it was <I>Joseph of Arimathea,</I> who is here called
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an <I>honourable counsellor</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>),
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a person of character and distinction, and in an office of public
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trust; some think <I>in the state,</I> and that he was one of Pilate's
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privy council; his post rather seems to have been <I>in the church,</I>
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he was one of the <I>great Sanhedrim</I> of the Jews, or one of the
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high priest's council. He was <B><I>euschemon bouleutes</I></B>--<I>a
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counsellor that conducted himself in his place as did become him.</I>
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Those are truly honourable, and those only, in place of power and
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trust, who make conscience of their duty, and whose deportment is
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agreeable to their preferment. But here is a more shining character put
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upon him; he was one that <I>waited for the kingdom of God,</I> the
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kingdom of grace on earth, and of glory in heaven, the kingdom of the
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Messiah. Note, Those who <I>wait for the kingdom of God,</I> and hope
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for an interest in the privileges of it, must show it by their
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forwardness to own Christ's cause and interest, even then when it seems
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to be crushed and run down. Observe, Even among the <I>honourable
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counsellors</I> there were some, there was <I>one</I> at least, that
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waited for the kingdom of God, whose faith will condemn the unbelief of
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all the rest. This man God raised up for this necessary service, when
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none of Christ's disciples could, or durst, undertake it, having
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neither purse, nor interest, nor courage, for it. <I>Joseph went in
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boldly to Pilate;</I> though he knew how much it would affront the
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chief priests, who had loaded him with so much reproach, to see any
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honour done him, yet he <I>put on courage;</I> perhaps at first he was
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a little afraid, but <B><I>tolmesas</I></B>--<I>taking heart on it,</I>
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he determined to show this respect to the remains of the Lord Jesus,
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let the worst come to the worst.</P>
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<P>
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3. What a surprise it was to Pilate, to hear that he was <I>dead</I>
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(Pilate, perhaps, expecting that he would have saved himself, and come
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down from the cross), especially that he was <I>already dead,</I> that
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one who seemed to have more than ordinary vigour, should so soon yield
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to death. Every circumstance of Christ's dying was marvellous; for from
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first to last his name was called <I>Wonderful.</I> Pilate doubted (so
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some understand it) whether he was yet dead or no, fearing lest he
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should be imposed upon, and the body should be <I>taken down alive,</I>
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and recovered, whereas the sentence was, as with us, to hang <I>till
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the body be dead.</I> He therefore called the centurion, his own
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officer, and asked him <I>whether he had been any while dead</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>),
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whether it was so long since they perceived any sign of life in him,
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any breath or motion, that they might conclude he was dead past recall.
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The centurion could assure him of this, for he had particularly
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observed how <I>he gave up the ghost,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+15:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>.
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There was a special providence in it, that Pilate should be so strict
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in examining this, that there might be no pretence to say that he was
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buried alive, and so to take away the truth of his resurrection; and so
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fully was this determined, that the objection was never started. Thus
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the truth of Christ gains confirmation, sometimes, even from its
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enemies.</P>
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<P>
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II. How the body of Christ was <I>buried.</I> Pilate gave Joseph leave
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to take down the body, and do what he pleased with it. It was a wonder
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the chief priests were not too quick for him, and had not first begged
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the body of Pilate, to expose it and drag it about the streets, but
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that remainder of their wrath did God restrain, and gave that
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invaluable prize to Joseph, who knew how to value it; and the hearts of
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the priests were so influenced, that they did not oppose it. <I>Sit
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divus, modo non sit vivus--We care not for his being adored, provided he
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be not revived.</I></P>
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<P>
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1. Joseph bought <I>fine linen</I> to wrap the body in, though in such
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a case old linen that had been worn might have been thought sufficient.
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In paying respects to Christ it becomes us to be <I>generous,</I> and
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|
to serve him with the <I>best</I> that can be got, not with that which
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can be got at the best hand.</P>
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<P>
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2. He <I>took down</I> the body, mangled and macerated as it was, and
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<I>wrapt it in the linen</I> as a treasure of great worth. Our Lord
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|
Jesus hath commanded himself to be delivered to us sacramentally in the
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|
ordinance of the Lord's supper, which we should receive in such a
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|
manner as may best express our love to him who loved us and died for
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us.</P>
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<P>
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3. He <I>laid it in a sepulchre</I> of his own, in a private place. We
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|
sometimes find it spoken of in the story of the kings of Judah, as a
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|
slur upon the memory of the wicked kings, that they were not buried in
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|
the <I>sepulchres of the kings;</I> our Lord Jesus, though he did no
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|
evil but much good, and to him was given the throne of his father
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|
David, yet was buried in the graves of the common people, for it was
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|
not in this world, but in the other, that <I>his rest was glorious.</I>
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|
The sepulchre belonged to Joseph. Abraham when he had no other
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|
possession in the land of Canaan, yet had a burying-place, but Christ
|
|
had not so much as that. This sepulchre was <I>hewn out of a rock,</I>
|
|
for Christ died to make the grave a <I>refuge</I> and shelter to the
|
|
saints, and being hewn out of a rock, it is a <I>strong</I> refuge.
|
|
<I>O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave!</I> Christ himself is a
|
|
<I>hiding place</I> to his people, that is, as <I>the shadow of a great
|
|
rock.</I></P>
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|
<P>
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4. He <I>rolled a stone to the door of the sepulchre,</I> for so the
|
|
manner of the Jews was to bury. When Daniel was put into the lion's
|
|
den, a stone was laid to the mouth of it to keep him in, as here to the
|
|
door of Christ's sepulchre, but neither of them could keep off the
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|
angels' visits to the prisoners.</P>
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<P>
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|
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5. Some of the good women attended the funeral, and <I>beheld where he
|
|
was laid,</I> that they might come after the sabbath to anoint the dead
|
|
body, because they had not time to do it now. When Moses, the mediator
|
|
and lawgiver of the Jewish church, was buried, care was taken that no
|
|
man should <I>know of his sepulchre</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+34:6">Deut. xxxiv. 6</A>),
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|
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because the respect of the people towards his person were to die with
|
|
him; but when our great Mediator and Lawgiver was buried, special
|
|
notice was taken of his sepulchre, because he was to <I>rise again:</I>
|
|
and the care taken of his body, bespeaks the care which he himself will
|
|
take concerning his body the church. Even when it seems to be a dead
|
|
body, and as a valley full of dry bones, it shall be preserved in order
|
|
to a resurrection; as shall also the dead bodies of the saints, with
|
|
whose dust there is a covenant in force which shall not be forgotten.
|
|
Our mediations on Christ's burial should lead us to think of our own,
|
|
and should help to make the grave familiar to us, and so to render that
|
|
bed easy which we must shortly make in the darkness. Frequent thoughts
|
|
of it would not only take off the dread and terror of it, but quicken
|
|
us, since the <I>graves</I> are always ready for us, to get ready for
|
|
the graves,
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+17:1">Job xvii. 1</A>.</P>
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