The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. - documenta ...

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Anne Catherine Emmerich158were filled with such consternation that, covering their heads, they instantly departed. The witnesseswho belonged to the upper classes were less hardened than the others; their consciences were rackedwith remorse, and they followed the example given by the persons mentioned above, and left theroom as quickly as possible, while the rest crowded round the fire in the vestibule, and ate anddrank after receiving full pay for their services. The High Priest then addressed the archers, andsaid, ‘I deliver this king up into your hands; render the blasphemer the honours which are his due.’After these words he retired with the members of his Council into the round room behind thetribunal, which could not be seen from the vestibule.In the midst of the bitter affliction which inundated the heart of John, his thoughts were with theMother of Jesus; he feared that the dreadful news of the condemnation of her Son might becommunicated to her suddenly, or that perhaps some enemy might give the information in a heartlessmanner. He therefore looked at Jesus, and saying in a low voice, ‘Lord, thou knowest why I leavethee,’ went away quickly to seek the Blessed Virgin, as if he had been sent by Jesus himself. Peterwas quite over. come between anxiety and sorrow, which, joined to fatigue, made him chilly;therefore, as the morning was cold, he went up to the fire where many of the common people werewarming themselves. He did his best to hide his grief in their presence, as he could not make uphis mind to go home and leave his beloved Master.CHAPTER IX.The Insults received by Jesus in the Court of Caiphas.159No sooner did Caiphas, with the other members of the Council, leave the tribunal than a crowd ofmiscreants—the very scum of the people—surrounded Jesus like a swarm of infuriated wasps, andbegan to heap every imaginable insult upon him. Even during the trial, whilst the witnesses werespeaking, the archers and some others could not restrain their cruel inclinations, but pulled outhandfuls of his hair and beard, spat upon him, struck him with their fists, wounded him withsharp-pointed sticks, and even ran needles into his body; but when Caiphas left the hall they set nobounds to their barbarity. They first placed a crown, made of straw and the bark of trees, upon hishead, and then took it off, saluting him at the same time with insulting expressions, like the following:‘Behold the Son of David wearing the crown of his father.’ ‘A greater than Solomon is here; thisis the king who is preparing a wedding feast for his son.’ Thus did they turn into ridicule thoseeternal truths which he had taught under the form of parables to those whom he came from heavento save; and whilst repeating these scoffing words, they continued to strike him with their fists andsticks, and to spit in his face. Next they put a crown of reeds upon his head, took off his robe andscapular, and then threw an old torn mantle, which scarcely reached his knees, over his shoulders;around his neck they hung a long iron chain, with an iron ring at each end, studded with sharppoints, which bruised and tore his knees as he walked. They again pinioned his arms, put a reedinto his hand, and covered his Divine countenance with spittle. They had already thrown all sorts90