Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/723

   See  how  patiently  your  Saviour  suffered! He was falsely  accused,  but  He  answered  not  a word! He was  mocked at and  scoffed,  but  yet  He  was  silent! And yet  you  are  impatient and  angry  the  moment  anything  disagreeable  is  said  or done  to  you! Imitate your  Lord  for  the  future,  and  do  not  return evil for  evil. Whenever you  feel  moved  to  anger,  or  impatience, keep silence  and  say  to  yourself: “O  Jesus,  I will  bear  this  for love of  Thee!”

ILATE well  knew  that  it  was  through  envy  that  the  chief priests and  the  ancients  had  brought  our  Saviour  before him, and  therefore  he  wished  to  save  Jesus  from  their  hands. So he  went  out  to  the  people  again  and  said:  “You  have  a custom8  that  I should  release  to  you  one  of  the  prisoners  at the  Pasch. Will you,  therefore,  that  I should  release  to  you  Jesus or Barabbas?”  Now  this  Barabbas  was  a murderer,  who  had been taken  prisoner  in  a sedition  of  the  people. Immediately the people, instigated  by  the  chief  priests  and  the  ancients,  cried  out: “Away with  this  Man,  and  release  unto  us  Barabbas!”