John 19

THen Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him It was the custom of the Romans, when any one was to be Crucified, first to scourge him; but (as it appears) Pilate ordered it, hoping, that tho he could not prevail by any other art with them, yet by this he might, and they might possibly be satisfied with this lighter punishment; for it appeareth by ver. 4th and 12th. that Pilate had a mind to release him, if he could have satisfied the Iews, tho he had not courage enough to oppose the stream, and to do what himself thought was just, in despight of their opposition..

And the souldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe The other Evangelists also mention a reed put into his right hand; the Crown, and the Purple Robe, and a Scepter, are all regal Ensigns, they give them to Christ in derision of his pretence to a Kingdom, and in the mean time themselves proclaim what he had said, That his Kingdom was not of this World; for tho earthly Kings wear Crowns, yet they use to be of Gold, not of Thorns; and their Scepters use to be Gold, not Reeds..

And said, Hail, King of the Jews: and they smote him with their hands when they said, Hail king of the Iews; but yet spake a great truth, (tho not in their sense) The other Evangelists speak of more indignities offered him. (See the notes on Mark 15.19.). They mockt him

Pilate therefore went forth again, and says unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him Pilate appeareth convinced in his own conscience, that Christ had done nothing worthy either of death or bonds, and a great while resisted that strong temptation which he was under, to please the people, and to secure his own station, lest any complaint made to the Roman Emperor against him should have prejudiced him..

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate says unto them, Behold the man He therefore, after Jesus had been scourged, and dressed up in this mock-dress, brings him out again to the people to move their pity..

When the chief priests therefore, and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucifie hmi, crucifie him Our Lord findeth more compassion from Pilate, (tho an Heathen) than he found from those of his own Nation; yea, those that pretended highest to Religion amongst them Pilate would have saved him, they cry out for his blood.. Pilate says unto them, Take ye him, and crucifie him: for I find no fault in him Pilate leaves another testimony behind him, that what he did at last overborn with a great Temptation, he did contrary to the conviction of his own conscience, and as yet declineth the guilt of innocent blood..

The Jews answered him, We have a law The Law they mean, is the Law for putting false Prophets to death, Deut. 18.20., and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God By the Son of God here, they mean the eternal Son of God, in all things equal with his Father; otherwise it was a term applicable to themselves, whom God calls his Son, his first-born, &c. now for any in this sense to arrogate to himself this title, who indeed was not so, was Blasphemy, and that in the highest degree, and brought him under the notion of a false Prophet of the deepest dye: but this was injuriously applied to Christ, who thought it no robbery to be equal with the Father, and who was so declared by God himself at his Baptism and Transfiguration; and who had made his Divine Power appear by such works as no mere man ever did..

¶ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid It should seem, that the Romans permitted Judgments to the Iews according to their own Laws, which the Roman Governor was to see executed; or else seeing the rabble in such an heat and disorder, he feared some breaking out.;

And went again into the judgment hall, and says unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer Our Lord, who knew the secrets of all mens hearts, very well knew, that tho Pilate had for some time withstood his temptations, yet he would at last yeild; he also was ready to lay down his life, as he knew was determined for him; having therefore made a reasonable defence, he thinks fit to add no more of that nature..

Then says Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not, that I have power to crucifie thee, and have power to release thee Pilate seemeth something displeased, that Christ would be no more free; men in Worldly power, are too prone to forget from whom they derive it.?

Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above Our Lord checketh Pilate modestly for boasting of his Authority as a Judge to absolve or condemn him; declaring, that all the power he had was derived from God, who in his eternal Counsels had determined this thing, which must therefore come to pass:: therefore he that delivered me unto thee, has the greater sin But withal lets him know, that this neither excused him, nor muchless the Iews, who were to execute the Divine purposes. Pilate was to look to Gods revealed Will, not his secret Counsels, of which he could have no knowledge; but he says, they who had delivered him to him had the greater sin; he did act but as a Judge upon their accusations, they procured the false witness, they would not be satisfied without his blood, and they sinned against much more light..

And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him He sought all fair and plausible means to release him, being convinced in his own conscience, that he was an innocent man:: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Cesars friend but the Iews double their clamors, and (according to the usual acts of Sycophants) quit their charge as to Religion, tho that was the true and real cause of all their malice; and pursue only the charge which was proper for the Cognisance of the Roman Governor of Sed tion or Rebellion, and tacitly accuse Pilate as a Traytor, and being false to his trust, if he should let our Saviour go; for no man could set up himself as a King, but he must proclaim himself a Traytor to the Roman Emperor.: Whosoever maketh himself a king, speaketh against Cesar.

¶ When Pilate therefore heard that saying That saying, that if he let Jesus go, he was not Cesars friend. Pilate was a man that loved the honour that was from men, more than the honour and praise which is from God; and was more afraid of losing his place than his Soul, and could no longer resist the temptation he was under:, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha he brought forth Christ, and sate down in a place called the Pavement, because it was paved with stone, but in the Hebrew, (mixed with the Syriack) Gabbatha, that is, an High place; for it was their manner to have their Iudgment-seats higher than other parts of the room where they were..

