mcen001.1 May Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost grant to you who pray with a full mcen001.2 heart, grace and a desire to hear his passion, and to me grace and mcen001.3 knowledge to tell it in words that it may be to the glory of god and for mcen001.4 the salvation of souls. mcen001.5 mcen001.6 mcen001.7 mcen001.8 mcen002.1 Let all who wish to be saved listen to my words about how Jesus was mcen002.2 hunted on earth like a stag; for us often rebuked and cruelly despised; mcen002.3 to the cross secured with nails; tortured till he was dead. mcen002.4 mcen002.5 mcen002.6 mcen002.7 mcen002.8 mcen003.1 Indeed, God, through the power of the Father, the Son through his mcen003.2 great wisdom when he accepted a virgin's flesh, and the holy ghost full mcen003.3 of grace, through his goodness by which he who could do no sin willingly mcen003.4 suffered torture, prepared help for us. mcen003.5 mcen003.6 mcen003.7 mcen003.8 mcen004.1 The good people wanted for themselves the Kingdom of Heaven which had mcen004.2 been lost. jesus christ was moved by their cries and lamentations so mcen004.3 that his will was to come down into a virgin and be born to redeem us mcen004.4 with his flesh. lord god, how happy we are! mcen004.5 mcen004.6 mcen004.7 mcen004.8 mcen005.1 Jesus Christ showed great love to mankind when he came down to earth mcen005.2 from the height where he was, to redeem sinners who had been deceived by mcen005.3 satan. therefore let us always praise jesus who redeemed us. mcen005.4 mcen005.5 mcen005.6 mcen005.7 mcen005.8 mcen006.1 The tortures he suffered were not for himself alone but for the mcen006.2 people of the world as they were found (to be) so frail. the devil spoke mcen006.3 to adam: ``the apple, you take a bit! you will become like god !'' when mcen006.4 he tried it, in no way was it so! mcen006.5 mcen006.6 mcen006.7 mcen006.8 mcen007.1 After mankind had sinned, the reason he was redeemed is that Jesus mcen007.2 christ ordained that he should dwell in heaven. he did not intend that mcen007.3 he should be lost. by him his plan was made. therefore he prepared a way mcen007.4 for everyone to be saved. mcen007.5 mcen007.6 mcen007.7 mcen007.8 mcen008.1 Although I am not a very learned man, I will tell you what I know: mcen008.2 how an accord was made between god and sinner. because our sin was so mcen008.3 great, an intermediary was made between them. he was christ who came mcen008.4 down to earth. he was the son of god and man alike. mcen008.5 mcen008.6 mcen008.7 mcen008.8 mcen009.1 He begged his Father for us that all his wrath should be remitted, mcen009.2 that our sin should be redeemed with his body through extreme torture. mcen009.3 mary's son, full of grace - all his will was heard and all he desired mcen009.4 was granted to him. mcen009.5 mcen009.6 mcen009.7 mcen009.8 mcen010.1 When his Mother brought him up, and when he was come of age, he mcen010.2 continued to do penance. that was no hardship for him. for forty days he mcen010.3 spent his flesh and blood in fasting, and eventually, because he was mcen010.4 human, he had a craving for food. mcen010.5 mcen010.6 mcen010.7 mcen010.8 mcen011.1 And when the devil heard this, he thought he would tempt him and he mcen011.2 showed him a heap of stones and said, ``if you are god's beloved son, mcen011.3 make these stones bread for yourself.'' jesus christ answered him mcen011.4 exactly as he intended: mcen011.5 mcen011.6 mcen011.7 mcen011.8 mcen012.1 ``Man does not find all his life in bread alone, but in the good mcen012.2 words that come from god.'' now we can see by christ's answer at that mcen012.3 time how the word of god feeds whoever will hear it. mcen012.4 mcen012.5 mcen012.6 mcen012.7 mcen012.8 mcen013.1 When he saw that he could not trick him at all with gluttony, the mcen013.2 evil angel decided to tempt him in another way. he put him to sit mcen013.3 dangerously on a pinnacle. the seat was above a beautiful church in the mcen013.4 land. mcen013.5 mcen013.6 mcen013.7 mcen013.8 mcen014.1 The devil spoke to Christ thus to tempt him: ``It is written of you mcen014.2 that angels are guarding you for fear you were going to stumble by mcen014.3 catching your foot on a stone. if you are god's son of great worth, come mcen014.4 and drop down to the ground.'' mcen014.5 mcen014.6 mcen014.7 mcen014.8 mcen015.1 Jesus Christ said, ``You must not tempt your God into any kind of mcen015.2 enthralment, but always honour him''. and again the devil cast a plan of mcen015.3 another kind to see if, in some way involving greed, he could make him mcen015.4 change his mind. mcen015.5 mcen015.6 mcen015.7 mcen015.8 mcen016.1 From there, he led him high up to the top of a mountain, and showed mcen016.2 him gold and silver, grass and trees, and the devil said, ``you shall mcen016.3 have all there is of value in the world, and i will make you a great mcen016.4 lord if you are willing to honour me.'' mcen016.5 mcen016.6 mcen016.7 mcen016.8 mcen017.1 Jesus Christ said that it was written in the Scriptures, ``In mcen017.2 everything that is done you must worship your god and his name. go away, mcen017.3 accursed one, to a desert in darkness. your dominion over souls will be mcen017.4 destroyed for ever''. mcen017.5 mcen017.6 mcen017.7 mcen017.8 mcen018.1 The devil turned angrily and went home to his lair. Three times he mcen018.2 was overcome. it is right for us to curse him. to jesus were sent mcen018.3 heavenly angels from the father to be ready indeed to support him there. mcen018.4 mcen018.5 mcen018.6 mcen018.7 mcen018.8 mcen019.1 And since Satan thought he would tempt Christ, Son of the Supreme mcen019.2 lord, with his treachery, malice and cunning, it is important for you to mcen019.3 be humble and diligent in your service so that the evil one cannot be mcen019.4 turned upon you. mcen019.5 mcen019.6 mcen019.7 mcen019.8 mcen020.1 For you may be sure, and see indeed that he is always waylaying you mcen020.2 to your shame and disgrace, you who cannot keep yourself from sinning mcen020.3 for a single moment in the day! after all, he undertook to tempt him who mcen020.4 could not commit sin! mcen020.5 mcen020.6 mcen020.7 mcen020.8 mcen021.1 As it is written, he is always round about us with violence in case mcen021.2 he can bring us from the good to do evil. much more furiously he seeks mcen021.3 us than does a lion his prey. if he could bring a man to woe, never mcen021.4 would he desire more joy. mcen021.5 mcen021.6 mcen021.7 mcen021.8 mcen022.1 Though you are tempted by the devil, do not give a halfpenny for him! mcen022.2 for it is written in many places that it is put into your power both to mcen022.3 stand and to fall, and though you are cast down by him, you may rise mcen022.4 again. that is a comfort for you ! mcen022.5 mcen022.6 mcen022.7 mcen022.8 mcen023.1 Jesus Christ preached in the country round about all the time, and mcen023.2 the substance of the preaching was that mankind should cease from mcen023.3 sinning so that his sin as well as his evil might be forgiven him, lest mcen023.4 the kingdom of heaven be taken away from him and given to others. mcen023.5 mcen023.6 mcen023.7 mcen023.8 mcen024.1 Blessed is he who loves God beyond everything there is in the world, mcen024.2 and who will meekly suffer all that is ordained for him, whether it is mcen024.3 illness or dispersion of wealth, or being shut up in prison. for all mcen024.4 good and bad alike, let jesus be thanked. mcen024.5 mcen024.6 mcen024.7 mcen024.8 mcen025.1 Wherever he went in the country, Jesus Christ healed the sick. He did mcen025.2 not abandon the blind or the deaf or the dumb - not one, nor any mcen025.3 bedridden invalid. if he prayed with a full heart, straight away he mcen025.4 would be cured in accordance with the will of christ himself. mcen025.5 mcen025.6 mcen025.7 mcen025.8 mcen026.1 When the Jews saw that Jesus Christ was exercising power, caring for mcen026.2 people in need and that he paid no heed to them, for that reason the mcen026.3 cra3y ones bore him malice. because of arrogance in their hearts they mcen026.4 attempted to destroy him. mcen026.5 mcen026.6 mcen026.7 mcen026.8 mcen027.1 When he was among his apostles on Palm Sunday, he made some of them mcen027.2 go to the town and untie the ass and bring it with them, and if any man mcen027.3 came to prevent it, to say indeed that it was on god's business. mcen027.4 mcen027.5 mcen027.6 mcen027.7 mcen027.8 mcen028.1 Straight away they did as Jesus instructed; all his will as he mcen028.2 intended. the ass was fetched. a cloth garment was placed upon it for mcen028.3 sitting on, because he wanted to ride to the city to be honoured. mcen028.4 mcen028.5 mcen028.6 mcen028.7 mcen028.8 mcen029.1 Many men and women of Jerusalem came into the town towards Christ in mcen029.2 order to see him and honour him. on the road clothes were spread out mcen029.3 before him. palms and flowers also were carried to meet him. mcen029.4 mcen029.5 mcen029.6 mcen029.7 mcen029.8 mcen030.1 There was a wholehearted cry with much joy and gladness: ``Blessed is mcen030.2 he who comes among us in the name of god!'' christ found traders in the mcen030.3 temples inside the town. he made them go away from there quickly. mcen030.4 mcen030.5 mcen030.6 mcen030.7 mcen030.8 mcen031.1 The wicked were angry because Christ was honoured and because his mcen031.2 work was so great and known throughout all the world. they made a plan mcen031.3 which was not any good to destroy jesus and they accused him so much mcen031.4 that the town was in an uproar. mcen031.5 mcen031.6 mcen031.7 mcen031.8 mcen032.1 The plan was that a sinful woman should be brought before Christ so mcen032.2 that he might give a decision of his own accord as to what was to be mcen032.3 done in her case. ``for the laws which we have will condemn her mcen032.4 outright,'' they said. ``there is no way in which she may be made blameless.'' mcen032.5 mcen032.6 mcen032.7 mcen032.8 mcen033.1 Christ had come to the place and the Jews were truculent. The woman mcen033.2 was with them. they were prepared to accuse her. while they were making mcen033.3 a charge jesus wrote on the ground and by the power of what he wrote mcen033.4 everyone went away. mcen033.5 mcen033.6 mcen033.7 mcen033.8 mcen034.1 When they all went away (they had been embarrassed) Christ said to mcen034.2 her, ``where is he who wants to accuse you?'' ``there is no one,'' she mcen034.3 said. jesus spoke again: ``well then, i do not condemn you. go and sin mcen034.4 no more.'' mcen034.5 mcen034.6 mcen034.7 mcen034.8 mcen035.1 Out of great love a woman wanted to break her rich box of perfume mcen035.2 over christ to anoint him. indeed it was quite clearly done to refresh mcen035.3 the body of jesus. judas iscariot accused her very unjustly. mcen035.4 mcen035.5 mcen035.6 mcen035.7 mcen035.8 mcen036.1 False Judas said, ``Let the whole box be sold for three hundred pence mcen036.2 in cash to be shared among the poor in the world. it would be better mcen036.3 than wasting it.'' jesus christ answered (he knew what was in his mind): mcen036.4 mcen036.5 mcen036.6 mcen036.7 mcen036.8 mcen037.1 ``Do not bear anger in your hearts towards the one who wants to save mcen037.2 me. my time will soon come. i shall have no dwelling with you. you will mcen037.3 have the poor calling upon you all the time. you yourselves can do good mcen037.4 for them whenever you want.'' mcen037.5 mcen037.6 mcen037.7 mcen037.8 mcen038.1 At once Judas grew angry. He did not speak out of love but to get a mcen038.2 big share of the fund if he could. he was a rogue, a villain. he had mcen038.3 been a thief to the end. he ran to sell christ his lord to the jews. mcen038.4 mcen038.5 mcen038.6 mcen038.7 mcen038.8 mcen039.1 He said to them, ``What will you give me if I do indeed make you mcen039.2 successful in finding christ?'' they agreed among themselves that they mcen039.3 would give him thirty in cash in payment, just as he asked. mcen039.4 mcen039.5 mcen039.6 mcen039.7 mcen039.8 mcen040.1 Returning again (without equal as a bad bargainer; no one can work mcen040.2 out how much he lost on the deal) judas greeted jesus falsely, as if he mcen040.3 were being affectionate. in the end his heart did not accord with his mcen040.4 speech. mcen040.5 mcen040.6 mcen040.7 mcen040.8 mcen041.1 Just as he intended, so it was plotted by Judas to bring Jesus. He mcen041.2 was in christ's company but they were never comrades. the day was maundy mcen041.3 thursday when jesus intended to have supper with those in his service on mcen041.4 earth whom he had chosen. mcen041.5 mcen041.6 mcen041.7 mcen041.8 mcen042.1 Christ sent two men to buy food and drink. These same men made good mcen042.2 speed and supper was prepared. at the supper christ warned that mcen042.3 treachery would be done by one. ``lord god,'' they cried. ``who can that mcen042.4 be?'' mcen042.5 mcen042.6 mcen042.7 mcen042.8 mcen043.1 Jesus Christ replied, ``He is eating with us.'' Every one called out, mcen043.2 ``lord god, am i that one?'' and jesus answered, ``he is eating from my mcen043.3 dish. woe to him that ever he was born from his mother's womb into this mcen043.4 world.'' mcen043.5 mcen043.6 mcen043.7 mcen043.8 mcen044.1 God blessed the bread in the presence of his apostles. ``This is my mcen044.2 body,'' said christ. ``this night, it will surely be despised for you mcen044.3 who are redeemed in this world. he who eats it in good faith will mcen044.4 receive a fair reward.'' mcen044.5 mcen044.6 mcen044.7 mcen044.8 mcen045.1 And the wine which was on the table he shared among them. ``This is mcen045.2 (my) blood,'' said christ. ``drink out of love.'' with water put into a mcen045.3 basin he washed their legs. he made them pure white from end to end as mcen045.4 was the will of a loving god. mcen045.5 mcen045.6 mcen045.7 mcen045.8 mcen046.1 Then Peter refused that Jesus should wash his feet. ``Quiet, Peter,'' mcen046.2 said christ. ``you do not know what i am doing for you. if i do not wash mcen046.3 you by my grace you will not dwell in heaven.'' peter said, ``leave mcen046.4 neither my foot nor my hand unwashed.'' mcen046.5 mcen046.6 mcen046.7 mcen046.8 mcen047.1 Jesus Christ, full of pity, said to the twelve, ``You are innocent of mcen047.2 all vileness, but you are not all good or sweet.'' he knew that judas mcen047.3 was quite hideous and accursed. the devil had dwelt in him so that he mcen047.4 was worse than a toad. mcen047.5 mcen047.6 mcen047.7 mcen047.8 mcen048.1 When Christ had done this he said to Judas, ``Hurry away so that your mcen048.2 purpose may be fulfilled, for the time has come when the shepherd will mcen048.3 be forfeit and taken into custody and the sheep will run away.'' mcen048.4 mcen048.5 mcen048.6 mcen048.7 mcen048.8 mcen049.1 ``Though all fail,'' said Peter, ``I shall be in your service.'' mcen049.2 christ said, ``this very night, before the cock is heard, peter, you mcen049.3 will deny me three times that i was ever lord unto you.'' peter said, mcen049.4 ``upon my faith, i will not deny you even though i am slain.'' mcen049.5 mcen049.6 mcen049.7 mcen049.8 mcen050.1 Christ said, ``Since I made you follow me, ill-clad and barelegged, mcen050.2 you have not carried any holder to put anything into. nevertheless you mcen050.3 do not know what need we had.'' ``lord, you have spoken the truth,'' mcen050.4 they said among themselves. mcen050.5 mcen050.6 mcen050.7 mcen050.8 mcen051.1 ``But it is now very important to do battle rather than sleep. Let mcen051.2 him who has a cloak sell it and buy himself a sword.'' ``indeed we have mcen051.3 two ready,'' they said at once. ``that is enough. no more are needed,'' mcen051.4 god said once more. mcen051.5 mcen051.6 mcen051.7 mcen051.8 mcen052.1 Mary's Son, full of grace, went to the Mount of Olives and his mcen052.2 disciples followed him. christ said, ``this night keep watch and pray to mcen052.3 my father that you may go to his seat and so you will not be tempted mcen052.4 beyond nature by falsehood and wickedness.'' mcen052.5 mcen052.6 mcen052.7 mcen052.8 mcen053.1 ``Peter, Andrew and John,'' said Christ, ``come, follow me to the mcen053.2 mountain. because i am weak, sorrow is sapping my strength.'' he went a mcen053.3 little way from them so that he could pray to his father who is ever mcen053.4 above, although he was shaking with fear. mcen053.5 mcen053.6 mcen053.7 mcen053.8 mcen054.1 Mary's Son was suffering much pain at that time for he was perfectly mcen054.2 aware (of his fate) and the flesh did not want that, but his manhood mcen054.3 which was so perfect turned him all the time to these things, so that he mcen054.4 went down on his knees and prayed thus: mcen054.5 mcen054.6 mcen054.7 mcen054.8 mcen055.1 ``If it is your will, my Father, make this pain leave me, but let mcen055.2 your will be done, lord god, whatever it may be.'' he returned to his mcen055.3 disciples. he found them all sleeping. christ said, ``can you not stay mcen055.4 awake one moment to give me strength?'' mcen055.5 mcen055.6 mcen055.7 mcen055.8 mcen056.1 Then Christ definitely left them and went again to pray for us on his mcen056.2 knees to his father as he had said. his pains were strong and great upon mcen056.3 him without being deserved. the reason was that he knew he was gong to mcen056.4 die for all the land. mcen056.5 mcen056.6 mcen056.7 mcen056.8 mcen057.1 Christ, who was God and Man, said again to his apostles, ``Stay awake mcen057.2 and pray earnestly for fear of the devil and his domination.'' a third mcen057.3 time, as he was trembling, he prayed, ``god, deliver me! lord, if it mcen057.4 cannot be otherwise, let it be as you will.'' mcen057.5 mcen057.6 mcen057.7 mcen057.8 mcen058.1 When Jesus Christ was on his knees in distress, an angel was sent to mcen058.2 him from heaven to give him strength. the son of god was so oppressed mcen058.3 because of the heat that he was sweating water and blood mixed together mcen058.4 - the sweat of christ for your sake. mcen058.5 mcen058.6 mcen058.7 mcen058.8 mcen059.1 Christ had so much pain, cruel anguish and suffering that the blood mcen059.2 came and dropped on his face, the beloved. no man can reckon nor say in mcen059.3 words all the torment which he had before he was dead. mcen059.4 mcen059.5 mcen059.6 mcen059.7 mcen059.8 mcen060.1 Now we can see and be quite convinced that Christ, as Man, suffered mcen060.2 much penance in this world. he could not, as god, experience either evil mcen060.3 or good, because he was master over the world, and everything there is, mcen060.4 he makes. mcen060.5 mcen060.6 mcen060.7 mcen060.8 mcen061.1 When his prayers were done he said to the twelve, ``Sleep now if it mcen061.2 is time; rest, you are worn out. men are coming to me who have been told mcen061.3 by my betrayer how they are to come and take me and how i shall be led mcen061.4 (away).'' mcen061.5 mcen061.6 mcen061.7 mcen061.8 mcen062.1 Just as God said, when Christ was praying Judas went off on his mcen062.2 business. it is the devil who was leading him. he intended to continue mcen062.3 as he was, an informer to the jews. he was destroyed by greed. so it is mcen062.4 with many a one. mcen062.5 mcen062.6 mcen062.7 mcen062.8 mcen063.1 When he had come to the Jews, he said, as they were coming, ``I look mcen063.2 forward to succeeding well in my business tonight. come with me and mcen063.3 follow me. be sure you do not make a noise, and i will kiss christ so mcen063.4 that you may recognise him.'' mcen063.5 mcen063.6 mcen063.7 mcen063.8 mcen064.1 The princes who were in the land with Judas sent strong men clad in mcen064.2 armour as if they were going to battle . they carried a light with them. mcen064.3 it was night. they could not see very well. they went up to beloved mcen064.4 jesus as judas directed. mcen064.5 mcen064.6 mcen064.7 mcen064.8 mcen065.1 When they had come to the place where Christ was praying, the savage mcen065.2 cur judas said, ``joy