The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 437

Vel'II. 23, 24.-The divirioft of 1iis prmtmh. Notice thiB ciromneta11ce- l. As ILLU!!TBATIVE OF CEBTAtN THINGS WITR B.t!:GABD T() THE Ol\trclFil!:RB AND THB CnuC!IFIED. 1. With regard to the crucifiers. (1) Their utter want of common delicacy. The fin;t thing they did in eJ:ec11ting the sentence WII.I! to strip the culprit of every rag 0f clothes, and hang him on the cross in a state of nudity. This reveals on the part of the patrons of this custom utter lack of delicacy, and grossness and barbarity of tnsto. They were willing to gratify the most morbid tastes, most animal passions, and lowest curi0sity of an exoited nnd thonghtlcss mob. The Homans were not the first nor tho last to manifest these qualities with regard to the execution of criminals. 'l'ill very rt>cently our executions were much of the same style. Thousands went to see the last struggles of a criminal with very much the same feelings as they would go to see a bull-figlit, and many of them very much worse in the sight of God than be who was hung. But, thanks to our advanced Christian civilization, this hl\8 passed away. Our executions are now performed in private, with as much decency, and as little pain to the culprit as possible, thus recoinizing the sa.credness of life, even that of the meanest, most worthless and injurious. lt is to be boped that life will soon become more sacred still in accordance with the merciful spirit of the dispensation under which wo live. (2) Their refined cruelty. It was not enough for tho Crucified to bear all the torture of the cross, but also he had to bear all the shame and indignities of nakedness. 'l'o some, doubtless, who were sunk in the deepest physical and spiritual debauchery, it was not &o painful, but by the pure soul of Jesus it must have been keenly felt. 'l'here was no consideration shown in his case. He was not exempted from a single item in the catalogue of indignities, nor from a single ignominy in the programme of shame; but rather to the contrary, these were lengthened by the voluntary contributions of a servile crowd. The crucifien; of Jesus were a.s refined in their cruelty as they were coarse in their tastes, and a.s minute in their indignities as they were lax in their sens~ of common delicacy. 2. In relation to the crucified One. It indicates: (1) The simplicity of his dress. Only the common costume of a poor Galilrean. Jesus did not go in for fashion and finery in dress any more than for luxuries in diet; but in all he was characterized by simplicity. In one sense this was strange, too, that he who paints the lily and rose in the richest hues, and the bird's wing in the most fantastic colours, should be himself clothed in the simple dress of a poor artisan I But, in another sense, this is not strange; it is generally the case with true greatness. He was sufficiently glorious in himself. It is not the garment, bnt he who wears it. (2) The poverty of hil; circumstanus. When his worldly affairs were wound up they consisted in a humble dress. When this was divided,all wu.s divided_ he possessed in this world. He had no houses, money, nor land to be confiscated by the government, and to enrich the imperial treasury, only the robe and the tnnic, and these probably the gifts of some kind friend, the latter, perhaps, woven by the tender hands of his mother, or by Magda- lene, as the original device and gift of love for an original and Divine kindness. '!'his is very affecting and significant, that he who was in the world, and the world was made by him, should leave without any of it. He who ma.de the world could alone be satis- fied to leave it thus. He was. (3) His 'ITWfe than human 611,bm,issiveness in suffering. When deprived of his garments he made no complaint, no request to be spared this indi,,crnity. One would naturally expect that he would ask this favour, and say, "I am willing to suffer even unto death, but let me die in my clothes." But not a word or a murmur. " A£, a lamb he was brought to the slaughter," and all for us. He was stripped that we ma.y be clothed, became naked tha.t we may be robed in spotless white. Il. A£, u ACT OF SELFISH llAl'ACITY. 11 The soldiers," etc. 1. T!tey WIIl"e inspired by the love of sordid gam. Every base principle in existence was represented on Gol- gotha that day. All the vultures of hell hovered over the cross ready to descend on their respective prey. And among the dark groups was the love of gain ready for. his garment.s. It cared for nothing else. 2. This was confirmed by !tabit and CU,Stom. 'l'he clothes or the victim were their fee for the execution. It was not such a. profitable job then as it is now. But you will :find people willing to do anything for a little worldly advantage. They will haJl,g you for your clothes; they will mµrder yqu rhysical!y pr morally, which i.s worse still, for the attainment of a little selfish end. His own disciple aold him for thirty pieces of silver: why, then, ijhould we wonder E\t thea11 c11. :tu. 1-12.J THE GOSPm, ACCJOTIDING TO ST. ,JOIIN.