The Judgment of the King.
Then said Jesus, "But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all the nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as the shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats: and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.'
"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, 'Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? And when saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? And when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?'
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye did it unto me.'
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"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, 'Depart from me, ye cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.'
"Then shall they also answer, saying, 'Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?'
"Then shall he answer them, saying, 'Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not unto one of the least of these, ye did it not unto me. And these shall go away into eternal punishment: but the righteous into eternal life.'"
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VTHE LAST SUPPERHow the Lord Jesus Showed His Love for His Friends on the Last Night of Their Fellowship.(THE WEEK OF THE CRUCIFIXION--WEDNESDAY--THURSDAY.)
(We do not know how Jesus spent Wednesday. Perhaps he did not go to the city, but remained in loving talk with his disciples and friends at Bethany. We do not know what he did on Thursday, until night. Then comes the story of the Last Supper, and the long talk between Jesus and his disciples.)
Judas Plans to Betray Jesus.
Now after two days was the feast of the passover and the unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by treachery, and kill him: but they said, "Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people."
And Judas Iscariot, he that was one of the twelve, went away unto the chief priests, that he might deliver him unto them. And they, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently deliver him unto them.
The Preparation for the Supper.
And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the passover, his disciples say unto him, "Where{249}wilt thou that we go and make ready that thou mayest eat the passover?"
And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, "Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him; and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the goodman of the house, 'The Master saith, Where is my guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?' And he will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready: and there make ready for us."
And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
The Last Supper.
And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the apostles with him. And he said unto them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer."
And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I will not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come."
And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me."
And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you."
And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him,{250}Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from God, and goeth unto God, riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, "Lord, dost thou wash my feet?"
Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter."
Peter saith unto him, "Thou shalt never wash my feet."
Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
Simon Peter saith unto him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."
Jesus saith to him, "He that is bathed needeth only to wash his feet, and is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all."
For he knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, "Ye are not all clean."
So when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me 'Master,' and, 'Lord': and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them."
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THE LAST SUPPER.By Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
This was painted on the wall of a monastery in Milan. It has been damaged and mutilated, and now is almost faded out.
This is one of the greatest pictures ever painted. The following is an explanation of the picture: "Judas half turns to discover of whom St. Peter is speaking so passionately, and is preparing himself to deny everything. But he is already discovered. St. James the Less, passing his arm over the shoulder of St. Andrew, touches St. Peter to tell him that the traitor is at his side. St. Andrew looks at Judas with horror, and St. Bartholomew, at the end of the table, has started up from his seat to regard him more intently. At the left of Christ, St. James protests his innocence by a natural gesture. St. Thomas, pressing near to Christ, seems to ask 'One of us?' St. Philip, the youngest of the apostles, places his hand over his heart and rises to protest his fidelity. St. Matthew repeats the terrible words to the indignant St. Simon, who refuses to believe them. St. Thaddeus, who has first told them to him, points to Matthew to confirm them. The dying rays of evening light add deeper somberness to the sad face of the Christ."
--Stendhal, "History of Italian Painters"
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When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, one of you shall betray me."
The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spoke. There was at the table reclining in Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, and saith unto him, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh."
He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus' breast, said unto him, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus therefore answereth, "He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him."
So when he had dipped the sop, he took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after the sop, then entered Satan into him. Jesus therefore saith unto him, "What thou doest, do quickly."
Now no man at the table knew why he spoke this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the bag, Jesus said unto him, "Buy what things we have need of for the feast"; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went out straightway: and it was night.
When therefore he was gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, 'Whither I go, ye cannot come'; so now I say unto you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all{254}men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another."
Simon Peter saith unto him, "Lord, whither goest thou?"
Jesus answered, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow afterwards."
Peter saith unto him, "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee."
Jesus answereth, "Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, before thou hast denied me thrice."
"Let Not Your Heart be Troubled."
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go, ye know the way."
Thomas saith unto him, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?"
Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."
Philip saith unto him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us."
Jesus saith unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, 'Show us the Father?'
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HEAD OF CHRIST.By Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
This was a study made by the great master for his picture, "The Last Supper."
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Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask me anything in my name, that will I do. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I come unto you. Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him."
Judas (not Iscariot) said unto him, "Lord, why is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?"
Jesus answered and said unto him, "If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and{258}we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me.
"These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you. But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye heard how I said to you, 'I go away, and I come unto you.' If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe. I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me; but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do."
Jesus is the True Vine.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth, that it may bear more fruit. Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches:
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MOUNT OF OLIVES--GETHSEMANE.The Mount of Olives, the traditional site of Gethsemane, on the right--the space inclosed by a wall.
"It was a garden or orchard marked probably by some slight inclosure. The name Gethsemane means 'the oil press,' and doubtless it was so called from a press to crush the olives yielded by the countless trees from which the hill derives its designation."
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He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be my disciples. Even as the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you: abide ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. This is my commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known unto you. Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye may love one another."
Jesus Prays for His Disciples.
These things spoke Jesus; and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said, "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy{262}Son, that the Son may glorify thee: even as thou gavest him authority over all flesh, that to all whom thou hast given him, he should give eternal life. And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou didst send. I have glorified thee on the earth, I have accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. Now they know that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are from thee: for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received them, and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for those whom thou hast given me; for they are thine: and all things that are mine are thine, and thine are mine: and I am glorified in them. And I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept in thy name those whom thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy made full in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hated them, because they are not of the{263}world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them from the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth. As thou didst send me into the world, even so sent I them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth. Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word; that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us: that the world may believe that thou didst send me. And the glory which thou hast given me I have given unto them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that thou didst send me, and lovedst them, even as thou lovedst me. Father, I desire that those whom thou hast given me should be with me to behold the glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world knew thee not, but I knew thee; and these knew that thou didst send me; and I made known unto them thy name, and will make it known; that the love wherewith thou lovedst me may be in them, and I in them."
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VITHE BETRAYALHow the Lord Jesus Fell into the Hands of His Enemies.(FRIDAY, THE DAY OF THE CRUCIFIXION.)
And he came out, and went, as his custom was, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him.
And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, "Sit ye here, while I pray."
And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be heavy-hearted, and deeply troubled. And he saith unto them, "My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: abide ye here, and watch." And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt."
And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, "Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
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CHRIST IN GETHSEMANE.By Heinrich Hofmann (1824-
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And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him. And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, "Sleep on now, and take your rest: It is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand.".
And straightway, while he yet spoke, came Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, "Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely."
And when he was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, "Rabbi"; and kissed him.
Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant's name was Malchus. Jesus therefore said unto Peter, "Put up the sword into the sheath: the cup which the Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"
Then Jesus said. "Suffer ye thus far." And he touched his ear, and healed him.
And Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, which were come against him, "Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness."
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VIITHE TRIALHow the Lord Jesus Was Falsely Charged with Crime.The Trial Before Annas.
So the soldiers and the chief captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and bound him, and led him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
Annas therefore asked Jesus about his disciples, and his teaching. Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world; I ever taught in synagogues, and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and in secret spoke I nothing. Why askest thou me? ask them that have heard me, what I spoke unto them: behold, these know the things which I said."
And when he had said this, one of the officers standing by struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Answerest thou the high priest so?"
Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?"
Annas therefore sent him bound unto Caiaphas the high priest.
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The Trial Before Caiaphas, the High Priest.
And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and there came together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
And Peter had followed him afar off, even within, into the court of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found it not. For many bore false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together. And there stood up certain men, and bore false witness against him, saying, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'"
And not even so did their witness agree together. And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, "Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?"
But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and saith unto him, "Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?"
And Jesus said, "I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven."
And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, "What further need have we of witnesses? Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye?"
And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.
And some began to spit on him, and to cover his eyes, and{270}to buffet him, and to say unto him, "Prophesy who is it that smote thee," and the officers received him with blows of their hands.
How Peter Denied His Lord.
But Peter had followed afar off. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the court, and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them. And a certain maid seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, and looking steadfastly upon him, said, "This man also was with him."
But he denied, saying, "Woman, I know him not."
And after a little while another saw him, and said, "Thou also art one of them."
But Peter said, "Man, I am not."
And after the space of about one hour another confidently affirmed, saying, "Of a truth this man also was with him: for he is a Galilaean."
But Peter said, "Man, I know not what thou sayest." And immediately, while he yet spoke, the cock crew.
And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how that he said unto him, "Before the cock crow this day, thou shalt deny me thrice."
And he went out, and wept bitterly.
The Trial Before the Jewish Court.
As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and{271}scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying, "If thou art the Christ, tell us."
But he said unto them, "If I tell you, ye will not believe: and if I ask you, ye will not answer. But from henceforth shall the Son of man be seated at the right hand of the power of God."
And they all said, "Art thou then the Son of God?"
And he said unto them, "Ye say that I am."
And they said. "What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth."
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VIIITHE JUDGMENTHow the Lord Jesus Was Unjustly Condemned to Die.The Hearing Before Pilate.