And it was the preparation of the passover The preparation to any feast, signifies the day before it, because on that day they prepared whatsoever according to the Law was necessary for the Solemnization. Some much doubt, whither in this place the Passover signifies strictly the Paschal Supper, which it could not do, if the Iews strictly this year kept to the Law; for the fourteenth day of the month Nisan at evening, was the time when most certainly Christ kept it, who ate it the night before. It is therefore more probably thought, that by the Passover here, is meant their great Festival, which was upon the fifteenth day. (See the notes on Chap. 18.28.), and about the sixth hour Iohn tells us it was about the sixth hour; that is, in the latter part of the interval, between nine a clock in the morning, and twelve at noon: for the division of the day according to the Iews, was in four parts; the first was from the rising of the Sun, till our nine in the morning, and was called the third hour; the other was from the third hour to the sixt, that is twelve a clock at noon; the third division was from their sixt hour to the ninth, that is, three a clock with us in the afternoon; the fourth division was from the ninth hour to Sunset, that is with us six a clock in the evening, when the Sun is in the Equinox. Now, not only the time when any of these hours came, was called either the third or sixt hour; but the space of three hours alotted to each division, was so called when the next division began; so the time of our Saviours Crucifixion is recorded by Mark to be the third hour: that is, the whole space from nine a clock to twelve, was not quite gone, tho it was near at an end. And by the Evangelist, here 'tis said, that it was about the sixt hour, that is near our twelve a clock. And thus the different relations are clearly recorded.: and he says unto the Jews, Behold your king y.

But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucifie him. Pilate says unto them, Shall I crucifie your king The more Pilate sought to quiet them, the more they rage, contrary to all dictates of reason; when God has determined a thing, all things shall concur to bring it about. Pilate mocks them when he says, shall I Crucifie your King?? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cesar Yet so fierce was their malice against Christ, that to compel the Governor to condemn him, tho there were not a people under Heaven, more zealous for their liberties, nor more impatient of a forreign yoke; they cry out, We have no king but Cesar: That is, the Roman Emperor who had Conquered them..

Then This must be at or about twelve of the clock, for that must be signified by the sixth hour, ver. 14. delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus and led him away Pilate condemned him, and delivered him to the executioner, who (as the manner is in such cases) led him away..

And he bearing his cross went forth into a place, called the place of a scull, which is called in the Hebrew, Golgotha See the notes on Matth. 27.31, 32, 33. Where, whatsoever needs expounding on this Verse, may be found, and this Text is reconciled to that; which telleth us, that one Simon, a man of Cyrene, bare his Cross. Their places of Execution (as usually with us) were without their Cities..

Where they crucified him, and two others with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. See the notes on Matth. 27. ver. 38.

And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, ESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. See the notes on Matth 27.38.

This tit e then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city As all their places of Execution were within two furlongs, or thereabouts:: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin it was wrote in all three Languages, that not the Iews only, but all such strangers as were come up to the Feast, might understand it..

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, write not, The king of the Jews; but that he said, I am king of the Jews The Iews thought it would be a disgrace to them, that Christ should be reported abroad as their King therefore they desire an alteration of the writing..

Pilate answered, What I have written, I have written But Pilate refuseth to gratifie them, and lets them know he would not be directed by them what to write, nor alter any thing of it..

¶ Then the souldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts, to every souldier a part and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout Both Matthew Chap. 27.35. aand Mark 15.24. mention this parting of Christs garments amongst them, which must be understood of his inward garments; which some tell us might easily be done, because their garments were made up of four parts, but his outward garment which is called his coat, was all of a piece..

They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rent it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fu filled, which says, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the souldiers did This made them choose rather to cast lots for that, than to divide it, as they had done his inward garments. But there was something more in it than the Souldiers knew; Christ hereby proved a true Antitype to David, who said of himself figuratively, Psal. 22.18. They part my garments amongst them, and cast lots upon my vesture; by which he meant no more, than that his enemies loaded themselves with his spoils: those words which figuratively were true of David, proved literally true as to Christ. Thus vile and wicked men are fulfilling the Scriptures, when they little think of it..

¶ Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mothers sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalen These words [the wife] are not in the Greek, but supplied by our Translators; which leaves it doubtful, whither that Mary was the wife, or the Mother, or the Daughter of Cleophas..

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved We often heard that Iohn was the beloved Disciple, and u ally expressed under the Notion of him whom Jesus loved, he says unto his mother, VVoman, behold thy son Our Lord commendeth his Mother to the care of Iohn, whom he had ordered to take care of her, as if he had been her own Son this letteth us know, that Ioseph was at his time dead, otherwise, it is not probable, that Christ would have committed his Mother to any other Guardian..

Then says he to the disciple, Behold thy mother. And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home He also reciprocally commendeth his Mother to Iohn, to be cared for as his own Mother. From that time Mary went home, and lived with Iohn..

¶ After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished that the scripture might be fulfilled, says, I thirst.

Now there was set a vessel full of vineger: And they filled a spunge with vineger, and put it upon hyssope, and put it to his mouth David said, Psal. 69.21. to signifie his enemies multiplying afflictions upon him, They gave me also gall for my meat, and in my thirst they gave me vineger to drink; which he spake metaphorically; part of these words were without a figure literally fulfilled in Christ, who was the Son of David; for he crying out upon the Cross that he thirsted, there being no other liquor at hand, or this being set on purpose for this end, they dip a spunge in it, and give it to him to drink; whither to stupifie his senses, or to prolong his life in those torments, or barely to quench his thirst, is hard to determine. It is probable, that it was such a kind of refreshment as they allowed to ordinary malefactors in his circumstances, the particulars of which usage we are not able to determine..

When Jesus therefore had received the vineger, he said, It is finished When Christ had tasted the vineger, he said, It is finished. That is, I have now done and suffered all things which lay upon me in this life to do and suffer.: And he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost Having said this, he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. They are terms expressive of death; and our Saviours free surrender of his Soul unto his Father..

The Jews therefore because it was the preparation It was the Preparation, not to the Passover, (for that was celebrated the night before) but to the weekly Sabbath; and they judged according to the Law, Deut. 21.23. that the land would be defiled, if the persons executed were not buried that day; but their bodies should remain on the tree all night, especially on the Sabbath which began immediately after Sun-set., that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath-day And this Sabbath was a more than ordinary Sabbath, for it was not only the weekly Sabbath, but also their second day of unleavened bread; which, and the last day, were both very solemn days as may be seen, Levit. 23. (for that sabbath-day was an high day u) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away This makes them come and beseech Pilate, that the bodies might be taken down, and in order to it, that their legs might be broken, lest any life remaining in them, they should revive and escape..

Then came the souldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.

But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs They brake the two other malefactors legs, but not Christs, because they found him dead. Is is very possible in a natural course, that of three men dying in the same manner, one may die sooner then another; but it is but rationally presumed, that the cause of our Saviours quicker death, was not the failure of his spirits sooner, but his own voluntary surrender of his Soul..

But one of the souldiers with a spear pierced his side But one of the Souldiers to make sure of him, pierced his side, out of which it is said, that there presently came forth blood, and water: That there should come out blood is no wonder, nor yet that there should come forth water. Blood being congealed, it is ordinary to see water on the top of the Vessel where it is. And besides, Anatomists tells us, that in the hollow part of the breast, there are watery, as well as bloody humours in the membrane that incompasseth the heart, which being pierced, and the water let out, the living creature dyeth necessarily. But yet in regard of the next words, He that saw it bare record, and he knoweth that he says true, &c. most Divines think, that there was some mystery in this water and blood, which came out of Christs side pierced. Some would have the two Sacraments of the Gospel, signified by this water and blood. Christ 1 Iohn 5.6. is said to have came by water and blood; That is, say Interpreters, be brought in a true expiation of sins by his blood, and the laver of Regeneration, washing the Soul from its filthiness: And thus he proved the true Antitype, answering the Iewish Types in Sacrifices, and divers washings., and forthwith came there out, blood and water.

And he that saw it, bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he says true, that ye might believe Nor was this a fable, for Iohn saw it, and bare record, and knew it to be true, and published it, that men might believe that he was he, in whom all the legal Types and Figures had their complement..

For these things were done, that the scripture might be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken Nor was there any thing of this, but in fulfilling of the Scripture; for it was Gods Law about the Passover, Exod. 12.46. Num. 9.12. concerning the Paschal Lamb, (which was a Type of Christ, Chap. 1.29. 1 Cor. 5.7.) that a bone of it should not be broken. So as by this breaking no bone of Christs body, they might have understood, that he was figured out by the Paschal Lamb..

And again another scripture says, They shall look on him whom they pierced So also by seeing Christs side pierced, (a thing not very usual) they might have understood, that he was the person mentioned, Zech. 12.10..

¶ And after this Joseph of Aramithea (being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews) besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave: He came therefore and took the body of Jesus. See the notes on Matth. 27.57, 58, 59.

And there came also Nicodemus which at the first came to Jesus by night The History of Nicodemus coming by night to our Saviour, and of their discourse together, we had Chap. 3.9, 10. We again heard of him standing up for Christ in the Sanhedrim, Chap. 7.50. We read no more of him till now, where he shows his love to his dead body; and brought a mixture of myrrhe and aloes, about an hundred pound weight bringing an hundred pound weight of Myrrhe and Alo s, which were both of them druggs used in embalming dead bodies, as also in perfuming other things, Psal. 45 8..

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linnen clothes, with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury That is, persons of fashion..

Now in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden their burial places; which usually were Vaults, or Caves within the Earth.; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid their burial places; which usually were Vaults, or Caves within the Earth.. As all their gardens were out of the City, as also

There laid they Jesus therefore, because of the Jews preparation-day, for the sepulchre was nigh at hand There they immediately buried Christ, because the time, strictly called the Preparation (for the whole day was so called) was nigh at hand. See a fuller account of the History of our Saviours Passion, Death and Burial, in the notes on Matth. 27. where what is said by all the Evangelists, is compared together, and made one complete History..