to you, master.'' he greeted him falsely and mcen065.3 kissed him gravely. he intended, in fact, to do otherwise than as he mcen065.4 showed. mcen065.5 mcen065.6 mcen065.7 mcen065.8 mcen066.1 Jesus spoke very courteously: ``Judas, by your kiss which you give so mcen066.2 sweetly you intend to deliver me to those who will torture me cruelly. mcen066.3 the curse of mankind, both male and female, will come directly upon you. mcen066.4 tortures will make you sorrowful in deep hell for all time.'' mcen066.5 mcen066.6 mcen066.7 mcen066.8 mcen067.1 Jesus Christ asked the people who came there with the traitor in his mcen067.2 service, ``what is it that you want?'' they replied, ``it is jesus, if mcen067.3 only we could find him.'' the lord replied, ``i am he indeed.'' mcen067.4 mcen067.5 mcen067.6 mcen067.7 mcen067.8 mcen068.1 Truly, because of the power of Christ's words when he said, ``I am he mcen068.2 whom you seek,'' they fell back. through fear they changed colour. mcen068.3 through weakness they fell. in no way were they in a fit state to act mcen068.4 beyond his will! mcen068.5 mcen068.6 mcen068.7 mcen068.8 mcen069.1 Christ asked the foolish Jews again, ``What is your business? Who is mcen069.2 it that you seek?'' ``jesus christ of na3areth,'' they answered. jesus mcen069.3 said, ``i am he. now exercise your authority.'' mcen069.4 mcen069.5 mcen069.6 mcen069.7 mcen069.8 mcen070.1 Straight away they arrested him and held him between them. They mcen070.2 mocked him with words. power was granted to them to do as they wished. mcen070.3 in this way he willed it to be possible for him to die with great pains mcen070.4 for your sake. mcen070.5 mcen070.6 mcen070.7 mcen070.8 mcen071.1 Peter on the one side drew out a sword and cut off the ear of one of mcen071.2 them close to the head. christ set the ear completely back in its place mcen071.3 and restored it very comfortably, as handsomely as it had been. mcen071.4 mcen071.5 mcen071.6 mcen071.7 mcen071.8 mcen072.1 ``Put your sword into its sheath,'' Christ commanded Peter, ``for he mcen072.2 who lives by the sword shall be slain by the sword. twelve legions of mcen072.3 angels and more would be sent from heaven one after another with great mcen072.4 readiness if i wished to pray to my father for myself. mcen072.5 mcen072.6 mcen072.7 mcen072.8 mcen073.1 ``And if it were thus, I would never be defeated. How would the story mcen073.2 of my life then be? it is written in the scriptures (and) told by the mcen073.3 prophets in many places: `it is entirely necessary that my father's will mcen073.4 be followed without dispute.''' mcen073.5 mcen073.6 mcen073.7 mcen073.8 mcen074.1 Jesus spoke again. ``You have come to me armed, treacherously, mcen074.2 furtively, with shields and swords to arrest me, to harm me, to torture mcen074.3 me to death, just as if i were the most arrant thief in the land. mcen074.4 mcen074.5 mcen074.6 mcen074.7 mcen074.8 mcen075.1 ``When I was among you, teaching you God's laws, there was no power mcen075.2 at all to fetter or hold me. now another time has come. my father has mcen075.3 granted me to you, full of sin for aught i know, to exercise your mcen075.4 supremacy.'' mcen075.5 mcen075.6 mcen075.7 mcen075.8 mcen076.1 Then they tied his arms tightly with thongs so that the blood gushed mcen076.2 out as they had tightened the knots. they took him with them just at mcen076.3 midnight, to their prince annas who was a great magistrate in the land. mcen076.4 mcen076.5 mcen076.6 mcen076.7 mcen076.8 mcen077.1 Christ's men escaped each his own way in great grief. Only Peter mcen077.2 followed christ some way off as one afraid, to the court of prince mcen077.3 annas. there, there was a seating area. he sat in it to hear the voice mcen077.4 of gentle jesus. mcen077.5 mcen077.6 mcen077.7 mcen077.8 mcen078.1 At once the prince said, ``You, Christ, tell me, where are your men mcen078.2 who are so bold and whom you have trained? why do they not come with you mcen078.3 here? the laws that you preached, demonstrate now whether they are mcen078.4 good.'' and jesus answered, as he intended at that time: mcen078.5 mcen078.6 mcen078.7 mcen078.8 mcen079.1 ``Very openly and in the light I told my doctrine, my laws and my mcen079.2 sayings. whoever wanted to, heard. wherever i went in the towns i mcen079.3 declared them clearly. i did not speak in the dark, whispering behind mcen079.4 people. mcen079.5 mcen079.6 mcen079.7 mcen079.8 mcen080.1 ``What do you ask of me and my laws? If you will, ask those who have mcen080.2 heard them. they can instruct you just as they have learned.'' thus, mcen080.3 without disrespect jesus spoke to him. mcen080.4 mcen080.5 mcen080.6 mcen080.7 mcen080.8 mcen081.1 Thereupon one of the Jews stood up and immediately gave Christ a blow mcen081.2 by his ear, and to jesus himself the villain said, ``who put it into mcen081.3 your heart to speak thus to a magistrate?'' mcen081.4 mcen081.5 mcen081.6 mcen081.7 mcen081.8 mcen082.1 Jesus said then, ``If I have told a lie and that is not pleasing to mcen082.2 you and false, you produce the evidence. but if i have spoken well and mcen082.3 held to the truth, why do you strike me thus? it is nothing but mcen082.4 villainy.'' mcen082.5 mcen082.6 mcen082.7 mcen082.8 mcen083.1 Then Peter saw Christ (suffer) much ill-treatment; mocking him, mcen083.2 punching him and spitting in his eyes, and because of fear, he could not mcen083.3 speak a good word for jesus. this was an act of falsehood, a promise mcen083.4 that was not kept. mcen083.5 mcen083.6 mcen083.7 mcen083.8 mcen084.1 A woman boldly insisted to Peter that he dwelt with Jesus. mcen084.2 immediately he denied his lord. ``silence, i have seen you with mcen084.3 christ,'' another woman said. peter spoke again: ``i never knew him.'' mcen084.4 mcen084.5 mcen084.6 mcen084.7 mcen084.8 mcen085.1 Many people said, ``It is no use at all your denying it. It is proved mcen085.2 by your speech that you are a man of galilee.'' straight away he swore mcen085.3 as great an oath as he could that he had not dwelt with christ and that mcen085.4 he had never seen him. mcen085.5 mcen085.6 mcen085.7 mcen085.8 mcen086.1 Immediately upon that he heard the cock crowing and Christ gazed upon mcen086.2 him from the great torments he was in. then peter abruptly withdrew as mcen086.3 he had sinned by denying god full of grace, although he had been warned. mcen086.4 mcen086.5 mcen086.6 mcen086.7 mcen086.8 mcen087.1 At once he turned away and his heart was almost breaking because he mcen087.2 had so heinously denied his lord, full of grace. he would not eat food mcen087.3 but wept all the time until christ sent to him to say that he was coming mcen087.4 to galilee. mcen087.5 mcen087.6 mcen087.7 mcen087.8 mcen088.1 Jesus was sent away from prince Annas immediately with strong men to mcen088.2 the bishop caiaphas for christ to be judged by him entirely at his will mcen088.3 and pleasure. many people had assembled against him to accuse him. mcen088.4 mcen088.5 mcen088.6 mcen088.7 mcen088.8 mcen089.1 Because he was over priests, a great authority in the land, it was mcen089.2 put into his heart to do thus, so he said, ``it is entirely necessary mcen089.3 for one to die for the people of the land, the people of jesus himself, mcen089.4 so that they will not dwell with satan.'' mcen089.5 mcen089.6 mcen089.7 mcen089.8 mcen090.1 The Jews sought witnesses among themselves to punish Christ and mcen090.2 destroy him. they did not speak in a proper manner but they were intent mcen090.3 on telling lies against god through malice. they had come from false mcen090.4 men, the very worst thieves in the land. mcen090.5 mcen090.6 mcen090.7 mcen090.8 mcen091.1 And two bore witness that they had heard him saying indeed that he mcen091.2 would destroy the mighty temple and after this build it by a miracle mcen091.3 without fail on the third day. by great power he would raise it so that mcen091.4 it had never been better. mcen091.5 mcen091.6 mcen091.7 mcen091.8 mcen092.1 He who was master and magistrate spoke to Jesus: ``All those who are mcen092.2 gathered here have accused you very clearly and you have not spoken a mcen092.3 word. defend yourself now if you can.'' jesus endured it all and would mcen092.4 not answer him. mcen092.5 mcen092.6 mcen092.7 mcen092.8 mcen093.1 Caiaphas spoke again: ``In God's name, say if you are God as you mcen093.2 asserted.'' ``i am,'' said christ gently. ``i shall be dwelling in mcen093.3 heaven on the right hand by my father. you will see me coming as god mcen093.4 himself, without any doubt!'' mcen093.5 mcen093.6 mcen093.7 mcen093.8 mcen094.1 Caiaphas indeed became angry and then went quite mad and tore his mcen094.2 clothes when christ spoke thus. he declared in great anger, ``there is mcen094.3 no need for us to seek witnesses good or bad to condemn this man. mcen094.4 mcen094.5 mcen094.6 mcen094.7 mcen094.8 mcen095.1 ``Oh yes! You heard him speaking. Say whether he shall be saved!'' mcen095.2 all together they shouted, ``he is worthy to be slain!'' they mocked him mcen095.3 with grimaces. they spat in his face. ``you are god's son, full of mcen095.4 grace!'' they said in mockery. mcen095.5 mcen095.6 mcen095.7 mcen095.8 mcen096.1 They were covering his head with a cloth so that he could not see a mcen096.2 thing, but nevertheless wreaking injury and evil upon jesus christ, mcen096.3 gnashing their teeth at him like savage curs. but christ said not one mcen096.4 word against them. mcen096.5 mcen096.6 mcen096.7 mcen096.8 mcen097.1 While tormenting him they covered his head with a cloth, and all the mcen097.2 people who were in the town, and the princes in the land also and many mcen097.3 people with them on the right indeed and on the left came to christ to mcen097.4 destroy him and bring him shamefully to the ground. mcen097.5 mcen097.6 mcen097.7 mcen097.8 mcen098.1 They went with Jesus to Pilate who was a magistrate for him to give mcen098.2 judgement about him so that he could be slain through his verdict. they mcen098.3 said without pity, ``our traitor is found. he must be condemned to death mcen098.4 by you at once.'' mcen098.5 mcen098.6 mcen098.7 mcen098.8 mcen099.1 Pilate said, ``What charge do you press against him?'' ``If it were mcen099.2 not that this man is false, we would not have brought him to you.'' he mcen099.3 said, ``then you also condemn him by means of law.'' they said, ``we mcen099.4 condemn a man even though he is a thief?!'' mcen099.5 mcen099.6 mcen099.7 mcen099.8 mcen100.1 When Pilate saw this; so much opposition to him; rulers and rich men mcen100.2 in the land; such foolish and cruel reasons, pilate asked him a question mcen100.3 of this sort, ``are you the son of god, full of grace? now tell us the mcen100.4 truth.'' mcen100.5 mcen100.6 mcen100.7 mcen100.8 mcen101.1 Christ the Beloved said, ``You have spoken very truly. Did you know mcen101.2 this yourself or were you told by others?'' pilate spoke at once: ``you mcen101.3 were sent to me. tell me yourself what is the bad thing you have done!'' mcen101.4 mcen101.5 mcen101.6 mcen101.7 mcen101.8 mcen102.1 Jesus said, ``My dominion is not in this world, and if it were my mcen102.2 men would not have delivered me to you in this way.'' ``so you are a mcen102.3 king?'' said pilate then. ``you have spoken the truth indeed,'' said mcen102.4 christ. ``i am a king.'' mcen102.5 mcen102.6 mcen102.7 mcen102.8 mcen103.1 Then, when Judas saw that Christ would not save his life, the money mcen103.2 which he took in payment for christ's body, he threw in great anger mcen103.3 among the jews. ``he is a holy man, full of grace whom i have sold,'' he mcen103.4 said. mcen103.5 mcen103.6 mcen103.7 mcen103.8 mcen104.1 Judas Iscariot spoke again in the same way. ``I have sinned most mcen104.2 mightily in selling jesus to you. well i know that he is worthy. i shall mcen104.3 never have forgiveness!'' it was a greater sin when he scorned him than mcen104.4 when he sold him. mcen104.5 mcen104.6 mcen104.7 mcen104.8 mcen105.1 And the Jews said, ``What is that to us? We bought him from you and mcen105.2 paid you promptly.'' immediately judas went away to hang himself. he mcen105.3 found the means all ready; a rope strong enough to hold him. mcen105.4 mcen105.5 mcen105.6 mcen105.7 mcen105.8 mcen106.1 The soul of Judas could not come out of his mouth because his mouth mcen106.2 kissed jesus full of grace. the devils in hell tore the body of judas mcen106.3 all to pieces, and from it carried his soul into darkness. mcen106.4 mcen106.5 mcen106.6 mcen106.7 mcen106.8 mcen107.1 To destroy Christ the Jews said spitefully, ``Pilate, you are a mcen107.2 magistrate. be sure to condemn jesus. he came to us of jerusalem from mcen107.3 galilee, teaching new laws, converting many to him.'' mcen107.4 mcen107.5 mcen107.6 mcen107.7 mcen107.8 mcen108.1 When Pilate heard from them that Jesus was from Galilee (Pilate knew mcen108.2 that herod was king over the land) for that reason he sent christ to him mcen108.3 for him to condemn him. a great crowd of people followed, ready to mcen108.4 revile him all the time. mcen108.5 mcen108.6 mcen108.7 mcen108.8 mcen109.1 They went to Herod and Christ with them securely bound. He was mcen109.2 anxious to see christ because he was so highly acclaimed, in case he mcen109.3 could hear from him some strange new tale, and eventually twist round mcen109.4 what christ had to say when it had been heard. mcen109.5 mcen109.6 mcen109.7 mcen109.8 mcen110.1 Indeed, Herod bore Pilate a serious grudge. He did not want to see mcen110.2 him or be on terms of friendship with him, until pilate sent jesus to mcen110.3 him to condemn him. at that moment they became especially good friends. mcen110.4 mcen110.5 mcen110.6 mcen110.7 mcen110.8 mcen111.1 Herod asked Jesus Christ many things and he answered nothing so that mcen111.2 he was ama3ed at that. the jews said, ``he bears us witness that he mcen111.3 wants to be held up as a king and a great master in this world.'' mcen111.4 mcen111.5 mcen111.6 mcen111.7 mcen111.8 mcen112.1 Whatever he had said they then rebuked him for it when he was before mcen112.2 the three, annas, pilate and caiaphas. very wickedly they beat him and mcen112.3 mocked him spitefully. whoever did him the most harm, he would be the mcen112.4 best fellow. mcen112.5 mcen112.6 mcen112.7 mcen112.8 mcen113.1 Herod said to the Jews, ``Go in haste to Pilate your magistrate, for mcen113.2 i consider him a true honest man, and tell him that all my wrath is mcen113.3 abated; let him be happy, and my authority is granted to him to judge mcen113.4 the man.'' mcen113.5 mcen113.6 mcen113.7 mcen113.8 mcen114.1 They dressed Christ in white. They mocked him like a madman and beat mcen114.2 him most cruelly. nevertheless he did not speak a word, and they led him mcen114.3 to pilate who was their magistrate in order to get the advantage over mcen114.4 jesus christ to kill him. mcen114.5 mcen114.6 mcen114.7 mcen114.8 mcen115.1 Those who were bondsmen to the great devil said to Pilate, ``Cheer mcen115.2 up. don't be downcast. herod has sent you a greeting. much love towards mcen115.3 you has steadfastly entered his heart and he will yet repay you for mcen115.4 honouring him as you have done. mcen115.5 mcen115.6 mcen115.7 mcen115.8 mcen116.1 ``And he has sent you his authority to judge Christ, and we advise mcen116.2 you, do not leave his will unfollowed.'' pilate said, ``upon my word i mcen116.3 do not find a good reason.'' nor did he ever find a reason why it should mcen116.4 be necessary to condemn him. mcen116.5 mcen116.6 mcen116.7 mcen116.8 mcen117.1 They all set upon Pilate and shouted at him because they urgently mcen117.2 wanted to bring jesus christ to death. pilate said, ``it is necessary to mcen117.3 give a penalty according to the gravity of the offence. i do not find mcen117.4 any more than before a just reason to condemn him.'' mcen117.5 mcen117.6 mcen117.7 mcen117.8 mcen118.1 The Jews urgently wanted him to be put to death. They were giving mcen118.2 reasons for it but they were falsely based. pilate knew that, therefore mcen118.3 he had him sent immediately to caiaphas to judge him. mcen118.4 mcen118.5 mcen118.6 mcen118.7 mcen118.8 mcen119.1 Caiaphas brought him again to Pilate who was chief magistrate and he mcen119.2 went and advised him that jesus christ should be slain. the jews were mcen119.3 shouting that he had been found to be an absolute traitor, that whatever mcen119.4 he had done was completely evil, and that a great lie had been heard from him. mcen119.5 mcen119.6 mcen119.7 mcen119.8 mcen120.1 Pilate said, ``I wonder that you suffer so much evil and make no mcen120.2 counter charge against them. do you not see all the blame they are mcen120.3 laying upon you, alas, and giving you wicked blows? yet you do not mcen120.4 protest!'' mcen120.5 mcen120.6 mcen120.7 mcen120.8 mcen121.1 Pilate said to the traitor who was with him, ``I cannot find any mcen121.2 reason in christ why he must die.'' the jews called out, ``there are mcen121.3 laws in this region by which it is necessary to slay at once anyone who mcen121.4 makes himself a king.'' mcen121.5 mcen121.6 mcen121.7 mcen121.8 mcen122.1 The evil angel was afraid that Christ was the Son of God in Heaven. mcen122.2 therefore he quickly went to pilate's wife where she was, and the evil mcen122.3 angel, an ugly serpent put it into her heart that a mighty vengeance mcen122.4 would come upon her lord if he slew jesus. mcen122.5 mcen122.6 mcen122.7 mcen122.8 mcen123.1 She sent to her husband by a messenger to say how she had seen (a mcen123.2 vision) of christ in this way (saying), ``it is not for you to slay mcen123.3 christ who is considered to be a great holy man, to satisfy anyone, for mcen123.4 tonight i saw that vengeance would come and slay you.'' mcen123.5 mcen123.6 mcen123.7 mcen123.8 mcen124.1 There was one in prison. He was called Barabbas. He was imprisoned mcen124.2 for treachery and for murder also. it was the custom of the jews on the mcen124.3 day of the passover to ask the magistrate for one man from the prison mcen124.4 and for that one to be set free. mcen124.5 mcen124.6 mcen124.7 mcen124.8 mcen125.1 Pilate would have liked to preserve the life of Jesus by a subterfuge, and he spoke to mcen125.2 them thus, as it is written, ``now look, which is it of the men that mcen125.3 shall be set free, christ - you can tell a reason - or barabbas, a man mcen125.4 condemned?'' mcen125.5 mcen125.6 mcen125.7 mcen125.8 mcen126.1 The Jews shouted in sheer malice, I believe, ``Deliver us Barabbas mcen126.2 and that is what we all request!'' pilate said again, ``what shall be mcen126.3 done about jesus?'' they called with great fervour, ``let him be put to mcen126.4 death!'' mcen126.5 mcen126.6 mcen126.7 mcen126.8 mcen127.1 Pilate knew well that they spoke out of malice. Because of this he mcen127.2 would have liked to protect christ from abuse, and he said to them, ``if mcen127.3 it is what you want, i will chastise him as one who is utterly foolish, mcen127.4 and set him free.'' mcen127.5 mcen127.6 mcen127.7 mcen127.8 mcen128.1 The Jews called out, ``Let him be crucified!'' Pilate said, ``I do mcen128.2 not know any reason why he is under condemnation.'' they cried out with mcen128.3 greater fervour, ``let him be crucified!'' pilate said, ``no reason mcen128.4 whatsoever can be found to slay him.'' mcen128.5 mcen128.6 mcen128.7 mcen128.8 mcen129.1 And after careful thought, Pilate said to Jesus, ``All these people mcen129.2 say that you are worthy to be hanged. tell me truly in one word if you mcen129.3 are the son of man and god.'' christ said courteously, ``it is as you mcen129.4 say.'' mcen129.5 mcen129.6 mcen129.7 mcen129.8 mcen130.1 At once they stripped him as naked as he had been born and bound him mcen130.2 fast to a pillar so that he could not wriggle at all and then two mcen130.3 whipped him wickedly with two whips and dealt with him most cruelly, mcen130.4 body and head, hands and feet. mcen130.5 mcen130.6 mcen130.7 mcen130.8 mcen131.1 For whips there were sticks in the hands of the two Jews with pliant mcen131.2 cords mixed with thongs bound tightly to them so as to be supple for mcen131.3 beating, and the ends were made into knots so that the blood would flow mcen131.4 out with every knot when they struck. mcen131.5 mcen131.6 mcen131.7 mcen131.8 mcen132.1 And these two were beating upon Christ until they were tired so that mcen132.2 he did not have a vein or a limb or any part of his sweet body that was mcen132.3 not hurting him. very truly this was most grievous and you will hear yet mcen132.4 more of christ's torture as it had happened. mcen132.5 mcen132.6 mcen132.7 mcen132.8 mcen133.1 A wreath of thorns was prepared between them (as they behaved) like mcen133.2 madmen and by common accord was placed upon his head so that it was torn mcen133.3 all around. his blood was pouring from his head and in it a great many mcen133.4 holes were pierced by the thorns. mcen133.5 mcen133.6 mcen133.7 mcen133.8 mcen134.1 From a learned man who knew, I heard that they pulled the wreath mcen134.2 over his head with such force that the thorns came and penetrated to the mcen134.3 brains through the holes. that was a most pitiful torture that christ mcen134.4 was suffering. mcen134.5 mcen134.6 mcen134.7 mcen134.8 mcen135.1 From the very top of his head over his body down to his foot his mcen135.2 skin was all torn and he was covered in his blood. great was the pain, mcen135.3 beyond any other of god's all-powerful son. as the book tells us, mcen135.4 ``never was there so much pain!'' mcen135.5 mcen135.6 mcen135.7 mcen135.8 mcen136.1 They dressed Christ in a garment and the rich purple was prepared mcen136.2 (taken off him?) to bring him to the ground with shame. they said in mcen136.3 mockery, ``you will have great honour! you are a crowned king!'' - and mcen136.4 in his right hand also a white wand was placed. mcen136.5 mcen136.6 mcen136.7 mcen136.8 mcen137.1 And they went on their knees and spoke to ridicule him, and pulled mcen137.2 their faces awry, each one to mock him. ``joy to you! you are our king! mcen137.3 you must be honoured!'' what they were sharing was very painful for him. mcen137.4 hhhhhhhim mcen137.5 mcen137.6 mcen137.7 mcen137.8 mcen138.1 With the same wand that was put into Christ's hand one (man) slashed mcen138.2 him over the head a very well-aimed blow, and many strokes without mcen138.3 cause, and blows also were laid upon christ about his jaws with great mcen138.4 force. mcen138.5 mcen138.6 mcen138.7 mcen138.8 mcen139.1 A man's heart may break who would think all the time about the mcen139.2 great tortures and the undeserved contempt which he had, and all for mcen139.3 your sake jesus christ suffered them. now take great care to love him mcen139.4 and make sure you are not vilely ungrateful. mcen139.5 mcen139.6 mcen139.7 mcen139.8 mcen140.1 Pilate went out of his hall into a garden which he had. It was mcen140.2 near. it was not far, and he took christ with him to talk to him there. mcen140.3 there was a garment about him. the wicked jews were always around jesus. mcen140.4 mcen140.5 mcen140.6 mcen140.7 mcen140.8 mcen141.1 Then Pilate spoke thus to the Jews: ``I do not know that any reason mcen141.2 is found in this man for which he has to be killed. mind, everyone, how mcen141.3 this man is treated. look into your hearts.'' mcen141.4 mcen141.5 mcen141.6 mcen141.7 mcen141.8 mcen142.1 When they got him among them, they shouted altogether, ``You, mcen142.2 pilate, kill him, kill him; the death of the cross straight away.'' mcen142.3 pilate spoke again: ``let him be slain by you, for i do not find in him mcen142.4 any good reason why he should be condemned.'' mcen142.5 mcen142.6 mcen142.7 mcen142.8 mcen143.1 The evil people spoke: ``We definitely have a law by which he must mcen143.2 be slain because he professes to be the son of god.'' fear sei3ed the mcen143.3 magistrate when he heard talk of this kind so he returned immediately to mcen143.4 his seat. mcen143.5 mcen143.6 mcen143.7 mcen143.8 mcen144.1 He asked Christ, ``You, man, where are you from?'' Christ did not mcen144.2 answer his question. without pausing pilate said, ``you would not mcen144.3 answer. don't you know my power which i have whereby you may be slain or mcen144.4 set free?'' mcen144.5 mcen144.6 mcen144.7 mcen144.8 mcen145.1 Jesus said then, ``You would have no power at all over me, for evil mcen145.2 of any kind or good, if another did not give it to you, any more than a mcen145.3 jew who sinned by betraying me.'' when pilate heard that, he tried to mcen145.4 set him free. mcen145.5 mcen145.6 mcen145.7 mcen145.8 mcen146.1 And the Jews all around were saying to Pilate, ``In that case you mcen146.2 will not have caesar's friendship but shame if you do not have him mcen146.3 crucified, for anyone who makes himself a king is in opposition to mcen146.4 caesar.'' mcen146.5 mcen146.6 mcen146.7 mcen146.8 mcen147.1 Then when Pilate heard those words from them, he pointed to Jesus mcen147.2 right in the very middle of them. ``look where your king is!'' he said. mcen147.3 all together they denied him and ordered him to be slain. mcen147.4 mcen147.5 mcen147.6 mcen147.7 mcen147.8 mcen148.1 Pilate said, ``You especially want me to slay him - your king! It is mcen148.2 a disgrace to us. never let it be heard!'' they said, ``we do not honour mcen148.3 him, nor should we honour him, nor do we ever want any other king but mcen148.4 caesar.'' mcen148.5 mcen148.6 mcen148.7 mcen148.8 mcen149.1 Pilate washed his hands and said to them, ``I am innocent of the mcen149.2 blood of the holy man, for from his blood vengeance will come.'' all mcen149.3 together they shouted, ``if vengeance comes and falls heavily upon our mcen149.4 children and upon us, let it be for ever!'' mcen149.5 mcen149.6 mcen149.7 mcen149.8 mcen150.1 When Pilate saw that there was no way he could release Christ mcen150.2 without incurring great wrath from all the company, for that reason he mcen150.3 awarded jesus to them to slay him. they released barabbas to go away mcen150.4 free. mcen150.5 mcen150.6 mcen150.7 mcen150.8 mcen151.1 When Jesus Christ was condemned to die by crucifixion, a more mcen151.2 hideous death had never been ordained for any living being. the cross mcen151.3 was not yet ready, and the jews did not know where timbers might be mcen151.4 found from which to make a cross. mcen151.5 mcen151.6 mcen151.7 mcen151.8 mcen152.1 One Jew considered and told them there was a tree thrown into the mcen152.2 water which had never been in the sun. it was ordained for the cross mcen152.3 (and the jews did not know) and derived from the apple through which mcen152.4 adam had sinned. mcen152.5 mcen152.6 mcen152.7 mcen152.8 mcen153.1 The timbers were fetched for the cross to be quickly prepared and on mcen153.2 it christ, who was willing, to be placed for us, and on the tree a fruit mcen153.3 borne with which it was sure to save us (and) from which came the fruit mcen153.4 through which we were lost because adam took the first bite of it. mcen153.5 mcen153.6 mcen153.7 mcen153.8 mcen154.1 Still they had no nails to hold Jesus crucified. They called all mcen154.2 around to see if they could indeed find a smith. they saw one there and mcen154.3 went and asked him and said to him, ``you make us three nails.'' mcen154.4 mcen154.5 mcen154.6 mcen154.7 mcen154.8 mcen155.1 The smith said, ``Very truly I will not make any nails for you.'' mcen155.2 they said, ``if you make out you are ill you will pay for it in the end mcen155.3 if you fail us in our need over doing such a small job.'' he answered, mcen155.4 ``i will not make them, on my faith.'' mcen155.5 mcen155.6 mcen155.7 mcen155.8 mcen156.1 He was vilely rebuked by many justices in the land. He looked for a mcen156.2 way out for fear of being killed. the smith said, ``leprosy has come to mcen156.3 my hands. i cannot hold any tool in them properly to work.'' mcen156.4 mcen156.5 mcen156.6 mcen156.7 mcen156.8 mcen157.1 He had to show his hands to the out-and-out traitors. They saw mcen157.2 leprosy on them, yet there was none. his wife said, ``i am very mcen157.3 surprised at that, by my troth. when you started out today no leprosy mcen157.4 had taken hold of you.'' mcen157.5 mcen157.6 mcen157.7 mcen157.8 mcen158.1 The smith's wife said to them, ``You will not be short of nails. mcen158.2 because his hands are diseased he cannot do any work. i will make them mcen158.3 as best i can in a hurry since there is no one available with the skill mcen158.4 to make them better for you. i will not be long.'' mcen158.5 mcen158.6 mcen158.7 mcen158.8 mcen159.1 The hateful evil wife went very quickly into the house to make nails mcen159.2 hastily to be strong and cruel. they would pierce the hands and feet of mcen159.3 beloved jesus for the spikes were rough when they were hit to secure mcen159.4 him. mcen159.5 mcen159.6 mcen159.7 mcen159.8 mcen160.1 When the nails were sharpened she brought them to the Jews. The mcen160.2 cross of jesus was now ready. they went to slay him quickly. a mighty mcen160.3 quarrel arose about who was going to carry the cross. through much mcen160.4 contention it was decided that christ would carry it himself. mcen160.5 mcen160.6 mcen160.7 mcen160.8 mcen161.1 The fair garment was taken off and the rich purple that he was mcen161.2 wearing and his own robe was put on him. it had been made by his mother mcen161.3 when he was still with her as a breast-fed baby. as jesus grew, so did mcen161.4 the robe. mcen161.5 mcen161.6 mcen161.7 mcen161.8 mcen162.1 They all set out to go to Mount Calvary. It was outside the town, a mcen162.2 high hill indeed. they put the cross on jesus' shoulder to carry there, mcen162.3 so that all the distress and shame would come to jesus christ. mcen162.4 mcen162.5 mcen162.6 mcen162.7 mcen162.8 mcen163.1 Two arrant thieves who had been condemned were made ready with Jesus mcen163.2 to be hanged with him, one on each side of him. jesus was led and behind mcen163.3 him a great mob to pursue him because of the presumption of an evil mcen163.4 magistrate, though he was god. mcen163.5 mcen163.6 mcen163.7 mcen163.8 mcen164.1 His mother most dear saw how they were treating him. Great pity mcen164.2 sei3ed her and her heart was nearly breaking. she ran through an alley mcen164.3 to see if she could find her son. she wanted to wait for him and see mcen164.4 jesus whom she loved. mcen164.5 mcen164.6 mcen164.7 mcen164.8 mcen165.1 When she saw her son treated so dreadfully by the Jews, and being mcen165.2 crowned with thorns and everybody tricking him, and multiple wounds, mcen165.3 many thousand being driven into his body, she swooned without saying a mcen165.4 word and fell backwards. mcen165.5 mcen165.6 mcen165.7 mcen165.8 mcen166.1 Then, when she stood up, she spoke as she was able: ``My torments mcen166.2 which are gripping me now are not little ones. i am ama3ed my heart does mcen166.3 not tear into a thousand pieces when i see my son so weak enduring so mcen166.4 much atrocity.'' mcen166.5 mcen166.6 mcen166.7 mcen166.8 mcen167.1 All the time there were two faithful women with her, Mary Magdalene, mcen167.2 and mary (wife of) cleophas. they hastened eagerly to meet him again. mcen167.3 for love they wanted to see him - nothing else. mcen167.4 mcen167.5 mcen167.6 mcen167.7 mcen167.8 mcen168.1 Wailing women incessantly followed Jesus Christ. Jesus looked at mcen168.2 them and said to them, ``ye many women and children of the city of mcen168.3 jerusalem who know that my sufferings are great, seek not to weep for mcen168.4 me. mcen168.5 mcen168.6 mcen168.7 mcen168.8 mcen169.1 ``Weep for your children and for yourselves. The days will be seen mcen169.2 and will surely come upon us when wombs that could never conceive will mcen169.3 be blessed and women also whose breast has not been sucked. mcen169.4 mcen169.5 mcen169.6 mcen169.7 mcen169.8 mcen170.1 ``At that time you will command the mountains to fall upon you, mcen170.2 likewise you will beg the valleys to cover you. as i say openly, if it mcen170.3 comes upon the green wood, how indeed will it be then upon the dry and mcen170.4 blighted wood?'' mcen170.5 mcen170.6 mcen170.7 mcen170.8 mcen171.1 His sweet mother, Blessed Mary, was hurrying all the time so that mcen171.2 she could meet him, her son whom she loved so much. she saw him falling mcen171.3 on his knees through weakness. anguish sei3ed her so sharply that she mcen171.4 swooned again. mcen171.5 mcen171.6 mcen171.7 mcen171.8 mcen172.1 Then she was raised up between some women. ``Lord,'' she said, ``my mcen172.2 heart is with you, grief-stricken today like you at the sight of you.'' mcen172.3 never did man suffer pain that went closer to his heart. mcen172.4 mcen172.5 mcen172.6 mcen172.7 mcen172.8 mcen173.1 Dear Jesus suffered the lack of sleep and food and the exceedingly mcen173.2 grievous blows upon his body. blood was falling from his head and limbs mcen173.3 over his legs so that he could not carry the cross any further because mcen173.4 of his weakness. mcen173.5 mcen173.6 mcen173.7 mcen173.8 mcen174.1 A certain man met them. He was Simon by his proper name. They said mcen174.2 to him, ``young man, you will carry the cross won't you?'' simon refused mcen174.3 to carry it. he received blows. he would not refuse any more for fear of mcen174.4 being killed. mcen174.5 mcen174.6 mcen174.7 mcen174.8 mcen175.1 He carried the cross along with them. Most certainly this was mcen175.2 against his will. they gave no other reason than the following of their mcen175.3 will. be faithful at all times, man. if you will trust me, never serve mcen175.4 the false one, whether he is an old man or young. mcen175.5 mcen175.6 mcen175.7 mcen175.8 mcen176.1 They hastened to the place which had been previously arranged. When mcen176.2 they arrived there, between them jesus' garment was taken off. its mcen176.3 removal caused him great pain. it was now stuck fast to him. not even a mcen176.4 leper had ever been stripped more brutally than he. mcen176.5 mcen176.6 mcen176.7 mcen176.8 mcen177.1 A certain good woman saw how Jesus was stripped. She took great pity mcen177.2 because he was treated so cruelly. she wound a beautiful cloth round him mcen177.3 straight away and wrapped up his lower part to shield him from being mcen177.4 killed by the cold. mcen177.5 mcen177.6 mcen177.7 mcen177.8 mcen178.1 They took the measure of Christ from one hand to the other. mcen178.2 according to the width they drilled just two holes in the cross so that mcen178.3 the great nails would go through his hands right up to the head. they mcen178.4 would drill a hole for his feet to stretch him out. mcen178.5 mcen178.6 mcen178.7 mcen178.8 mcen179.1 Christ was thrown by them to lie on the cross and his one hand was mcen179.2 nailed to the cross securely where it was, and his one foot was placed mcen179.3 exactly on top of the other. they were fastened to the cross by a nail mcen179.4 driven through them. mcen179.5 mcen179.6 mcen179.7 mcen179.8 mcen180.1 When they came to the other hand to fasten it to the cross, there mcen180.2 was more than a foot short so that it would not reach the hole which had mcen180.3 been made. however, the jews would not make another hole but they mcen180.4 intended the hole which they had made to serve. mcen180.5 mcen180.6 mcen180.7 mcen180.8 mcen181.1 A rope was soon tied firmly by them to Christ's hand, and between mcen181.2 the jews the cross was tightly held. the rope was pulled with so much mcen181.3 3eal by some that his joints were altogether torn, every one of them. mcen181.4 mcen181.5 mcen181.6 mcen181.7 mcen181.8 mcen182.1 When Christ's hand came over the hole by the force with which they mcen182.2 pulled, one jew drove a nail into it like a mad thing. now i beg you all mcen182.3 to think of christ's tortures, and that the laws which he made for us mcen182.4 should not be lost. mcen182.5 mcen182.6 mcen182.7 mcen182.8 mcen183.1 It is written quite definitely, and I would not say otherwise, that mcen183.2 they pulled the body and limbs of jesus so savagely that anyone who mcen183.3 wanted could count all his bones and his sinews, flesh and veins, when mcen183.4 he was on the cross. mcen183.5 mcen183.6 mcen183.7 mcen183.8 mcen184.1 And the cross was raised with Jesus fastened on it and the bottom mcen184.2 placed in a hole which had been drilled for it. there it was dropped so mcen184.3 brutally that all christ's body and limbs were jolted. mcen184.4 mcen184.5 mcen184.6 mcen184.7 mcen184.8 mcen185.1 While Christ was thus in pain suffering crucifixion he prayed in mcen185.2 this manner for those who had crucified him. ``my gentle father, may mcen185.3 these be forgiven for their ignorance for even i do not know how greatly mcen185.4 indeed they are sinning.'' mcen185.5 mcen185.6 mcen185.7 mcen185.8 mcen186.1 The Jews hanged a thief on Christ's left hand and on his right they mcen186.2 hanged a great thief also, and christ in the middle, full of grace, his mcen186.3 heart full of sorrow. ``he ended with thieves,'' as it is written about mcen186.4 his end. mcen186.5 mcen186.6 mcen186.7 mcen186.8 mcen187.1 Pilate wanted to write a reason for Christ's death, why he had been mcen187.2 condemned, and he wrote it himself. when pilate came to read it, it was mcen187.3 not a reason at all. whenever he looked he always found, ``this is the mcen187.4 king of the jews.'' mcen187.5 mcen187.6 mcen187.7 mcen187.8 mcen188.1 The Jews said, ``This is an outrage upon us. Let it be struck out mcen188.2 that he is our king and let it be put there that he had wanted to be by mcen188.3 domination.'' ``what i have written, i have written,'' said pilate to mcen188.4 them. mcen188.5 mcen188.6 mcen188.7 mcen188.8 mcen189.1 The charge was securely nailed to the cross where he was, and mcen189.2 placed above christ's head so that all could read it. because christ was mcen189.3 crucified near the road to the city it was read by many that he was mcen189.4 their king. mcen189.5 mcen189.6 mcen189.7 mcen189.8 mcen190.1 Christ's garments were divided, four parts being made of them by mcen190.2 four soldiers of repute, a share for each soldier. his robe was so mcen190.3 beautifully made that they were unwilling to divide it. lots were cast mcen190.4 upon it to see who should get the whole robe. mcen190.5 mcen190.6 mcen190.7 mcen190.8 mcen191.1 The one who was hanged on his left was without shame, an out-and-out mcen191.2 thief. in mockery he said, ``you, christ, if you are as clever in the mcen191.3 world as you pretended, show it now and perform a remedy, and save mcen191.4 yourself and me as well so that we may be sure of our lives.'' mcen191.5 mcen191.6 mcen191.7 mcen191.8 mcen192.1 The other thief said, ``You are an evil man, just as you were. You mcen192.2 do not fear god. you are blind, for he who has been hanged with us is a mcen192.3 man who is, without doubt, free of sin. in him there is no blemish. it mcen192.4 is fitting that we should be hanged for we have been wicked robbers.'' mcen192.5 mcen192.6 mcen192.7 mcen192.8 mcen193.1 The thief on the right prayed like this: ``Lord, when you come into mcen193.2 your land, think of me!'' then christ, the beloved, answered him very mcen193.3 kindly, ``you will be with me this very day in paradise.'' mcen193.4 mcen193.5 mcen193.6 mcen193.7 mcen193.8 mcen194.1 The Jews talked about Jesus to mock him: ``Before, he was able to mcen194.2 save people from every evil. now with all his power he cannot protect mcen194.3 himself from us, nor with all his treachery can he deceive us.'' mcen194.4 mcen194.5 mcen194.6 mcen194.7 mcen194.8 mcen195.1 Others went on their knees before Jesus. They shook their heads and mcen195.2 spoke very cruelly to jesus to harass him: ``behold, here is the one who mcen195.3 can utterly pulverise god's temple and build it up at will.'' mcen195.4 mcen195.5 mcen195.6 mcen195.7 mcen195.8 mcen196.1 And they went on their knees and made ugly grimaces. As badly as mcen196.2 they could they contorted their faces at jesus. whilst his pain was at mcen196.3 its height they spat in his face. this was a harsh end for him as he mcen196.4 redeemed our sin. mcen196.5 mcen196.6 mcen196.7 mcen196.8 mcen197.1 Some said to Christ when he was crucified, ``If you are Christ, the mcen197.2 son of david, come off the cross unharmed, and we will believe in your mcen197.3 authority and acknowledge you always as master.'' ``i am the son of god mcen197.4 indeed,'' christ said to them. mcen197.5 mcen197.6 mcen197.7 mcen197.8 mcen198.1 On the right side of Christ there was his mother Mary and on the mcen198.2 other side his servant also whom he loved. ``for you, lady, he said, i mcen198.3 make john your son - and you, do not ever seek any mother other than mcen198.4 her.'' mcen198.5 mcen198.6 mcen198.7 mcen198.8 mcen199.1 After Christ had surrendered his soul, John held Mary as his mother, mcen199.2 each to the other, as christ had ordered. he always honoured his mother mcen199.3 in every way he could. in this way her son wanted to provide support for mcen199.4 her. mcen199.5 mcen199.6 mcen199.7 mcen199.8 mcen200.1 Now the time had come when he was near to his end. At that time mcen200.2 there was an earthquake and it went all over the earth. a great darkness mcen200.3 came about. the sun's presence was lost and (there were) more wonders mcen200.4 also i believe than these. mcen200.5 mcen200.6 mcen200.7 mcen200.8 mcen201.1 So it went on right up to midday. Then Christ wanted to say ``Eli, mcen201.2 eli.'' what he said is to be interpreted, ``lord, why have you abandoned mcen201.3 me?'' but some insisted that it was a drink that christ was demanding. mcen201.4 mcen201.5 mcen201.6 mcen201.7 mcen201.8 mcen202.1 An evil drink was hastily prepared by the Jews, a devilish liquor, mcen202.2 most loathsome, vinegar mixed with gall. it was held out to christ in a mcen202.3 sponge fixed to a rod. they all worked hastily because christ was not mcen202.4 understood. mcen202.5 mcen202.6 mcen202.7 mcen202.8 mcen203.1 Some of the evil Jews said without pity, ``Behold him calling Elias mcen203.2 to him to preserve him. see whether he comes and rises up to deliver him mcen203.3 from his tortures.'' yet all the time the wicked ones had been far from mcen203.4 the truth. mcen203.5 mcen203.6 mcen203.7 mcen203.8 mcen204.1 His torture was so intense and cruel that in no way could he live mcen204.2 without surrendering his blessed spirit that had ever lived in purity. mcen204.3 as we read in many places, christ prayed like this: ``into your hands, mcen204.4 lord, i commend my spirit.'' mcen204.5 mcen204.6 mcen204.7 mcen204.8 mcen205.1 Because of the piercing of thorns as he was stretched out, there was mcen205.2 no way he could stop his head leaning downward. because of the wreath he mcen205.3 was wearing, if he leaned to one side it hurt him because of his mcen205.4 shoulder, and the wood hurt even worse if he laid it backward. mcen205.5 mcen205.6 mcen205.7 mcen205.8 mcen206.1 Nor could he lean forward for fear of being choked. At that time, as mcen206.2 we read what is written in the scriptures, there were places ready for mcen206.3 the wild birds to build their nests; for christ no place was found for mcen206.4 him to hold his head. mcen206.5 mcen206.6 mcen206.7 mcen206.8 mcen207.1 For he was compelled to allow his head to hang. Because his blood mcen207.2 had completely left him, he could not live. he wanted to hold his head mcen207.3 towards his mother to whom he belonged, and his soul went from him with mcen207.4 a shrill scream and a loud cry. mcen207.5 mcen207.6 mcen207.7 mcen207.8 mcen208.1 By the cross of Jesus there was a man called a centurion. When he mcen208.2 had seen so many marvels concerning the death of christ, and how he had mcen208.3 unnaturally yielded up his soul with a cry, he said, without mockery, mcen208.4 ``this is god's son indeed.'' and many there were with him bore witness to it. mcen208.5 mcen208.6 mcen208.7 mcen208.8 mcen209.1 Now it was midday or past in the land. As it is written, there was mcen209.2 an earthquake and lightning and darkness as well. the veil of the temple mcen209.3 was rent in two and fell to the ground. then also the stones that were mcen209.4 strong and hard broke up. mcen209.5 mcen209.6 mcen209.7 mcen209.8 mcen210.1 The graves in many places were opened wide, and the bodies that were mcen210.2 there were raised up and went directly to the city. they were seen by mcen210.3 many to bear witness to the truth that he who was slain was the son of mcen210.4 god. mcen210.5 mcen210.6 mcen210.7 mcen210.8 mcen211.1 Water and earth and fire and wind, sun and moon and stars likewise mcen211.2 suffered distress from christ suffering death. nature causes, i mcen211.3 maintain, if a good lord is put to torture, all his subjects, even if mcen211.4 they are saints, to be afflicted because of his suffering. mcen211.5 mcen211.6 mcen211.7 mcen211.8 mcen212.1 The soul of Christ went to hell and broke down the doors. By his mcen212.2 great strength and skill he bound devils there. lucifer is still bound mcen212.3 very tightly in bonds and he dwells interminably in hell, in darkness. mcen212.4 mcen212.5 mcen212.6 mcen212.7 mcen212.8 mcen213.1 Then Christ freed Adam and Eve from prison, so that all who had done mcen213.2 his father's will would have a dwelling in heaven. when he went out the mcen213.3 good people followed him as he wished. the wicked stayed in hell in mcen213.4 relentless torment. mcen213.5 mcen213.6 mcen213.7 mcen213.8 mcen214.1 A citizen called Joseph of the City of Arimathaea said, on Christ's mcen214.2 death, that he had always been a holy man. he intended by all his mcen214.3 planning to dwell with him in heaven. jesus was loved by him but he was mcen214.4 not bold enough to make it known. mcen214.5 mcen214.6 mcen214.7 mcen214.8 mcen215.1 Joseph went to the magistrate, to Pilate, who was a perverse mcen215.2 authoritarian, and very boldly asked him for the body of jesus as a mcen215.3 gift. because joseph was a favourite it was granted to him. pilate gave mcen215.4 orders to see whether christ was dead. mcen215.5 mcen215.6 mcen215.7 mcen215.8 mcen216.1 The crafty caitiff Jews - great shame be upon them - they went to mcen216.2 look at jesus as he was hanging crucified. they saw by his face that he mcen216.3 was indeed dead. they even had the presumption, all of them, to pierce mcen216.4 him through the heart. mcen216.5 mcen216.6 mcen216.7 mcen216.8 mcen217.1 In their company was a soldier called Longis. He was blind. He could mcen217.2 not see at all. he had been a man of rank. a spear with a sharp point mcen217.3 was put into his hands by the jews to pierce the heart of jesus, the mcen217.4 holy one. mcen217.5 mcen217.6 mcen217.7 mcen217.8 mcen218.1 Longis, indeed was on the right hand of the cross of Jesus. They mcen218.2 ordered the soldier by name to pierce the body of beloved jesus. he mcen218.3 thrust the sharp spear exactly beneath the ribs so that it went through mcen218.4 the heart. mcen218.5 mcen218.6 mcen218.7 mcen218.8 mcen219.1 From the heart there went a great stream of water and blood mixed mcen219.2 together which ran along the spear to the hands of him who struck him. mcen219.3 he washed his eyes with his one hand that had been made bloody. by mcen219.4 virtue of the blood he saw how jesus christ had been treated. mcen219.5 mcen219.6 mcen219.7 mcen219.8 mcen220.1 Great remorse overcame him for the deed that he had done. He fell on mcen220.2 his knees. ``lord, forgiveness!'' he said. ``i was blind. i could not mcen220.3 see properly that i was living so vilely.'' jesus forgave him when he mcen220.4 saw his repentance. mcen220.5 mcen220.6 mcen220.7 mcen220.8 mcen221.1 When the mother of Jesus, Blessed Mary, saw the thrusting of the mcen221.2 spear into her son, into his side, so that it ran through the heart, and mcen221.3 how the blood and the water ran from him to the ground, great anguish, mcen221.4 cruel pain and a powerful spasm sei3ed her. mcen221.5 mcen221.6 mcen221.7 mcen221.8 mcen222.1 She wept very bitterly. She had no desire to laugh and the tears mcen222.2 flowed from her eyes very freely. her sweet heart would have broken for mcen222.3 sadness, i say, if the holy spirit had not protected her because of the mcen222.4 grace that was in her. mcen222.5 mcen222.6 mcen222.7 mcen222.8 mcen223.1 An arrow went though her heart when she had seen her son destroyed. mcen223.2 grief, compassion, natural and human feeling was the arrow, and the mcen223.3 other end, compassion secured fast with love. no man has ever suffered mcen223.4 so much pain in his lifetime. mcen223.5 mcen223.6 mcen223.7 mcen223.8 mcen224.1 The arrow which had been foretold struck her cruelly with great mcen224.2 anguish, so that by the force of the blow a well of blood gathered upon mcen224.3 her heart, and she wept so much with such great strength and force that mcen224.4 a part of the well rose up - god! what a wicked pang! mcen224.5 mcen224.6 mcen224.7 mcen224.8 mcen225.1 Of that blood three tears went through her eyes. It was not a mcen225.2 comfort or a salve to make her heart glad and her ills beset her mcen225.3 woefully with so much sorrow that in all the world so much wretchedness mcen225.4 could not be found. mcen225.5 mcen225.6 mcen225.7 mcen225.8 mcen226.1 Her pains which were great and intense are turned to joy for her for mcen226.2 she is queen in heaven. she is worthy to be adored. angels stand before mcen226.3 her. many thousands follow her will and her son honours her as he mcen226.4 wishes. fairer than the sun is her brightness. mcen226.5 mcen226.6 mcen226.7 mcen226.8 mcen227.1 In the body of Jesus, as he was hanging crucified, I hear there were mcen227.2 five thousand weals and four times a hundred wounds and with them mcen227.3 seventy-five more. they were absolutely authentic and he suffered them mcen227.4 all for pure love towards mankind. mcen227.5 mcen227.6 mcen227.7 mcen227.8 mcen228.1 Anyone who would say fifteen Our Fathers every day with a full heart mcen228.2 to glorify our dear lord's passion - in a year these would be as many mcen228.3 our fathers in number as there were wounds in the body of jesus. mcen228.4 mcen228.5 mcen228.6 mcen228.7 mcen228.8 mcen229.1 The Jews did not want the thieves to be hanging overnight because it mcen229.2 was their passover. they celebrated it as a high day. the jews among mcen229.3 them arranged that they should break their thighs at once and carry them mcen229.4 away from there. mcen229.5 mcen229.6 mcen229.7 mcen229.8 mcen230.1 By the time this was done it was already evening in the land. At mcen230.2 that time also they gave permission to joseph and, as it was time, he mcen230.3 took the body of jesus from the cross. three marys, i believe, helped mcen230.4 him when he called. mcen230.5 mcen230.6 mcen230.7 mcen230.8 mcen231.1 The mother of Jesus Christ kissed her Son's body very sadly and her mcen231.2 tears ran when she thought of him, and the great grief that oppressed mcen231.3 her when she looked at his wound (it was in the side) pierced her mcen231.4 through her heart. mcen231.5 mcen231.6 mcen231.7 mcen231.8 mcen232.1 Joseph straightened Christ's legs and his sweet arms as was mcen232.2 customary and extended them very becomingly. round his body he wound mcen232.3 rich linen in many folds, while mary, full of grace, was with him, sad mcen232.4 and sorrowful. mcen232.5 mcen232.6 mcen232.7 mcen232.8 mcen233.1 There was a garden there and in it a grave had been prepared to mcen233.2 receive a dead man. newly prepared, it had not been used. the body of mcen233.3 jesus christ was carried between them to the sepulchre and was left in mcen233.4 it to lie outstretched. mcen233.5 mcen233.6 mcen233.7 mcen233.8 mcen234.1 A certain good man, Nicodemus by name, loved Christ. He was not bold mcen234.2 enough to make it known for fear of being slain. at night, simply in mcen234.3 expiation, he went to the dead body with ointment which he had, and mcen234.4 spices of great virtue. mcen234.5 mcen234.6 mcen234.7 mcen234.8 mcen235.1 Nicodemus anointed the body of Jesus and his limbs. The ointment was mcen235.2 of such great virtue that it preserved a body from putrefaction. he did mcen235.3 not leave any one of his limbs without anointing it. in this way he mcen235.4 prepared him. cold stones indeed were his bed. mcen235.5 mcen235.6 mcen235.7 mcen235.8 mcen236.1 And he put spices of many kinds in his grave on each side of Christ, mcen236.2 both right and left, on his feet and on his head and all over his body mcen236.3 also, a demonstration after pain that he would be king at last. mcen236.4 mcen236.5 mcen236.6 mcen236.7 mcen236.8 mcen237.1 And the Jews placed a stone over Jesus. It was broad and heavy and mcen237.2 big - bigger than could be held by three men. one who was faithful in mcen237.3 his service kept watch with him through the night. that night passed by mcen237.4 with all its evil and wretchedness. mcen237.5 mcen237.6 mcen237.7 mcen237.8 mcen238.1 The next day strife arose among the foolish Jews. They spoke sharply mcen238.2 and loudly and very foolishly so that they were prepared for what they mcen238.3 would see. they could not destroy him because jesus had said he would mcen238.4 rise on the third day. mcen238.5 mcen238.6 mcen238.7 mcen238.8 mcen239.1 They all rushed to Pilate who was a magistrate. One Jew spoke to him mcen239.2 eagerly like this: ``tonight we may be lost, here and now, and the death mcen239.3 of jesus may be the worse for us. mcen239.4 mcen239.5 mcen239.6 mcen239.7 mcen239.8 mcen240.1 ``For the traitor said before many that he would rise the third day mcen240.2 after being slain. but if he is carried off by his people so that we do mcen240.3 not find him then it will be said that he has risen through mcen240.4 supernatural power.'' mcen240.5 mcen240.6 mcen240.7 mcen240.8 mcen241.1 Pilate commanded them, on pain of losing their lives, to go to the mcen241.2 body and guard it so that enemies would not take it, and to keep watch mcen241.3 all night and take care they did not sleep a moment. they went in haste. mcen241.4 they were four armed soldiers. mcen241.5 mcen241.6 mcen241.7 mcen241.8 mcen242.1 When they reached the grave, one soldier went to his head and mcen242.2 another to his feet as well, armed right up to the teeth, and on the mcen242.3 right and left, one on each side. they made a direct and shameless boast mcen242.4 that they would guard him in spite of anything he could do. mcen242.5 mcen242.6 mcen242.7 mcen242.8 mcen243.1 The soldiers slept in the morning as day was breaking and Jesus rose mcen243.2 again and moved wherever he wanted, manifestly a man with great grace mcen243.3 and with a bright light shining. he did everything he wanted and they mcen243.4 could not prevent him. mcen243.5 mcen243.6 mcen243.7 mcen243.8 mcen244.1 When it was very late, one soldier awoke as the daylight came from mcen244.2 heaven upon his face. he saw a beautiful light and the stone that was mcen244.3 over sweet jesus overturned also, and sitting upon it a blessed, joyful mcen244.4 angel. mcen244.5 mcen244.6 mcen244.7 mcen244.8 mcen245.1 That soldier got his comrades up completely and told them what had mcen245.2 happened about jesus: ``this man has risen. he has gone we know not mcen245.3 where. now there is no way to protect ourselves from being killed.'' mcen245.4 mcen245.5 mcen245.6 mcen245.7 mcen245.8 mcen246.1 Another soldier spoke: ``Woe to us that we were ever born. Alas, O mcen246.2 god, alas, alas! a sleep has caught us out. we have lost our lives and mcen246.3 our children also. let us get ready. let us cross over away from the mcen246.4 land. let us escape so we are not caught.'' mcen246.5 mcen246.6 mcen246.7 mcen246.8 mcen247.1 The fourth spoke: ``Let us not try to escape from the country. Let mcen247.2 us go to the magistrate. let us tell plainly as it was how he rose from mcen247.3 his grave. let us not tell one word of a lie.'' they did at once mcen247.4 entirely according to his bidding. mcen247.5 mcen247.6 mcen247.7 mcen247.8 mcen248.1 They hastened to Pilate their magistrate. They would advise him what mcen248.2 had happened. and they told him christ had risen without great effort mcen248.3 entirely at his pleasure with radiance, and they could not prevent him mcen248.4 doing exactly as he wished. mcen248.5 mcen248.6 mcen248.7 mcen248.8 mcen249.1 Then when Pilate heard that they were talking like this, he became mcen249.2 worried for fear that they would tell it and make it known throughout mcen249.3 the land for certain, close at hand and far away, so that men would come mcen249.4 in great force to wage a war of rebellion against him. mcen249.5 mcen249.6 mcen249.7 mcen249.8 mcen250.1 Because of that Pilate gave the soldiers their gift so that they mcen250.2 said and falsely publicised everywhere throughout the land, that in the mcen250.3 night so many armed men came upon them and surrounded them that they mcen250.4 were not bold enough to stay, but all took flight. mcen250.5 mcen250.6 mcen250.7 mcen250.8 mcen251.1 When the soldiers heard Pilate talking like this they were delighted mcen251.2 that they would escape in such a way from the pains that were great and mcen251.3 intense and get such good gifts. so they made pilate's wish known mcen251.4 wherever they went. mcen251.5 mcen251.6 mcen251.7 mcen251.8 mcen252.1 On that same day, very early, when the sun was newly risen, three mcen252.2 marys, pure and humble, came to the said grave, bringing ointment mcen252.3 without equal which had been bought for the body of jesus. at that time mcen252.4 they were still not aware that the son of god had risen. mcen252.5 mcen252.6 mcen252.7 mcen252.8 mcen253.1 When the three Marys had come close to the grave, they saw the stone mcen253.2 that was on top raised up. so the women said to each other, ``who has mcen253.3 overturned the stone for us from the grave?'' mcen253.4 mcen253.5 mcen253.6 mcen253.7 mcen253.8 mcen254.1 The women, full of grace, had paused close by the grave. At the head mcen254.2 of the grave, which has been mentioned before, they saw a young person mcen254.3 in white clothing. it was an angel and they did not know. a shudder of mcen254.4 great fear sei3ed them because of the wonder they had seen. mcen254.5 mcen254.6 mcen254.7 mcen254.8 mcen255.1 The angel spoke to them: ``Do not be discouraged. Jesus Christ of mcen255.2 na3areth who was slain as you saw has risen and gone to another place, mcen255.3 clearly a man of great worth. behold the place where he was. he does not mcen255.4 remain here. mcen255.5 mcen255.6 mcen255.7 mcen255.8 mcen256.1 ``Go immediately to his disciples and tell them and Peter to come mcen256.2 quickly to meet him in galilee. there, christ the beloved you will find mcen256.3 in joy as he himself said, alive in flesh and blood.'' mcen256.4 mcen256.5 mcen256.6 mcen256.7 mcen256.8 mcen257.1 With that they turned away, reassured and joyful, and went to look mcen257.2 for christ's people and found them grieving. they told them the whole mcen257.3 story. they went in one gathering to look for him and to speak to sweet mcen257.4 jesus. mcen257.5 mcen257.6 mcen257.7 mcen257.8 mcen258.1 When they came to Galilee they saw Jesus Christ alive in his mcen258.2 humanity, manifestly a man and full of grace. all his pain had passed mcen258.3 him by. and they were transported into great joy, a joy which shall be mcen258.4 ours for ever if we believe and are good. mcen258.5 mcen258.6 mcen258.7 mcen258.8 mcen259.1 As the Son of God then rose from his grave on the third day, mcen259.2 likewise we all shall rise on judgment day, bad and good alike. the good mcen259.3 man's work shall grow. then he will be rich. woe to a wicked man on that mcen259.4 day. he will be at christ's left hand. mcen259.5 mcen259.6 mcen259.7 mcen259.8