They led Jesus therefore into the palace: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the palace, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover. Pilate therefore went out unto them, and saith, "What accusation bring ye against this man?"
They answered and said unto him, "If this man were not an evil-doer, we should not have delivered him up unto thee."
Pilate therefore said unto them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law."
The Jews said unto him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death."
Pilate therefore entered again into the palace, and called Jesus, and said unto him, "Art thou the King of the Jews?"
Jesus answered, "Sayest thou this of thyself, or did others tell it thee concerning me?"
Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?"
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CHRIST BEFORE PILATE.By Munkacsy
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Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
Pilate therefore said unto him, "Art thou a king then?"
Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end have I been born, and to this end am I come into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
Pilate saith unto him, "What is truth?"
And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, "I find no fault in this man."
But they were the more urgent, saying, "He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this place."
But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. And when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these days.
The Trial Before Herod.
Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he had been for a long time desirous of seeing him, because he had heard concerning him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. And he questioned him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him as one of no account, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became{276}friends with each other that very day: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
The Sentence of Death.
Now at the feast it was Pilate's custom to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. And the multitude went up and began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them. And Pilate answered them, saying, "Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?"
For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. And while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, "Have thou nothing to do with that righteous man: for I have been much disturbed to-day in a dream because of him." But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. And Pilate again answered and said unto them, "What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?"
Then they shouted, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him." And he said unto them the third time, "Why, what evil hath this man done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him and release him."
But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. And their voices prevailed. And he released him that for insurrection and murder had been cast into prison, whom they asked for.
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A STREET IN JERUSALEM, LEADING TO THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHERFrom a photograph belonging to Miss Julia W. Snow, and used by her kind permission
This picture shows the street leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, one of those streets which have steps and are therefore accessible only to foot passengers.
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But Jesus he scourged. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and arrayed him in a purple garment; and they came unto him, and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and they struck him with their hands.
And Pilate went out again, and saith unto them, "Behold, I bring him out to you, that ye may know that I find no crime in him."
Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. And Pilate saith unto them, "Behold, the man!"
When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him."
Pilate saith unto them, "Take him yourselves, and crucify him: for I find no crime in him."
The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God."
When Pilate therefore heard this saying, he was the more afraid; and he entered into the palace again, and saith unto Jesus, "Whence art thou?"
But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore saith unto him, "Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to release thee, and have power to crucify thee?"
Jesus answered him, "Thou wouldest have no power against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath greater sin."
Upon this Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, "If thou release this man, thou art not{280}Caesar's friend: everyone that maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar."
When Pilate therefore heard these words, he brought Jesus out, and sat down on the judgment-seat at a place called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation of the passover: it was about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, "Behold, your King!"
They therefore cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him."
Pilate saith unto them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."
Then therefore he delivered him unto them to be crucified.
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IXTHE CRUCIFIXIONHow the Lord Jesus Died on the Cross.
They took Jesus then: and he went out, bearing the cross for himself, unto the place called The place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha.
And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say to the mountains, 'Fall on us'; and to the hills, 'Cover us.' For if they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"
And they compelled one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
And there were two thieves led with him to be put to death.
And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. And they crucified him, and parted his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take. And it was the third hour, when they crucified him, and they crucified the thieves, one on the right hand and the other on the left.
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And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
And the superscription of his accusation was written over him,--
"Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."
This title therefore read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city; and it was written in Hebrew, and in Latin, and in Greek. The chief priests of the Jews therefore said to Pilate, "Write not, 'The King of the Jews'; but, that he said, 'I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."
And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Ha! thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross."
In like manner also the chief priests mocking him among themselves with the scribes said, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe."
And they that were crucified with him reproached him. And one of the thieves railed on him, saying, "Art not thou the Christ? save thyself and us."
But the other answered, and rebuking him said, "Dost thou not even fear God, seeing 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."
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THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER, JERUSALEM.Over the traditional site of Calvary and the tomb of Jesus.Used by special permission of the Detroit Photograph Company.
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And he said, "Jesus, remember me when thou comest in thy kingdom."
And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in Paradise."
But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, "Woman, behold, thy son!"
Then saith he to the disciple, "Behold, thy mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her unto his own home.
And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, "Behold, he calleth Elijah."
And one ran, and filling a sponge full of sour wine, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. But others said, "Let him alone; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down."
When Jesus therefore had received the wine, he said, "It is finished": and he bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.
And when the centurion, which stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up his spirit, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."