The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ | Page 2

Matt. xxvii. 26-30; Mark xv. 15-20; Luke xxiii. 25; John xix. 1-5.
VIII. THE SHIPWRECK OF PILATE
Matt. xxvii. 24, 25; Mark xv. 15; Luke xxiii. 25; John xix. 5-16.
IX. JUDAS ISCARIOT
Matt. xxvii. 3-10; Acts i. 18, 19.
X. VIA DOLOROSA
Matt. xxvii. 31-3; Mark xv. 20, 21; Luke xxiii. 26; John xix. 16, 17.
XI. THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM
Luke xxiii. 27-31.
XIL. CALVARY
Matt. xxvii. 33-8; Mark xv. 27, 28; Luke xxiii. 32, 33; John xix. 18-22.
XIII. THE GROUPS ROUND THE CROSS
Matt. xxvii. 39-44, 55, 56; Mark xv. 29-32; Luke xxiii. 35-7, 49; John
xix. 23-5.
XIV. THE FIRST WORD FROM THE CROSS

Luke xxiii. 34.
XV. THE SECOND WORD FROM THE CROSS
Luke xxiii. 39-43.
XVI. THE THIRD WORD FROM THE CROSS
John xix. 25-27.
XVII. THE FOURTH WORD FROM THE CROSS
Matt. xxvii. 46-9; Mark xv. 34-6.
XVIII. THE FIFTH WORD FROM THE CROSS
John xix. 28.
XIX. THE SIXTH WORD FROM THE CROSS
John xix. 30.
XX. THE SEVENTH WORD FROM THE CROSS
Luke xxiii. 46.
XXI. THE SIGNS
Matt. xxvii. 50-4; Mark xv. 38, 39; Luke xxiii. 44, 45, 47.
XXII. THE DEAD CHRIST
John xix. 31-7.
XXIII. THE BURIAL
Matt. xxvii. 57-61; Mark xv. 42-7; Luke xxiii. 50-6; John xix. 38-42.
CHAPTER I.

THE ARREST
Our study of the closing scenes of the life of our Lord begins at the
point where He fell into the hands of the representatives of justice; and
this took place at the gate of Gethsemane and at the midnight hour.
On the eastern side of Jerusalem, the ground slopes downwards to the
bed of the Brook Kedron; and on the further side of the stream rises the
Mount of Olives. The side of the hill was laid out in gardens or
orchards belonging to the inhabitants of the city; and Gethsemane was
one of these. There is no probability that the enclosure now pointed out
to pilgrims at the foot of the hill is the actual spot, or that the six aged
olive trees which it contains are those to the silent shadows of which
the Saviour used to resort; but the scene cannot have been far away,
and the piety which lingers with awe in the traditional site cannot be
much mistaken.
The agony in Gethsemane was just over, when "lo," as St. Matthew
says, "Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude."
They had come down from the eastern gate of the city and were
approaching the entrance to the garden. It was full moon, and the black
mass was easily visible, moving along the dusty road.
The arrest of Christ was not made by two or three common officers of
justice. The "great multitude" has to be taken literally, but not in the
sense of a disorderly crowd. As it was at the instance of the
ecclesiastical authorities that the apprehension took place, their
servants--the Levitical police of the temple--were to the front. But, as
Jesus had at least eleven resolute men with Him, and these might rouse
incalculable numbers of His adherents on the way to the city, it had
been considered judicious to ask from the Roman governor a division
of soldiers,[1] which, at the time of the Passover, was located in the
fortress of Antonia, overlooking the temple, to intervene in any
emergency. And some of the members of the Sanhedrim had even
come themselves, so eager were they to see that the design should not
miscarry. This composite force was armed with swords and staves--the
former weapon belonging perhaps to the Roman soldiers and the latter
to the temple police--and they carried lanterns and torches, probably

because they expected to have to hunt for Jesus and His followers in the
recesses of His retreat. Altogether it was a formidable body: they were
determined to make assurance doubly sure.
I.
The leader of them was Judas. Of the general character of this man, and
the nature of his crime, enough will be said later; but here we must note
that there were special aggravations in his mode of carrying out his
purpose.
He profaned the Passover. The better day, says the proverb, the better
deed. But, if a deed is evil, it is the worse if it is done on a sacred day.
The Passover was the most sacred season of the entire year; and this
very evening was the most sacred of the Passover week. It was as if a
crime should in Scotland be committed by a member of the Church on
the night of a Communion Sabbath, or in England on Christmas Day.
He invaded the sanctuary of his Master's devotions. Gethsemane was a
favourite resort of Jesus; Judas had been there with Him, and he knew
well for what purpose He frequented