John 19:1–3

CHAP. XIX.

IN this Chapter John prosecutes the Narration of the rest of Christs sufferings, before Pilate, and in the place where he was crucified; together with his death and burial. It may be taken up in three parts. In the first part is recorded some further sufferings of Christ, and Pilate further dealing with him, and about him with the Jewes, before he proceed to the sentence of death, to v. 13. And namely, That Pilate having scourged and otherwise abused Christ, v. 1, 2, 3. doth yet declare him innocent before the Jewes, and labors to move them to pity, and to cease their further rage, by looking upon him in such a case, v. 4, 5. But this not prevailing with them, and Pilate yet asserting his innocency, and refusing to hearken to them, v. 6. they bring in a new accusation of blasphemy against Christ, v. 7. which together with a new conference with Christ upon that subject and the matter of his power over Christ, v. 8, 9, 10, 11. makes him yet more desirous to release him, till they bring an accusation against himself, as do friend to Caesar in this businesse, v. 12.

In the second part of the Chapter is contained the sentence of death pronounced against Christ, with the answerable execution, and what occurred till he gave up the ghost, to v. 31. wherein these particulars are recorded, 1. That Pilate, being terrified with their accusation, after some formalities in procedure, (whereby he thought to transferre the guilt upon them) passeth sentence that he should be crucified, v. 13, 14, 15, 16. 2. The execution of this sentence, with an account who they were that suffered with him, v. — 16. 17, 18. 3. The title put upon his Crosse, with some debates about it. v. 19. 20, 21, 22. 4. His sufferings from the souldiers, being now upon the Crosse, and that according to the Scriptures, v. 23, 24. 5. His company who stayed beside the Crosse, and his care of his mother, being then present, v. 25, 26, 27. 6. His thirst immediately before his death, and their giving him vinegar to drink, according to the Scriptures, v. 28, 29. 7. His Testament and death, v. 30.

In the third part of the Chapter, some consequents following upon his death are recorded, And namely. 1. A confirmation of this truth, that he was reallie dead: wherein is recorded the Jewes desires to Pilate, that the death of these who suffered might be hasteled by breaking of their legs, that so they might be removed, because of their solemnity, v. 31. and that the souldiers did execute this upon the other two, v. 32. but finding Christ already dead, they do not break his legs, v 33. but make his death sure by a new wound, v. 34. The certainty whereof John confirmes, as being an eye-witnesse, v. 35. and doth clear these passages, by comparing them with the Scriptures, v. 36, 37. 2 His honourable burial by Joseph, who begged his body of Pilate, v. 38. and Nicodemus, who provided ointment and spices, v. 39 and both together do decently bury him in a new grave, v. 40, 41, 42.

The first part of this Chapter may be summed up in these four branches: The first whereof (in these verses) containes Pilates cruel usage of Christ, by scourging of him, v. 1 by causing to crown him with thornes, and cloath him with purple, v. 2. hereby punishing his affecting of a ridiculous Kingdome, as he supposed, and affronting him with salutations as a mock-King, and by injurious smiting, v. 3. If we look on Pilates scope in all this, it was mainly to gratifie the Jewes by some lesser punishment, and to induce them to pity Christ thus grievously afflicted for their pleasure, as will appear in the following purpose. Hence it is subjoyned to the preceding purpose with a Therefore, v 1. intimating that since Pilates designe succeeded not to get him released in stead of Barabbas, he essayed this as another mean, thinking to spare his life by scourging of him; And albeit some of the other Evangelists mention this scourging after his condemnation, yet John doth set it down in its own order, which they only recapitulate as a thing done before that. But if we look upon this usage in it self, it was a part of Christs suffering for us, both painful, and loading him with contempt and ignominy. Whence learn, 1. Great men in Gods account are guilty of the faults of their inferiours, when they connive at them, and do not reprove and represse them, much more when they command and enjoine them: Therefore it is said, Pilate took Jesus and scourged him, because the souldiers did it; (as it is v. 2. and in the rest of the Evangelists) at his command, and he, being present, (as is implied, v. 4.) gave way to all their cruelty in it. See 2. Sam. 12.9. 2. As this scourging and painful crowning of Christ, doth not warrant any to think basely of him, as if he were without any desireable form or beauty, (as it is, Isa. 53.2.) but doth rather point him out to his people, as white and ruddie, white in his innocency, and ruddie in his sufferings, and therefore he should be accounted the chief among ten thousand, Cant. 5.10. and fairer then the children of men, Psal 45.2. so in particular, his scourging, (which was a reproachful usage of any ingenuous, and free man, Acts 16.37. and 22.25. and was no doubt painful, and so much the more painful and violent, as Pilate thereby intended, to move the Jewes to pity) may point out, 1. The peace of rebel-man was not to be purchased at an easie rate, nor could his wounds be healed, but by sharp stripes and sore wounds on his Surety; for, so much did his scourging for our sakes point out; Isa. 53.5. 1 Pet. 2.24. 2. Sin in fallen man hath universally spread it self through the whole man; so that as no faculty of the soul, so no member of the body is free of it; so much may be gathered from this, that all the parts of Christs body, (many whereof smarted in this scourging, and the rest by other means) behoved to suffer for expiating thereof. 3. Christ in his own person hath sanctified that method of proceeding with his followers, that every one of them who are received by the Father, be also scourged by outward trials and other exercises; for, he their Head and Lord, was scourged. Doct. 3. His being crowned with thornes, beside what may be gathered from it with the following particulars, serveth to teach, 1. That he is the truth and substance of that type of the ram caught in a thicket by the hornes or head, who was offered up instead of Isaac, Gen. 22.13. as he is in stead of his people. 2. That his sufferings, however sharp, are indeed his crown and his glory, and he accounted so of them, that we might learn to glory in his crosse, Gal. 6.14. 3. That his Kingdome on earth is but contemptible in outward appearance, and managed and promoved by much thorny trouble. See Mat. 20.21, 22. 4. Thorns being a curse following upon mans sin, Gen. 3.18. his bearing thereof in a crown, would teach, that by his sufferings, he turneth all the curses of his people into crowns and blessings. 5. That as the rose groweth out of the thornes, so out of this thorny crown hath sprung unto him a crown of glory and honour, Heb. 2.9. and many crownes, Rev. 19.12. and crowns unto his followers also, Rev. 2.10. 2 Tim. 4.8. Doct. 4. This thorny crown, being conjoyned with the purple robe, (used only by Kings and great men) together also with the scepter of a reed mentioned by the rest, and their saluting him as King of the Jewes, all which was done in derision and contempt of his affected Royalty, as they alledged; and in testimony that they did deride him, they in the mean time, smite him with their hands; All these, I say, being conjoined together, may teach, 1. The Kingdome of Christ, being spiritual, is accounted but folly and matter of derision to the world; for, so much doth their carriage toward him, as a King, teach. 2. Christ in his person hath sanctified unto his people, their being made spectacles and a matter of derision to the world, 1 Cor. 4.9, 13. Psal 123 4. for, he in his own person did endure this bitter scorn. 3. Christ by suffering for alledged affecting of Royaltie and a Kingdome, hath expiate the high presumption of his people, in affecting to be like God, Gen. 3.5, 4. His enduring of this mockage for his people, points out what contempt and everlasting confusion abides them who are not in him; for, if this be done in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry?