Chapter 36: The arraignment and the standing, of the Lord Jesus before Pilate

I BLESS You, and give thanks to You, O Lord Jesus Christ, most just Judge both of the living and of the dead, for the disorderly and noisy arraignment of You before Pilate, the Governor. For indeed, when morning was come, at the hour of Prime, the Chief Priests, having come together, and taken wicked counsel how they might put You to death, and having caused their attendants to bind You with cords, brought You before a man uncircumcised, a heathen Governor; and making against You, innocent as You were, the most grievous charges, dared to proclaim You, Whom the holy Prophets of old had hymned as the Saviour of the world, a malefactor, and a perverter of their nation.

How dreadful was the wickedness of those Jews in seeking, upon the testimony of witnesses who were perjured, the condemnation of One Who was innocent; in compassing the death of the Author of life; in urging the crucifixion of Christ their King, and the putting to the most shameful of deaths of the Holy One and the Just May all Your enemies, O Lord, be confounded, and put to shame; for they deserve far worse punishments than those which they meted out to You.

I praise and glorify You, adorable Jesus, for Your perfect demeanour, and for the deference shown by You, when You were standing before the tribunal of Pilate, Your judge; for You did stand bound with cords, like a most meek lamb, in the presence of Your accusers; with Your Head bent down; with Your Eyes fixed upon the ground; with Your Face calm; speaking but few words, and those in a soft voice; content to bear reproach, and even blows.

Behold, then, and lay to heart, O devout disciple of Christ, how Your Lord and Saviour, Who is the King and Judge of all men, submitting Himself humbly, and of His own free-will, to the secular power, allows Himself to be taken before the judgement-seat — in all which He has set before you an example, that you, too, who in so many ways are verily guilty, may learn to accuse yourself in Chapter, and to bear patiently being denounced by your brethren. Submit yourself humbly to the judgement of your Superiors; nor, if you would escape the pains of hell, venture to resist the power which is ordained of God: but, for the love of Jesus bear patiently an unjust condemnation, even if the punishment imposed be severe. Let not the thought of the patience of your God — a patience shown when so many false charges were brought against Him — pass from you without leaving its mark upon your heart. Fall, then, at the sacred Feet of Jesus bound with cords, and plead for pardon and grace; entreat His forgiveness for all your negligences, and that He will correct, in this your mercy's day, your offences, rather than, by reserving their punishment, cast you out for ever with the reprobates.

Have mercy upon me, O good Jesus, have mercy upon me; for my soul trusts in You. Breathe into me a right spirit, such as may kindle in me a fervent longing for progress in the inner life; that so I may strive with all my heart to humble myself, to give way and to submit to my superiors, and to bear all the burdens laid upon me. Grant that I may not stand in awe of men's judgements, and may not angrily defend myself against charges brought against me; but rather may love to be kept in order, to be censured, and punished; that so, the swellings of my pride being utterly trodden under foot, and my own will entirely brought into subjection, I may, by despising myself, come to love You more and more, and may be carried further and further onward on the road to Heaven.