contempt. " Christ commenced His reign from the cross." Examine whether or not you belong to this kingdom, for if you belong to the world, that is, if you seek after the things which belong to it, you do not belong to Him. Christ says of His disciples, " They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world." (John xvii. 14.) Learn hence duly to appreciate the virtues of the Cross.
WEDNESDAY.
Christ is Sent to Herod.
I. Pilate did all that he could to set Christ at liberty, for, as he said himself, "I find no cause in this man." The Pharisees, on the other hand, " were more earnest, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, to this place." (Luke xxiii. 4, 5.) Pilate from this took occasion to send Him to Herod, because, as a Galilean, He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction. Christ, therefore, bound as a malefactor, and guarded by soldiers, is led by the priests to Herod. Thus is our blessed Redeemer dragged from one tribunal to another, and exposed to the public view and scorn of the whole city. Good God, how insults and affronts thicken upon Thee, and how fully are verified the words of thy prophet: "All those who passed by the way have clapped their hands at Thee, they have hissed and wagged their heads"! (Lament, ii. 15.)
II. At first Christ is civilly entertained by Herod, because he expected to see Him work some miracle; but the pure Lamb of God, from abhorrence to His impure life, refused to gratify His curiosity, and would not owe His life, which He ardently desired to lay down for us, to the favor or courtesy of the Governor of Galilee. Al-
