Page:Meditations For Every Day In The Year.djvu/203

 welcome this  last  morning  was  to  our  blessed  Lord;  for the completion  of  man's  redemption  was  near. Ponder now, how,  being  in  full  council,  they  re-examine  their prisoner, condemn  Him  as  a  blasphemer,  vote  Him guilty of  death,  and  finally  deliver  Him  over  to  the secular power,  to  be  executed.

II. "And the  whole  multitude  of  them  rose  up  and  led Him  away  to  Pilate." (Luke xxiii.  i.)  Think  what  a distressing  journey  this  was  to  our  divine  Saviour. By this time  the  whole  city  was  full  of  what  had  passed  the preceding night,  and  was  waiting  in  great  anxiety  for the result  of  the  high  council. They now  behold  the captive hurried  along  through  the  streets,  accompanied by their  high-priests  and  elders,  as  so  many  unquestionable witnesses  and  proclaimers  of  His  guilt. He is  considered by  all  as  a  convicted  criminal,  and  a  notorious malefactor, and  is  insulted  and  scoffed  at  by  a  barbarous and enraged  multitude. Even those,  who  a  short  time ago held  Him  in  the  highest  veneration,  and  considered Him a  great  prophet  and  their  Messias,  now  believe themselves to  have  been  deceived  by  this  sovereign  impostor. Who ever  did,  or  ever  could,  suffer  as  much  as He  did  in  His  reputation?

III. When He  had  arrived  at  Pilate's  court,  His  enemies "  went  not  into  the  hall "  (it  being  the  habitation  of a  Gentile),  "that  they  might  not  be  defiled,  but  that  they might  eat  the  pasch." (John xviii.  28.)  Superstitious hypocrites! They affect  religion  and  conscience  in  a small  matter,  and  are  actually  meditating  sacrilege  and murder. Would to  God  that  you  were  as  accurate  and zealous in  regard  to  perfect  purity,  when  you  approach the sacred  table,  to  eat  the  Christian  pasch,  and  that you did  not  come  with  a  heart  distracted  and  dissipated with worldly  thoughts  and  undue  affections!