Monday in Passion Week — Our Lord is sent from Pilate to Herod

Consider, first, how, Pilate going out to inquire what accusation they brought against our Saviour, these children of iniquity made no scruple of laying many notorious untruths to his charge; such as raising seditions, stirring up the people to rebellion, forbidding tribute to be paid to the emperor, and treasonably giving himself out for the king of the Jews. Under all these, wicked slanders, that tended nothing less than procuring his condemnation to the worst of deaths, our Lord still showed the same peace and tranquillity of soul, and still kept silence, to the great astonishment of the governor. Admirable lessons for Christians! to learn to possess their souls, at least, in patience, if they cannot be wholly silent, under calumnies and detractions; and to learn that calmness and meekness will be a better proof and defence of their innocence, than passion and rage, or returning injury for injury. We see here that Pilate himself, though otherwise a wicked man, was so far from interpreting our Saviour’s silence, joined with that tranquillity of soul, for an acknowledgment ol his guilt, that he concluded it to be an argument of his innocence; and clearly perceived in the Jews’ way of acting, that they were carried on by envy and passion, and not by zeal for justice; and therefore, after inquiring of our Lord concerning his being king, and understanding from him, that his kingdom was not of this worlds and therefore no way prejudicial to Cesar’s authority, he declared himself fully satisfied, and sought to discharge him.

Consider, secondly, how, the Jews still urging to have our Lord condemned, Pilate, to get rid of their importunity, sends him away to Herod, king of Galilee, as one of his subjects, and refers his cause to him. Follow thy Saviour, O my soul, in this new stage; and admire the serenity of his countenance, and the peace of his soul, whilst he is hurried through the streets, in (he midst of an insulting mob, and Loadedwith reproaches and injuries. See how he is brought in bonds before that prince, attended by the whole council, who there renew all their false accusations against him; whilst Herod, who is overjoyed to see him, in hopes of being eye-witness of some miracle, puts a thousand idle questions to him. But our Lord is silent still; and neither takes any notice of the falsities laid to his charge by his accusers, nor seeks to gratify the vain curiosity of Herod, or to do any thing that might incline him to set him at liberty. No, my soul, thy Saviour has too great a love for thee, to work a miracle to deliver himself from that death, which he so gladly embraces, as the only means to give thee life. Blessed by all creatures be his goodness for ever.

Consider, thirdly, how Herod, provoked with our Lord’s not consenting to gratify his inclinations of seeing a miracle, revenges himself on him by treating him with mockery and scorn; exposes him to the scoffs of all his soldiers, and orders him to be clothed, in contempt, with a white garment, as with a fool’s coat, or as a mock-king; and, in this garb, sends him back again to Pilate, attended as before, with the priests and scribes, and an insulting rabble, taking fresh occasion of abusing him, from this disgraceful habit. See here, my soul, with astonishment, the eternal Wisdom of the Father, treated by the world as a fool; see the great King of heaven and earth abused as a mockking and an idle pretender to royalty. And learn from hence not to be solicitous about the judgment of the world; nor to repine, if they charge thee with folly; for why shouldst thou expect better treatment than thy Lord? O remember, that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; and that what the world censures as foolishness, is indeed true wisdom. Remember that Whosoever will he a friend of this world becometh an enemy of God, James iv. 4.

Conclude to adhere to thy Lord, in the midst of all his reproaches and sufferings; to embrace his wisdom, hidden undn I he fool's coat, which the world hath flung over it; and ever to acknowledge him for the true King of thy heart. O beg that his kingdom may be established there, and the reign of sin be totally abolished.