Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom312Ver. 39, 40 . “Ye have a custom that I should release unto you one at the Passover”; then in apersuasory way, “Will ye therefore that I release the king of the Jews? Then cried they all, Not thisman, but Barabbas.” 2444O accursed decision! They demand those like mannered with themselves, and let the guilty go;but bid him punish the innocent. For this was their custom from old time. But do thou all throughobserve the lovingkindness of the Lord in these circumstances. Pilate scourged Him 2445 perhapsdesiring to exhaust and to soothe the fury of the Jews. For when he had not been able to deliverHim by his former measures, being anxious to stay the evil at this point, he scourged Him, andpermitted to be done what was done, the robe and crown to be put on Him, so as to relax their anger.Wherefore also he led Him forth to them crowned ( ver. 5 ), that, seeing the insult which had beendone to Him, they might recover a little from their passion, and vomit their venom. “And howwould the soldiers have done this, had it not been the command of their ruler?” To gratify the Jews.Since it was not by his command that they at first went in 2446 by night, but to please the Jews; theydared anything for money. But He, when so many and such things were done, yet stood silent, asHe had done during the enquiry, and answered nothing. And do thou not merely hear these things,but keep them continually in thy mind, and when thou beholdest the King of the world and of allAngels, mocked of the soldiers, by words and by actions, and bearing all silently, do thou imitateHim by deeds thyself. For when Pilate had called Him the King of the Jews, and they now put aboutHim the ap parel of mockery, then Pilate having led Him out, said,Ver. 4, 5 . “I find no fault against him. He therefore went forth, wearing the crown.” 2447But not even so was their rage quenched, but they cried out,Ver. 6 . “Crucify him, crucify him.” 2448Then Pilate, seeing that all was done in vain, said,“Take ye him, and crucify him.”Whence it is clear that he had permitted what had been done before, because of their madness.“For I,” he saith, “find no fault in him.”[2.] See in how many ways the judge makes His defense, continually acquitting Him of thecharges; but none of these things shamed the dogs from their purpose. For the, “Take ye him andcrucify him,” is the expression of one clearing himself of the guilt, and thrusting them forward toan action not permitted to them. They therefore had brought Him, in order that the thing might bedone by the decision of the governor; but the contrary fell out, that He was rather acquitted thancondemned by the governor’s decision. Then, because they were ashamed,Ver. 7 . “We have,” they said, “a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himselfthe Son of God.”2444“ Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a robber. ” N.T.2445Chap. xix. 1–3 . “ Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers plaited a crown of thorns, andput it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, and said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote Him with their hands.”2446i.e. to the garden.2447Ver. 4, 5 . “ Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may knowthat I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, and Pilate saith untothem, Behold the man. ” N.T.2448Ver. 6 . “ When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him. ” N.T.469