SATURDAY.
Christ Receives a Blow.
I. " And when He had said these things, one of the officers standing by gave Jesus a blow/' (John xviii. 22.) Ponder here the general circumstances, who, to whom, and what. 1. Consider how severe was the blow, for it was given by an armed soldier. 2. How ignominious, since it was given before so large an assembly, and inflicted on the person of Him whose sanctity of life and miracles rendered Him an object of admiration and veneration to all mankind. 3. How unjust and injurious, for so just and prudent an answer. O amiable countenance of my Jesus, which the angels desire so much to behold, how hast Thou been insulted for me! How have I insulted Thee myself by my repeated sins! From this time I will insult Thee no more.
II. Consider the mildness and patience of our Lord. He is not moved to indignation; He does not revenge Himself, although He had it perfectly in His power, for He could in a moment have annihilated the wretch. He modestly, however, justifies Himself,-that He might not seem to have spoken lightly to the high-priest, whose authority and dignity He respected. " If I have spoken ill," He says, "give testimony of the evil; but if well, why strikest thou Me?" (John xviii. 28.) How different are your justifications of yourself, when you are supposed to have acted incorrectly? Endeavor to imitate your Lord, " and in your patience possess your soul." (Luke xxi. 19.)
III. "And Annas sent Him bound to Caiphas the highpriest." Imagine what a painful and ignominious journey this was to our Saviour. He was dragged through
