A Brighter Day Begins with His Word.

Ryle, J. C. (John Charles), 1816–1900 • SECTION 275

EXPOSITOET THOUGHTS.

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them, and write them down ? There is but one answer. He wrote them by inspiration of the Holy Ghost.

Why the common people, who always •' heard Jesus gladly," permitted our Lord's crucifixion so easily, and made no resist- ance, is at first sight rather hard to understand. The Galileans, who would have made Jesus King at one time, were of course at Jerusalem in great numbers, on account of the passover feast. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when an immense multi- tude cried, " Hosanna to the Son of David ! — blessed is the King that Cometh ! " had happened only a few days before. The priests themselves were afraid of an uproar among the " peo- ple," Yet there is not a symptom of any opposition to the judicial murder which was arranged, and carried into execution, How was this ?

In reply, we must probably take into account the following considerations. (.1) There was a superstitious reverence for the priests among all Jews. The mere fact that the high priests accused Jesus would have immense weight. (2) The fear of the Roman garrison kept the people back. (3) The followers and friends of Jesus were almost entirely the poor and lower orders. (4) All multitudes are fickle and capricious

Public-domain historical edition (1857). Text from OCR of an original Internet Archive scan; OCR may contain recognition errors.

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