e
shameful scene which was enacted, beholding with pleasure the most
sacred ceremonies turned into derision. The pitiless guards covered him
with mud and spittle, and with mock gravity exclaimed, 'Receive the
prophetic unction--the regal unction.' Then they impiously parodied the
baptismal ceremonies, and the pious act of Magdalen in emptying the
vase of perfume on his head. 'How canst thou presume,' they exclaimed, 'to
appear before the Council in such a condition? Thou dost purify others,
and thou art not pure thyself; but we will soon purify thee.' They
fetched a basin of dirty water, which they poured over his face and
shoulders, whilst they bent their knees before him, and exclaimed,
'Behold thy precious unction, behold the spikenard worth three hundred
pence; thou hast been baptised in the pool of Bethsaida.' They intended
by this to throw into ridicule the act of respect and veneration shown
by Magdalen, when she poured the precious ointment over his head, at
the house of the Pharisee.

By their derisive words concerning his baptism in the pool of
Bethsaida, they pointed out, although unintentionally, the resemblance
between Jesus and the Paschal lamb, for the lambs were washed in the
first place in the pond near the Probatica gate, and then brought to
the pool of Bethsaida, where they underwent another purification before
being taken to the Temple to be sacrificed. The enemies of Jesus
likewise alluded to the man who had been infirm for thirty-eight years,
and who was cured by Jesus at the pool of Bethsaida; for I saw this man
either washed or baptised there; I say either washed or baptised,
because I do not exactly remember the circumstances.

They then dragged Jesus round the room, before all the members of
the Council, who continued to address him in reproachful and abusive
language. Every countenance looked diabolical and enraged, and all
around was dark, confused, and terrified. Our Lord, on the contrary,
was from the moment that he declared himself to be the Son of God,
generally surrounded with a halo of light. Many of the assembly
appeared to have a confused knowledge of this fact, and to be filled
with consternation at perceiving that neither outrages or ignominies
could alter the majestic expression of his countenance.

The halo which shone around Jesus from the moment he declared
himself to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God, served but to
incite his enemies to greater fury, and yet it was so