March 30

And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when the soldiers had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand, and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. Matthew 27:28—30.

IN most cases, notorious criminals, after sentence has been passed upon them, have excited feelings of commiseration in those around them. The officers of justice, however inured to their business of death, generally discharge their duty with seriousness and propriety. Even the surrounding rabble mostly witness the extreme sentence of the law with decency and awe. But no sooner is Jesus given up by Pilate, than every one seems desirous to vie with his fellow who shall treat the precious sufferer with greatest indignity, cruelty, and contempt. Decency is totally outraged—humanity seems annihilated—pity seems to have deserted our world—malignant brutality appeared to occupy every breast. Verily, this was in truth the hour of man's wickedness, and the hour of darkness. Jesus has just been scourged—nature is nearly exhausted. Surely, they now will allow him repose and quietness, until the hour of execution. So far from this, while every wound is bleeding, he is surrounded by the cruel soldiery, who insult, and taunt, and revile, and mock him to the utmost of their power. They throw over him a scarlet robe, to make him, even in the midst of all his sorrows, an object of merriment and contempt. They place upon his heavenly brow a wreath of thorns, forcing it deeply into his temples, until his sacred face was stained with the flowing crimson. A reed is thrust into his hands as a scornful emblem of his sceptre. And then, in horrid mockery, they bend their knees before him, spitting in his face, and striking the crown of thorns deeper into his bleeding temples. Truly, Jesus was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.