“O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame?” — Psalm 4:2

An instructive writer has made a mournful list of the honours which the blinded people of Israel awarded to their long-expected King. (1.) They gave Him a procession of honour, in which Roman legionaries, Jewish priests, men and women, took a part, He Himself bearing His cross. This is the triumph which the world awards to Him who comes to overthrow man’s direst foes. Derisive shouts are His only acclamations, and cruel taunts His only paeans of praise. (2.) They presented Him with the wine of honour. Instead of a golden cup of generous wine they offered Him the criminal’s stupefying death-draught, which He refused because He would preserve an uninjured taste wherewith to taste of death; and afterwards when He cried, “I thirst,” they gave Him vinegar mixed with gall, thrust to His mouth upon a sponge. Oh! wretched, detestable inhospitality to the King’s Son. (3.) He was provided with…

a guard of honour, who showedtheir esteem of Him by gambling over His garments, which they had seizedas their booty. Such was the body-guard of the adored of heaven; aquaternion of brutal gamblers. (4.) A throne of honour was found for Himupon the bloody tree; no easier place of rest would rebel men yield to theirliege Lord. The cross was, in fact, the full expression of the world’s feelingtowards Him; “There,” they seemed to say, “Thou Son of God, this is themanner in which God Himself should be treated, could we reach Him.” (5.)The title of honour was nominally “King of the Jews,” but that the blindednation distinctly repudiated, and really called Him “King of thieves,” bypreferring Barabbas, and by placing Jesus in the place of highest shamebetween two thieves. His glory was thus in all things turned into shame bythe sons of men, but it shall yet gladden the eyes of saints and angels,world without end.

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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen