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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 01:53:51 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/22735-h.zip b/22735-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d7615d --- /dev/null +++ b/22735-h.zip diff --git a/22735-h/22735-h.htm b/22735-h/22735-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f80302c --- /dev/null +++ b/22735-h/22735-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9389 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The King of the Jews +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 5%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: medium; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.salutation {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.closing {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.footnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.transnote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.index {font-size: small ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.intro {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.dedication {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 15%; + text-align: justify } + +P.published {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 15% } + +P.quote {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.report {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +P.report2 {font-size: small ; + text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +H3.h3left { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 1%; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: left ; + clear: left ; + text-align: center } + +H3.h3right { margin-left: 1%; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: right ; + clear: right ; + text-align: center } + +H3.h3center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4left { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 1%; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: left ; + clear: left ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4right { margin-left: 1%; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: right ; + clear: right ; + text-align: center } + +H4.h4center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +H5.h5left { margin-left: 0%; + margin-right: 1%; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: left ; + clear: left ; + text-align: center } + +H5.h5right { margin-left: 1%; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: right ; + clear: right ; + text-align: center } + +H5.h5center { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgleft { float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: 1%; + padding: 0; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgright {float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 1%; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center } + +IMG.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +.pagenum { position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: 95%; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; } + +.sidenote { left: 0%; + font-size: 65%; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0%; + width: 17%; + float: left; + clear: left; + padding-left: 0%; + padding-right: 2%; + padding-top: 2%; + padding-bottom: 2%; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; } + + + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Jews, by William T. Stead + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: King of the Jews + A story of Christ's last days on Earth + +Author: William T. Stead + +Release Date: September 23, 2007 [EBook #22735] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE JEWS *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + +</pre> + + +<A NAME="img-cover"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-cover.jpg" ALT="Cover art" BORDER="2" WIDTH="463" HEIGHT="683"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 463px"> +Cover art +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE KING +<BR> +OF THE JEWS +</H1> + +<BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +A STORY +<BR> +OF CHRIST'S LAST DAYS +<BR> +ON EARTH +</H2> + +<BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +<I>ADAPTED FROM THE OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY</I> +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +By +<BR> +WILLIAM T. STEAD +</H3> + +<BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> +CHICAGO: +<BR> +The Church Press +<BR> +104 LaSALLE AVENUE +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H5 ALIGN="center"> +Copyright 1900 and 1902 +<BR> +By George T. B. Davis. +</H5> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">JESUS DRIVES OUT MONEY CHANGERS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">JESUS' LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">THE LAST SUPPER</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">BETRAYED BY A KISS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">PETER COMMITS PERJURY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">JESUS, PILATE AND HEROD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">"JESUS OR BARABBAS"</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">THE CRUCIFIXION</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">CONCLUSION</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +ILLUSTRATIONS. +</H3> + +<BR> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-cover"> +Cover art +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-005"> +The entry into Jerusalem +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-032"> +"Knelt down and anointed Jesus' feet." +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-054"> +"Drinking of it he passed the cup to Peter." +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-085"> +"He reached over and kissed him." +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-131"> +"What accusation have you to bring against this man?" +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-178"> +"Jesus staggered under the cross." +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-192"> +"It is finished." +</A> +</H3> + +<H3> +<A HREF="#img-208"> +He is risen. +</A> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER I. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +JESUS DRIVES OUT THE MONEY-CHANGERS. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Cast thyself down in adoring love,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Race bowed down by the curse of God!</SPAN><BR> +Peace and grace out of Zion above!<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">He is not wroth forever,</SPAN><BR> +Though his wrath be just—though uplifted his rod.<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Thus saith he, who changeth never:</SPAN><BR> +"I will not the death of a sinner—I will forgive—<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">Let him live!"</SPAN><BR> +And he gave up his son the world from sin to free,<BR> +Praise and thanks we give, Eternal, to thee!<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Suddenly there was heard a noise of singing. A great multitude came +pouring down the narrow street that runs past Pilate's house, chanting +as they came, "Hail to thee, O Son of David!" Little children, old men +and maidens ran forward, some raising palm branches, but all ever +looking backward to one who should come. More and ever more streamed +down the street into the open space in front of the temple, but still +the Hosanna song went on. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-005"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-005.jpg" ALT="The entry into Jerusalem." BORDER="2" WIDTH="580" HEIGHT="417"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 580px"> +The entry into Jerusalem. +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +At last, in the midst of the jubilant throng, Jesus appeared, clad in a +long garment of gray, over which was cast a flowing robe. His face was +composed and pensive. His long black hair and beard surrounded +features somewhat swarthy from the rays of the hot sun, and he rode on +the side of the ass's colt that seemed almost too small to support his +weight. +</P> + +<P> +John, the beloved disciple, dressed in green raiment with a red mantle, +led the little ass, carrying in his hand a long pilgrim staff. The mob +pressed tumultuously around, singing and crying: "Hosanna to the Son of +David!" Jesus blessed them as he rode through their midst. After +passing the house of Pilate he suddenly dismounted. Then Jesus +advanced to the front of the temple. The hosannas died away as he +contemplated the busy scene. There were the priests busily engaged +with the money-changers. Nathanael, chief orator of the Sanhedrin, +stood conspicuous among the chattering throng. There were baskets with +pigeons for sale as sacrifices. There were the tables of the dealers. +Buying and selling, haggling and bargaining were in full swing in the +market-place. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment Jesus, who was above the average height, and whose mien +was dignified and commanding, stood as if amazed and indignant, then +suddenly burst out upon the astonished throng of priests and merchants, +with the following protest: "What see I here? Shall my Father's house +be thus dishonored? Is this the house of God, or is it a market-place? +How can the strangers who come from the land of the Gentiles to worship +God perform their devotions in this tumult of usury? And you," he +continued, advancing a step toward the priests, who stared at him in +amazement, "You priests, guardians of the temple, can you see this +abomination and permit it to continue? Woe be unto you! He who +searches the heart knows why you encourage such disorder." +</P> + +<P> +The crowd, silent now, watched with eager interest the money-changers +and priests, who but imperfectly understanding what had been said to +them, stared at the intruder. +</P> + +<P> +"Who can this man be?" they asked. +</P> + +<P> +And then from the lips of all the multitude there went up the +simultaneous response, as if the whole throng had but one voice: "It is +the great prophet from Nazareth, in Galilee!" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus, then moving forward into the midst of the astonished merchants +in the temple, exclaimed, in words of imperious authority: "Away with +you from here, servants to Mammon! I command it. Take what belongs to +you and quit the holy place!" +</P> + +<P> +One of the traders exclaimed in terror: "Come, let us go, that his +wrath destroy us not." +</P> + +<P> +Then the priests, recovering somewhat their self-possession, stepped +forward to remonstrate. "Why troublest thou this people?" they asked. +"Everything here is for sacrifice. How canst thou forbid that which +the council has allowed?" And then the traders, led by one Dathan, +chimed in, in eager chorus: "Must there then be no more sacrifices?" +</P> + +<P> +For answer Jesus stood forth and exclaimed: "There is room enough +outside the temple for your business. 'My house,' says the Lord, +'shall be called a house of prayer for all nations;' you have made it a +den of thieves." +</P> + +<P> +And then crying, "Away with all this!" with one vigorous movement he +overturned the tables of the money-changers. +</P> + +<P> +A rabbi exclaimed: "This must not be—thou darest not do this!" but his +voice passed unheeded in the tumult. The earthenware vessels fell +crashing to the ground, the money was scattered over the floor. Some +of the dismayed merchants crying, "My money, oh! my money," scrambled +for the glittering coins. Others stared in fury at the unceremonious +intruder. Half a dozen doves, released from their wicker baskets, took +to flight amid the despairing lamentation of their owners: "Oh, my +doves; who will compensate me for this loss?" +</P> + +<P> +Their lamentations were rudely cut short. A small rope was hanging +near by. Seizing it in the middle and twisting it once or twice round +his hand, Jesus converted it into a whip of cords, with which he drove +out the traders. "Away! get you hence. I will that this desecrated +place be restored to the worship of the Father!" +</P> + +<P> +The traders fled, but the priests remained, and, after muttering +together, they asked in angry tones: "By what miraculous sign dost thou +prove that thou hast the power to act in this wise?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered them: "You seek after a sign; yea, a sign shall be given +unto you. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will have built it +up again." +</P> + +<P> +The priests replied, contempt mingling with indignation in their tones: +"What a boastful declaration! Six and forty years was this temple in +building, and thou wilt build it up again in three days!" +</P> + +<P> +At this point the children who had been standing around watching the +altercation with the dealers, cried out in unison with their elders: +"Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord!" +</P> + +<P> +The priests, shocked at their homage, were sorely displeased, and +appealed to Jesus, saying: "Hearest thou what they say? Forbid them!" +</P> + +<P> +They paused for his reply. +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus answered and said unto them: "I say unto you, if they were +silent the very stones would cry out." +</P> + +<P> +Encouraged by this emphatic approval, the children cried out once more, +louder than ever, the sound of their childish voices filling the +temple: "Hosanna to the Son of David!" +</P> + +<P> +Then the Pharisees, who stood by the overthrown tables of the +money-changers, spoke up and said angrily to the little ones: "Silence, +you silly children!" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus turned to them and said: "Have you never read 'Out of the mouths +of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.' That which is +hidden from the proud is revealed unto babes?" And as the priests and +Pharisees muttered in indignation among themselves, he continued: "For +the Scripture must be fulfilled. The stone which the builders rejected +is become the headstone of the corner. The Kingdom of God shall be +taken from you and it shall be given to a people which shall bring +forth the fruits thereof. But that stone, whosoever shall fall upon it +shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall it shall grind him to +powder. Come, my disciples, I have done what the Father has commanded +me, I have vindicated the honor of his house. The darkness remains +darkness, but in many hearts it will soon be day. Let us go into the +inner court of the temple that we may there pray unto the Father." +Thereupon Jesus, followed by his disciples, disappeared in the interior +of the temple, while the people cried aloud as with one voice: "Praise +be to the anointed one!" and the priests said angrily: "Silence, +rabble!" The Pharisees adding: "Ye shall all be overthrown with your +leader." To which the crowd responded by crying louder than ever: +"Blessed be the Kingdom of David which again appears!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Nathanael, a leading man in the Sanhedrin, tall and well favored, +wearing a horned mitre, and possessing the tongue of an orator, stood +forth, and seeing Jesus had departed and that there was now no one to +withstand him in the hearing of the people, lifted up his voice and +cried: "Whosoever holds with our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, let +him stand by us! The curse of Moses upon all the rest!" +</P> + +<P> +Then a rabbi in blue velvet apparel, sprang forward and declared with a +loud voice: "He is a deceiver of the people, an enemy of Moses, an +enemy of the Holy Law!" The people answered mockingly: "Then, if so, +why did you not arrest him? Is he not a prophet?" +</P> + +<P> +Several of the multitude followed Jesus into the temple, but the rest +remained listening to the priests, who cried more vehemently than ever: +"Away with the prophet! He is a false teacher." +</P> + +<P> +But Nathanael, seizing the opportunity, thus addressed the remainder of +the multitude: "Oh, thou blinded people, wilt thou run after the +innovator, and forsake Moses, the prophets, and thy priests? Fearest +thou not that the curse which the law denounces against the apostate +will crush thee? Would you cease to be the chosen people?" +</P> + +<P> +The crowd shaken by this appeal, responded sullenly: "That would we +not." +</P> + +<P> +Nathanael pressed his advantage. "Who," he asked, "has to watch over +the purity of the law? Is it not the holy Sanhedrin of the people of +Israel? To whom will you listen; to us or to him? To us or to him who +has proclaimed himself the expounder of a new law?" +</P> + +<P> +Then the multitude cried all together: "We hear you! we follow you!" +Nathanael continued: "Down with him, then, this man full of deceit and +error!" +</P> + +<P> +The people replied: "Yes, we stand side by side with you! Yes, we are +Moses' disciples!" and the priests answered, speaking all together: +"The God of your fathers will bless you for that." +</P> + +<P> +At this moment loud and angry voices were heard approaching down the +narrow street that led to the house of Annas, the high priest. The +priests and Pharisees listened eagerly. As they caught the word +"revenge" they turned to each other with exultant looks. Meanwhile +Dathan, a merchant, the chief of the traders who had been driven from +the temple, was seen to be leading on his fellow merchants, who were +lifting up their hands and weeping as they recounted their losses. +They shouted confusedly as they came: "This insult must be punished! +Revenge! Revenge! He shall pay dearly for his insolence. Money, oil, +salt; doves—he must pay for all. Where is he, that he may experience +our vengeance?" +</P> + +<P> +The priests replied: "He has conveyed himself away." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," cried the traders, "we will pursue him." +</P> + +<P> +But Nathanael, seeing what advantage might result from the discontent +of the merchants, arrested their pursuit. "Stay friends," he said; +"the faction that follows this man is at present too large. If you +attacked them it might cause a dangerous fight, which the Roman sword +would finish. Trust to us. He shall not escape punishment." +</P> + +<P> +And the priests who stood around Nathanael cried: "With us and for us: +that is your salvation!" Then Dathan and his friends exclaimed +triumphantly: "Our victory is near." +</P> + +<P> +Nathanael assured of the control of the multitude, continued: "We are +now going to inform the council of the Sanhedrin of today's events." +</P> + +<P> +The traders impatiently exclaimed: "We will go with you. We must have +satisfaction." +</P> + +<P> +But Nathanael dissuaded them, saying: "Come in an hour's time to the +forecourt of the high priest. I will plead your cause in the council, +and bring forward your complaint." +</P> + +<P> +And as Nathanael and the priests and the Pharisees went out, the +traders and the people cheered them, crying aloud: "We have Moses! +Down with every other! We are for Moses' law to the death! Praise be +to our fathers! Praise to our father's God!" +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +Then the high priests and the rulers and the elders gathered together +late in the night in the council of the Sanhedrin. In the highest +place sat Caiaphas with his jewelled breast-plate, in robes of white +embroidered with gold. A vestment of green and gold covered his +shoulders, and on his head he wore a white-horned mitre adorned with +golden bells, which added to the majesty of his aspect. Annas, the +aged high priest, sat on his left. Nathanael, also on the raised dais, +was on the right. Below him sat the rabbis in blue velvet, while +seated around were Pharisees, scribes and doctors of the law. +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas, whose white hair and beard showed that he was well stricken +in years, was still in the full vigor of life. As president of the +Sanhedrin, he briefly opened the session: +</P> + +<P> +"Honored brothers, fathers and teachers of the people, an extraordinary +occurrence is the occasion of the present extraordinary assembly. +Listen to it from the mouth of our worthy brother." +</P> + +<P> +Then Nathanael arose, and standing on the right hand of Caiaphas, said: +"Is it allowed; O, fathers, to say a word?" +</P> + +<P> +All answered: "Yes, speak! speak!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Nathanael: "Marvel not, O fathers, that you should be called +together at so late an hour for the transaction of business. It must +be only too well known to you what we have with shame been compelled to +see today with our own eyes. You have seen the triumphal progress of +the Galilean through the Holy City. You have heard the Hosannas of the +befooled populace. You have perceived how this ambitious man arrogates +to himself the office of the high priest. What now lacks for the +destruction of all civil and ecclesiastical order? Only a few steps +further, and the law of Moses is upset by the innovations of this +misleader. The sayings of our forefathers are despised, the fasts and +purifications abolished, the Sabbath desecrated, the priests of God +deprived of their office, and the holy sacrifices are at an end." +</P> + +<P> +As Nathanael concluded, all the fathers of the council exclaimed with +one voice: "True—most true." As he had been speaking they had been +interchanging notes of appreciative and sympathetic comment. But it +was not until Caiaphas spoke that the Sanhedrin was roused to the +highest pitch of excitement. Caiaphas, who spoke with great fire and +fervor, thus addressed the rulers of Israel: "And more than all this. +Encouraged by the success of his efforts, he will proclaim himself King +of Israel (murmurs of alarm and indignation), then the land will be +distracted with civil war and revolt, and the Romans will come with +their armies and bring destruction upon our land and our people. Woe +is me for the children of Israel, for the Holy City, and for the temple +of the Lord, if no barrier is opposed to the evil while there is yet +time! It is indeed high time. We must be the saviors of Israel. +Today must a resolution be passed, and whatever is resolved upon must +be carried out without regard to any other consideration. Do we all +agree to this?" +</P> + +<P> +And all the Sanhedrin as one man cried out: "We do." +</P> + +<P> +Up sprang a priest to emphasize his vote: +</P> + +<P> +"A stop must be put to the course of this misleader." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas then said: "Give your opinion without reserve as to what +should be done." +</P> + +<P> +And then a rabbi arose and said: "If I may be permitted to declare my +opinion unreservedly, I must assert that we ourselves are to blame that +things have come to such a pass. Against this onrushing ruin much too +mild measures have been employed. Of what avail have been our +disputations with him, or what has it profited that we have by our +questionings, put him in a dilemma; that we have pointed, out the +errors in his teaching and his violations of the law? Nay, of what use +has been even the excommunication pronounced on all who acknowledged +him as the Messiah? All this was labor in vain. Men turn their backs +on us, and all the world runs after him. To restore peace to Israel, +that must be done which ought to have been done long ago—we must +arrest him and throw him into prison. That is the only way to put an +end to his evil influence." +</P> + +<P> +The suggestion was hailed with enthusiasm, and springing to their feet +they cried: "Yea, that must be done!" +</P> + +<P> +Then a third priest stood up and said: "Once he is in prison, the +credulous people will no longer be attracted by the fascination of his +manner or the charm of his discourse. When they have no more miracles +to gape at; he will soon be forgotten." +</P> + +<P> +And a fourth priest exulted as he added: "In the darkness of his +dungeon let him make his light shine and proclaim his Messiahship to +the walls of the jail." +</P> + +<P> +Then it was the turn of the Pharisees. The first said: "He has been +allowed long enough to lead the people astray and to denounce as +hypocrisy the strict virtue of the Holy Order of the Pharisees. Let +him suffer in fetters for his contempt." +</P> + +<P> +A second Pharisee added complacently: "The enthusiasm of his hangers-on +will soon cool down when he who has promised them freedom is himself in +chains." +</P> + +<P> +By this time it was evident all the council was of one mind. Then +Annas, the venerable high priest, arose and addressed the Sanhedrin +with much emotion: "Now, venerable priests, a ray of confidence and joy +penetrates to my breast when I see your unanimous resolution. Alas! an +unspeakable grief has weighed down my soul at the sight of the onward +progress of the false teachings of this Galilean. It seemed as if I +had lived to old age but in order to have the misfortune of seeing the +downfall of our holy law. But now I will not despair. The God of our +fathers still lives, and he is with us. If you have the courage to act +boldly, and to stand firmly and faithfully together, there is safety at +hand. Take courage, steadfastly pursue the aim in view, and be the +deliverer of Israel, and undying fame will be your reward." +</P> + +<P> +With one accord all answered and said: "We are of one mind," while the +priests added, shouting eagerly, "Israel must be saved!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas began: "All honor to your unanimous resolution, worthy +brethren, but now let me have the benefit of your wise counsels how we +can most safely bring this deceiver into our power." +</P> + +<P> +"It might be dangerous," remarked the first Pharisee, "to seize him now +at the time of the feast. In the streets or in the temple he is +everywhere surrounded by a mob of infatuated followers. It could +easily lead to an uproar." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried all the priests together with a loud voice, as if impatient +that one should speak at a time: "But something must be done at once. +The matter brooks no delay. Perhaps at the feast he might raise a +commotion, and then it might come to pass that we should be consigned +to the place which we have destined for him." +</P> + +<P> +"No delay;" cried some other priests, "no delay!" +</P> + +<P> +Then the second Pharisee stood up and said: "We cannot now seize him +openly with the strong hand. We must carry out our scheme cunningly +and in secret. Let us find out where he usually spends the night; then +we could fall upon him unobserved and take him into custody." +</P> + +<P> +Nathanael sprang to his feet, for the auspicious moment had come,—the +furious merchants from the temple were without in the courtyard. "To +track the fox to his lair will not be difficult. We could then soon +find someone to help, if it should please the high council to offer a +large reward." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas at once put the resolution to the Sanhedrin. Rising from his +seat he said, "If you, assembled fathers, agree, then in the name of +the high council I will issue notice that whoever knows of his nightly +resort, and will inform us of the same, will be rewarded for his pains." +</P> + +<P> +With one voice the rulers and chief priests and scribes cried out, +rising from their seats, "We are all agreed." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Nathanael, "Without doubt we could secure the services, as +informers, of those men whom the Galilean today has injured so deeply +in the sight of all the people, driving them with a scourge out of the +temple. From of old they were zealous of the law, but now they are +thirsting for revenge against him who has made so unheard-of an attack +upon their privileges." +</P> + +<P> +"But where," said Caiaphas, "are these traders to be found?" +</P> + +<P> +"They are waiting," said Nathanael, "in readiness in the outer court. +I have promised them to be the advocate of their cause before the holy +Sanhedrin, and they await our decision." +</P> + +<P> +"Worthy priest," said Caiaphas, "inform them that the high council is +disposed to listen to their grievance, and bring them in." +</P> + +<P> +Nathanael as he went said, "This will be a joy to them and of great use +to us." +</P> + +<P> +When Nathanael left the hall, Caiaphas addressed the council with words +of cheer: "The God of our fathers has not withdrawn his hand from us. +Moses still watches over us. If only we can succeed in gathering +around us a nucleus of men out of the people then I no longer dread the +result. Friends and brethren, let us be of good courage, our fathers +look down upon us from Abraham's bosom." +</P> + +<P> +"God bless our high priest!" rang through the hall as Nathanael, +followed by Dathan and the other traders, returned to his place. He +introduced them thus: "High priests and chosen teachers! These men, +worthy of our blessing, appear before this assembly in order to lodge a +complaint against the notorious Jesus of Nazareth, who has today +insulted them in the temple in an unheard-of fashion and brought them +to grief." +</P> + +<P> +Then with one voice the traders, led by Dathan, cried out, "We beseech +the council to procure us satisfaction. The council ought to support +our righteous demands." +</P> + +<P> +The priests and Pharisees responded eagerly, "You shall have +satisfaction, we will answer for that." +</P> + +<P> +Then ensued the following dialogue between the traders and the +Sanhedrin: +</P> + +<P> +The Traders: "Has not the council authorized us to display openly in +the court of the temple all things useful for the sacrifice?" +</P> + +<P> +A Priest: "Yes, that has been sanctioned. Woe be to those who disturb +you in the exercise of this right!" +</P> + +<P> +The Traders: "And the Galilean has driven us out with a scourge. And +the tables of the money changers has he overturned, and released the +doves. We demand satisfaction." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas: "That you should have satisfaction the law decrees. Your +losses will be made good in the meantime out of the temple treasury" +(joy among the traders). "But that the offender himself may be duly +punished it is necessary for us to have your help. What can we do so +long as he is not in our power?" +</P> + +<P> +The Traders: "He goes daily to the temple; there he can easily be +arrested and carried off." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas: "That will not do. You know that as he has a multitude of +excited followers such a course might lead to a dangerous uproar. The +thing must be done quietly." +</P> + +<P> +The Traders: "That could be done best at night-time." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas: "If you could find out where he retires at night he would +soon be without tumult in our hands. Then would you not only have the +delight of seeing him chastised, but also a considerable reward would +fall to your lot." +</P> + +<P> +Nathanael: "And you would also have rendered good service to the law of +Moses if you assist in this." +</P> + +<P> +Then all the traders cried out together: "You can depend upon us, we +will spare no trouble." +</P> + +<P> +And all the priests and Pharisees congratulated themselves that the +business was going well. Dathan, conspicuous by his apparel, then +volunteered a statement. He said: "I know one of his followers from +whom I could easily gain some information if I could offer him a +sufficient reward." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas at once authorized him, "If thou findest such a one make all +necessary promises in our name. Only don't loiter; we must attain our +end before the feast." +</P> + +<P> +Annas enjoined the strictest silence, to which with one voice the +traders responded, "We swear it," and then Caiaphas proceeded to urge +upon them the need of creating a party on their side among the people. +"If, my good fellows, you really desire fully to glut your longing for +revenge, then take care and use every means to kindle in others the +same holy zeal which glows in you." +</P> + +<P> +They answered that they had not waited for his prompting, but had +already brought several others over to their side. "We will not rest +until the whole populace is roused against him." +</P> + +<P> +Annas and Caiaphas applauded their zeal. "You will thereby merit the +greatest gratitude from the council," said Annas, and Caiaphas chimed +in, "Openly will ye then be honored before all the people as you have +been today put to shame before them by this presumptuous man." +</P> + +<P> +"Our life for the law of Moses and the holy Sanhedrin," then cried the +traders. "The God of Abraham guide you," said Caiaphas dismissing +them, and they left the hall crying aloud, "Long live Moses! long live +the high priests and the Sanhedrin! Even today may the role of the +Galilean be played out!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas addressed these parting words to the council: "As though +refreshed by sweet slumbers, I live once more. With such men as these +we can put everything through. Now we shall see who will triumph,—he +with his followers to whom he is always preaching love,—a love which +is to include publicans and sinners and even the Gentiles also,—or we +with this troop inspired by hate and revenge which we are sending +against him. There can be no doubt to which side the victory will +incline." +</P> + +<P> +"The God of our fathers give us the victory!" said Annas; "joy in my +old age will renew my youth!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "Let us now break up, looking forward with +confidence to the joy of victory. Praised be our fathers!" +</P> + +<P> +And all the assembly with a deep, sonorous voice exclaimed, "Praised be +the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER II. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +JESUS' LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +People of God behold; thy Savior is nigh to thee!<BR> +He is come who was promised thee long ago.<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Oh! hear him, follow his guidance</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Blessing and life will he bring to thee.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +But blind and deaf Jerusalem has shown herself;<BR> +She has thrust back the hands held out to her in love;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Therefore also the Highest has turned away his face,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And lets her sink to destruction.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Jesus, accompanied by all his disciples, set out to pay his last visit +to Bethany. Peter, with his staff in hand, walked with John beside the +master. Judas was present, with disheveled locks and haggard look, +James the Greater and James the Less, and Andrew and Thomas, and the +rest of the disciples. +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus spoke unto them and said: "You know, dear disciples, that +after two days is the feast of the Passover. So now let us make one +last visit to our friends in Bethany, and then go to Jerusalem, where +in these days all will be fulfilled which has been written by the +prophets concerning the Son of Man." +</P> + +<P> +The disciples understood not his saying, and after some questioning +among themselves Philip ventured to address Jesus, saying unto him, +"Has the day then really come at last when thou wilt restore the +kingdom to Israel?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus looked upon Philip with tender compassion, and said unto him, +"Then shall the Son of Man be delivered up to the Gentiles, and shall +be mocked and spat upon and they will crucify him; but on the third day +he will rise again." +</P> + +<P> +Then said John in a voice that trembled with emotion, as the other +disciples gazed at each other in horror, "Dear master, what dark and +terrible words thou speakest. What are we to understand by them? Make +it clear unto us." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus answered and said unto him, "The hour is now come when the +Son of Man shall be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a +corn of wheat does not fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone, +but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. Now is the judgment of the +world. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be +lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." +</P> + +<P> +Then were the breasts of the disciples troubled, for they could not +understand what these things meant. Thaddeus said to Simon, "What does +he mean by this speech?" +</P> + +<P> +Simon replied with a puzzled air, "Why does he compare himself to a +grain of corn?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Andrew unto him, "Lord, thou speakest at once of shame and of +victory. I know not how to reconcile those ideas in my mind." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said, "That which is now dark to you as the night will be as +clear as the day. I have told you before that you may not lose courage +whatever may happen. Believe and hope. When the tribulation is +passed, then you will see and understand." +</P> + +<P> +Thomas answered and said unto him, "What I cannot understand is that +thou shouldst speak of suffering and of death. Have we not heard from +the prophets that the Messiah shall live forever? What can thine +enemies do unto thee? One single word from thee would annihilate them +all." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said unto him, "Thomas, reverence the secret counsels of God +which thou canst not fathom." +</P> + +<P> +Then, turning to the others, he said, "Yet a little while is the light +with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you." +</P> + +<P> +By this time they had approached near the village of Bethany, and there +met them one Simon, after whom there came Lazarus, who was raised from +the dead, with Martha, his sister, and Mary Magdalene, the latter tall, +dark, with long black hair, in dark blue dress with a yellow mantle. +</P> + +<P> +Simon pressed forward; he was an old man and he hastened to meet Jesus. +"Welcome, best of teachers, O what joy that thou shouldst honor my +house with thy entrance. Dear friends, be also welcome," he exclaimed; +but he was startled to hear the reply, "Simon, for the last time I, +with my disciples, lay claim to thy hospitality." +</P> + +<P> +Simon replied in grief, "Say not so, Lord. Often still shall Bethany +afford thee brief repose." +</P> + +<P> +By this time Lazarus drew near; he was of less than middle stature and +silent, as if his sojourn in the other world left him little to speak +of in this. "See," said Jesus, "there is our friend Lazarus." +</P> + +<P> +"My Lord," cried Lazarus, embracing him, "the vanquisher of death, +lifegiver and Lord, I see thee once again and hear the voice that +called me from the grave." +</P> + +<P> +Then hastened the Magdalene to his side, and kneeling down, "Rabbi," +she exclaimed; Martha also said, "Welcome, Rabbi." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus blessed them, saying, "God's blessing be upon you!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Martha asked, "Wilt thou Lord, grant me the happiness of serving +thee?" while the Magdalene timidly inquired, "Wilt thou despise a token +of love and gratitude from me?" +</P> + +<P> +And Jesus replied with tenderness, "Do, good souls, that which you +purpose to do." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Simon, "Best of masters, come under my roof and refresh +thyself and thy disciples." +</P> + +<P> +So Jesus entered into Simon's house, exclaiming, "Peace be upon this +house," to which the disciples added, speaking together, "And to all +that dwell therein." Then said Simon, "Lord, all is ready, set thee +down at table and bid thy disciples sit down also." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus sat down to meat, saying, "Let us now, beloved disciples, +enjoy with thanks the gifts which our Father in heaven bestows upon us +through Simon, his servant. O Jerusalem, would that my coming were as +dear to thee as it is to these, my friends! But thou are stricken with +blindness." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, Lord," remarked Lazarus; "O best of masters, dangers threaten +thee. The Pharisees are anxiously wondering whether thou wilt come up +to the Passover. They are eagerly watching for thy destruction." +</P> + +<P> +Simon said, "Stay here, Lord; here thou art safe." +</P> + +<P> +Then Peter interposed with an entreaty, "Lord, it is good to be here. +Remain here, in the seclusion of this house, served by faithful love, +till the gathering storm be passed." +</P> + +<P> +But Jesus rebuked him sternly, saying: "Get thee behind me, tempter. +Thou savorest not of the things that are of God, but those that be of +men. Can the reaper tarry in the shade while the ripe harvest awaits +him? The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister +and to give his life a ransom for many." +</P> + +<P> +Then the dark-browed Judas spoke, uttering this time the thought of +all. "But, master, what will become of us if thou givest up thy life?" +</P> + +<P> +A chorus of approval burst from all the disciples, "Ah, all our hopes +would then be destroyed." +</P> + +<P> +"Trouble not yourselves," said Jesus, "I have power to lay down my life +and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received +of my Father." +</P> + +<P> +And lo, while they were yet speaking, Mary Magdalene silently +approached Jesus, carrying in her hand a bottle of ointment of +spikenard, very precious, which she poured over his head as she +murmured but one word, "Rabbi." And Jesus also said but one word, +"Mary," but his tone was full of tenderness and love. +</P> + +<P> +As the perfume of the ointment filled the room the disciples spoke +among themselves. "What an exquisite odor!" said Thomas, leaning past +the others to look. +</P> + +<P> +"It is real oil of spikenard, very costly," said Bartholomew. +</P> + +<P> +Thaddeus added, "Such an honor has never been shown to our master." +</P> + +<P> +But Judas could not contain himself. He growled from his distant seat, +"To what purpose is this waste? The money might have been much better +expended." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Thomas, "I almost think so, too." +</P> + +<P> +Then Magdalene, heedless of the murmurs of the disciples, knelt down +and anointed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her long black tresses. +Jesus, after a little while, noticing the muttering down the table, +asked, "What are you saying to each other? Why do you condemn that +which is done only from grateful love." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-032"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-032.jpg" ALT=""Knelt down and anointed Jesus' feet."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="406" HEIGHT="558"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 406px"> +"Knelt down and anointed Jesus' feet." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +The Magdalene knelt back, sheltering herself as it were behind her Lord. +</P> + +<P> +Judas blurted out impetuously his dissatisfaction. "To pour out so +much costly ointment, what wasteful extravagance!" +</P> + +<P> +"Friend Judas," said Jesus, "look at me. Is what is done for me, thy +master, waste?" +</P> + +<P> +Judas said, "I know that thou lovest not useless expense; the ointment +might have been sold and the poor helped with the money!" Hearing +Judas' answer he half turned away and looked wearily upward, folding +his hands. +</P> + +<P> +"Judas," said Jesus somewhat sternly, "hand upon thy heart now. Is it +only pity for the poor which moves thee so much?" +</P> + +<P> +Judas replied, "At least three hundred pence could have been got for +it. What a loss both for the poor and for us." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus answered and said, "The poor you have always with you, but +me ye have not always." Then he said, "Let her alone, she has wrought +a good work on me, for in that she has poured out the ointment upon me, +she has anointed me for my burial. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever +the gospel will be preached through the whole world, there shall also +this which she hath done be told for a memorial of her." +</P> + +<P> +He then said to the disciples, "Let us arise"—and then turning to +Simon, his host, he said, "I thank thee, benevolent man, for thy +hospitality, the Father will repay it unto thee." +</P> + +<P> +"Say nothing of thanks, master," said Simon; "I know what I owe to +thee." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus arose and said, "It is time to go hence. Farewell all ye +dwellers in this hospitable house. My disciples, follow me." +</P> + +<P> +Peter said unto him, "Lord, wherever thou wilt, only not to Jerusalem." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered, "I go where my Father calls me. If it please thee to +remain here, Peter, do so." Then Peter declared, "Lord, where thou +abidest there will I also abide; whither thou goest there go I also." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said, "Come then." +</P> + +<P> +The disciples arose and clasping their staffs were ready to depart. +Then Jesus turned to Mary Magdalene and Martha and said, "Remain here, +beloved! Once more, fare ye well. Dear, peaceful Bethany, never more +shall I tarry in thy quiet vale." +</P> + +<P> +Simon, sore troubled in speech as he heard these words, said unto him, +"Then wilt thou really depart hence forever?" +</P> + +<P> +Mary Magdalene threw herself at his feet and said, "Alas, I am filled +with terrible forebodings. Friend of my soul! My heart—oh! my +heart—it will not let thee go!" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said unto her, "Stand up, Mary. The night cometh and the winter +storms come blustering on. But be comforted. In the early morning in +the garden of spring, thou wilt see me again." +</P> + +<P> +Lazarus exclaimed, "Oh! my friend, my benefactor!" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas!" cried Martha, "thou art going; and comest thou back nevermore?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said, "The Father wills it, beloved. Wherever I am I bear you +ever with me in my heart, and wherever you are, my blessings will +follow you. Farewell." +</P> + +<P> +And behold as they turned to go, there met them Mary, the mother of +Jesus, with her companions. Mary had a white mantle round her head, +from beneath which her long dark hair hung down. She hastened to her +son, crying, "Jesus, dearest son, I hastened after thee with my +friends, in eager longing to see thee once more before thou goest, all +whither?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus clasped her hands gently and replied, "Mother, I am on the way to +Jerusalem." +</P> + +<P> +"To Jerusalem," said his mother. "There is the temple of Jehovah, +whither I once carried thee in my arms to offer thee to the Lord." +</P> + +<P> +"Mother," said Jesus in solemn sadness, "the hour is come when +according to the will of the Father I shall offer myself. I am ready +to complete the sacrifice which the Father demands from me." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah," cried Mary with bitter and piteous cry, "I foresee what kind of a +sacrifice that will be." +</P> + +<P> +John and Mary Magdalene had joined the mother of Jesus, and the two +Marys standing together united their lament. +</P> + +<P> +"How much we had wished," said the Magdalene, "to keep back the master +and make him remain with us." +</P> + +<P> +"It is of no use," said Simon gloomily, "his purpose is fixed." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus to his mother, tenderly beholding her, "My hour is +come." +</P> + +<P> +All the disciples cried, "Oh, ask the Father that he should let it pass +by." +</P> + +<P> +Then all the women said, "The Father has always listened to thee." +</P> + +<P> +But Jesus said: "How is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? +Father, deliver me from this hour! But for this hour came I into the +world." +</P> + +<P> +But Mary hearing him, exclaimed as in a trance, "Oh, venerable Simon, +now will be fulfilled that which thou once prophesied to me, 'A sword +shall pierce through thine own soul!'" And as she spoke Mary Magdalene +gently supported her from falling. +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said in terms of gentle reproach, "Mother, the will of the Father +was also ever sacred to thee." His word rallied her courage and she +replied, "It is so to me still. I am the handmaid of the Lord. What +he requires of me I will bear patiently. But one thing I beg of thee, +my son." +</P> + +<P> +"What desirest thou, my mother?" +</P> + +<P> +"That I may go with thee into the fierce conflict of suffering, yea, +even unto death!" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, what love!" exclaimed John, who stood tearfully beside the two +Marys, wistfully looking for some ray of hope to illumine the darkness +beyond. +</P> + +<P> +Jesus embraced her lovingly. "Dear mother, thou wilt suffer with me, +thou wilt fight with me in my death struggle, but thou wilt also +rejoice with me in my victory, therefore be comforted." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, God!" she cried in heartrending accents, "give me strength that my +heart may not break." +</P> + +<P> +"We all weep with thee, thou best of mothers," said the holy women, +adding their tears to those of the mother of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +"I will go with thee, my son, to Jerusalem," said Mary. +</P> + +<P> +And the holy women declared they also would go with her. +</P> + +<P> +But Jesus, holding her hand, tenderly forbade her: "Later you may go +thither, but not now. For the present stay with our friends at +Bethany. I commend to you, O faithful souls, my beloved mother, with +those who have followed her here." +</P> + +<P> +Eagerly the Magdalene accepted the charge. +</P> + +<P> +"After thee," she exclaimed, "there is no one dearer to us than thy +mother." +</P> + +<P> +But even at the eleventh hour Lazarus interposed one last word of +entreaty: "If only thou, O master, couldst remain!" +</P> + +<P> +Not noticing this, Jesus said, "Comfort ye one another. After two days +you may come up together to Jerusalem, to be there on the great day of +the feast." +</P> + +<P> +Mary said: "As thou wilt, my son." +</P> + +<P> +But the holy women said: "How sadly will the hours pass when thou art +far from us." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus spoke to his mother and said, "Mother, mother, for the +tender love and motherly care which thou hast shown to me for the three +and thirty years of my life, receive the warmest thanks of thy son." +And stooping down he kissed her. Then raising his head, he said, "The +Father calls me. Fare thee well, best of mothers." +</P> + +<P> +Mary asked him: "My son, where shall I see thee again?" +</P> + +<P> +And Jesus replied: "There, beloved mother, where the Scripture shall be +fulfilled: 'He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and he opened not +his mouth.'" +</P> + +<P> +Mary sobbing, cried aloud, "Jesus, thy mother, oh! Oh, God, my son!" +</P> + +<P> +Half fainting she was held up by the holy women, who exclaimed, "O +beloved, faithful mother!" +</P> + +<P> +The disciples departed, muttering, "We cannot endure it. What will be +the end of all this?" +</P> + +<P> +Then burst from their lips the despairing cry, "Alas, what affliction +lies before us all?" +</P> + +<P> +But Jesus said, "Sink not in the first conflict. Hold fast by me." +</P> + +<P> +And the disciples repeated, "Yea, master, fast by thee." +</P> + +<P> +Lazarus and the women looking back after Christ as he passed out of +sight, exclaimed, "Ah! our dear teacher," while Simon said, "He brought +happiness to my house." +</P> + +<P> +Simon then turned tenderly to Mary and said: "Come, mother, and +condescend to enter in." "One consolation remains to us in +tribulation," said Mary Magdalene, and Martha added, "To have the +mother of our Lord with us." Turning to the other women, Lazarus said, +"And you, beloved ones, come with us, we will share our woe and tears +together." +</P> + +<P> +All then together went into the house, Mary Magdalene supporting the +mother of Jesus. +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +Now as they came unto Jerusalem they looked down upon the whole city +which lay before them. Then said John unto Jesus, "Master, behold what +a splendid view of Jerusalem from this spot!" +</P> + +<P> +Matthew said, "The majestic temple, how splendidly it is built." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus was troubled in spirit, and after gazing for a moment over the +city, clasped his hands in grief and cried, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, O +that thou hadst known even in this thy day the things that belong unto +thy peace! but now they are hidden from thine eyes!" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus wept. +</P> + +<P> +His disciples beholding him weep were amazed. At last Peter ventured +to say, "Master, why grievest thou so sorely?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered, "My Peter, the fate of this unhappy city goes to my +heart." +</P> + +<P> +Then said John, "Lord, tell us what shall this fate be?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered and said unto them, "The days will come when her enemies +will make a trench about her walls and close her in on every side, and +lay her even with the ground. She and her children within her walls +will be dashed to the earth, and not one stone will be left upon +another." +</P> + +<P> +Andrew, giving expression to the general consternation, asked, +"Wherefore shall the city have so sad a doom?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said, "Because she hath not known the day of her visitation. +Alas! she who hath slain the prophets will kill the Messiah himself." +</P> + +<P> +Then spoke all the disciples together, "What a terrible deed!" +</P> + +<P> +James, the elder, said, "God forbid that the city of Jehovah should +bring such a curse upon herself." +</P> + +<P> +And John with pleading voice added, "Dearest master, for the sake of +the holy city and the temple, I beg of thee go not thither, so that the +opportunity may be wanting to those evil men to do the worst." +</P> + +<P> +"Or," said Peter, "go thither and display thyself in all thy majesty, +so that the good may rejoice and the evil tremble." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," cried all the twelve eagerly, "do that." +</P> + +<P> +Philip said, "Strike down thine enemies!" and all added earnestly, "And +set up the kingdom of God among men!" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered, "Children, that which you desire shall come to pass in +due time, but my ways are appointed to me by my father, and thus saith +the Lord, 'My thoughts are not as your thoughts, and my ways are not as +your ways.'" +</P> + +<P> +Then, as if to cut short a useless discussion, he said, "Peter!" Peter +replied, "What wilt thou, Lord?" and the Lord continued, "It is now the +first day of unleavened bread, in which the law commands that we should +eat the Passover; you, both Peter and John, go forward and prepare the +Passover that we may eat it in the evening." +</P> + +<P> +Peter and John, who stood the one on the left and the other on the +right, asked, "Where wilt thou, Lord, that we prepare the Passover?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said, "When you come into the city there shall meet you a man +bearing a pitcher of water, follow ye him and wheresoever he shall go +in, say ye to the good man of the house, 'The master says, Where is the +guest-chamber that I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' and he +will show you a large upper chamber furnished and prepared; there make +ready the Passover." +</P> + +<P> +"Thy blessing, O best of masters!" said Peter. He and John knelt on +either side of their Lord, Jesus placed his right hand on the head of +John and his left hand on the head of Peter, exclaiming, "God's +blessing be with you!" +</P> + +<P> +Peter and John having departed, Jesus said to the others, "Accompany me +for the last time to the house of my Father." +</P> + +<P> +Then Judas, who had for some time past stood apart, came forward and +said, "But, master, allow me; if thou wilt really leave us, make some +arrangement for our future support. Look here," he added, pointing to +the small bag almost empty of coin, which he carried in his girdle, +"there is not enough here for one day more." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus looked upon him and said, "Judas, do not be more anxious than is +needful." +</P> + +<P> +But Judas went on muttering and looking not at his Lord, but at the +bag, "How well the value of that uselessly wasted ointment would have +lain therein! how long we could have lived on it without care!" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus reproved him, saying, "You have never lacked anything hitherto +and, believe me, that what is necessary will not fail you in time to +come." +</P> + +<P> +Judas said, "But, master, when thou art no longer with us our good +friends will soon draw back, and then we shall be left in sore +distress." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said unto him, "Friend Judas, beware lest thou fall into +temptation." +</P> + +<P> +The other disciples who had listened to this conversation then +interrupted, saying altogether, "Judas, trouble not the master so much." +</P> + +<P> +Judas retorted, "Who will take thought if I do not? Have I not been +appointed by the master to carry the bag?" +</P> + +<P> +"Thou hast," said Jesus, "but I fear——" +</P> + +<P> +"And I also fear," interrupted Judas, "that soon it will be empty and +remain so." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus went close up to him and said gravely and gently, "Judas, +forget not thy warning. Arise, now let us go hence, I desire to be in +the house of my Father." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus then, followed by his disciples, excepting Judas, passed on to +the city. +</P> + +<P> +Judas, being left alone, said to himself, "Shall I follow him any +longer. I do not much care to do so. The master's conduct to me is +very inexplicable. His great deeds allowed us to hope that he would +restore again the kingdom to Israel. But he does not seize the +opportunities that offer themselves, and now he constantly talks of +parting and dying, and puts us off with mysterious words about a future +which lies too far off in the dim distance for me. I am tired of +hoping and waiting. I can see very well, that with him there is no +prospect of anything but continued poverty and humiliation,—and +instead of the sharing, as we expected, in his glorious kingdom, we +shall perhaps be persecuted and thrown into prison with him. I will +draw back. It was a good thing that I was always prudent and cautious, +and have now and then laid aside a trifle out of the bag in case of +need. How useful I should find those 300 pence now which the foolish +woman threw away on a useless mark of respect. If, as seems likely, +the society is about to dissolve, they would have remained in my +hands—then I should have been safe for a long while to come. As it +is, I must consider the question, where and how I can find subsistence." +</P> + +<P> +As he stood alone under the trees, perplexed and troubled, Dathan +appeared in the distance, and, spying Judas, said to himself, "The +occasion is favorable. He is alone and seems much perplexed. I must +try everything in order to secure him." +</P> + +<P> +Then stepping forward he laid his hand upon the shoulder of Judas, +exclaiming, "Friend Judas!" +</P> + +<P> +Judas started as if a serpent had stung him and striking his head with +his hand cried, "Who calls?" +</P> + +<P> +"A friend," said Dathan; "has anything sad happened to thee? Thou art +so absorbed in thought?" +</P> + +<P> +Judas, staring wildly, asked, "Who art thou?" +</P> + +<P> +"Thy friend, thy brother," cried Dathan. +</P> + +<P> +Judas, staring backward, exclaimed: "Thou art my friend, my brother?" +</P> + +<P> +"At least," said Dathan, "I wish to be so. How is it with the master? +I also would like to become one of his disciples." +</P> + +<P> +Judas said, "One of his disciples?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" said Dathan, "hast thou then forsaken him? Are things not well +with him? Tell me that I may know how to act." +</P> + +<P> +Then Judas said unto him, "Canst thou keep silence?" +</P> + +<P> +"Be assured of that," said Dathan. +</P> + +<P> +"Then," answered Judas, "it is no longer going well with him. He says +himself his last hour has come." And then Judas rapidly ran over the +various predictions of disaster which he had heard from the lips of +Jesus. "I intend to forsake him, for he will yet bring us all to ruin. +See here," said he, producing the almost empty purse, "I am treasurer, +see how it stands with us." +</P> + +<P> +"Friend," said Dathan, shrugging his shoulders, "I shall remain as I +am." At this moment six of Dathan's companions came up. +</P> + +<P> +Judas, alarmed, asked, "Who are these? I will not say another word." +</P> + +<P> +"Stay, friend," said one of the newcomers, "you will not regret it." +</P> + +<P> +"Why have you come here?" asked Judas. +</P> + +<P> +"We were going back to Jerusalem and we will bear thee company if it +please thee." +</P> + +<P> +Judas, suspiciously eyeing them, asked, "Do you also perhaps wish to go +after the master?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said the traders, "Has he gone to Jerusalem?" +</P> + +<P> +"For the last time," said Judas, "so he says." +</P> + +<P> +"What!" said they, "for the last time? Is he then never going to leave +the land of Judea again?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why do you ask me this so eagerly?" said Judas, "do you wish to become +his followers?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" said the traders with a laugh, "if the prospects are good;" +and Dathan added, "Explain to us, Judas, the meaning of thy words that +he would bring you all to ruin." +</P> + +<P> +And Judas replied: "He tells us always to take no thought for the +morrow, but if today anything happened we should all be as poor as +beggars. Does a master care thus for his own?" +</P> + +<P> +"Truly," said the traders, "the lookout is bad." +</P> + +<P> +Then Judas related once more the story of Mary Magdalene's waste of +precious ointment. "And at the same time this very day he permitted +the most senseless waste which a foolish woman was guilty of, thinking +to obtain honor; and when I found fault with this I only met with +reproachful words and looks." +</P> + +<P> +"And thou canst still care for him after that?" said the traders +contemptuously, "and art still willing to remain with him? Thou +shouldst take thought for thine own future; it is high time." +</P> + +<P> +"So I have been thinking," said Judas, "but how can I find a good +opening?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Dathan, "Thou hast not long to seek, for the fairest +opportunity is awaiting thee." +</P> + +<P> +"Where? How?" said Judas eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"Hast thou not heard," said the traders, "of the proclamation of the +council? Such a good opportunity of making thy fortune thou wilt never +find again thy whole life long." +</P> + +<P> +Judas' eyes gleamed. "What proclamation?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +The traders said, "Whosoever gives information as to the nightly resort +of Jesus of Nazareth shall receive a large reward." +</P> + +<P> +"A large reward!" said Judas. +</P> + +<P> +"Now who," said they, "can earn it easier than thou?" +</P> + +<P> +Dathan muttered to himself, "We have nearly attained our end." +</P> + +<P> +The traders pressed Judas anew, "Brother, don't neglect this good +fortune." +</P> + +<P> +Judas said hesitatingly, "A fair opportunity. Shall I let it slip?" +</P> + +<P> +Then struck in Dathan, "The reward is not all. The council will look +after thee in the future. Who knows what might not yet come of it for +thee!" +</P> + +<P> +"Consent, friend! Strike the bargain," cried all the traders together. +</P> + +<P> +Judas hesitated one moment and then clasped Dathan's hand, saying, +"Well, be it so." +</P> + +<P> +"Come, Judas," said Dathan, "we will bring thee straightway to the +council." But Judas said, "No, I must first go after the master, and +so obtain information in order to make things sure." +</P> + +<P> +Dathan said, "Well, then, we will go to the council and report you in +the meantime. But when and where shall we meet?" +</P> + +<P> +"In three hours you will find me in the street of the temple," replied +Judas. +</P> + +<P> +Judas then shook hands all around with the traders. "Done!" exclaimed +Judas, as Dathan and the traders left him. +</P> + +<P> +Judas was now alone. He walked to and fro under the trees and said to +himself: "My word is given; I shall not repent of it. Shall I avoid +the good fortune which is coming to meet me? Yes, my fortune is made. +I will do what I promised, but will make them pay me in advance. If +then the priests succeed in taking him prisoner, if his reign is +over—I have assured my own prospects and will besides become famous +throughout all Judea, as a man who has helped to save the law of Moses, +and shall reap praise and glory. But if the master should gain the +victory, then—yes, then I will cast me down repentant at his feet, for +he is good. I have never seen him drive the penitent from him. He +will take me back again and then I shall have the credit of bringing +about the decision. Anyhow, I'll take good care to leave a bridge +behind so that should I be unable to go forward I can return. The plan +is well thought out. Judas, thou art a prudent man. And yet I feel a +little afraid to meet the master, for I shall not be able to bear his +keen, searching look, and my comrades will see by my face that I am +a——No, I will not be that. I am no traitor! What am I going to do +but let the Jews know where the master is to be found? That is no +betrayal. Betrayal is something more than that. Away with these +fancies! Courage, Judas, thy future is at stake." +</P> + +<P> +Judas, who had started with horror when he first mentioned the word +traitor, resolved to play his appointed role and departed to find Jesus. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER III. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE LAST SUPPER. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +O Judas, art thou blinded quite<BR> +By untamed greed of gold and gear?<BR> +And would thou sell thy master dear<BR> +For base gain? Shudders not thy soul in dire affright?<BR> +Thy lot has passed into the night,<BR> +Already doth thy doom appear.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"'Tis one of you that shall betray,"<BR> +Three times the Lord thus spoke to him—<BR> +Who's purposed his own soul to slay—<BR> +Yet is his conscience dull and dim,<BR> +For Satan rules his heart within<BR> +And lust for gold that's won by sin.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +"Oh Judas! but one moment stay.<BR> +Oh! finish not this foulest deed!"<BR> +But no! for deaf and blind with greed,<BR> +To the council Judas hastes away,<BR> +And there repeats in evil trade,<BR> +The bargain once with Dathan made.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +And it came to pass that when Peter and John were still on their way to +Jerusalem, Baruch, the servant of Mark, came out into the street with a +pitcher of water, which he went to get filled at the well. +</P> + +<P> +As he went he said to himself, "There is a great deal of business +today, there will be no lack of work this Passover; from the great +crowd of pilgrims we can expect nothing else. My master must expect +many guests as he is already making so much to-do in the house." When +he was drawing the water John and Peter came upon him. +</P> + +<P> +"See," said they, "there is someone at the well." +</P> + +<P> +Baruch, not noticing them, went on drawing the water, saying, "There +must be something exceptional at this Passover, seeing the way in which +the rulers of the council hasten about hither and thither." +</P> + +<P> +As he lifted the pitcher and turned to go Peter said, "This is he who +carries the pitcher of water that our master gave us for a sign." +</P> + +<P> +Then said John, "Let us follow him." +</P> + +<P> +Baruch looked around as he came to the door of his master's house, and, +seeing the disciples, said, "Will you come in with me, friends? You +are welcome." +</P> + +<P> +"We wish," said John, "to speak with your master." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," said Baruch, "you desire to take the Passover with us?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Peter, "the master desired us to bring this request to your +master." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Baruch, "Come with me. It will be a joy to my master to take +you into his house. There, see," he said as Mark came out of his +house, "there he is himself. See, master, I bring guests." +</P> + +<P> +"Welcome, strangers," said Mark, "how can I serve you?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Peter unto him, "Our teacher sent us to say unto thee, 'My +time is at hand. Where is the hall where I can eat the Passover with +my disciples, for my time is at hand. I will keep the Passover in thy +house with my disciples.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, joy!" exclaimed Mark, "now I recognize you as the disciples of the +miracle-worker who restored to me the light of my eyes. How have I +deserved that he should choose my house before all others that are in +Jerusalem in which to celebrate the Passover? Oh, fortunate man that I +am, that it should be my house which he honors with his presence. +Come, dear friends, I will at once show you the hall." +</P> + +<P> +Peter and John replied, "Good friend, we follow thee." And they went +into the house and found all things as Jesus had said unto them. +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +In the upper chamber which Mark had prepared for the Passover Jesus and +his disciples stood around a long table. Jesus stood in the center +with Peter on his right hand and John on his left. Judas, sullen and +scowling, sat next to Peter, and the other disciples were arranged in +their order. The table was covered with a white cloth with embroidered +edges. On the cloth stood a flagon of wine and several cups, and a +plate on which lay a loaf of bread. Jesus, standing in the midst, said +unto them, "With longing have I desired to eat this Passover with you +before I suffer, for I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof +until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Jesus then took the cup, +and lifting it with both hands, looked up to heaven and said, "I thank +thee for this fruit of the vine." Then drinking of it he passed the +cup to Peter, who also drank and passed it to Judas, who in his turn, +after drinking, passed it to the next disciple, and so on until it went +all around. "Take this," said Jesus, as he passed the cup to Peter, +"and divide it amongst yourselves, for I say unto you, I will not drink +henceforth of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-054"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-054.jpg" ALT=""Drinking of it he passed the cup to Peter."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="401" HEIGHT="559"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 401px"> +"Drinking of it he passed the cup to Peter." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Then exclaimed all the disciples together, "Alas, Lord, is this then +the last Passover?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said unto them, "There is a cup which I will drink with you in +the kingdom of God my Father. As it is written, 'Thou shalt make them +drink of the river of thy pleasures.'" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Peter unto him, "Master, when this kingdom shall appear, how +will the offices be portioned out?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who amongst us," said James the elder, "will have the first place?" +</P> + +<P> +Then Thomas said, "Will each one of us have lordship over a separate +land?" +</P> + +<P> +"That would be the best," said Bartholomew; "then no dispute would +arise amongst us." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus looked upon them and said, "So long a time have I been +amongst you and you are still entangled in earthly things? Verily, I +appoint unto you, which have continued with me in my temptations, the +kingdom which my Father has appointed unto me, that you may eat and +drink with me in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve +tribes of Israel. But, remember, the kings of the Gentiles exercise +lordship over them, and they that exercise authority over them are +called benefactors, but ye shall not be so. He that is greatest among +you, let him be as the least, and the chief as your servant. For +whether is greatest he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth? Is not +he that sitteth at meat; but I am among you as one that serveth." +</P> + +<P> +Thereupon John removed the long purple robe from the shoulders of +Jesus, and handed him a white linen towel, with which he girded himself +round the middle. Then came Baruch in, carrying a ewer of water and a +basin. As they looked in amazement one at another, Jesus said unto +them, "Now sit down, beloved disciples." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the disciples one to another, "What is he going to do?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus, turning to Peter, said, "Peter, reach me thy foot." +</P> + +<P> +Peter, starting backward in amazement, said, "Lord, dost thou wash my +feet?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus, "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know +hereafter." +</P> + +<P> +Peter replied stoutly, "Lord, thou shalt never to all eternity wash my +feet!" +</P> + +<P> +But Jesus said, "If I wash thee not thou shalt have no part with me." +</P> + +<P> +Peter said, "Lord, if it be so, then not my feet only, but also my +hands and my head." +</P> + +<P> +But Jesus answered, "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his +feet, but is clean every whit." Then stooping down Baruch poured the +water over the feet of Peter, and Jesus dried them with a towel. The +other disciples took the sandals off their feet, whispering to +themselves in wonder as to what this meant. Jesus washed the feet of +Judas as those of the others. Last of all he washed the feet of John +also. Then he washed his hands, Baruch pouring the water over them. +After which he took off the towel, and John placed his mantle once more +upon his shoulders. Looking round upon the twelve, he said, "Ye are +now clean, but not all." Jesus then seated himself in the midst of +them. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus unto them, "Do you know what I have done unto you? Ye +call me master and Lord, and ye do well, for so I am. If I then, your +Lord and master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one +another's feet. For I have given you an example that ye should do as I +have done unto you. Verily, verily, the servant is not greater than he +that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." +Then Jesus stood up again and said, "Children, but for a little while +shall I be with you. That my memory may never perish from among you, I +will leave behind an everlasting memorial, and so I shall ever dwell +with you and amongst you. The old covenant which my Father made with +Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has reached its end and I say unto you, a new +covenant begins, which I solemnly consecrate today with my blood, as +the Father has commanded me, and this covenant will last until all be +fulfilled." Jesus then took the bread, lifted it up before him, and +replacing it on the table, looked up to heaven and blessed it. Then, +lifting it up again, he broke it in two, saying, "Take, eat, this is my +body which was broken for you." Then passing around the table, he +placed a morsel of bread with his own hand in the mouth of each of his +disciples. All took it reverently, but Judas bit at it almost as a dog +snatcheth meat from its master's hands. After Jesus had returned to +his place, he said, "This do in remembrance of me." In like manner he +took the cup and blest it and said, "Take this, and drink ye all of it; +for this is the cup of the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for +you and for many for the remission of sins." Then passing round the +table again he gave each of them to drink, and returning to his place +he said, "As often as ye do this, do it in remembrance of me." During +the time Jesus went round the table administering the bread and wine to +his disciples, there was heard in the distance a chorus of angels +singing: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Oh! the lowly love and tender!<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">See the Saviour kneeling still</SPAN><BR> +At the feet of his disciples<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Loving service to fulfil.</SPAN><BR> +Oh! this love remember ever!<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Love as he has loved, and so</SPAN><BR> +Unto others render service<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">As your Lord has done to you.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P> +Then John in an ecstacy of affection exclaimed, "Oh, best of masters, +never will I forget thy love! Thou knowest that I love thee," and +leaning forward he laid his head on the breast of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +The rest of the twelve, who were sitting with clasped hands with the +exception of Judas, who sat apart moody and sullen, exclaimed together, +"O, Master, who art so full of love for us, ever will we remain united +with thee." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Peter, "This holy meal of the new covenant shall ever be +celebrated amongst us according to thy commandment." +</P> + +<P> +And Matthew added, "And as often as we shall keep it, we will remember +thee!" +</P> + +<P> +Then cried they all, "O, best teacher, O divine one! O best friend and +teacher!" +</P> + +<P> +And Jesus looking upon them said, "My children, abide in me, and I in +you! As the Father has loved me, so have I also loved you, continue ye +in my love. But, alas, must I say it! the hand of him who betrays me +is with me at the table!" Judas started, but the confusion of the +disciples caused his guilty look to be unnoticed. +</P> + +<P> +Several of the disciples exclaimed, "What! a traitor amongst us!" +</P> + +<P> +"Is it possible?" said Peter. +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, one of you shall +betray me." +</P> + +<P> +"Lord," said Andrew, "one of us twelve?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," replied Jesus, "one of the twelve who dipped his hand in the +dish with me shall betray me. So the Scriptures shall be fulfilled. +He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me." +</P> + +<P> +Thomas and Simon, speaking together with the same thought and same +words, asked, "Who can this faithless one be?" while Matthew said, +"Lord, thou seest all hearts, thou knowest that it is not I"—and the +two James cried, "Name him publicly, the traitor!" Then while these +words were on their lips, Judas, fearing lest his silence should be +observed, started forward and asked furtively, "Lord, is it I?" but +excepting by Jesus his words passed unnoticed. +</P> + +<P> +Thaddeus exclaimed, "I would rather give my life for thee than that +such a deed should be done;" and Bartholomew, "I would rather sink into +the earth with shame." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus, looking toward Judas said, "Thou hast said it." Turning to the +rest, Jesus continued, "The son of man goeth indeed as it is written of +him, but woe unto that man by whom the son of man is betrayed; better +were it for him that he had never been born!" +</P> + +<P> +Peter, leaning over to John, whispered to him to ask Jesus who it was. +Then John whispered to Jesus, saying, "Lord, who is it?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered, speaking so low as to be heard by John alone, "He it is +to whom I shall give a sop after having dipped it." +</P> + +<P> +The other apostles who had not heard this kept on asking, "Who can it +be?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus, taking a piece of bread, dipped it into a cup, and placed it in +the mouth of Judas, saying, "What thou doest, do quickly." +</P> + +<P> +Then Judas arose and hurried from the room. The disciples seeing his +departure wondered among themselves, and Thomas said to Simon, "Why +does Judas go away?" +</P> + +<P> +Simon replied, "Probably the master has sent him to buy something," +while Thaddeus added, "Or to distribute alms to the poor." +</P> + +<P> +Judas being now gone, Jesus spoke to the eleven, saying, "If God be +glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself and shall +straightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with +you. Ye shall seek me; but as I have said to the Jews, whither I go +you cannot come, even so now I say unto you." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Peter unto him, "Lord, whither goest thou?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered, "Whither I go thou canst not follow me now, but thou +shalt follow me later." +</P> + +<P> +Peter passionately cried, "Why can I not follow thee now? I will lay +down my life for thy sake." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus looked upon him with compassion and said, "Wilt thou lay +down thy life for my sake? Simon! Simon! Satan hath desired to have +thee that he may sift thee as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that +thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strength thy brethren! +This night all ye shall be offended because of me, for it is written, +'I shall smite the shepherd and the sheep of his flock shall be +scattered abroad.'" +</P> + +<P> +Peter answered, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. Lord, +I am ready to go with thee to prison and to death." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Peter, today, +even this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Peter, rising and clasping his hands, "Even if I should die +with thee, I would never deny thee," and the other ten disciples said +altogether with a loud voice, "Master, we also will always remain +faithful to thee; none of us will ever deny thee." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus unto them, "When I sent you out without purse or scrip, +or shoes, lacked ye anything?" +</P> + +<P> +All replied with one voice, "No, nothing." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus said, "But now I say unto you, let everyone take his purse +and likewise his scrip, and whosoever hath not a sword, let him sell +his coat and buy one, for now begins a time of trial; and I say unto +you that thus it is written, and it must yet be accomplished in me, +'And he was reckoned among the transgressors!'" +</P> + +<P> +Peter then and Philip each drew a sword from the scabbard which hung at +his side under his cloak, exclaiming, "Lord, see here are two swords." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus, "It is enough. Let us stand up and give thanks." +Then standing, Jesus and all the disciples said together with a loud +voice, "Praise the Lord, all ye people! Praise him, all ye nations! +for his merciful kindness is everlasting; the truth of the Lord +endureth forever." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus, leaving the table, advanced to the foreground and stood for +some time with his eyes raised to heaven, the disciples standing on +either side watching him with troubled faces. Shortly after he said +unto them, "Children, why are ye so sad and why look ye on me so +sorrowfully? Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, +believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions. I go to +prepare a place for you; and I will come again and receive you unto +myself, that where I am there ye may be also. I leave you not as +orphans. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Keep my +commandment. This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I +have loved you! By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, +if ye love one another. Hereafter I will not talk much to you, for the +prince of this world cometh, although he hath nothing in me. But that +the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me +commandment, so do I. Let us go hence." +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +The Sanhedrin was again in session. Caiaphas presided, Annas as before +sat on his left hand and Nathanael on his right. No sooner had all the +members of the assembly taken their seats than Caiaphas rose and with +radiant countenance began, "Assembled fathers, I have a joyful piece of +news to impart to you. The supposed prophet from Galilee will soon, we +hope, be in our hands. Dathan, the zealous Israelite, has won over one +of the most trusted companions of the Galilean, who will let himself be +employed as a guide, so that we may surprise him by night. Both are +here, only waiting a summons to appear before us." +</P> + +<P> +"Bring them in," cried with eager voices the priests and Pharisees. +</P> + +<P> +Josue volunteered, "I will call them." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, call them," said Caiaphas. When Josue left the room Caiaphas +asked their counsel as to the price which should be given for the +betrayal of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +Nathanael stood up and said, "The law of Moses gives direction for such +a case; a slave is valued at thirty pieces of silver." +</P> + +<P> +The priests laughed thereat and said, "Yea, yea, it is just the price +of a slave that the false Messiah is worth." +</P> + +<P> +Then came in Dathan and Judas, Josue conducting them into the presence +of the Sanhedrin. Dathan stood forward and said, "Most learned +council, I here fulfil the task entrusted to me, and present to the +fathers a man who is determined for a suitable reward to deliver our +and your enemy into our power. He is a trusted friend of the notorious +Galilean and knows his ways and his secret abiding places." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas to Judas, "Knowest thou the man whom the council +seeks?" +</P> + +<P> +Judas answered, "I have now been a long time in his company and know +where he is accustomed to abide." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "What is thy name?" +</P> + +<P> +He replied, "My name is Judas, and I am one of the twelve." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes," cried several of the priests, "we saw thee often with him." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas asked him, "Art thou steadfastly resolved to do our will?" +</P> + +<P> +Judas answered firmly, "I give you my word." +</P> + +<P> +"But," continued Caiaphas, "wilt thou not repent of it? What induced +thee to take this step?" +</P> + +<P> +Judas answered, "The friendship between him and me has been cooling +down for some time, and now I have quite broken with him." +</P> + +<P> +"What has led to this?" asked Caiaphas. +</P> + +<P> +Judas replied, "There is nothing more to be got from him and indeed I +am resolved to remain loyal to lawful authority, that is always the +best. What will you give me if I deliver him up to you?" +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas, speaking as if they were promising great things, said, +"Thirty pieces of silver, which shall be at once paid over to thee!" +</P> + +<P> +"Hear that, Judas?" cried Dathan, "thirty pieces of silver, what a +gain!" +</P> + +<P> +Before Judas could reply, Nathanael sprang to his feet, saying, "And +mark thee well, Judas, this is not all! If thou executest this work +right well thou shalt be cared for still further." +</P> + +<P> +"And thou mayest become a rich and famous man," added a priest. +</P> + +<P> +Judas said aloud, "I am contented," and added to himself, "Now the star +of hope is rising for me." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas to the rabbi who sat below the judgment seat arrayed +in blue velvet and gold, "Bring the thirty pieces of silver out of the +treasury, and pay it over in the presence of the council." +</P> + +<P> +"Is this your will?" he added, putting the question to the Sanhedrin. +</P> + +<P> +A great shout went up of "Yes, yes, it is." +</P> + +<P> +But some there were present who did not join in that cry. One of +these, Nicodemus, stood up and asked the Sanhedrin, "How can you +conclude so godless a bargain?" Then turning to Judas, he said, "And +thou, abject wretch, dost thou not blush to sell thy Lord and master, +thou God-forgetting traitor whom the earth shall swallow up? For +thirty pieces of silver wouldst thou now sell that most loving friend +and benefactor? O, pause while there is yet time. That blood-money +will cry to heaven for vengeance, will burn like hot iron thy +avaricious soul!" +</P> + +<P> +Judas, surprised by this sudden outburst, stood trembling and amazed. +Dathan, Caiaphas and the rest of the Sanhedrin displayed unmistakable +indignation at this unexpected intervention on the part of Nicodemus. +</P> + +<P> +Josue said: "Don't trouble yourself, Judas, about the speech of this +zealot; let him go and be a follower of the false prophet. Thou dost +thy duty as a disciple of Moses in serving the rightful authorities." +</P> + +<P> +Then came in the rabbi with the silver in a dish. "Come, Judas," said +he, "take the thirty pieces of silver and play the man," counting the +coins out on a stone table so that they chinked merrily as they fell. +</P> + +<P> +Judas snatched them up eagerly, testing them now and then to see if +they were genuine, and then transferred them piece by piece with +feverish haste to his bag, which he tied up when filled and replaced in +his girdle. Then, resuming his place on the left of the judgment seat, +he exclaimed: "You can rely upon my word." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said the priests, "the work must be accomplished before the +feast." +</P> + +<P> +Judas answered and said: "Even now the fairest opportunity offers +itself. This very night he shall be in your hands. Give me an armed +band so that he can be duly surrounded and every road of escape cut +off." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Annas, who up to now had not broken silence: "Let us send +with him the Temple Watch." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes," cried all the priests, "let us order them to go." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas said: "It would also be advisable to send some members of the +Holy Sanhedrin with them." +</P> + +<P> +Half the assembly sprang to their feet crying: "We are ready." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas said: "If the choice is left to me I appoint Nathan, Josaphat, +Solomon and Ptolomaus." Each of the four, as he was named, rose and +bowed low. +</P> + +<P> +Then, Caiaphas, turning to Judas, said: "But, Judas, how will the band +be able to distinguish the Master in the darkness?" +</P> + +<P> +Judas answered: "They must come with torches and lanterns and I will +give them a sign." +</P> + +<P> +"Excellent, Judas," cried the priests in approving chorus. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," said Judas, "I will hasten away to spy out everything. Then I +will come back to fetch the armed men." +</P> + +<P> +"I will go with you, Judas," said Dathan, "and will not leave your side +until this work is finished." +</P> + +<P> +"At the gate of Bethpage I will meet your people," said Judas, as he +departed, taking with him Dathan and the four priests to accompany him. +</P> + +<P> +When they had left the Sanhedrin Caiaphas addressed the assembly: "All +goes admirably, venerable fathers, but now we are called to look the +great question frankly in the face. What shall we do with this man +when God has delivered him into our hands?" +</P> + +<P> +Then: said Zadok: "Let us throw him into the deepest and darkest of +dungeons and keep him well watched and laden down with chains. Let him +be buried while still alive." +</P> + +<P> +This, however, did not please Caiaphas, so using the full might of his +eloquence and authority he continued: "Which of you would guarantee +that his friends would not raise a tumult and free him, or that the +guard might not be corrupted, or could he not break his fetters with +his abhorred magic arts?" The priests were silent. Caiaphas replied +in tones of the deepest conviction: "I see that ye neither know nor +understand. Then listen to the high priest. It is better that one man +should die and the whole nation perish not. He must die!" And as the +fatal words fell from the lips of Caiaphas the whole Sanhedrin was +moved. Caiaphas continued: "Until he is dead there is no peace in +Israel, no security for the law of Moses, and no quiet hours for us." +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had Caiaphas ended than the rabbi sprang to his feet exclaiming +in excited tones: "God has spoken through our high priest! Only by the +death of Jesus of Nazareth can and must the people of Israel be +delivered!" +</P> + +<P> +Nathanael exclaimed: "Long has the word lain upon my tongue! Now is it +uttered. Let him die, the foe of our fathers!" Then sprang all the +priests from their seats and with uplifted hands and eager voices +exclaimed: "Yes, he must die; in his death is our salvation!" When +they sat down, Annas, the aged high priest arose, and speaking with +intense bitterness, declared: "By my gray hairs let it be sworn, I will +never rest until our shame is washed out in the blood of this deceiver." +</P> + +<P> +Then stood up Nicodemus and said: "O, fathers, is it allowed to say one +word?" And all cried: "Yes, yes, speak, speak!" Then said Nicodemus: +"Is the sentence already pronounced upon this man before there has been +an examination or hearing of the witnesses? Is this a proceeding +worthy of the fathers of the people of God?" Nathanael said: "What! +Wilt thou accuse the council of injustice?" Zadok exclaimed: "Dost +thou know the holy law? Compare——" Nicodemus replied: "I know the +law; therefore also I know that the judge may not pass sentence before +witnesses are heard." "What need we any further witnesses?" cried +Josue. "We ourselves have often enough been witnesses to his speech +and his actions, by which he blasphemously outraged the law." +Nicodemus answered, unmoved by the clamor of the assembly: "Then you +yourselves are at once the accusers, the witnesses and the judges. I +have listened to his sublime teachings; I have seen his mighty deeds. +They call for belief and admiration; not for contempt and punishment." +</P> + +<P> +"What," exclaimed Caiaphas indignantly, "this scoundrel deserves +admiration! Thou wilt cleave to Moses and yet defendest thou that +which the law condemns? Ha! Fathers of Israel, the impious words call +for vengeance." +</P> + +<P> +The priests shouted: "Out with thee from our assembly, if thou persist +in this way of speaking!" when another voice is heard. +</P> + +<P> +Joseph of Arimathea stood forth on the opposite side of the hall and +said: "I must also agree with Nicodemus. No one has imputed any deed +to Jesus which makes him worthy of death; he has done nothing but good." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas: "Dost thou also speak in this wise? Is it not +known everywhere how he desecrated the Sabbath; how he has misled the +people by his seditious speeches? Hath he not also as a deceiver +worked his pretended miracles by the aid of Beelzebub? Has he not +given himself out as a God, when he is nothing but a man?" +</P> + +<P> +"You hear that?" cried the priests to Joseph. He remained standing and +continued saying: "Envy and malice have misrepresented his words and +imputed evil motives to the noblest acts. That he is a man come from +God his God-like acts testify." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha," cried Nathanael, with a laugh of scorn, "now we know thee. +Already for a long time hast thou been a secret follower of this +Galilean! Now, thou hast shown thyself in thy true colors!" +</P> + +<P> +Aged Annas, without leaving his seat, remarked: "So, then, we have in +our very midst traitors to our holy law, and even here has the deceiver +cast his net." +</P> + +<P> +"What do ye here, apostates?" cried Caiaphas. "Be off to your prophet, +to see him once more, before the hour strikes when he must die, for +that is irrevocably determined." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," cried all the priests. "Yes! die he must; that is our resolve." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Nicodemus, "I curse this resolution; I will neither have part +nor lot in this shameful condemnation." +</P> + +<P> +"And I also," said Joseph of Arimathea, "will quit this place where the +innocent are condemned to death. By God, I swear that my hands are +clean!" +</P> + +<P> +Gathering their robes together, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea +walked slowly out of the Sanhedrin. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Josue, "At last we are rid of these traitors. Now we can +speak out freely." Caiaphas, however, profiting by the protests of +Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, said to the assembly: "It will +certainly be necessary that we should sit formally in judgment upon +this man, to try him and to bring forth witnesses against him, +otherwise the people will believe that we have only persecuted him from +envy and hatred." +</P> + +<P> +Then said one Jacob, "Two witnesses at least the law requires," and +Samuel answered: "These shall not be lacking; I will provide them +myself." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Dariabbas, "Our decision stands firm, but in order not to +offend the weak it would be well to observe the usual forms of justice." +</P> + +<P> +"And," added Ezekiel complacently, "should these forms not suffice the +strength of our will we must supply what is lacking." +</P> + +<P> +And a rabbi said, "A little more or less guilty matters little, since +once for all the public weal demands that he should be removed." +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas said, "In securing the execution of our sentences it +would be safest if we could so contrive that the sentence of death +should be pronounced by the governor; then we should be clear of all +responsibility." +</P> + +<P> +"We can try," said Nathanael. "If it miscarries, it is still always +open to us to have our sentence carried out by our trusty friends in +the commotion of a great tumult, without ourselves being openly +responsible for anything." +</P> + +<P> +"And then," said the rabbi, "if the worst come we should have him in +our hands, and in the silence of a dungeon it will not be difficult to +find a more sure hand to deliver the Sanhedrin from its enemy." +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas arose and said, "Circumstances will teach us what should +be done. Now let us break up. But hold yourselves ready at any hour +of the night to be called together. There is no time to be lost. Our +resolution is, he must die." +</P> + +<P> +And all the members of the high council cried tumultuously: "Let him +die! Let him die! The enemy of our holy land!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IV. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BETRAYED BY A KISS. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +The foulest deed will soon be done<BR> +That earth or hell displays—<BR> +Alas! ere this night's course be run<BR> +Judas his Lord betrays!<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Come now, ye faithful souls draw nigh<BR> +See Jesus suffer, bleed and die,<BR> +Now has begun the anguished fight<BR> +Beyond in dark Gethsemane.<BR> +O, sinners never let this night<BR> +For evermore forgotten be!<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +For your salvation this has been<BR> +Which on the mountain we have seen,<BR> +When, sorrowing unto death, he sank<BR> +To earth, it was for you—<BR> +'Twas for your sake the damp turf drank<BR> +Those drops of crimson dew.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +In the twilight of the same day there were gathered together in the +neighborhood of the Mount of Olives those appointed by the Sanhedrin to +seize Jesus. Judas was there with Dathan and the other traders, as +well as the four priests sent by Caiaphas to see that all things went +well. With them came the Temple Watch under the command of one Selpha, +in steel helmet and steel-embossed leather cuirass. The watch +consisted of twenty men in armor, two of whom carried long clubs set +with spikes, two bore braziers of burning coals, while the rest carried +spears. Conspicuous among the watch were Malchus, the high priest's +servant, and Balbus. They approached stealthily, and Judas addressed +them, saying, "Now be careful! We are now approaching the place +whither the Master has withdrawn himself." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Solomon, one of the priests, "I suppose the disciples will +not perceive us too soon." +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Judas, "they rest unconcerned and dream nothing of any +attack. As to any resistance, there is nothing of that to fear." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the Temple Watch aloud, "Should they try it they shall feel +the weight of our arms." +</P> + +<P> +"You will seize him," said Judas, "without a single sword stroke." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said Josue, "how shall we know him in the darkness so as not to +arrest another in place of the one we desire?" +</P> + +<P> +"I shall give you a sign," said Judas, "when we are in the garden; then +look out. I will hasten up to him, and the man whom I shall kiss; that +is he; bind him!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Korah, "Good, this sign will prevent us from making any +mistake." +</P> + +<P> +Ptolomaus, the priest, then turned to the watch and said, "Do you hear? +You will know the master by a kiss!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes," cried the soldiers, "we shall not miss him." +</P> + +<P> +"Now," said Judas, "let us make haste; it is time. We are not far from +the garden." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Josue to Judas, "Judas, if tonight brings us good fortune, +thou wilt profit by the fruit of thy work." +</P> + +<P> +The traders added, "We, too, will recompense thee richly." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried all the soldiers together, "Now look out, thou stirrer-up of +the people, thou wilt soon have thy reward." Thereupon the whole +company moved off into the darkness and remained hidden in an ambush +until the signal should be given. +</P> + +<P> +After a time Jesus and his disciples entered the garden of Gethsemane. +Jesus spoke unto them, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye +shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; ye shall be +sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy, for I will see you +again and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh from +you. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world. I leave +the world again and go unto the Father." +</P> + +<P> +"Lo," said Peter, "now thou speakest plainly and no more in parables." +</P> + +<P> +Then said James the Greater, "Now we see that thou knowest all things, +and hast no need that one should ask thee anything." +</P> + +<P> +And Thomas added, "Therefore we believe that thou comest forth from +God." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered them saying, "Do ye now believe? Behold the hour +cometh, yea, is already come, when ye shall be scattered every man to +his own and leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with +me. Yes, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son that thy Son also +may glorify thee. I have finished the work which thou hast given me to +do. I have manifested thy name to those thou gavest me out of the +world. Holy Father, keep them in thy name; sanctify them in the truth. +Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on +me through their word; that they may all be one, as thou, Father, art +in me, and I in thee. Father, I will pray that they also whom thou +hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory +which thou hast given me, for thou lovedst me before the foundation of +the world." Then turning to the disciples who were following him into +the garden he said in a voice which was broken with sorrow: "Children, +sit down here while I go and pray yonder. Pray that ye enter not into +temptation; but you, Peter, James and John follow me." Eight of the +disciples then sat down on the ground under the trees, while Jesus went +forward with the three. +</P> + +<P> +Bartholomew said, "Never have I seen him so sad;" and James the Less +replied, "My heart is also laden down with sadness;" while Matthew +cried, "Ah, that this night were passed with its weary hours." And +another apostle exclaimed, "Not in vain has our master prepared us for +this." +</P> + +<P> +Philip said, "Dear brothers, we will sit down here and rest until he +comes back." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Thomas, "that we will, for I am utterly worn out and weary." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus, who had come forward with Peter, James and John, said unto +them, "Ah, beloved children, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto +death. Tarry ye here and watch with me." Then after a pause he added, +"I will go a little further apart in order to strengthen myself by +communion with the Father." +</P> + +<P> +As Jesus with slow and staggering steps went toward the grotto, Peter +cried, looking after him, "Ah, dear good master," and John exclaimed, +"My soul is suffering with our teacher." +</P> + +<P> +As they sat down Peter said, "I am very anxious." +</P> + +<P> +James said, "Why does our dear master thus separate us from one +another?" +</P> + +<P> +John replied, "Alas, we are to be witnesses," and Peter continued, "Ye +know, brethren, we were the witnesses of his transfiguration on the +mountain, but now, what is it that we have to see?" +</P> + +<P> +Slowly Peter, James and John, who were sitting apart, fell asleep. +</P> + +<P> +Jesus having reached the grotto, said, "This hour must come upon +me—the hour of darkness. For this it was that I came into the world." +Then falling upon his knees he clasped his hands, and looking up to +heaven cried, with a great and pitiful voice, "Father, my Father! If +it be possible, and with thee all things are possible, let this cup +pass from me!" Then Jesus fell upon his face on the ground and +remained silent for a while. Then again he rose upon his knees and +cried, "Yes, Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt!" Then standing +up, he looked toward heaven and slowly returned to the three disciples. +</P> + +<P> +And lo, when he approached he found them asleep. "Simon," he said. +</P> + +<P> +Simon Peter, as in a dream, rubbed his head and said, "Alas, my master." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said, "Simon, dost thou sleep?" +</P> + +<P> +Peter, rousing himself, said, "Master, here I am." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said, "Could you not watch with me one hour?" +</P> + +<P> +Peter cried, "O, Master, forgive." +</P> + +<P> +The apostles said, "Rabbi, sleep has overpowered us." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." +</P> + +<P> +The apostles answered, "Yes, Lord, we will watch and pray." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus unto them; "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh +is weak." So saying he turned from them, and again slowly walked +toward the grotto. +</P> + +<P> +Praying he said, "My Father, thy demand is just, thy decrees are holy, +thou claimest this sacrifice." Then falling upon his knees, he prayed, +saying, "Father, the strife is hot." Falling upon his face he remained +silent for a time, then raising himself again he cried, "Yes, Father, +if this cup may not pass from me unless I drink it, Father thy will be +done." Then standing up he said, "Holy One, it will be completed by me +in righteousness." +</P> + +<P> +Then once more he came back to his sleeping disciples; this time he did +not rouse them. +</P> + +<P> +"Are also your eyes so heavy that you could not watch?" he said. "Ah, +my most trusted ones, even among you I find no consolation." +</P> + +<P> +Then returning over the rocky road which led to the grotto he paused +for a moment in sorrow, while a great sorrow overwhelmed him. "Oh, how +dark it grows around me; the anguish of death encompasses me! The +burden of God's judgment lies upon me! Oh, the sins! Oh, the sins of +mankind! They weigh me down. Oh, the fearful burden; oh, the +bitterness of this cup!" Then coming to the grotto again, he cried, +"My Father!" and falling down he prayed, "If it is not possible that +this hour pass away from me, thy will be done! Thy holiest will! +Father! Thy son! Hear him!" +</P> + +<P> +Then from out of the darkness a bright and shining angel in white +apparel and with radiant wings descended upon him. And out of the +silence were heard these words, "O, Son of Man, sanctify the Father's +will! Look upon the blessedness which will proceed from thy struggles. +The Father has laid it upon thee to become the sacrifice for sinful +man. Carry it through to the end. The Father will glorify thee!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus, "Yes, most Holy Father, I adore thy Providence; I will +complete the work—to reconcile—to save, to bless!" Then standing up +he cried in a more joyous tone, "Strengthened by thy word, O Father! I +go joyfully to meet that to which thou hast called me, as the +substitute for sinful man." +</P> + +<P> +With lighter step he returned to the place where the three disciples +lay slumbering peacefully. He looked upon them and said, "Sleep now +and take your rest." +</P> + +<P> +Peter, hearing his voice, said, "What is it, master?" +</P> + +<P> +Then all three answered, "Behold, we are ready." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus, "The hour is come; the son of man is betrayed into the +hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going." +</P> + +<P> +Even as he spoke these words the tramp of armed men was heard in the +immediate neighborhood of the garden mingled with loud cries of +denunciation and vengeance. +</P> + +<P> +"What is that uproar?" said the apostles. +</P> + +<P> +"Come," said Philip, who hurried from behind with the rest of the +eight, "Come, let us gather around the master." At that word the +disciples hastened forward. +</P> + +<P> +"Behold," said Jesus, "he who betrayeth me is at hand." The disciples +looked in the direction which Jesus indicated, and there by the flaring +light of the braziers carried by the Temple Watch, they saw Judas +advancing at the head of his band. +</P> + +<P> +"What does this multitude want?" said Andrew. +</P> + +<P> +For an answer all the disciples cried as with one voice, "Alas! we are +undone!" +</P> + +<P> +"And see," cried John, "Judas is at their head." +</P> + +<P> +Even as he said this, Judas, with long and stealthy steps, sprang +forward, looking from side to side as he came, until he stopped +immediately behind Jesus; then standing on tiptoe he reached over the +shoulder of Jesus and kissed him, saying, "Hail, Master." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-085"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-085.jpg" ALT=""He reached over and kissed him."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="402" HEIGHT="616"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 402px"> +"He reached over and kissed him." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Jesus answered, "Friend, wherefore art thou come? Betrayest thou the +son of man with a kiss?" Then stepping forward to meet the armed band, +he faced them fearlessly and said, "Whom seek ye?" +</P> + +<P> +A loud and angry shout went up from the soldiers: "Jesus of Nazareth!" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus said, "I am he." +</P> + +<P> +As he uttered these word the soldiers fell backward to the ground, +crying, "Woe unto us! What is this?" +</P> + +<P> +The disciples exultantly cried, "One single word from him casts them to +the ground." +</P> + +<P> +But Jesus said to the soldiers, "Fear not; arise." +</P> + +<P> +As they regained their feet the disciples whispered eagerly to Jesus +saying, "Lord, cast them down so that they shall never rise again." +</P> + +<P> +But Jesus a second time asked, "Whom seek ye?" +</P> + +<P> +Again the crowd replied, "Jesus of Nazareth." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus said, "I have already told you that I am he; if therefore, +ye seek me, let these go their way." +</P> + +<P> +Selpha, the leader of the band, cried, "Seize him!" The soldiers +approached Jesus, Malchus and Balbus carrying in their hands a small +cord, and grasped him by the wrists in order to bind him. +</P> + +<P> +Peter and Philip asked Jesus, saying, "Lord, shall we smite with the +sword?" Before Jesus replied, Peter's sword flashed from its sheath +and descended on the head of Malchus. The helmet turned the descending +blade, and instead of splitting his skull it only sliced off his ear. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas!" cried Malchus, "I am wounded; my ear is off." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jesus to the disciples, "Suffer ye thus far," and reaching +forward to Malchus he said, "Be not troubled; thou shalt be healed." +And touching his ear, that moment it was made whole. Malchus felt his +ear with astonishment. His comrades satisfied themselves that the ear +was as the other and stood motionless, while Jesus turned to Peter and +said, "Put up thy sword into its sheath, for all they who take the +sword shall perish with the sword. The cup which the Father hath +given, shall I not drink it? Thinkest thou I cannot now pray to my +Father, and he would presently give me more than twelve legions of +angels? But how, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it +must be?" Then turning to the Pharisees he said, "Are ye come out as +against a thief with swords and staves to take me? I sat daily with ye +in the temple teaching, and ye took me not. But this is your hour and +the power of darkness. Behold, I am here!" +</P> + +<P> +"Surround him!" cried Selpha; "bind him fast that he escape not." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Nathanael, whose eager zeal to destroy Jesus had led him to +join the soldiers, "You are responsible to the council that he does not +escape." At Selpha's command Malchus and Balbus had seized Christ, and +were busily engaged in tying his hands together with cords. Slowly, +one by one, the disciples stole away, leaving Jesus alone in the midst +of his captors. +</P> + +<P> +In reply to Nathanael, the soldiers said, "Out of our hands he will not +escape." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried with a loud voice the traders, with Dathan at their head, +"Now, we will wreak our vengeance." And Dathan added, "Dost thou still +remember what thou didst to us in the temple?" +</P> + +<P> +Josaphat said to the other Pharisees, "We will hasten on into the city. +The Sanhedrin will be awaiting our arrival with impatience." +</P> + +<P> +The traders replied, "But we will not leave this scoundrel for an +instant." +</P> + +<P> +"First," said Nathanael, "we must go to the High Priest Annas. Lead +him thither!" +</P> + +<P> +Selpha said, "We follow thee!" +</P> + +<P> +As the band prepared to obey the word of command a trader came up to +Judas and said approvingly, "Thou art a man, indeed. Thou knowest how +to keep thy word." +</P> + +<P> +Judas complacently answered, "Did I not tell you that he would be in +your power today?" +</P> + +<P> +The Pharisees said, "Thou hast placed the whole council under an +obligation to thee." +</P> + +<P> +The procession then went off, leading Jesus to the palace of Annas. +The Temple Watch formed behind Jesus, who with his hands bound before +him, was thrown violently forward by Malchus and Balbus, who held the +other ends of the cords which bound him, and marched behind him. They +cried, "On with thee! In Jerusalem they will settle your affair!" +</P> + +<P> +Selpha, who marched at the head of his band, cried, "Let us hasten; +lead him away carefully." +</P> + +<P> +And all the band shouted, "Ha, run now as thou hast hitherto run to and +fro about the land of Judea." +</P> + +<P> +"Spare him not!" said Selpha, "drive him on!" +</P> + +<P> +"Forward," shouted the soldiers, shouting together; "otherwise thou +shalt be driven on with staves." +</P> + +<P> +And as they marched away, driving Jesus before them the traders derided +him, saying, "Doth Beelzebub, then, aid thee no longer?" +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +It was dark night and there was silence in the street before the house +of Annas, the high priest, when his door opened and Annas, attended by +Esdras, Sidrach and Missel, came upon the balcony. "I can find no rest +this night," said Annas, looking impatiently down the street, "until I +know that this disturber of the peace is in our hands. Oh, if he were +only safe, and in fetters. Full of longing and anxiety I await the +arrival of my servants with the joyful news." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Esdras, "They cannot be much longer, for it is a good while +since they went away." +</P> + +<P> +"In vain has my troubled gaze looked up and down the street of Kedron. +But nothing can I see and nothing hear. Go, my Esdras, go toward the +Kedron gate and see." +</P> + +<P> +"I will hasten out," said Esdras, hurrying away as quickly as his +short, squat figure would allow. +</P> + +<P> +Annas, walking about impatiently, tormented by misgivings as to the +success of the enterprise, began: "It would be a blow to the Sanhedrin +if this time the work should not succeed." +</P> + +<P> +Sidrach said, "Do not give away to anxiety, high priest," and Missel +added, "There is no doubt of our success." +</P> + +<P> +Annas, heeding not the consolation of his priests, said, "They may have +altered their way and returned through the Siola Gate. I must send to +see also on that side." +</P> + +<P> +Sidrach said, "If the high priest wishes it I will go to the Siola +Gate." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, do," said Annas, "but first see whether anyone comes through the +street of the Sanhedrin." +</P> + +<P> +"I will not loiter, my lord," said Sidrach, as he disappeared in the +darkness. +</P> + +<P> +Annas resumed his troubled thoughts. "The night is going by, and still +the old uncertainty. Every minute of this weary waiting time is as an +hour to me. Hark, I think some one comes running! Yes, he comes. +Surely there will be good tidings." +</P> + +<P> +Sidrach, bursting into the presence of the high priest, exclaimed, "My +lord, Esdras comes in haste. I saw him just now running down the +street with rapid foot." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Annas, "Surely it is joyful news that he brings since he +hastens so. Truly, I long for nothing now but the death of this +malefactor." +</P> + +<P> +Then came Esdras, breathless with haste, crying, "Hail to the high +priest. I have seen the fathers who were sent to Judas. All has gone +according to your wish. The Galilean is in bonds. I heard it from +their mouth, and hurried as fast as I could to bring the joyful news in +haste to thee." +</P> + +<P> +Annas cried, "Oh, heavenly message! Auspicious hour! A stone is +lifted from my heart; I feel as if I were born again. Now for the +first time can I rejoice to call myself high priest of the chosen +people." +</P> + +<P> +Then came in to Annas, Judas and the four Pharisees, who had been sent +by the council to accompany him, crying, "Long live our high priest!" +</P> + +<P> +Nathanael exclaimed, "The wish of the council is accomplished." +</P> + +<P> +Annas said, "Oh, I must embrace you for joy. So, then, our plan has +succeeded. Judas, thy name shall take an honorable place in our +annals. Even before the feast shall the Galilean die." +</P> + +<P> +Judas, whom the Pharisees had brought in with the prisoner, startled by +that word, sprang back, repeating incredulously, "Die!" +</P> + +<P> +"His death is declared!" said Annas. +</P> + +<P> +"For his life and blood," cried Judas, "I will not be responsible." +</P> + +<P> +"That is unnecessary," said Annas coolly, "he is in our power." +</P> + +<P> +"But," persisted Judas passionately, "I have not delivered him over to +you for that." +</P> + +<P> +"Thou hast delivered him over," said the Pharisees, "and the rest is +our business." +</P> + +<P> +Repulsed on every side, Judas, striking his forehead with his hand, +cried, "Woe is me; what have I done? Shall he die? No! That I did +not wish. That I will not have." +</P> + +<P> +As he hurried into the street the Pharisees laughed at him and said, +"Whether thou wilt have it or not, die he must." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the priests to Annas, "High priest, the prisoner is at the +threshold." +</P> + +<P> +Annas said, "Let Selpha, with as many of the watch as are necessary, +bring him up here, while the rest await him below." Then was Jesus +brought before Annas on the balcony in custody with Selpha, the leader +of the Temple Watch and the two servants of the temple, Malchus and +Balbus, holding the cords by which Jesus was bound. The rest of the +watch remained in the street below. +</P> + +<P> +Selpha bowed low as he entered and said, "High priest, in accordance +with thy command the prisoner now stands at thy bar." +</P> + +<P> +When Annas saw Jesus he said, "Have you brought him alone as prisoner?" +</P> + +<P> +Balbus answered, "His disciples dispersed like timid sheep." +</P> + +<P> +Selpha said, "We did not find it worth the trouble to arrest them. +Nevertheless Malchus almost lost his life." +</P> + +<P> +"How did that happen?" asked Annas. +</P> + +<P> +"One of his followers," said Selpha, "with a drawn sword smote him and +cut off his ear." +</P> + +<P> +"How could that be?" said Annas, looking first at one side of Malchus' +head and then at the other. "It has left no mark; there is nothing to +be seen." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," said Balbus, mocking, "the magician has conjured it back again." +</P> + +<P> +"What sayest thou to that?" asked Annas. Malchus replied seriously, "I +cannot explain it. It is a miracle that has happened to me." +</P> + +<P> +Annas frowned, "Has the deceiver also bewitched thee?" he asked, and +then turning to Jesus said to him, "Say, by what power hast thou done +this?" Jesus did not answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Speak," said Selpha, "when the high priest asks thee." +</P> + +<P> +"Speak," said Annas. "Give an account of thy disciples and thy +teaching, which thou hast spread abroad over the whole land of Judea +and with which thou hast corrupted the people." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus answered and said unto him, "I spake openly to the world, I +ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, and in secret I taught +nothing. What askest thou me? Ask them that heard me what I have +spoken. Behold, they know what I have said." +</P> + +<P> +Balbus, who was standing on the left hand of Jesus holding one end of +the cord by which his hands were bound, struck him over the face a +resounding blow, saying, "Answerest thou the high priest so?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but +if I have spoken well why smitest thou me?" +</P> + +<P> +Then Annas exclaimed, "Wilt thou even now defy us, when thy life and +death are in our power? I am weary of this villain!" and gave the +signal for Jesus to be removed. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," said Balbus, as he roughly thrust him forward, "wait a little. +Thy obstinacy will vanish." +</P> + +<P> +As Jesus was being led down the steps Annas exclaimed, "I will go in +now for a little while to rest, or rather to meditate quietly as to how +the work so happily begun may be brought to an end. In any case the +summons to the Sanhedrin will reach me at an early hour in the +morning." Annas then entered into his own house, leaving Jesus in the +street below in the midst of the soldiers. As Selpha appeared bringing +Jesus into the street the watch cried out loudly, "Ha, is this business +already over?" +</P> + +<P> +Selpha said, "His defense has turned out badly," and Balbus added, +"After all it gained him a smart slap over the face." +</P> + +<P> +Selpha said, "Take him now and away with him to the palace of Caiaphas." +</P> + +<P> +"Off with him," cried the soldiers tumultuously. +</P> + +<P> +"Lift up thy feet. Cheer up!" said Balbus, mocking, "Thou wilt have a +still better reception from Caiaphas," and the soldiers shouted as they +marched, "There will be the raven's croak about thine ears!" +</P> + +<P> +When Jesus was taken from the house of Annas he was led through the +streets, the band accompanying him, shouting as they went. On their +way to the Sanhedrin they led Jesus down the street which passed +Pilate's house, and as they went they cried to him with riotous +laughter, "Thou shalt become a laughing stock for the whole nation!" +</P> + +<P> +Balbus said unto him scoffingly, "Make haste! Thy disciples are quite +ready to proclaim thee King of Israel." +</P> + +<P> +And the soldiers laughed as they said, "Thou hast often dreamed of +this; is it not so?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Selpha, "Caiaphas will soon explain this dream to him." +</P> + +<P> +And Balbus, seeing that Jesus opened not his mouth, and was silent, +shouted in his ear, "Dost thou hear? Caiaphas will announce to thee +thy exaltation to a high position!" +</P> + +<P> +A great burst of hoarse laughter from the watch followed, as they +shouted, "An exalted position between heaven and earth!" +</P> + +<P> +"Look out, you fellows!" cried Selpha, "there through the hall of +Pilate's lies our nearest way to the palace of Caiaphas. There, +station yourselves in the courtyard until further orders." +</P> + +<P> +The soldiers answered, "Thy command shall be fully obeyed!" +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had the noisy soldiery passed with their prisoner out of the +street than Peter and John appeared before the house of Annas. Then +said Peter, "How will it fare here with our good master? Oh, John, how +anxious I am about him!" +</P> + +<P> +John answered, "He is certain to have to suffer here scorn and ill +treatment. I am very much afraid of approaching the house." +</P> + +<P> +Peter said, "But it is so silent about here." +</P> + +<P> +John replied, "One hears not a sound in the place. Could they have +taken him away again?" +</P> + +<P> +As they were talking Esdras came out from the house of Annas and asked, +"What do you want at the palace at this time of night?" +</P> + +<P> +John answered, "Forgive us; we saw a number of people from afar come +hither from the Kedron Gate, and we came here in order to see what had +happened." +</P> + +<P> +Esdras answered, "They have brought in a prisoner, but he has already +been sent to Caiaphas." +</P> + +<P> +"To Caiaphas," said the disciples, "then we will go away at once." +</P> + +<P> +"You had better, otherwise I will have you taken, up as night +brawlers," said Esdras. +</P> + +<P> +"We will go away quietly and make no disturbance," said Peter, meekly. +</P> + +<P> +As they went the priest, looking after them, said, "Perhaps they are +followers of the Galilean. If I only knew. However, they will not +escape our people if they go to the palace of Caiaphas. The whole of +his following must be destroyed. Otherwise the people will never be +brought into obedience." He then returned into the house. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER V. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +PETER COMMITS PERJURY. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">How bleeds my heart!</SPAN><BR> +The Holiest stands before the judgement seat.<BR> +The malice of sinners he must bear,<BR> +Betrayed and outraged, bound and beaten there.<BR> +O, sons of men, your faces veil this day!—<BR> +The scarred form is touched by impious hands,<BR> +From Annas dragged to Caiaphas away,<BR> +What's here foreshadowed, see, fulfilled it stands.<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">See Jesus, how in silence he</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">Bears outrage, blows and mockery!</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 4em">O! what a man!</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">Oh, hearts of men who now draw near,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">Melt with compassion when you see</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">Bowed down in deepest misery!</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 4em">O! what a man!</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Caiaphas, in his bed chamber, wearing a dressing gown, surrounded by +priests, exulted over the news which had been brought him of the arrest +of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +"This happy capture," said he, "promises us a fortunate realization of +our wishes. I thank you, noble members of the Sanhedrin, for zealous +and prudent co-operation." +</P> + +<P> +But the priests with one voice cried, "The greatest share of praise +belongs to our high priest!" +</P> + +<P> +"Now," said Caiaphas, "let us pursue our path without delay. +Everything is ready! The council will immediately be assembled. The +necessary witnesses have already been brought along. I shall now +without losing a moment, at once begin the trial of the prisoner. Then +judgment shall be pronounced and provision made that it shall be +executed. The quicker the execution the surer the result!" +</P> + +<P> +Dathan said, "It would be advisable to get everything over before our +adversaries recover their senses." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas replied, "I have encountered this necessity. Trust me, my +friends. I have thought of a plan. I hope to carry it out." +</P> + +<P> +At this Zadok said, "The wisdom of our high priest deserves our fullest +confidence," and then cried they all, "the God of our fathers bless all +his measures!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Selpha, the leader of the band, brought Jesus into the chamber of +Caiaphas, the high priest, Balbus and Malchus holding the cords by +which his hands were bound. +</P> + +<P> +"Illustrious High Priest, here is the prisoner," said Selpha. +</P> + +<P> +"Bring him nearer," said Caiaphas, "so that I may look him in the face +and question him." +</P> + +<P> +"Step forward," said Selpha, "and show respect here to the head of the +Sanhedrin." +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas, having looked into the face of Jesus, said to him +disdainfully, "Thou art he then who dreamed of bringing about the +destruction of the synagogue, and the law of Moses?" Then assuming a +more judicial tone, he said, "Thou art accused that thou hast stirred +up the people to disobedience, that thou hast despised the holy +traditions of the fathers, that thou hast transgressed the divine +command for the keeping of the Sabbath day, and that thou hast even +been guilty of many blasphemous speeches and acts. Here," Caiaphas +continues, pointing to five Jews who had entered the chamber at the +same time as Selpha brought in Jesus, and had taken their stand on the +left of the high priest, confronting the accused, "Here stand honorable +men who are prepared to prove the truth, of these accusations by their +testimony. Hear them and then thou mayest answer if thou canst." +</P> + +<P> +Then stood forth the first witness and spoke, saying, "I can testify +before God that this man has stirred up the people by openly denouncing +the members of the council and the scribes as hypocrites, ravening +wolves in sheeps' clothing, blind leaders of the blind, and has +declared that no one shall follow their work." At this the members of +the Sanhedrin smiled approvingly one to another. +</P> + +<P> +The second witness said, "I can also testify to this, and can still +further declare that he has forbidden the people to pay tribute to +Caesar." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," interrupted the first witness, "at any rate he has dropped words +of double meaning about that." +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas turned to Jesus and said, "What sayest thou unto this?" +He paused for a reply, but Jesus opened not his mouth. Then said +Caiaphas, "Art thou silent? Hast thou nothing to answer?" But Jesus +never answered a word. +</P> + +<P> +The third witness took up his testimony. "I have often seen how he +with his disciples, in defiance of the law, has eaten with unwashed +hands; how he has become accustomed to hold friendly intercourse with +publicans and sinners and go into their houses to eat with them." +</P> + +<P> +"That we have also seen," cried the other witnesses together. "I have +heard many credible people say that he has even spoken with Samaritans, +and indeed has lived with them for days together." +</P> + +<P> +Then the first witness began to speak again: "I was a witness how he +has done on the Sabbath what is forbidden by God's law, in that he +healed sick and infirm people without fear on that day. He has seduced +others to break the Sabbath; he ordered a man to take up his bed and +carry it to his house." The second witness joined in, "I also can +testify to this." +</P> + +<P> +Again Caiaphas turned to Jesus and said, "What has thou to say against +this evidence?" And after a pause, seeing that Jesus still spoke not, +he said, "Hast thou nothing to say in reply?" But Jesus spoke not. +</P> + +<P> +Then said the third witness, addressing himself to Jesus, "Thou hast, +for I was present, taken upon thyself to forgive sins, which belongs to +God alone. Thou hast, therefore, blasphemed God." +</P> + +<P> +Then again spoke the first witness, "Thou hast called God thy Father, +and hast dared to declare that thou art one with the Father. Thou hast +therefore made thyself equal to God." +</P> + +<P> +The second witness added, "Thou hast exalted thyself above our father +Abraham. Thou didst say, 'Before Abraham was, I am.'" +</P> + +<P> +Then spoke the fourth witness, who said, "Thou hast said, 'I can +destroy the temple of God, and in three days build it up again.'" +</P> + +<P> +The fifth witness, who had not hitherto spoken, stood forward and said, +"I have heard thee say, 'I will destroy this temple which is made with +hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'" +This concluded the testimony of the witnesses. +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas, turning to Jesus, spoke to him with indignation: "So +thou hast claimed to possess a superhuman divine power? These are +serious accusations, and they are legally proved; answer if thou +canst." Jesus remaining silent, Caiaphas resumed, "Thou thinkest that +by silence thou canst save thyself. Thou darest not to admit before +the fathers and judges of the people what thou hast taught before the +people. Or dost thou dare?" Then rising to his utmost height, and +stretching his hand on high, Caiaphas continued, "Hear, then, I, the +high priest, adjure thee by the living God. Say—art thou the Messiah, +the Son of the Most High?" and as he uttered the sacred name Caiaphas +crossed his arms and dropped his head on his breast. +</P> + +<P> +For a moment there was silence, then Jesus answered and said, "Thou +hast said it, and so I am. Nevertheless, I say unto you, hereafter ye +shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of God in power and +coming in the clouds of heaven." +</P> + +<P> +As Jesus spoke these words, the members of the council started in +horror, and Caiaphas rending his robe, exclaimed with a loud voice, "He +has blasphemed God! What need have we of any further witnesses? You +yourselves have heard the blasphemy. What think ye?" +</P> + +<P> +And all the members of the council cried together, "He is worthy of +death." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "He is thus unanimously declared worthy of death. +But not I, not the council, but the law of God pronounces the death +sentence upon him. You teachers of the law, I call upon you to answer; +what does the holy law say of him who is guilty of disobedience to the +authorities appointed by God?" Then stood up Josue, and unrolling the +book of the law read therefrom: "The man that will do presumptuously +and will not hearken to the priest that standest to minister there +before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shalt die, +and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel." +</P> + +<P> +Then again said Caiaphas, "What does the law decree concerning him who +profaneth the Sabbath?" +</P> + +<P> +Then Ezekiel stood up and read, "Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore, +for it is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it shall surely be +put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein that soul shall be +cut off from his people." +</P> + +<P> +Then asked Caiaphas, "How does the law punish the blasphemer?" +</P> + +<P> +Then stood up Nathanael, and unrolling the book of the law, read: +"Speak unto the children of Israel saying, whosoever curseth his God +shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord he +shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly +stone him, as well the stranger as him that is born in this land." +</P> + +<P> +"Thus," said Caiaphas, "is the judgment pronounced upon this Jesus of +Nazareth—pronounced according to law, and shall be carried out as +speedily as possible. Meanwhile I will have the condemned placed under +safe guard. Lead him forth, guard him, and by the safe dawn of the +morning bring him to the Great Sanhedrin." +</P> + +<P> +"Come, then, Messiah," said Selpha, roughly, "we will show thee thy +palace." +</P> + +<P> +"There thou shalt receive due homage," said Balbus, as he placed his +hand on the shoulder of Jesus, and marched him out of the chamber. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas exultingly, "We are approaching the goal. Now, +however, resolute steps are necessary." +</P> + +<P> +The priests and Pharisees cried together, "We will not rest until he is +brought to death." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "With the break of day let us come together again. +This must be announced to the High Priest Annas and the rest. Then +shall the sentence be confirmed by the whole assembled council, and the +prisoner will immediately be brought before Pilate in order that he may +confirm it and have it executed." +</P> + +<P> +The priests then departed, crying as they went, "God deliver us soon +from our enemy." +</P> + +<P> +When the council had been dismissed and all was still, Judas, moving as +one distracted, came down the street in front of the high priest's +palace; as he went he muttered to himself: "Fearful forebodings drive +me hither and thither. That word of Annas' 'He must die!' Oh, that +word pursues me everywhere." Then, as if he remembered all that had +happened, Judas cried, "No, it cannot come to that; they will not carry +things so far! That would be too terrible if my Master—no!—and +I—guilty of it? No! Here in the house of Caiaphas, I will inquire +how things stand. Shall I go in? I can no longer bear this +uncertainty, and it terrifies me to ascertain the certainty. My heart +throbs with terror—surely I shall not have to hear the worst. Yet it +must come some time." And thereupon he went into the house of the high +priest. +</P> + +<P> +Meanwhile in the hall of Caiaphas the Temple Watch was standing waiting +the result of the examination of Jesus before Caiaphas. In the hall +were the servant maids, Sarah and Hagar, who seeing the soldiers +standing outside, went to the door, and said, "You may come in here." +It was Hagar who spoke first, and Sarah added, "It is more comfortable +in here." +</P> + +<P> +"True for you, good people," said Melchi, one of the soldiers. Then +calling out, "Ho, comrades, come in! It is better for us to lie down +in the hall." +</P> + +<P> +Then said a soldier named Arphaxad, "I like this; I wish we had come in +long ago; how stupid we are, always standing outside in the open air +and shivering. But where is there any fire?" +</P> + +<P> +"Sarah," added another soldier, "go and bring us fire, also wood to lay +thereon." +</P> + +<P> +"Willingly," said Hagar. +</P> + +<P> +"That you shall have," said Sarah. They went out together to comply +with the soldier's wish. +</P> + +<P> +"Will the trial soon come to an end?" asked several of the soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +"It will last," said Melchi, "until all the witnesses are examined." +</P> + +<P> +"And," added Panther, "the accused will also use all his eloquence to +get himself out of the scrape." +</P> + +<P> +"That will help him nothing," said Arphaxad; "he has offended the +priests too much." Then returned the serving maids with a brazier in +which there was a little fire and some wood, which they placed thereon, +making a great smoke. +</P> + +<P> +"Here is your fire," said Hagar, "wood and fire tongs." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the soldiers together, "Thanks, you good girls." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Panther, stooping down over the brazier, "that is good. +Now take care that the fire does not go out." Several of the soldiers +stooped over the fire, piled on wood, and Sarah busied herself with +bringing in meat and bread. +</P> + +<P> +Peter and John, who had been wandering about the streets seeking for +tidings, came to the door, John preceding Peter. Hagar, who saw John +standing in the entrance of the door, said, "John, comest thou also +hither in the middle of the night? Come in here, then, thou must warm +thyself. Could you make a little room for this young man here?" said +Hagar addressing the soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed," cried the band together. +</P> + +<P> +Then said John, "Good Hagar, I have a companion with me; can he not +also come in?" +</P> + +<P> +"Where is he?" said Hagar. "Let him come in; why does he stand out in +the cold?" +</P> + +<P> +John went to where Peter was standing, but came back alone. +</P> + +<P> +"Where is he?" said Hagar. +</P> + +<P> +"He stands on the threshold, but does not trust himself to come in," +replied John. +</P> + +<P> +Then Hagar went to the door and said, "Come in, good friend; do not be +afraid." +</P> + +<P> +All the soldiers cried, "Friend, come also in here to us and warm +thyself!" Peter without saying a word timidly drew near to the fire +and warmed his hands in the smoke. +</P> + +<P> +The men went on talking round the fire and Arphaxad said, after a +pause, "We still see and hear nothing of the prisoner." +</P> + +<P> +Several then asked together, "How much longer must we wait here?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Panther, "Probably he will come out from the trial as a man +condemned to death." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder," said Arphaxad, "whether his disciples will be sought after?" +</P> + +<P> +Peter trembled as the band with hoarse laughter cried aloud, "That +would be a fine piece of work if they all had to be captured!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Panther, "It would not be worth the trouble. If the Master +is once out of the way, then the Galileans will fly and never let +themselves be seen again in Jerusalem. But," said Panther, "one at +least ought to receive sharp punishment; he who in the garden drew his +sword and cut off Malchus' ear." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes," cried the band, laughing, "that should be, as it is said, +an ear for an ear!" +</P> + +<P> +"Ha, ha, ha, a good idea!" laughed Panther, "but that rule would here +find no application, for Malchus has his ear back again." +</P> + +<P> +During this time, while the soldiers were laughing and talking, Hagar +was curiously looking at Peter. Immediately a pause took place, Hagar +said to Peter, "I have been observing thee for some time. Now, if I do +not mistake, thou art one of the disciples of the Galilean. Yes, yes, +thou wert with Jesus of Nazareth." +</P> + +<P> +Peter started up from the fire over which he had been warming his hands +and stammered out, "I? No, I am not. Woman, I know him not, neither +know I what thou sayest." +</P> + +<P> +When Hagar thus spoke all the soldiers looked at Peter, who fearing his +attack on Malchus might be resented, tried to slip through the band and +escape unobserved. Passing the fire, he came close to the other +waiting maid, Sarah, who, looking him full in the face, said in a +shrill voice, "See, this man was also with Jesus of Nazareth." +</P> + +<P> +The attention of the whole band being aroused, they all clustered +around Peter, asking, "Art thou also one of the disciples?" +</P> + +<P> +Levi said, "Thou art one of them, quite certainly." +</P> + +<P> +Peter in the midst of armed and violent men, looked confusedly from +side to side and declared, "Upon my soul—I am not—I do not know the +man." +</P> + +<P> +Even as he spoke the cock crew, but the rattle of the weapons of the +soldiers and imminent menace of a violent death left him no leisure to +attend to anything but his own safety, for a soldier at the same moment +exclaimed, "Look at this man. Of a truth he was also with him." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Peter stoutly, "I know not what ye have to do with me. What +does this man matter to me?" +</P> + +<P> +But the soldiers crowding round him said, "Yes, yes, thou art one of +them. Thou art also a Galilean; thy speech betrayeth thee." +</P> + +<P> +Then Peter, raising his hands on high, said with a troubled voice, "God +be my witness that I do not know the man of whom ye speak;" and the +cock crew a second time. +</P> + +<P> +Then Melchi, pressing forward, looked Peter full in the face and said, +"Did I not see thee in the garden with him, when my cousin Malchus had +his ear cut off?" +</P> + +<P> +At this moment, when the situation was getting very serious for Peter, +attention was called off from him by a cry from the soldiers round the +fire. "Make ready, they are bringing in the prisoner." Selpha then +brought in Jesus bound between Malchus and Balbus. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, how have things gone?" eagerly inquired Arphaxad. +</P> + +<P> +"He is condemned to death," said Selpha. +</P> + +<P> +The soldiers mocking, cried, "Poor king!" +</P> + +<P> +At this moment Jesus met Peter, and looked upon him with a gaze full of +sorrow. Peter smote his head with his hand and went out into the night. +</P> + +<P> +"Come," said Arphaxad, "he will help us to pass the time." +</P> + +<P> +"Forward, comrades," said Selpha, "we must guard him till morning." +Thereupon they all went out. +</P> + +<P> +Peter, when he had left the hall of the high priest, went out into the +street weeping bitterly and suffering anguish of soul. "Oh, my +Master," he cried, "how deeply have I fallen! Oh, woe unto me, weak +and wretched man! I have three times denied my dearest friend and +teacher. I cannot understand how I could so forget myself. A curse +upon my shameful faithlessness! How my heart will repent of it—this +contemptible cowardice. My dearest Lord, hast thou still grace for +me—grace for a faithless, one—oh! send it me! This once more hear +the voice of my repentant heart. Alas! the sin is committed. I cannot +undo it, but ever, ever, will I weep for it and repent of it—and now +nevermore will I leave thee! Oh, thou most loving one! Thou wilt +surely not cast me off! Thou wilt not despise my bitter, repentance. +No! the gentle pitying look which thou didst cast upon thy deeply +fallen disciple promises it—thou wilt forgive me. I have this hope +from thee, best of teachers, and the whole love of my heart shall from +this moment be given to thee. I will cling closely to thee and +nothing, nothing shall ever be able to separate thee from me again!" +</P> + +<P> +And with a face beaming with hope of forgiveness, even for his +threefold denial, he went away. +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had he gone, when John entered at the other end of the street, +asking anxiously, looking on either side, "Where, then, can Peter have +gone? In vain my eyes have sought him in the crowd. Surely nothing +evil can have befallen him. Perhaps I still may meet him upon the +road. I will now go to Bethany. Dearest mother, if I bring thee the +tidings of these terrible things which have happened—the innocent one +ill-treated and condemned by sinners, what wilt thy heart feel? O, +Judas, Judas, what hast thou done?" +</P> + +<P> +Now it came to pass that the soldiers having taken Jesus into the +guardroom of Caiaphas' palace, mocked him and despitefully used him +until it was day. They seated him on a stool with a bandage over his +eyes, and surrounded him mockingly, saying, "Is not this throne too +mean for thee, great king? Hail to thee, thou new-born sovereign! But +sit more firmly," said one, seizing Jesus from behind and pressing him +down on his chair. "Thou mightest otherwise fall down. Thou art +verily also a prophet. So say, O great Elias, say who it is who has +struck thee," and with that he dealt Jesus a blow on the face. +</P> + +<P> +Others came in and also struck him, saying, "Was it I?" but Jesus +answered nothing. +</P> + +<P> +Then one of the band went up to him and shouted, "Hearest thou +nothing?" and shook him violently by the shoulders. "Art thou asleep?" +Then turning to his comrades he exclaimed, "He is deaf and dumb; a fine +prophet indeed." And thereupon he roughly pushed Jesus forward so that +he fell from the stool upon the ground upon his face. +</P> + +<P> +"Alas! alas!" they cried. "Our king has fallen from his throne. What +is to be done now? We have no longer any king. Thou art to be pitied, +such a great magician and now so weak and weary! Come, help us to put +him again upon his throne." +</P> + +<P> +And then they seized him where he lay on the ground with his eyes +bandaged and his hands tied, and lifted him again upon his seat. +"Raise thyself, O mighty king; receive anew our homage." +</P> + +<P> +As they were kneeling around him in scorn a messenger of Caiaphas +entered saying, "How goes it now with the king?" and the band shouted, +"He speaks and prophesies not; we can do nothing with him." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said the messenger, "the high priest and Pilate will soon make +him speak. Caiaphas sends me to bring him." +</P> + +<P> +"Up, comrades," said Selpha. +</P> + +<P> +Thereupon, taking Jesus again by the cords which bound his hands, they +led him off, saying, "Stand up; thou hast been king long enough." And +all shouted, "Away with thee. Thy kingdom has come to an end." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VI. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +The guilty deed fails not to win its wages,<BR> +The guiltless blood he sold cries from the ground;<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Driven to madness by the worm that rages</SPAN><BR> +And scourged by furies, Judas ranges round<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">Wildly, and finds no rest</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">From the fire in his breast,</SPAN><BR> +Till swept away by bitterest despair<BR> +He flings away in reckless haste<BR> +The load of life he can no longer bear.<BR> +</P> + +<P> +</P> + +<P> +When Jesus was being mocked and ill-treated by the soldiers in the +guardroom of Caiaphas' palace, Judas wandered to and fro in despair. +"Now my fearful foreboding has become a terrible certainty. Caiaphas +has sentenced the Master to death, and the council has concurred in his +sentence. All is over. There is no hope, no way of escape. Had the +Master wished to save himself he would have made them feel his might a +second time in the garden. As he did not do it then, he will now do so +no more. What can I do for him, I, a miserable wretch who have +delivered him into their hands? They shall have the money back, that +blood money. They must give me my Master back again. I will go at +once and make the demand. But, oh, will he be saved by that? Oh, +vain, foolish hope. They will mock me, I know it. O cursed synagogue, +thou hast tempted me through thy messengers, thou hast hidden from me +thy bloody designs until thou hadst him in thy clutches. I will +torture thee with bitter reproaches, ye unjust judges. I will have +nothing to do with your devilish decision. I will have no share in the +blood of this innocent. Oh, what tortures, what pains of hell, tear my +inmost soul!" So saying he departed. +</P> + +<P> +Now within the hall of the Sanhedrin were assembled the high priests, +the scribes and the leaders. Caiaphas and Annas arrayed in their +robes, sat in the high place of the council, and all the seats were +filled except those of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Caiaphas +spoke, saying, "I thought, fathers, that I could not wait till the +morning to send the enemy of the synagogue to death." +</P> + +<P> +And Annas said, "I could not get a moment's rest for eagerness to hear +the sentence pronounced." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried they all, "It is pronounced. He shall and must die." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas said, "I did not wish to trouble all the members of the +Sanhedrin to come hither in the night time. But there was present the +necessary number of judges to pronounce as the law prescribes. All as +with one mouth declared the accused worthy of death, for all had heard +with their own ears how this man blasphemed God in the most terrible +way, and was impious enough to call himself the Son of God." +</P> + +<P> +The priests and Pharisees who had previously been present answered, +"Yea, we bear witness to it. We have ourselves heard the impious +blasphemy from his lips." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said Caiaphas, "I will have the criminal brought before you +once more, so that you may be convinced of his being worthy of death. +Then may the whole council pronounce the just sentence." +</P> + +<P> +As he was speaking, Judas, looking haggard and distracted, rushed into +the midst of the council, crying wildly, "Is it true? Have you +condemned my Master to death?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said the rabbi unto him, "Why dost thou force thyself uncalled for +in this assembly? Be off. We will call thee if we have need of thee." +</P> + +<P> +But Judas took no heed. "I must know it," he said. "Have you +condemned him?" +</P> + +<P> +Then all in the council cried aloud, "He must die." +</P> + +<P> +"Woe, woe!" said Judas. "I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent +blood. Oh, you blood-thirsty judges, to condemn the innocent blood." +</P> + +<P> +"Peace, peace, Judas," cried the council. +</P> + +<P> +"There will never, never more be peace for me," said Judas, bitterly, +"and none for you. The blood of the innocent cries aloud for +vengeance." +</P> + +<P> +"What has driven you crazy? Speak, but speak with reverence—thou +standest before the Sanhedrin," said Caiaphas. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Judas passionately: "You are determined to deliver him up to +death; him who is free from all guilt. You must not do it. I have a +protest to make against it. You have made me a traitor. Your accursed +pieces of silver!" +</P> + +<P> +Annas interrupted him, saying, "Thou didst propose it thyself and close +the bargain." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the priest unto him, "Recollect thyself, Judas, thou hast +received what thou didst desire; and if thou behavest thyself decently +thou canst still——" +</P> + +<P> +Judas interrupted him. "I will have nothing more. I tear up your +shameful bargain. Let the innocent go." +</P> + +<P> +"Be off, madman," said a rabbi angrily. +</P> + +<P> +But Judas, taking no heed, knelt and stretched his hands toward +Caiaphas. "I demand the release of the innocent. My hands shall be +free from his blood." +</P> + +<P> +"What," said the rabbi, "thou contemptible traitor, wilt thou dictate +to the Sanhedrin? Know this, thy Master must die, and thou hast +delivered him to death." +</P> + +<P> +And all the priests and Pharisees cried aloud, "He must die." +</P> + +<P> +And Judas, with staring eyes, as one demented, repeated, "Die? Then I +am a traitor. I have given him up to death!" He sank down like a man +crushed by a blow, and then springing up and breaking out into wild +passion, he shouted aloud: "May ten thousand devils from hell tear me +in pieces! Let them grind me to powder! Here, ye bloodhounds, take +your accursed blood money!" And with that he snatched the bag from his +girdle and flung it violently before the seat of the high priest. +</P> + +<P> +"Why didst thou let thyself be made the tool for a transaction which +thou didst not weigh beforehand?" said Caiaphas. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," cried several, "it is your own business." +</P> + +<P> +Then shouted Judas wildly, "May my soul be damned, my body burnt +asunder, and ye—" +</P> + +<P> +"Silence and out from here," cried all the priests together. +</P> + +<P> +"And you," shouted Judas, above them all, "you will sink with me into +the lowest hell!" He then rushed from the hall. +</P> + +<P> +After a pause, during which the chief priests and rulers looked at each +other in silence, the money lay unnoticed on the floor. Caiaphas said, +"What a fearful man!" +</P> + +<P> +"I had some foreboding of this," said Annas. +</P> + +<P> +"It is his own fault," remarked a priest. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "Let him expiate that fault himself. He has +betrayed his friend, we pursue our enemy. I remain steadfast by my +determination, and if anyone here should be of another opinion, let him +stand up." +</P> + +<P> +"No," cried they all with one voice, "what has been resolved upon, let +it be carried out." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "What shall we do with this money? It is blood +money; it can no longer be put into the treasury of God." +</P> + +<P> +Annas said, "It might be used for some useful purpose under the +sanction of the high council." +</P> + +<P> +All agreed to this, and a priest said, "A burying place for strangers +is much wanted. With this money a field may be purchased for that +purpose." +</P> + +<P> +"Is there such a one in the market?" asked Caiaphas. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said a priest, "a potter in the city has offered a piece of +ground for sale at just this price." +</P> + +<P> +"Let Saras conclude the purchase," said Caiaphas. They then picked up +the money which had lain untouched on the floor. +</P> + +<P> +"But now we will no longer delay to pronounce the capital sentence upon +the prisoner," continued Caiaphas. +</P> + +<P> +Then said a rabbi, "I will have him brought in at once." +</P> + +<P> +"I shall see," said Annas, "whether the scorn which he showed toward me +has not yet left him. A real satisfaction will it be to me to share in +the sentence. Let him die." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus then was brought in a second time before Caiaphas. Selpha, as +before, preceded him, and Balbus and Malchus led him bound by the hands +with a cord. +</P> + +<P> +"Stand there," said Selpha, "and show more respect to the council than +thou didst before." Then he added, "Venerable fathers, here we bring +the prisoner." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "Lead him into the middle." +</P> + +<P> +Balbus, laying his hand on the shoulder of Jesus, thrust him forward +saying, "Step forward." +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas spake unto Jesus, saying, "Jesus of Nazareth, dost thou +stand by the words which thou hast pronounced this night before thy +judges?" +</P> + +<P> +Annas added, "If thou be the Christ, tell us!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus answered and said, "If I tell you ye will not believe; if I +also ask you, ye will not answer me nor let me go. But hereafter shall +ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of Almighty God." A +shudder ran through the Sanhedrin, and all cried excitedly, "Art thou +the Son of God?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered, "Ye say it and so I am." +</P> + +<P> +Annas exclaimed, "It is enough; what need have we of any further +witnesses?" +</P> + +<P> +The priests and Pharisees who had not attended the night council, said, +"We have now heard it out of his own mouth." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "Fathers of the people of Israel, it is now your +duty to come to a final decision as to the guilt and punishment of this +man." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried they all, "He is guilty of blasphemy. He hath deserved +death." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas said, "We will therefore lead him before the judgment seat of +Pilate." +</P> + +<P> +And they all answered and said, "Yes, away with him. Let him die." +</P> + +<P> +"Pilate," said Caiaphas, "must first be informed in order that he may +proclaim the sentence before the feast." +</P> + +<P> +A rabbi said, "Could some one be sent from the council in order to give +him timely information?" +</P> + +<P> +"Thou thyself," said Caiaphas, "together with Dariabbas and Rabinth +shalt go before. We will speedily come after." +</P> + +<P> +When these three had departed Caiaphas said, "This day, then, will save +the religion of our fathers, and exalt the honor of the synagogue, so +that the echo of our fame shall reach our latest descendants." +</P> + +<P> +All shouted, "Men will speak of us centuries hence!" and Caiaphas +resumed, "Lead him away; we follow." +</P> + +<P> +Once more they cried, "Down with the Galilean!" and departed. +</P> + +<P> +The three messengers sent by the Sanhedrin drew near to the house of +Pilate, and as they went they spoke among themselves. The rabbi said: +"At last we breathe more freely again; we have been insulted long +enough." +</P> + +<P> +Dariabbas replied, "It was indeed high time; his following was becoming +very large." +</P> + +<P> +"Now," said the rabbi, "there is nothing more to be feared from him. +The traders have in these days displayed the most creditable activity, +to have gained for us a crowd of determined people. You will see if it +comes to anything, they will effectively take the lead. The waverers +will concur with them, and the followers of the Nazarene will find it +well to be silent, and take themselves off." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Rabinth, seeing they had approached the place of Pilate, "How +shall we bring our message to Pilate? We dare not enter the house of +the Gentile today, as in that case we should become unclean and could +not eat the Passover?" +</P> + +<P> +"We will send a message through one of his own people," said the rabbi, +and going up the stairs to the balcony of Pilate's house, he knocked +gently at the door. +</P> + +<P> +Standing and listening, he said, "Surely, there is some one there? +Yes, there is some one coming," and retired a little way down the +steps, so as to avoid any contact with the Gentile. +</P> + +<P> +A servant of Pilate opened it and said, "Welcome, rabbi, will you not +come in?" +</P> + +<P> +"The precepts of the law will not allow us so to do today," said the +rabbi. +</P> + +<P> +The servant said, "Is that so? Can I carry your message?" +</P> + +<P> +"The high priest sends us to bring a petition to the viceroy of Caesar +to ask if he will allow the council to appear before him and to bring +before him a malefactor for the confirmation of his sentence." +</P> + +<P> +"I will deliver the message at once to my lord; wait here in the +meantime," said the servant, and went into Pilate. +</P> + +<P> +The rabbi returning down the steps joined Dariabbas and Rabinth, who +stood below. "It is very sad," said Dariabbas, "that we must knock at +the door of a Gentile in order to get the behests of our holy law +executed." +</P> + +<P> +"Take courage," said the rabbi, "when once this domestic enemy is +removed out of the way, who knows whether we might not soon free +ourselves from the foreign foe?" +</P> + +<P> +Rabinth exclaimed, "Oh, may I live to see the day which will bring +freedom to the children of Israel!" +</P> + +<P> +Pilate's servant returned and spoke unto them saying, "The governor +greets you. You are to inform the high priest that Pilate is ready to +receive the petition of the Sanhedrin." +</P> + +<P> +"Accept our thanks for thy kindness," said the rabbi. "Now let us +hasten to report to the high priest the result of our errand." The +servant then returned and closed the door behind him. +</P> + +<P> +The three messengers then returned. Rabinth remarked anxiously, +"Pilate will surely agree to the demand of the council." +</P> + +<P> +"He must," said the rabbi, "how could he resist it when the Sanhedrin +and the whole people demand with one voice the death of this man?" +</P> + +<P> +"And besides," said Dariabbas, "what does the governor care about the +life of a single Galilean? Were it merely to please the high priest, +who is of great importance to him, he would not hesitate to permit the +execution." +</P> + +<P> +Now, Judas, being distracted by remorse, found himself, after wandering +to and fro, in the potter's field, purchased with the thirty pieces of +silver, in the midst of which stood a blasted tree. Then after wildly +looking around to see if anyone was near, he said: "Oh, where, where +can I go to hide my shame, to escape the torments of conscience? No +forest is dark enough! No rocky cavern deep enough! O, earth, open +and swallow me up! I can no longer exist. O, my dear Master! Him, +best of all men, have I sold, giving him up to ill treatment, to a most +painful death of torture. I, detestable betrayer—oh! where is there +another man on whom such guilt of blood doth rest? Alas! nevermore can +I appear before the face of the brethren. An outcast, hated and +abhorred everywhere—branded as a traitor by those who led me astray—I +wander about alone with this burning fire in my heart. There is still +one left. Oh! might I look on the Master's face once more, I would +cling to him as my only anchor. But he lies in prison, has perhaps +been already slain by the rage of his enemies, although by my guilt, by +my fault. I am the abhorred one who has brought him to prison and to +death. Woe to me, the scum of men! There is no hope for me, my crimes +can be expiated by no penance. For he is dead—and I, I am his +murderer! Thrice unhappy hour in which my mother gave me to the world! +Must I still drag on this life of agony and bear these tortures about +with me?—as one pest stricken, flee from men, and be despised and +shunned by all the world? No! I can bear it no longer! Not one step +further! Here, O life accursed, here will I end thee! On these +branches let the most disastrous fruit hang!" He untwined his girdle +and twined it about his neck. "Ha, ha! come, thou serpent, entwine my +neck and strangle the betrayer!" +</P> + +<P> +As Judas spoke the last words he tied with convulsive and feverish +agony the long girdle around his neck, fastened it to the branch of the +tree, and swung himself off. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +JESUS, PILATE AND HEROD. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Thus before Pilate's judgment seat<BR> +The council, full of passion's heat,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Come to demand Messiah's blood.</SPAN><BR> +Oh, what has made them mad and blind?<BR> +And what has kindled in their mind<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Of fury such a fiery flood?</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +'Tis envy which no mercy knows<BR> +In which hell's flame most fiercely glows—<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Lights this devouring fire,</SPAN><BR> +All's sacrificed unto its lust—<BR> +Nothing too sacred, good or just<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">To fall to its desire.</SPAN><BR> +Oh, woe to those whom passion sweeps<BR> +Helpless and bound into the deeps.<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Then went the high priests and the scribes, together with the rulers +and traders of the temple, and the witnesses, to the house of Pilate. +Jesus was led forth in front of them by Balbus and Malchus as before, +Selpha being in command of the band of soldiers. As they went the +soldiers shouted aloud, "Away with thee to death, thou false prophet! +Ha! doth it dismay thee that thou wilt not go forward?" +</P> + +<P> +"Drive him on," said Selpha. But Jesus being weary walked with slow +footsteps. +</P> + +<P> +Then the soldiers thrust him forward, crying, "Shall we have to carry +thee in our arms? Go on! Thou hast not far to go, only to Calvary; +there upon the cross thou canst rest in comfort." +</P> + +<P> +By this time they had approached the precincts of Pilate's house. Then +said Caiaphas to the soldiers, "Be still; we have to announce our +coming." And they were still. +</P> + +<P> +The rabbi said, "Go to the door and knock." +</P> + +<P> +It was done, and Quintus came out, saying, "What does this crowd of +people want here?" +</P> + +<P> +The rabbi replied that the council had assembled there. Quintus +promised to announce them at once, and the rabbi turning to the members +of the Sanhedrin, said, "Do you hear? He will announce our presence +without delay." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas addressed those who were following him: "Ye members of the +Sanhedrin, if you have at heart the holy traditions, our honor, the +tranquility of the whole land, then consider well this moment. It +decides between us and that deceiver. If you are men in whom flows the +blood of your fathers, then listen to us. An imperishable monument you +will set up for yourselves. Be firm in your resolve." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the priests, "Our fathers forever; death to the enemy of the +nation!" +</P> + +<P> +"Do not rest, then," said Caiaphas, "until he is blotted out of the +number of the living!" +</P> + +<P> +And they cried again, "We will not rest, we demand his death, his +blood." +</P> + +<P> +Then the soldiers turned to Jesus and said, "Hearest thou that, O king +and prophet?" +</P> + +<P> +Then came Pilate out with his attendants upon the balcony of the house; +two spearmen on either side advanced to the foot of the steps of the +balcony, and stood spear in hand whilst the audience listed. Then +Caiaphas stepped forward in front of the crowd, and, bowing low, thus +began, "Governor and representative of the great Caesar, health and +blessing to thee." Then Caiaphas continued: "We have brought here +before thy judgment seat a man of the name of Jesus that thou mayest +consent to the execution of the death sentence pronounced against him +by the Sanhedrin." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate answered, "Bring him forth," and the soldiers led Jesus, out +before Pilate so that he stood on the right hand of the balcony. +Pilate having looked upon him asked, "What accusations have you to +bring against this man?" +</P> + +<A NAME="img-131"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-131.jpg" ALT=""What accusations have you to bring against this man?"" BORDER="2" WIDTH="403" HEIGHT="562"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 403px"> +"What accusations have you to bring against this man?" +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +Caiaphas, speaking with some surprise, said, "If he were not a great +malefactor we would not have delivered him over to thee, but have dealt +with him ourselves according to the direction of our holy law." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, of what evil deeds has he been guilty?" asked Pilate. +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas answered, "He has in many ways grievously offended against the +holy law of Israel." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate answered, "Then take him away and judge him according to your +law." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Annas, "He has already been judged by the Sanhedrin and has +been declared to be worthy of death." +</P> + +<P> +Then all the priests cried aloud, "For according to our law he has +deserved death." +</P> + +<P> +But Caiaphas explained: "It is not lawful for us to execute the +sentence of death upon any one; therefore we bring the application for +the execution of the sentence to the representative of Caesar." +</P> + +<P> +Then Pilate having looked upon Jesus and upon Caiaphas asked, with +indignation, "How can I deliver a man over to death unless I know the +crime, and before I have satisfied myself that his crime is worthy of +death? What has he done?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said the rabbi, "The sentence of the council upon this man was +unanimously pronounced, and grounded upon a careful investigation into +his crimes. It seems therefore unnecessary that the illustrious +governor should take upon himself the trouble of a second investigation. +</P> + +<P> +"What," said Pilate, hotly, "do you dare to suggest to me, the +representative of Caesar, that I should be a blind instrument for the +execution of your orders? Be that far from me! I must know what law +he has broken, and in what way." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas, Annas and the members of the Sanhedrin waxed wroth and spoke +warmly among themselves on hearing the words of Pilate. Caiaphas +answered and said, "We have a law and by our law he ought to die +because he made himself the Son of God," while all the people shouted, +"We all have heard the blasphemy from his own lips," and Annas added, +"And upon that account we must insist that he suffers the legal +punishment." +</P> + +<P> +Then Pilate said scornfully unto them, "On account of such a speech, +which at the most is only the outcome of an enthusiastic imagination, a +Roman can find no one guilty of death. Who knows also," he added, with +a glance at Jesus, "whether this man may not be the son of some god! +If you have no other crime to lay to his charge you need not think that +I will fulfil your desires." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas answered and said, "Not only against our holy law, but also +against Caesar himself has this man been guilty of serious offences. +We have found him to be an insurgent and deceiver of the people." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried all the priests and Pharisees together tumultuously, "He is +an agitator and a rebel." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate answered, "I have heard of one Jesus who was said to go about +the country and teach and do extraordinary works, but I have never +heard of any sedition stirred up by him. Were anything of that kind to +happen I should have heard of it before you, who am appointed for the +maintenance of peace in the land, and am perfectly well informed +concerning the words and deeds of the Jews. But tell me, when and +where has he stirred up any commotion?" +</P> + +<P> +Then Nathanael stood forward and said unto Pilate, "He brings together +multitudes by thousands around him and he has quite recently, +surrounded by such a crowd, made a solemn entry into Jerusalem itself." +</P> + +<P> +"O I know that," said Pilate contemptuously, "but nothing took place on +that occasion to disturb the public peace." +</P> + +<P> +By this time Caiaphas and the priests were in a state of indignation +which they did not care to conceal, and Caiaphas asked angrily, "Is it +not sedition if he forbid the people to pay tribute to Caesar?" +</P> + +<P> +Pilate asked, "Where have you proof of that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Proof enough," retorted Caiaphas, "for he gives himself out as the +Messiah, the king of Israel. Is not that to challenge the imperial +authority?" +</P> + +<P> +Pilate replied, sarcastically, "I admire your suddenly awakened zeal +for the authority of Caesar." +</P> + +<P> +Then turning to Jesus, who had stood silent during the altercation, he +asked him, saying, "Hearest thou what serious accusations these bring +against thee? What answerest thou?" Jesus remained silent. +</P> + +<P> +"See," said Caiaphas, eagerly, "He cannot deny it. His silence is an +admission of his crime." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried all the multitude, stretching out their hands toward Pilate, +"Sentence him then!" +</P> + +<P> +"Patience," said Pilate, "there is time enough for that. I will take +him apart for a private hearing." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate, speaking to his attendants, said, "Perhaps when he is no longer +confused by the crowd and the fury of his accusers he will answer me." +Then, speaking to his servants he said, "Lead him into the court." And +turning to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, he said, "Go! my guard shall +take charge of him, but do you examine the justice or injustice of your +complaints, and be careful to investigate whether they do not perhaps +come from a polluted source. Then let me know the result of your +reflections." +</P> + +<P> +At this Caiaphas turned his back upon Pilate and looked with +indignation upon his followers, who showed the liveliest manifestations +of disgust. Josue said, "Everything has been well considered and +examined already. The law pronounces him worthy of death." The Jews, +turning to go, angrily discussed this reverse. +</P> + +<P> +"This is a troublesome delay," said the rabbi. +</P> + +<P> +But Caiaphas encouraged them, saying, "Do not lose heart, victory +belongs to the steadfast." +</P> + +<P> +Then was Jesus brought before Pilate's judgment seat, and Pilate said +unto him, "Thou hast heard the complaint of the council against thee. +Give me an answer thereto. Thou hast, they say, called thyself a Son +of God. Whence art thou?" But Jesus made no answer. Then Pilate said +unto him with some surprise, "Dost thou not speak even unto me? +Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee and to release thee?" +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus turned to him and said, "Thou couldst have no power at all +against me except it were given unto thee from above. Therefore he +that delivereth me unto thee hath the greater sin." +</P> + +<P> +"Frankly spoken," said Pilate, aside. Then, speaking to Jesus he said, +"Art thou the king of the Jews?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered, "Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or only because +others have told it to thee?" +</P> + +<P> +Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests +have delivered thee unto me. They accuse thee that thou hast desired +to be the king of Israel. What ground is there for this?" +</P> + +<P> +Then answered Jesus and said unto him, "My kingdom is not of this +world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, +so that I should not be delivered unto the hands of the Jews; but now +is my kingdom not from hence." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate, "Art thou a king then?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born +and for this cause came I into the world, that I might bear witness +unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." +</P> + +<P> +When Pilate heard this he said, "What is truth?" +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had he asked this question when the servant Quintus entered +hastily from the door behind. "Lord, thy servant Claudius is here; he +has to bring thee a pressing message from thy wife." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate said, "Let him come in. Lead the man hence for a moment into +the hall." The attendants having led Jesus out, Claudius entered. +Pilate asked him, "What bringest thou from my dear spouse?" +</P> + +<P> +"My lord," said Claudius, "thy wife greeteth thee and prays thee from +her heart, for thine own sake and for hers, that thou wouldst have +nothing to do with this just man who has been accused before the +judgment seat. She has suffered anguish and terror on his account last +night, owing to a fearful dream." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate answered, "Go back and tell her that she need not disturb +herself. I will have nothing to do with the proposals of the Jews, but +do all that I can to save him." Saluting Pilate, the messenger +departed. +</P> + +<P> +Pilate then said to his attendants, "Would that I had nothing to do +with this business! What do you think, my friends, of the complaint of +the Jewish priests?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said the courtier Mela, "It seems to me that they are only +inspired by envy and jealousy. The most passionate hatred appears in +their words and countenances." +</P> + +<P> +And the courtier Sylvius added, "The hypocrites pretend that they have +the authority of Caesar at heart, whereas the matter concerns only +their own authority, which they believe endangered by this famous +teacher of the people." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate answered, "I agree with you. I cannot believe that this man +entertains any criminal schemes in his mind. There is so much that is +noble in his features and in his demeanor. His speech displays so +noble a candor and such high natural gifts that he seemed much more to +be a very wise man, perhaps only too wise for these gloomy fanatics to +be able to bear the light of his countenance. And then the dream which +troubled my wife on his account! If he were really of higher origin? +No," said Pilate decidedly, arriving at a resolution, "I will not let +myself be induced to comply with the wishes of the priests." Then he +ordered his servants, saying, "Let the chief priests appear here again, +and let the accused be led out again from the judgment hall." +</P> + +<P> +Then came Caiaphas, Annas and the chief priests, and the scribes and +rulers of the people once more before Pilate to receive his decision. +Then Pilate spoke unto them as follows: "Here you have your prisoner +again; he is without guilt." Consternation and fury were displayed on +the faces of all the Jews. +</P> + +<P> +Then Annas said, "We have Caesar's word that our law shall be upheld. +How can he be without guilt who treads this very law beneath his feet?" +</P> + +<P> +Then cried all the council, saying, "He is worthy of death!" +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas, who stood before the council, asked, "Is he not punishable by +Caesar when he maliciously injures that which Caesar's will has +guaranteed us?" +</P> + +<P> +Pilate said, "I have told you already, if he hath done anything against +your law, then punish him according to your law, in so far as you are +authorized so to do. I cannot pronounce the death sentence upon him, +because I find nothing in him which according to the laws upon which I +have to act is deserving of death." +</P> + +<P> +Then were the Jews vexed beyond measure and muttered among themselves +in hot displeasure, but Caiaphas replied, "If any one proclaims himself +as king, is he not a rebel? Does he not deserve the death punishment +of high treason?" +</P> + +<P> +"If," said Pilate, "this man has called himself a king it seems to me +that so ambiguous a word is not sufficient to condemn him. For it is +openly taught among the Romans that every wise man is a king. But you +have brought forward no facts to prove that he has usurped kingly +authority." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Nathanael, "Is it not a sufficient fact that through him the +whole people are stirred up; that he fills the whole of Judea with his +teaching, beginning from Galilee, where he first attracted followers to +himself, until here in Jerusalem?" +</P> + +<P> +Then asked Pilate in surprise, "Has he come out of Galilee?" +</P> + +<P> +Then cried they all, "Yes, he is a Galilean," and the rabbi added, "His +home is in Nazareth, in the jurisdiction of King Herod." +</P> + +<P> +"If that be so, then am I relieved of the jurisdiction. Herod, King of +Galilee, has come hither for the feast; he can now judge his own +subject. Take him away and bring him unto his own king. He shall be +conducted thither by my body guard." Then Pilate with his attendants +left the judgment hall. +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas exclaimed, "Off, then, to Herod! With Herod, who professeth +the faith of our fathers, we shall find better protection for our holy +law." +</P> + +<P> +Annas said, "And if a thousand hindrances were to oppose themselves, +the criminal must meet with the deserved punishment." +</P> + +<P> +Then they cried to Christ, as they went off to the palace of Herod, +"One hour sooner or later, what matters it? Thou must come to die, and +this very day!" +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +King Herod stood beside his throne, arrayed in scarlet robes, wearing a +golden crown upon his head, and holding a golden scepter in his hand. +On either side were his courtiers. He said unto them, "What! have they +the famous man from Nazareth? And are they bringing him a prisoner +here to me?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, my Lord," said Zabulon, "I saw him and recognized him at the +first glance." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Herod, "I have for a long time desired to see this man, with +whose wondrous works the whole land rings, to whom, as if by magic, +people run in crowds. Can he be John, risen from the dead?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, no," said Naason, "John worked no miracles; whereas they relate +deeds done by this man which in truth are wonderful if they are not +exaggerated." +</P> + +<P> +"As I have," said Herod, "so unexpected an opportunity of seeing him, I +am impatient to put his magic skill to the proof." +</P> + +<P> +"He will be very willing," said Manasses, "to oblige you in that +respect in order to obtain your favor and protection." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Herod, who had seated himself, to Zabulon: "Tell the +priesthood they may bring their prisoner in." +</P> + +<P> +"They are probably coming with complaints against this man," said +Manasses, "as they are forsaken by all the people." +</P> + +<P> +Herod replied, "Let them do that before Pilate—here I have nothing to +do—no judgment to pronounce." +</P> + +<P> +Manasses remarked: "Perhaps they have met with a refusal from the +governor and are now siding another way." +</P> + +<P> +Herod replied, "I do not enter into their pious quarrels. I will see +him for myself and test his alleged miraculous powers." +</P> + +<P> +Then came into the presence of Herod, Caiaphas, Annas, the rabbi, +Nathanael and four priests, bringing Jesus with them led by the +soldiers of Herod. Caiaphas bowed before King Herod, saying "Most +mighty king," and all the priests cried, "Prosperity and blessing upon +thee from the Almighty!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "A criminal is brought before thee here from the +Sanhedrin, that thou mayest execute on him the judgment of the law." +</P> + +<P> +"The law," said Nathanael, "decrees his death;" and Annas added, "May +it please the king to confirm the sentence of the synagogue." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said Herod, "how can I be a judge in a foreign territory? Go to +your own governor; he will do justice." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas. "Pilate sent him hither, because being a Galilean +he is thy subject." +</P> + +<P> +"Then this man belongeth to my jurisdiction? Who is he?" +</P> + +<P> +The priests said, "Jesus of Nazareth." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas added, "Pilate himself said, 'Go to King Herod; let him +pronounce sentence upon his own subject.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Did Pilate say that? Wonderful!" said Herod. And turning to his +courtiers he remarked, "Pilate sends him to me! Allows me to act as +judge in his own province!" +</P> + +<P> +A courtier replied, "It seems as if he wished to make approaches to +thee again." +</P> + +<P> +Herod replied, "I will accept it as a proof of his friendly feeling." +</P> + +<P> +Then turning to Jesus Herod said, "I have heard very much of thee by +common report and have longed to see the man that has created such a +sensation in this country." +</P> + +<P> +"He is a deceiver," said the rabbi; "an enemy of the holy law." +</P> + +<P> +"I have heard," said Herod, taking no notice of the interruption, "that +thou canst interpret all mysteries and achieve feats which set at +defiance the laws of nature. Let us have an example of thy skill and +mighty power; then we will honor thee like the people and believe in +thee." +</P> + +<P> +"O king," said Zadok, "do not let him lead thee astray, for he is in +league with Beelzebub." +</P> + +<P> +"That is all the same to me," said Herod. Then, addressing Jesus, he +said, "I had last night a wonderful dream. If thou canst tell me what +I have dreamed of I will esteem thee as a first-class reader of hearts." +</P> + +<P> +Herod paused, but Christ remained motionless and silent. "Thou canst +not do so much as that," continued Herod, "but perhaps thou +understandest how to explain the dream if I tell thee what it was. I +dreamt I stood upon the battlements of my palace at Herodium and saw +the sun go down. There stood suddenly a man who stretched out his hand +and pointed to the setting sun and said, 'See there, there is Hesperia +in thy bedchamber.' Hardly had he said this when his form melted into +mist. I started and woke up. If thou desirest to be like Joseph when +he stood before the King of Egypt interpret to thy king this dream." +Christ remained silent, looking sadly at Herod. +</P> + +<P> +"Art thou not experienced in this branch of the business? Well, then, +show some of thy famous magic art. Cause it suddenly to become dark in +this hall, or raise thyself and depart from us without touching the +ground, or convert the roll on which thy death sentence is written into +a snake. Thou wilt not, or thou canst not? Any of these things ought +to be easy to thee; they relate much more wondrous miracles of thine." +Then turning to the courtiers Herod said, "He does not stir. Ah, I see +well that what has made him so notorious was only idle tittle-tattle. +He knows nothing and can do nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"It is easy," said Naason, "to make believe before the foolish mob; it +is another thing to stand before a wise and powerful king." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Manasses to Jesus, "Why should you not display your wisdom +here? Why should your power vanish before the eyes of the king, even +as a soap bubble?" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Herod scornfully, "There is nothing remarkable about him. He +is a conceited fellow whom the applause of the people hath made crazy. +Let him go. It is not worth while making so much trouble on his +account." +</P> + +<P> +"O, King," said Caiaphas, "do not trust this sly and crafty rogue. +Indeed, he only makes himself out to be a fool in order to obtain a +milder sentence from thee." +</P> + +<P> +Annas said, "If he be put away, then would the peace of the kingdom +also stand in danger, for he has presumed to exalt himself to be king." +</P> + +<P> +"What!" said Herod, "to be a king! To be a king of fools, that is more +credible. As such he deserves to receive homage, therefore will I give +him as a present a king's mantle, and do formally install him as the +king of all fools." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the priests aloud, "Not this; he has deserved death." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas said, "O, King, protector of our holy law, remember thy duty +to punish the transgressor as the law ordains." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Herod, "What have you really against him?" +</P> + +<P> +"He hath profaned the Sabbath," said the rabbi. +</P> + +<P> +Nathanael added, "He is a blasphemer." +</P> + +<P> +And all the priests cried, "And as such the law declares him worthy of +death." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Ezekiel, "He has also spoken contemptuously of the Temple, +which thy father so gloriously rebuilt; he has declared that he would +rebuild a more beautiful one in three days." +</P> + +<P> +Then Herod laughed and said, "Now that proves indeed that he is a king +of fools." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Jonas, "He has also spoken insultingly of thee. He has +presumed to call thee, his lord and king, a fox." +</P> + +<P> +"Then he has attributed to me a quality which he cannot certainly claim +himself," replied Herod. "Clothe him—wrapped in this splendid robe he +will play his part well before the people." +</P> + +<P> +Then came in a servant bringing a white robe, which he put on the +shoulders of Jesus, and after Jesus had been robed, Zabulon said to +him, "Now for the first time thou wilt create a real sensation, thou +great wonder-worker." +</P> + +<P> +The priests cried, "He must die!" +</P> + +<P> +Herod said, "No, I will not be guilty of the blood of so exalted a +king; rather lead him forth before the people in this his proper +apparel, that they may admire him to their heart's content." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the first soldier to Jesus, "Come, thou miraculous king, and +allow us to accompany thee!" +</P> + +<P> +The second soldier said, "What good luck for me to walk by the side of +so illustrious a lord!" And so saying, they led away Jesus, wearing +the white robe which Herod had put on him. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "Thou hast convinced thyself that his alleged great +works were nothing but lies and deceit, whereby the people were +defrauded by him. Give, then, thy sentence!" +</P> + +<P> +And all the priests cried, "Pronounce the sentence of death upon him, +as the law demands!" +</P> + +<P> +Herod replied, "My opinion is, he is a simple fellow and not capable of +the crime of which you accuse him. If he has perchance done or spoken +anything against the law it is to be attributed to his simplicity." +</P> + +<P> +"O, King," said Caiaphas, "take care that thou dost not err!" +</P> + +<P> +"I fear," said Annas, "thou wilt repent if thou allowest him to escape +punishment." +</P> + +<P> +"I fear nothing of the kind," said Herod. "A fool one must treat as a +fool. He has already suffered by his follies and will avoid them in +the future. With that the trial is at an end." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the rabbi, "Then it is all over with our law, our religion, +Moses and the prophets!" +</P> + +<P> +Herod said, "I abide by my decision. I am weary and will not concern +myself further about this affair. Pilate may decide according to his +official duty. Offer to him duty and friendship from King Herod." +</P> + +<P> +Then went the priests out, sorely dissatisfied with the decision of the +king. Then Herod rose from his seat and said, "This time the result +has not corresponded to our expectations. I expected to find a great +wonder-worker and eloquent orator, and behold, there is only quite an +ordinary man with never a word to say for himself." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah," said Manasses, "how lying rumor exaggerates that which, when more +closely examined, is shown to be nothing." +</P> + +<P> +"Friends," said Herod, "that is not John. John at least spoke, and +spoke with wisdom, and an eloquence which one must esteem, but this one +is as dumb as a fish. I am less than ever purposed to put him out of +the way, now that I have seen him for myself. Pilate would not have +sent him to me if he had been found guilty of any serious crime against +the state. To revenge oneself on such a man would be the greatest +folly. We have occupied ourselves about this wearisome business long +enough. Let us now go and make up for lost time by seeking more +agreeable amusement." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER VIII. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +"JESUS OR BARABBAS." +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +See! what form of woe standeth the Saviour there!<BR> +Even Pilate himself's touched with compassion now<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Foolish people and blinded,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Have you no hearts to pity him?</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +No, for seized with madness they cry, "To the cross with him!"<BR> +Cry for torture and death upon the holiest.<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">For Barabbas, the murderer,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Pardon asking, and liberty.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Oh, how otherwise once 'fore the Egyptian folk<BR> +Joseph! Around him shouts echoed, and songs of joy<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">As the Savior of Egypt</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">He was solemnly shown to them.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +But round the world's deliverer rages a nation in wrath,<BR> +Blinded, maddened with hate, no man among them will rest<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Till the judge all unwilling</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Says, "Then take ye and crucify him."</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 8em; letter-spacing: 2em">****</SPAN><BR> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Ah, see the king that's crowned in scorn,<BR> +What monarch such a crown has worn<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Or scepter borne, and he so great?</SPAN><BR> +Ye see him decked with purple shreds,<BR> +They laugh and jeer and shake their heads,<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Is this the royal robe of state?</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">Ah! what a man!</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">Where is the trace of deity?</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 3em">Ah! what a man—</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">The sport of the rude hangman he.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Caiaphas and Annas and the chief priests and rulers, and the council +and the traders of the temple, and the witnesses accompanied the +soldiers, who once more led Jesus to Pilate's house. Then said +Caiaphas, "Now Pilate must be challenged more imperiously; and if he +does not do according to our will then shall the authority of Caesar +extort the sentence from him." +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I now," said Annas, "in my gray old age see the synagogue +overthrown? No! with stammering tongue I will cry for the blood and +death of this criminal, and then descend to the bosom of my fathers, +when I have seen this evil-doer die upon the cross." +</P> + +<P> +"We would sooner," cried the rabbi, speaking with great animation, "be +buried in the ruins of the temple than to go back upon our resolution. +We shall never leave off until he is dead." +</P> + +<P> +Then proclaimed Caiaphas, "Whosoever goes back on this decision, let +him be cast out of the synagogue." +</P> + +<P> +And Annas added, "Let the cross of the fathers fall upon him." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "Time presses, the day is advancing; now we must +employ all the means at our disposal in order to carry out our will +before the feast." At this time the Jews and the soldiers leading +Jesus stood once more before the house of Pilate. +</P> + +<P> +Pilate, attended by his servants, soon appeared on the balcony. +</P> + +<P> +"We bring the prisoner once more before thee and earnestly desire his +death," said Caiaphas. +</P> + +<P> +All the priests cried aloud, "We insist upon it, he must die." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate, "Ye brought me this man as an agitator and see, I +have heard your complaints, and I have myself examined him, and have +not found anything in him touching those things whereof you accuse him." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas angrily, "We abide by our accusation; he is a +criminal worthy of death." +</P> + +<P> +And the priests cried, clamorously, "He is an offender against our law +and against Caesar." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate, "I have sent him because he is a Galilean to Herod. +Have you brought forward your complaints before him?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said Caiaphas, "but Herod would not judge the case because thou +art in authority here." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate, "He, too, has found nothing in the man that deserves +death, but in order to meet your desire I will have this man scourged +and let him go." +</P> + +<P> +But Annas said, "That sufficeth not," and Caiaphas said, "The law +prescribes for such a criminal not the punishment of scourging, but the +punishment of death." +</P> + +<P> +The priests cried again, "To death with him." +</P> + +<P> +Then Pilate, hearing the clamor of the Jews and seeing how bitter they +were against Jesus, said unto them, "Is your hate so deep and bitter +unto the man that it cannot be satisfied by the blood from his wounds? +You compel me to tell you frankly what I think. Driven by ignoble +passion ye persecute him because the people are more devoted to him +than they are to you. I have heard enough of your hateful accusations. +I will now hear the voice of the people. An innumerable number will +now assemble here in order to demand, according to old custom, the +release of one prisoner at the Passover festival. Then it will be seen +whether your complaint is the outcome of popular sentiment or only of +your personal revenge." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas, smiling to himself, bowed low before Pilate and said, "The +result will show, O governor, that thou thinkest evil of us unjustly." +</P> + +<P> +Then the priests cried, "It is not vengeance, but zeal for the holy law +of God which compels us to demand his death." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate said, "You know of the murderer, Barabbas, who lies in chains, +and of his evil deeds. Between him and Jesus of Nazareth I will let +the people choose. The one whom they ask for, him will I release." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried all with one voice, "Release Barabbas and to the cross with +the other." +</P> + +<P> +"You are not the people," said Pilate haughtily, "the people will speak +for themselves. Meanwhile I will have this one scourged." Then +speaking to his servants, he said, "The soldiers will lead him hence +and scourge him according to the Roman law." Then turning to his +courtiers, he said, "Whatever he has done amiss will be sufficiently +atoned for and perhaps the spectacle of the scourging may soften the +blind wrath of his enemies." +</P> + +<P> +When Pilate quitted the balcony and entered his house Caiaphas +addressed a stirring speech to the Jews. His opportunity had come. +"Pilate," said Caiaphas, "appeals to the voice of the people. All +right; we appeal to it also. Now," said he, turning to the traders and +witnesses, "now, true-hearted Israelites, your opportunity has arrived. +Go hence into the streets of Jerusalem, summon your friends to come +hither, unite them in masses, kindle in them the most glowing hatred +against the enemy of Moses. The waverers seek to win by the strength +of your words and by promises, but terrify the followers of the +Galilean by an overwhelming outcry against them, by insult and mockery, +by threats, and if necessary by ill-treatment, so that none of them may +dare to let himself be seen here, much less to open his mouth." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the traders and witnesses together, "We will go hence and +soon return again, everyone at the head of an excited mob." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas said, "Let us all meet in the street of the Sanhedrin." +</P> + +<P> +The traders bowed, and as they went the priests cried after them, "Hail +to you, faithful disciples of Moses." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "Let us not lose a single moment. Let us go +together to the crowds to encourage them, to inflame them." +</P> + +<P> +Annas added, "From all the streets of Jerusalem will we lead the +exasperated people before the judgment seat." +</P> + +<P> +The rabbi said complacently, "If Pilate wishes to hear the voice of the +people, let him hear it!" +</P> + +<P> +"Let him hear," said Caiaphas, "the unanimous cry of the nation; +release Barabbas; the Galilean to the cross!" +</P> + +<P> +Then all the Jews cried aloud, with an exceeding loud voice, "Release +Barabbas; the Galilean to the cross!" +</P> + +<P> +Then the soldiers led Jesus away to the Pretorium and took off his robe +and tied his hands to a low pillar and scourged him. When they were +weary with scourging they said, "He has had enough, he is all running +down with blood." +</P> + +<P> +"Thou pitiable king of the Jews," said one of the soldiers as they +knelt and mockingly did homage to him, "what kind of a king can this +be? He has no scepter in his hand, no crown upon his head. That can +be mended. I will at once bring the insignia of the Jewish +sovereignty." And then going out he brought a scarlet mantle, a crown +of thorns and a reed. They were laid upon a cushion, and together with +them were laid iron gloves, so that they might handle the crown of +thorns without suffering therefrom. +</P> + +<P> +"Here," cried they, "this is certainly the most lovely attire for a +king of the Jews. Is it not true that thou hast never expected such an +honor? Come, let us hang this purple robe about thee. But sit down, a +king should not stand. Here is a beautiful pointed crown." And a +soldier, taking the crown of thorns with the iron gloves, placed it +upon the head of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us look at you." Then they laughed aloud for joy. +</P> + +<P> +"But," said one, "if it is not to fall off your head then must we set +it in firmly. Come, brothers, help me." Then four of the soldiers +seized in their hands two staves, and, crossing them over his head, +pressed the crown heavily down upon the brow of Jesus. Jesus shuddered +in agony. +</P> + +<P> +"Here," cried the soldiers, "is the scepter." And taking the reed they +placed it in his hands. "Now nothing more is wanted. What a king!" +</P> + +<P> +Then all knelt before him crying, "Hail to thee, most mighty king of +the Jews!" When they were mocking him a servant entered from Pilate, +saying that the prisoner mast be brought immediately into the judgment +hall. +</P> + +<P> +Then said the soldiers, "Thou comest at the wrong time. Thou hast +disturbed us in the middle of our demonstrations of reverence." +</P> + +<P> +Then they said to Jesus, "Stand up, we will lead thee about as a +spectacle. There will be rejoicing among the Jewish people when their +king appears before them in full splendor!" +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +Then was Jerusalem in an uproar; the traders and the priests ran +everywhere hither and thither, stirring up the people against Jesus. +On all sides the crowds were mustered, and directed by the priests to +assemble in the streets of the Sanhedrin, and from this to proceed to +Pilate's house to demand the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of +Jesus; from four sides the tumultuous mobs came pouring down to the +place of assembly. Their hoarse cries of "To the cross with him! To +the cross with him!" were heard in the distance before the foremost +leaders came in sight. At the head of one mob came Nathanael, +fervently exhorting the multitude to demand the death of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +"Moses, your prophet," said he, "calls upon you. His holy law demands +you should avenge it." +</P> + +<P> +And the multitude cried together, "We belong to Moses. We are and +remain followers of Moses and of his teaching. We hold fast by our +priests and teachers. Away with him who would rise against them." +Another multitude poured down from the right into the central +thoroughfare. Caiaphas was leading them proudly, exulting in the +manifestations of their zeal. +</P> + +<P> +Into the same central place came a third band led by Annas, whose +followers shouted aloud, "Ye are our fathers, and we will answer for +your honor!" +</P> + +<P> +Annas answered, "Come, children, throw yourselves into the arms of the +holy Sanhedrin. It will save you." While the clamorous multitudes +from these three quarters were pouring down confusedly into the main +street, the shouting of a fourth mob was heard down Pilate's street. +</P> + +<P> +Ezekiel marched at the head of this new company crying, "Shake it off; +the yoke of the deceiver!" and they cried in answer, "We will have +nothing more to do with him; we follow you!" As the four contingents +of the populace collected thus in the open space it could be seen how +successfully they had been organized. Each of the four divisions was +led by a ruler of the people and had in its ranks a number of the +traders of the temple, the witnesses and the priests, whose violent +zeal gave movement and direction to the whole crowd. Various cries +burst forth from the multitude and each section as it saw the strength +of the others exulted and greeted their leaders with shouts of joy. +"The whole people applauds you!" cried one part of the multitude. +</P> + +<P> +"We will be free from that false teacher, the Nazarene!" answered +another section of the crowd. +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas, Annas, Nathanael and Ezekiel, meeting together, cried +with a loud voice, "Your fathers' God will receive you again! You are +again to him a holy people!" +</P> + +<P> +The crowd now massed together in the main street cried, "You are our +true friends. Long live the great Sanhedrin! Long live our teachers +and priests!" and Annas answered, "Death to the Galilean!" +</P> + +<P> +"Up," said Caiaphas, "let us now hasten to Pilate," and Nathanael and +Ezekiel added, "Let us demand his death, his blood." +</P> + +<P> +Then all the people answered, "On to Pilate; the Nazarene shall die!" +</P> + +<P> +As they came tripping forward their leaders addressed them from time to +time to incite their zeal. +</P> + +<P> +"He hath falsified the law," cried the leaders. "He has contemned +Moses and the prophets!" "He hath blasphemed God!" +</P> + +<P> +Then all the people cried again, "To death with the false prophet!" +</P> + +<P> +The section led by Ezekiel shouted, "Death by the cross!" and the other +sections took it up, "Pilate must let him be crucified!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said the leaders, "On the cross he shall atone for his crimes!" +</P> + +<P> +"We will not rest," cried the crowd, "until his sentence is +pronounced." The whole multitude was now moving rapidly toward the +judgment seat of Pilate. +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas, who lorded it over the whole assemblage with look and +gesture, thus addressed them, "Hail to you, children of Israel! You +are indeed still true descendants of your father Abraham! Oh, rejoice +that you have escaped the nameless destruction which this deceiver +would bring upon you and your children!" +</P> + +<P> +"Only," said Annas, "by the untiring efforts of your fathers has this +nation escaped the abyss." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the people, "Long live the council! Death to the Nazarene!" +and the priests and Pharisees cried out, "Curse him who does not vote +for his death!" +</P> + +<P> +The people responded, "We demand his death!" +</P> + +<P> +Then for some time there was nothing heard but a confused clamor, but +the voice of Caiaphas rang out notwithstanding, while the people +responded to his appeals. It sounded from afar in this wise: Caiaphas: +"Let him be cast out from the heritage of our fathers," and all the +people cried, "Let him be cast out." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas said, "The governor will give you the choice between this +blasphemer and Barabbas. Let us insist upon the release of Barabbas." +</P> + +<P> +Then the people cried, "Let Barabbas go free, and down with the +Nazarene." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Annas, "Let the fathers be praised who have heard our wishes." +</P> + +<P> +Then all cried out, "Pilate must consent, the whole nation demands it +of him." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas walked backward and forward with excited mien, but proud and +triumphant step, and said, "Oh, most glorious day of the people of +Israel. Children, be steadfast!" +</P> + +<P> +The priests and Pharisees: "This day brings back honor to the +synagogue and freedom to the people." +</P> + +<P> +"Now," said Caiaphas, as they approached the house of Pilate, "let us +demand the sentence with uproar and threaten him with universal revolt!" +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the whole multitude tumultuously, "We demand the blood of +our enemy!" +</P> + +<P> +So loud was the cry, so savage the emphasis, that two servants of +Pilate started out of the house and looking down on the turbulent +throng cried out, "Uproar! Insurrection!" +</P> + +<P> +And the people answered, "The Nazarene shall die!" +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas, hastening hither and thither in the crowd to excite them to +still further violence, said, "Show courage. Stand out undismayed. A +righteous cause defends us." +</P> + +<P> +Then the people called out clamorously; "Pilate—pronounce the sentence +of death!" +</P> + +<P> +Pilate's servant from the balcony said, "Silence! be quiet!" but the +crowd shouted at him louder than before, "No, we will not be quiet +until Pilate consents." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the servant, "Pilate will come out immediately." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried all once more, "We demand the death of the Nazarene." +</P> + +<P> +And Caiaphas, listening to the shouts of the people, said to the +priests, "Now let Pilate, as he wished, learn the opinion of the +people." +</P> + +<P> +Then came Pilate with his followers out upon the balcony, and with them +came Jesus, led by two soldiers, with the crown of thorns upon his head +and the scarlet robe about him. The crowd instead of shouting, "Hail, +all hail," as before, shouted violently, "Give judgment! Pass sentence +upon him!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Pilate spoke, pointing to Jesus, who, with bound hands and the +scarlet robe upon his bleeding shoulders, stood between the soldiers, +"Behold the man!" +</P> + +<P> +The priests and Pharisees answered, "To the cross with him." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate pleaded, "Cannot even this pitiful sight awake any compassion in +your hearts?" +</P> + +<P> +But the multitude answered, "Let him die! To the cross with him!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Pilate said, "Take him and crucify him at your own risk—I will +have nothing to do with it, for I find no fault in him." +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas said with a loud voice, "Hear, O governor, the voice of +the people. It concurs in our complaint and demands his death." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," shouted the crowd again, "we demand his death." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate to his soldiers, "Lead him down and let Barabbas be +brought out of prison. The jailer must at once deliver him up to the +chief lictor." +</P> + +<P> +When Annas heard Pilate's commands he cried, "Let Barabbas live. +Pronounce the death sentence on the Nazarene!" +</P> + +<P> +Then the people cried, "To death with the Nazarene!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate, "I do not understand this, people. Only a few days +ago with rejoicing and joyful clamor you accompanied this man through +the streets of Jerusalem. Is it possible that the same people this day +call for death and destruction upon him? That is indeed contemptible +fickleness." +</P> + +<P> +"The good people," said Caiaphas, "have at last learned that they have +been deceived by an adventurer who pretended to be the Messiah, the +king of Israel!" +</P> + +<P> +"And now," said Nathanael, "the eyes of this people are fully opened, +and they see that he cannot help himself—he who promised to bring +freedom and blessing to the nation." +</P> + +<P> +"Israel," said Ezekiel, "will recognize no Messiah who allows himself +to be taken and bound and treated with scorn." +</P> + +<P> +"Let him die, the false Messiah, the deceiver," cried the crowd. +</P> + +<P> +Then Pilate spoke unto the people and said: "Men of Judea, it is +customary that I liberate to you a prisoner at the feast. Look upon +these two. One with mild countenance and dignified demeanor, the ideal +of a wise teacher, whom you have long honored as such, convicted of no +single evil deed and already humiliated by the severest chastisement. +The other, a vicious, savage man, convicted of robbery and murder, a +horrible image of a perfect scoundrel. I appeal to your reason, to +your human feelings—choose! Which will ye that I shall release unto +you, Barabbas or Jesus, who is called the Christ?" +</P> + +<P> +Then the priests and people cried out together, "Let Barabbas go free." +</P> + +<P> +"Will ye not that I release unto you the king of the Jews?" asked +Pilate. +</P> + +<P> +Then the priests and people cried, "Away with him, release unto us, +Barabbas." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "Thou hast promised to release him whom the people +demand." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate answered shortly to Caiaphas, "I am accustomed to keep my +promise without needing a reminder." Then said he to the people, "What +shall I do with the king of the Jews?" +</P> + +<P> +And the priests and the people cried, "Crucify him!" +</P> + +<P> +"What," said Pilate, "shall I crucify your king?" +</P> + +<P> +And the people cried, "We have no king but Caesar." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate said, "I cannot condemn this man, for I find no fault in him. +He has been sufficiently chastised; I will let him go free." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the priests, "If thou let him go free thou art no friend of +Caesar's." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas added, "He has proclaimed himself king"; and the priests said, +"Who proclaims himself king is a rebel against Caesar." +</P> + +<P> +And Nathanael said, "And is this rebel still to remain unpunished, +still to scatter abroad the seed of revolt?" +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the people, "It is the duty of the governor to put him out +of the way." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas seeing that Pilate answered not, pressed more vehemently upon +him, saying, "We have done our duty as subjects of Caesar and delivered +this rebel to thee. If thou payest no attention to our accusation and +the desire of the people, then are we free from guilt. Thou alone, O +Governor, art responsible to Caesar for the consequences." +</P> + +<P> +And Annas said, "If on account of this man universal disorder and +revolt ensues, then we know who must bear this guilt, and," he added +significantly, "Caesar shall know it also." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the people again, "The matter must be brought before Caesar." +</P> + +<P> +Then Ezekiel said to Pilate, "They will be astonished when they hear at +Rome that Caesar's viceroy has taken under his protection a traitor +whose death the whole people desired." +</P> + +<P> +And the crowd cried, "Thou must execute him, or otherwise there would +be no peace in the land." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate, "Why, what evil hath he done? I cannot, I dare not, +condemn the innocent to death." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas, "Permit me to ask one question. Why shouldst thou +judge this man so carefully when quite recently thou hast allowed thy +soldiers to massacre hundreds without judgment or sentence, merely on +account of some rebellious outcries?" +</P> + +<P> +As Pilate heard the question of Caiaphas he was dismayed, and the crowd +shouted: "Thou canst not show favor to this man; if thou wilt be a +faithful servant to Caesar." +</P> + +<P> +Then Pilate's resolution forsook him, and turning to his servants he +said, "Bring water." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas said unto him, "The people will not go away from this place +until thou hast pronounced sentence of death upon the enemy of Caesar." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," cried the multitude, "we will not go from this place until +sentence is pronounced." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate sorrowfully, "Your violence compels me to yield to +your desire. Take him hence and crucify him. But see," said he as he +washed his hands in the basin which had been brought at his command. +"I wash my hands; I am innocent of the blood of this just man. See ye +to it." +</P> + +<P> +Then arose from the excited multitude a great and awful cry, in which +priests and people joined, speaking as with one voice, "We take it upon +ourselves! His blood be upon us and upon our children!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate, "Let Barabbas be set free at the demand of the +people. Lead him outside the city gate and let him never tread this +ground again." The soldiers then led Barabbas away. +</P> + +<P> +The priests and people cried: "Now hast thou justly judged." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate said unto them, "I have given way to your violent demands in +order to avoid a great evil. But in the blood-guiltiness I will have +no share. Let it fall upon you and your children as you have so loudly +cried." +</P> + +<P> +Then again the priests and people cried, "It is good; let it fall upon +us and upon our children." +</P> + +<P> +Annas said, "We and our children will bless this day and with thankful +joy cry, 'Health and wealth to the governor!'" +</P> + +<P> +"Long live our governor," cried the crowd. "Long live Pontius Pilate!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Pilate, "Bring hither the two murderers who are kept in gaol. +Let the chief lictor give them over without delay to the guard. They +have deserved death much more than the accused." +</P> + +<P> +But the priests and people cried, "He has deserved death more than any." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate said, "The sentence of death must be written out and will be +read publicly before all the people." +</P> + +<P> +The scribe began to write, and as he wrote, from the street were heard +the voices of the soldiers who were bringing the thieves, driving them +forward: "Will you not move on, you wretches? Have you not long ago +deserved your fate? Thrust them on, these outcasts of mankind." When +the thieves driven by the soldiers came to the foot of the balcony they +were halted on the other side of the steps to that where Jesus stood. +</P> + +<P> +Then said the rabbi, pointing to the thieves, "That is worthy company +for the false Messiah on his last journey." +</P> + +<P> +Pilate said to the thieves, "Of you and your misdeeds the earth shall +today be free. You shall die upon the cross. Let the sentence of +death be now read." +</P> + +<P> +Then the scribe stood forward and read thus: "I, Pontius Pilate, +viceroy in Judea of the mighty Caesar Claudius Tiberius, pronounce at +the desire of the high priests and the Sanhedrin and the people of the +Jews, the sentence of death upon a certain Jesus of Nazareth, who is +accused of having stirred up the people to revolt, of having forbidden +to pay tribute to Caesar, and of having proclaimed himself king of the +Jews. The same shall be crucified outside the city between two +malefactors who have been likewise condemned to death for many +robberies and murders, and be brought from life to death. Given at +Jerusalem on the eve of the Passover." +</P> + +<P> +When the scribe had read the sentence Pilate broke a staff, flung it +among the people, saying in tones of great bitterness, "Now take him +hence and crucify him!" and went rapidly into the house, leaving Jesus +in the hands of the Jews. +</P> + +<P> +"Triumph!" cried Caiaphas in wild exultation. "The victory is ours! +The enemy of the synagogue is destroyed!" +</P> + +<P> +The priests and people shouted, "Away with him to Golgotha! Long live +the synagogue! Long live the nation!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said Annas, "Hasten, that we may come home in time to eat the +Passover." +</P> + +<P> +The priests and Pharisees said, "We will keep this Passover with joy, +as did our fathers in Egypt." +</P> + +<P> +"Now," said Caiaphas, "let our triumphal procession go through the +midst of Jerusalem." +</P> + +<P> +"Where," asked the rabbi, "are his disciples? They are invited to cry +Hosanna!" +</P> + +<P> +Then rushed the multitude away, crying, "Up and away off to Golgotha! +Come and see him perish on the cross! O delightful day, the enemy of +Moses is overthrown! Ha! now he has his reward! So be it done to +everyone who despises the law! He deserves the death on the cross! O +happy Passover! Now joy will return to Israel! There is an end of the +Galilean!" And so crying, with wild and savage clamor, they swept back +to the street of the Sanhedrin. +</P> + +<P> +[Transcriber's note: A line seems to be missing from the book at this +point. All that appears is a blank line followed by the single word:] +"me?" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER IX. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +THE CRUCIFIXION. +</H3> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +Ye pious souls rise up and go,<BR> +With grateful penitence aglow<BR> +With me to Golgotha, and see<BR> +What shall be done your souls to free<BR> +See how the Mediator dies<BR> +The atoning death of sacrifice.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> +O, who can know the love that lives<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">In this heart now laid bare,</SPAN><BR> +That kindness back for hatred gives<BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">And saves us from despair?</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Offer this love of His</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 1em">Your heart's best impulses,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">His cross before,</SPAN><BR> +<SPAN STYLE="margin-left: 2em">For evermore.</SPAN><BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Thus they took Jesus and led him away, and a great multitude followed +him. And when Jesus, bearing the cross, with the thieves also bearing +their cross, was entering the street of Annas, Mary, the mother of +Jesus, with Mary Magdalene and John and Joseph of Arimathea, came down +the street by Pilate's house. +</P> + +<P> +And Mary said to John, "O beloved disciple, how will it have gone with +Jesus since thou didst last see him in the house of Caiaphas?" +</P> + +<P> +Then answered John, "If the priests could do as they wish, then sure +enough he would be already among the dead. But they could not carry +out the sentence without permission of the governor. But Pilate, I +hope, will not condemn him, as he has never done anything bad, but only +what is good." +</P> + +<P> +Then prayed Mary Magdalene, "O Almighty God, incline the ruler's heart +to justice, that he may protect the innocent against the wiles of the +wicked." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Mary, the mother of Jesus, "Whither shall we go, O friends, +oh, whither, that I may but once more see my beloved son? I must see +him, but where can I find him? Perhaps, O perhaps, he lies buried in +the deepest dungeon." +</P> + +<P> +Mary Magdalene said, "Alas! the most loving of teachers in prison!" +</P> + +<P> +Joseph answered, "There is one to be seen from whom we can inquire." +</P> + +<P> +John said, "The best thing will be to go to Nicodemus; he surely knows +what is happening to our dear Master." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, let us go," said Mary. "Every moment increases my grief in this +uncertainty about the fate of my son." +</P> + +<P> +"Be strong in faith, dear mother," said John. "Whatever happens it is +God's will." Suddenly a horrible noise of confused voices and tramping +feet was heard in the distance. From the tumult could be heard the +words: "On, on with him!" Mary started and they all stood listening +while the noise came nearer and nearer. +</P> + +<P> +"What terrible noise is that?" said Joseph. Then stood they all still +listening to hear what it might signify. +</P> + +<P> +Salome said, "As if of a thousand voices. What can it be?" +</P> + +<P> +As they listened the procession to Golgotha was already half way down +the street of Annas. In front marched the centurion holding in one +hand the staff of authority, followed by Jesus, staggering painfully +under the burden of his cross. Around Jesus stood four executioners +who brutally goaded him forward. Behind Jesus came the thieves, each +bearing his own cross. Behind them came soldiers carrying spears, in +the midst of whom on a white horse rode a horseman carrying the Roman +banner on which were the letters S. P. Q. R. By the side of the +soldiery walked Annas and Caiaphas followed by all the council of the +Sanhedrin. All around crowded a numerous multitude, whose shouts were +heard almost without intermission. "Let him die!" they cried, "and all +who hold with him." Jesus, who had already fallen under the cross, +walked slowly and with difficulty. +</P> + +<P> +One of the executioners said unto him, "Is the burden already too +heavy?" and the people shouted, "Drive him with violence, that we may +get to Golgotha." +</P> + +<P> +The second executioner cried, "Take care, or he will be down." +</P> + +<P> +The progress was so slow that not even the head of the procession could +be seen from where the two Marys and John were standing, wondering what +the noise might mean. +</P> + +<P> +Joseph said, "What shall we do? In this commotion we cannot venture +into the city." +</P> + +<P> +But Mary said, "What may this noise signify? Surely it does not +concern my son." +</P> + +<P> +As the noise waxed ever louder, Joseph said, "It seems as if an +insurrection had broken out." +</P> + +<P> +Then said John, "We had better stop here till the storm passes over." +</P> + +<P> +While they stood waiting and wondering Simon of Cyrene came hastily +into the street that lay between those of Pilate and Annas. He carried +a basket, and looking anxiously around him, said, "I must hasten in +order to get into the city. The eve of the feast is coming, and I have +only a short time left in which to make my purchases and get everything +ready, so that I may get home in time." Hardly had he said this than +he heard the sound of a great outcry, and amidst which he could only +distinguish the words, "Let him not rest! Urge him on with blows!" +</P> + +<P> +Said Simon, "I hear a tumult—an outcry of a crowd—what has happened +in the city? I will keep quiet a little—perhaps my ears have deceived +me." Jesus had fallen faint and had staggered against the house of +Ahasverus and was there endeavoring to support himself. +</P> + +<P> +The third executioner said to him roughly, "It is no use thy fainting. +Thou must keep on to Golgotha." +</P> + +<P> +Then Ahasverus came out of his house and said, "Be off from my house; +here is no place for resting." Simon, who was listening without being +able to see the cause of the commotion, said, "The noise waxes louder. +I must hasten to see what it is. What comes there? Ah, I cannot get +in here. I will wait and see what happens." +</P> + +<P> +Then, as the procession turned the corner of Annas' street, Joseph of +Arimathea, listening, said, "I think the crowd is coming out of the +city gates," and John, seeing the cross said, "It appears that someone +is being led out to Golgotha for execution." +</P> + +<P> +Mary, the mother of Jesus, saw him and cried out with a piercing wail, +"It is he. Oh God! it is my son." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus meanwhile staggered under the cross, but was forced forward by +the executioners grumbling as they did so, "He will drop on the road." +</P> + +<A NAME="img-178"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-178.jpg" ALT=""Jesus staggered under the cross."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="401" HEIGHT="550"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 401px"> +"Jesus staggered under the cross." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +The centurion, seeing that Jesus from sheer exhaustion had again +fallen, reached him a bottle, saying, "Here, strengthen thyself." +Jesus took it, but did not drink of it. +</P> + +<P> +Mary cried, weeping, "Ah, there, I see him led to death even as a +malefactor!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said John, as he tenderly supported her, "Mother, it is the hour +of which he has told us before. Such is the will of the Father." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the centurion to Jesus, "Wilt thou not drink? Then you must +go on!" +</P> + +<P> +Then one of the executioners shook him, saying, "Rouse thyself, lazy +king of the Jews!" +</P> + +<P> +Another of the executioners said, "Forward! Pull thyself together!" +The third said, "Do not act thus weakly; we must get on." +</P> + +<P> +Then Mary cried as she looked on the scene, "Oh where is any sorrow +like unto my sorrow?" +</P> + +<P> +The third executioner, seeing that all the efforts to compel Jesus to +move forward had failed, said, "He is too much exhausted; someone must +help him, otherwise—" +</P> + +<P> +Then the rabbi, seeing Simon of Cyrene, pointed him out, saying, "Here, +this stranger—" +</P> + +<P> +The Pharisees said, "Just seize him!" +</P> + +<P> +Then said the centurion, "Come hither, thou hast broad shoulders that +can carry something." +</P> + +<P> +Simon, protesting, said, "I must—" +</P> + +<P> +"Truly you must," said one of the executioners, "otherwise there will +be blows." +</P> + +<P> +Simon began again, "I do not know," but the centurion interrupted him, +saying, "You will find out soon enough—do not refuse." +</P> + +<P> +"Flog him if he refuses to go!" said the Pharisee. +</P> + +<P> +Simon struggled crying, "Indeed I am innocent; I have committed no +crime." +</P> + +<P> +"Silence!" said the centurion. +</P> + +<P> +Simon replied, "Only not by force like this," and then beholding Christ +he said, "What is this I see? This is the holy man from Nazareth." +</P> + +<P> +"Place thy shoulders here," said an executioner. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Simon, "For the love of thee I will carry it. O, could I +thereby make myself useful to thee." +</P> + +<P> +Christ, who stood exhausted on one side, looked upon Simon and said, +"God's blessing be upon thee and thine!" +</P> + +<P> +"Now, forward," said the centurion; "follow thou with the beam of the +cross!" +</P> + +<P> +The first priest advancing, said, "Thou canst come quickly enough now." +</P> + +<P> +The third executioner, seeing that Jesus still stood unable to move, +seized him by the neck and shook him saying, "See with what +consideration we treat thee; even the cross has been taken from thee." +</P> + +<P> +"Dost thou need anything else?" said another of the men. +</P> + +<P> +"Let him be," said the centurion. "We will now halt a little that he +may recover before we ascend the hill." +</P> + +<P> +While the procession halted Veronica and the women of Jerusalem +approached. Caiaphas meanwhile, chafing with vexation at the delay, +exclaimed, "What! Still another stoppage! When shall we come to +Calvary?" +</P> + +<P> +Veronica, coming up to Christ, kneeled before him, and offering him her +handkerchief, said, "O Lord, how is thy face covered with blood and +sweat. Wilt thou not wipe it off?" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus took the handkerchief and wiped his face and gave it back to her, +saying, "Compassionate soul, the Father will reward thee for this." +</P> + +<P> +Then spoke the women of Jerusalem, who drew near to the Lord with their +little ones, "Thou good teacher; never to be forgotten benefactor; +noblest friend of men, thus art thou rewarded. How we pity thee!" +Then they wept. +</P> + +<P> +Christ looking upon them in their tears said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, +weep not for me, but for yourselves and your children. For behold the +days are coming in which they shall say 'Blessed are the barren and the +wombs that never bare, and the paps that never gave suck.' Then shall +they call to the mountains, fall on us and to the hills, cover us. For +if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the +dry?" +</P> + +<P> +The women answered, "Alas, how will it be in the future for us and our +children?" +</P> + +<P> +By this time the patience of the centurion was exhausted, and he cried +out, "Clear out now, these womenfolk." +</P> + +<P> +The third executioner, pushing them roughly away, said, "What use are +your women's tears? Back!" While the other executioners cried as they +pushed Jesus forward, "On with thee to the hill of death!" +</P> + +<P> +The crowd took up the cry and said, "Quick; forward to Calvary!" +</P> + +<P> +"Are we really going forward again?" said the rabbi, and Nathanael +said, shrugging his shoulders, "The centurion is far too mild." +</P> + +<P> +"Do not spare him so much," said a priest. +</P> + +<P> +The long procession was once more in motion when there appeared a +servant from Pilate. The man cried, "Halt!" and the procession +stopped. "By command of the governor the centurion must appear before +him as quickly as possible and receive further orders." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas exclaimed, "What does this mean? What new orders are +required? The death sentence is pronounced and must be carried out +without delay." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the centurion bluntly, "No, this will not happen until I have +received the further orders of my lord." Then turning to the soldiers +he said, "Keep watch meanwhile and go with the condemned to Golgotha. +Then dismiss this man (Simon) and await my arrival." The centurion +then went with the servant to Pilate and the procession set forth again. +</P> + +<P> +The people cried wildly, "Up to Golgotha, to the cross with him. Hail +to Israel. The enemy is vanquished. We are free. Long live the +Sanhedrin." +</P> + +<P> +Jesus looked upon his mother as the procession passed the corner of +Annas' street, but spoke not. +</P> + +<P> +Then said John, when the dolorous procession had passed, "Mother, shall +we not go back to Bethany? Thou wilt not be able to bear the sight?" +</P> + +<P> +But Mary answered, "How can a mother leave her child in the last and +bitterest need?" +</P> + +<P> +Cleophas objected, "But evil might befall thee, if they recognized thee +as his mother." +</P> + +<P> +Mary replied, "I will suffer with him, bear scorn and shame with him; +die with him." +</P> + +<P> +"Only," said John, "if the strength of thy body does not give way." +</P> + +<P> +"Fear not," said Mary. "I have asked strength of God and he has heard +me. Let us go after them." +</P> + +<P> +All answered, "Best of mothers, we follow thee," and they slowly +followed the procession to Calvary. +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +And when they reached Golgotha, which is by interpretation the place of +a skull, they crucified him there. But first they hanged the two +thieves on the crosses, the one on the left, the other on the right. +Their arms were tied over the cross at the wrists, and their feet were +tied with cord to the beam. But Jesus was nailed to the central cross +while it yet lay with the head slightly raised upon the ground. One +nail was driven through the palms of each hand, and one through the two +feet, which were placed the one above the other. Jesus lay silent +without moving. On his head was the crown of thorns, from which a +little blood trickled over his brow. His hands and his feet bled a +little, but the rest of his body was pale and colorless, a light cloth +only being cast around his loins. +</P> + +<P> +The centurion who had returned from Pilate, stood on the right of the +cross giving orders. The lictor, mounted on a white horse, stood near +the soldiers, who held on high the Roman standard with the letters S. +P. Q. R. Caiaphas, Annas and all the members of the Sanhedrin stood on +the left exulting. A great crowd of sightseers thronged the place. +Among them, coming from behind the centurion, were the holy women from +Bethany, with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John, and Joseph of +Arimathea and Nicodemus. +</P> + +<P> +Then said the executioners to the centurion, "We have finished with +these," pointing to the thieves, "Now must the king of Jews be exalted +upon his throne." +</P> + +<P> +Which, hearing, the priests cried angrily, "Not king! Deceiver, +traitor!" +</P> + +<P> +The centurion, who held in his hand a scroll or escutcheon, said, +"First, by command of the governor, this writing must be fastened to +the cross. Faustus," he added, turning to one of the hangmen named +Faustus, "make fast this title over the cross." Faustus took the +scroll from the centurion, and going to the cross, nailed it with one +hammer stroke over the head of Jesus, saying, "Ah, an escutcheon +displayed; this is right royal!" When this was done according to the +command of the governor, the centurion said to the executioners, "Now, +up with the cross! Not carelessly, but lay hold firmly." Then two +hangmen, taking the cross by the arms, lifted it up so that its foot +fell into the hole prepared for it. But as the cross bearing the body +of Jesus was heavy, the third hangman placed his back under it near to +the feet of Jesus, saying, "Come, now, all together," and so helping +raised it on high. The fourth then filled in the hole at the foot +saying when he finished, "All right, the cross stands firm." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the centurion, addressing the chief priests, "The execution +is accomplished." +</P> + +<P> +"Quite admirably so," said Caiaphas with a radiant face. "Thanks and +applause from us all!" "Yea, thanks, and applause from us all," echoed +the Pharisees, looking up at the cross. +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas then declared, "This shall be a feast day forever." +</P> + +<P> +And the Pharisees said, "Yes, for all time to come it shall be kept +every year with grateful jubilation." +</P> + +<P> +"And now," said the aged Annas, "now gladly will I go down to my +fathers since I have lived to have the joy of seeing this wretch on the +cross." And as he gazed long as if exultingly drinking in the pleasure +of satisfied vengeance, he saw for the first time the writing on the +cross, but his old eyes could not decipher the words. Turning to +Caiaphas he said, "The superscription seems to be very short." Then +the Jews drew nearer to see what was written. The hangmen seated +themselves on the ground at the foot of the cross and looked up at +Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +Then the rabbi, reading the words written by Pilate exclaimed, "That is +an insult, an outrage upon the people and the Sanhedrin!" +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas, hearing him, asked, "What is written?" +</P> + +<P> +Annas, who had also looked at the inscription, said, "The rabbi is +right. The Sanhedrin cannot allow this to pass." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the rabbi, "It is written, 'Jesus of Nazareth, king of the +Jews!'" +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas as if incredulous, approached the cross and reading it +himself, started back with indignation. "Verily," he cried, "that is +an affront upon the honor of our nation." +</P> + +<P> +"Down with it at once," cried the priest. +</P> + +<P> +But Caiaphas said, "We dare not touch it ourselves, but do you two," +addressing the rabbi and Saras, "hasten at once to the governor to +demand from him, in the name of the Sanhedrin and the assembled people +that the superscription shall be altered. Say to him, 'Write not the +king of the Jews, but that he said, I am king of the Jews?'" +</P> + +<P> +"We are off at once," said the rabbi and Saras. +</P> + +<P> +"Stay," said Caiaphas, "also request from the governor that he may +order the bones of the crucified to be broken and their bodies taken +down from the cross before the eve of the Passover." +</P> + +<P> +When the rabbi and Saras departed on their mission, the hangmen, who +had been sitting at the foot of the cross, bethought themselves, and +the first, who was named Agrippa, standing up, said, "Now, comrades, +let us divide our share." Taking the mantle of Jesus, they seized each +one corner, and then pulling all together, rent it into four parts. +The coat remained. Agrippa held it up, "The mantle has made just four +pieces; shall we rip up the coat also? See, it is without seam." +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Faustus, who had fastened the superscription over the head +of Jesus, "it would be better to cast lots for it." +</P> + +<P> +"Look," said Agrippa, as he went to the foot of the cross and took up +the basket, "see, here are dice." Then the four hangmen, standing at +the feet of Jesus threw the dice, Agrippa threw them first, saying, "I +will try my luck first. Alas, that is too little," he added, as he +counted up the result of his throw, "I have lost." +</P> + +<P> +Catiline, the third hangman, as he rattled the dice in his hand, looked +up at Jesus and said, "Hi! you up there, if you can still work miracles +on the cross, give me good luck." The others shrugged their shoulders +and said, "What does he care about us?" Catiline's throw was not high. +</P> + +<P> +Then Nero said, "I ought to have had better luck," and throwing the +dice he counted fifteen. "Nearly enough; now, Faustus, it is your +turn." +</P> + +<P> +Faustus threw the dice, saying, "I ought to get it." They all bent +over to see the result. +</P> + +<P> +"Eighteen!" cried Catiline; "that is the best yet." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Agrippa, "Take it," handing him the mantle, "it is thine; +take it away." +</P> + +<P> +And Nero consoled himself by saying, "You are not to be envied." +</P> + +<P> +Faustus gathered up the coat, and folding it up put it away. +</P> + +<P> +By this time the rabbi and Saras returned from Pilate, and coming back +to Caiaphas they said, "Our mission was in vain. The governor would +not listen to us." +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas indignantly asked, while the priests and Pharisees crowded +around, "Did he give you no answer at all?" +</P> + +<P> +"This only," said the rabbi. "What I have written I have written." +</P> + +<P> +"Intolerable," said Annas. +</P> + +<P> +Caiaphas also was much perturbed. But collecting himself he asked, +"What did he order about the breaking of the bones?" +</P> + +<P> +"About this matter he said he would give his orders to the centurion," +answered the rabbi. +</P> + +<P> +Then seeing that no more could be done, the Jews began to revile Jesus, +going up to the cross and wagging their heads and scoffing at him. +Josue, the priest, went up first and said, "So then it remains written, +king of the Jews. Behold, if thou art king of Israel, come down now +from the cross, that we may see and believe." And all the Jews laughed +together. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Eliezer, "Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it +again in three days, save thyself!" +</P> + +<P> +And Caiaphas said, "Ha! thou that savest others, thyself thou canst not +save." +</P> + +<P> +"Come down," cried one of the witnesses, "Art thou not the Son of God?" +</P> + +<P> +And Annas said, "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he will +have him." +</P> + +<P> +Then cried the hangmen, "What! Don't you hear? Show thy power, mighty +king of the Jews," and so the sport went on. +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus, who all this time had hung motionless and silent, raised +slowly and with pain, his head, which had been bowed down, and said, +"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!" +</P> + +<P> +Hearing Jesus speak, the thief who was crucified on his left said unto +him, "Hearest thou? If thou be Christ save thyself and us." +</P> + +<P> +But the other thief who was crucified on the right, answered and said, +"Dost thou not fear God, seeing that thou art in the same condemnation? +And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but +this man hath done nothing amiss." Then turning to Jesus he said, +"Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom?" +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus looked upon him and said, "Verily, I say unto thee, today +shalt thou be with me in Paradise." +</P> + +<P> +"Listen to that," said Caiaphas scornfully, "he speaks as if he had +power over the gates of Paradise." +</P> + +<P> +"What," said the rabbi. "Have not his pride and presumption deserted +him even as he hangs helpless on the cross?" And they were wroth with +Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +During all this time Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John had been +slowly approaching the cross, and now they stood immediately below +Jesus, Mary on the right, John on the left. Then Jesus beholding them, +said to Mary, "Mother, behold thy son." And slowly and with difficulty +turning his head to see John, Jesus added, "Son, behold thy mother." +</P> + +<P> +Then Mary cried in ecstacy of love and adoration, "Even in dying thou +carest still for thy mother." +</P> + +<P> +And John tenderly supporting Mary, but looking above to Jesus, +exclaimed, "Thy last request is sacred to me." +</P> + +<P> +And then to Mary he said, "Thou my mother, I thy son." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus in a hollow voice, cried hoarsely, "I thirst." +</P> + +<P> +The centurion hearing him said, "He thirsts and calls for drink." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," said Faustus, "I will reach him some at once." Then taking the +reed with the sponge, he filled it with vinegar and passed it to the +centurion, who, taking a small phial from his dress, poured hyssop on +the sponge. Faustus then reached the sponge up to the lips of Jesus. +But Jesus turned away his head and would not drink. "Here, drink," +said Faustus. "What, wilt thou not?" and seeing that Jesus would not +touch the sponge he took it away. +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus cried in agony, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!" +</P> + +<P> +But those hearing him did not understand, but imagined he cried for +Elias. +</P> + +<P> +"Hark!" said they. "He cried for Elias." +</P> + +<P> +Then Caiaphas laughed and said, "Let be; let us see whether Elias will +come to save him." +</P> + +<P> +Then Jesus raising his head with a great effort to heaven, and +breathing heavily cried with a loud voice and said, "It is finished. +Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!" And as Jesus spoke these +words his head fell forward on his breast and he gave up the ghost. +Then suddenly the earth rocked and shook violently—thunder +pealed—fierce lightnings flashed—darkness fell like a pall over the +scene—the people stood trembling with fear. +</P> + +<A NAME="img-192"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-192.jpg" ALT=""It is finished."" BORDER="2" WIDTH="398" HEIGHT="605"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 398px"> +"It is finished." +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +The priests and the people cried out in terror, saying: "What a +dreadful earthquake! Do you hear the crash of falling rocks? Woe, woe +be to us!" +</P> + +<P> +But the centurion said, "Certainly, this was a righteous man." +</P> + +<P> +Another soldier replied, "God himself bears witness by these +convulsions of nature." +</P> + +<P> +The centurion said, "Oh, his patience in the worst agony, his noble +calm, this last loud cry to heaven at the moment before death, all +betoken his divine origin. Verily, he is a Son of God!" +</P> + +<P> +"Come neighbors," said Oziel, "I will remain no longer in this terrible +place." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," cried Helen, "let us go home and may God have mercy on us." +</P> + +<P> +And others smiting their breasts cried, "Almighty God, we have sinned! +Forgive us." +</P> + +<P> +And so it came to pass that no one remained round the cross but the +holy women and John, and the friends of Jesus with the hangmen. +</P> + +<P> +The chief priests and the rulers still stood together marveling near +the cross of the repentant thief, when suddenly a temple servant came +rushing into their midst, breathless with haste. +</P> + +<P> +"High priests and assembled council!" he exclaimed, "a fearful thing +has occurred in the holy place. I tremble in every limb." +</P> + +<P> +"What is it?" cried Caiaphas in alarm. "Not the temple?" +</P> + +<P> +"Has it fallen?" said Annas. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said the servant, "not that, but the veil of the temple has been +rent in twain from the top to the bottom. I hastened hither with +staggering feet, and feared the whole world was bursting asunder with +the shock!" +</P> + +<P> +"Dreadful!" exclaimed the priests and Pharisees, throwing up their +hands. +</P> + +<P> +But Caiaphas said, "It is that wretch who has done this by his magic +arts. What a blessing it is that he is out of the world! Otherwise he +would bring all the elements into disorder." +</P> + +<P> +Then all the priests and Pharisees raised up their voices and cried, +shaking their fists against Jesus, "Cursed be the ally of Beelzebub!" +</P> + +<P> +"Now," said Caiaphas, "let us hurry home and see what has happened; +then we will come back at once. For I cannot rest until I have seen +this fellow's bones broken and the corpse flung into the grave of the +transgressors." +</P> + +<P> +When Caiaphas and Annas and all the rulers of the Jews had departed, +Nicodemus said to Joseph of Arimathea, having overheard the parting +word-of Caiaphas, "Shall the holy body of the Son of God be delivered +over to such dishonor as to be flung into the grave of the evil-doers?" +</P> + +<P> +"Listen, friends," said Joseph, "what I have decided to do. I will go +straightway to Pilate, and will implore him to give me the body of +Jesus. He can hardly refuse me this favor." +</P> + +<P> +"Do so, by all means," said Nicodemus. "Hasten hither, and I will +bring the spices for him." They having departed, the holy women +tremblingly drew round the cross. +</P> + +<P> +"Fear not, good women," said the centurion, "no harm shall happen to +you." +</P> + +<P> +Then Mary Magdalene clasped the cross with both her arms, pressed it to +her breast and cried through her tears as she looked up at the silent +and lifeless form above, "O dearest Master, my heart hangs with thee on +the cross!" +</P> + +<P> +Then entered a servant of Pilate, and addressing the centurion, said +unto him, "This is the command of my lord: Break the legs of the +crucified and take down their bodies. Everything must be over before +the eve of the Passover begins." +</P> + +<P> +The centurion said: "It shall be done at once. Men, first break the +legs of these two." +</P> + +<P> +Catiline said, "Come, let us put this business through without more +delay." Then all the hangmen took ladders and placed them against the +crosses of the thieves. Catiline, seizing a strong club, then mounted +the ladder against the cross on the right hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Strike," said Faustus, "so as to kill him." Then Catiline smote the +penitent thief heavily over each of the thighs and then across the +shoulder bone. As the blow fell the man's head fell forward and he +gave up the ghost. +</P> + +<P> +"There," said Catiline, "he wakes no more." +</P> + +<P> +In like manner did Nero to the thief on the left hand, saying, "I will +hasten the other out of the world." +</P> + +<P> +When the blows were falling upon the body of the thief, Mary, the +mother of Jesus, who had watched with terror the blows of the hangman, +cried out, shuddering, "O my Son, they will surely not deal so cruelly +with thy holy body!" +</P> + +<P> +Nero called out to the thief, "Movest thou no more? No, thou hast had +enough. I have given thee thy wages." Then coming down from the +ladder they made ready to break the legs of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +But as the hangman approached the foot of the cross with the ladder and +the club, Mary Magdalene sprang before him, and thrusting him back with +her slender arm, cried piteously, "Oh, spare him, spare him!" +</P> + +<P> +Then Catiline looking up at Jesus said, "Behold, he is already dead. +There is no need therefore to break his legs." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said Faustus, "in order to make sure, I will pierce his heart +with a spear." Then grasping a lance he thrust it into the right side +of Jesus, and forthwith there spurted out blood and water. John, who +was looking up at the holy women, shuddered as the spear entered the +side of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +Mary Magdalene turning to Mary said, "Oh, mother, that thrust hast +pierced thy own heart also." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the centurion, "Now, take down the bodies from the cross." +</P> + +<P> +"Where," said one of the hangmen, "shall we put them?" +</P> + +<P> +The centurion replied, "As ordered, into the grave of the malefactor." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Mary, with a terrible sob: "What a word; it pierces my heart +anew." +</P> + +<P> +"Ladders here," said the hangmen, "we shall soon have them down." Then +the hangmen unfastened the cords which bound the thieves to their +crosses, and mounting the ladder received their bodies in their arms +and bore them away. +</P> + +<P> +While they were busy Mary Magdalene went out to the centurion and said +to him: "May we not even pay the last honors to our friend?" +</P> + +<P> +"Alas," said the centurion, "it is not within my power to permit this." +</P> + +<P> +Then came back Caiaphas and Annas and all the rulers of the Sanhedrin +from the temple to Golgotha. Caiaphas, speaking as they approached, +said, "It will be all the more delightful to see the body of this +evil-doer cast into the pit of shame, because we have witnessed the +destruction he has brought to pass within the temple." +</P> + +<P> +Annas answered, "What joy it would be if my eyes could see him torn +limb from limb by wild beasts." +</P> + +<P> +"Ha," said Caiaphas, as they saw the hangman bearing off the bodies of +the thieves, "they are already being taken down. Now we shall soon see +our ardent desires fulfilled." +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had Caiaphas and the priests approached the cross when from the +other side there came Joseph of Arimathea and with him a servant of +Pilate. The servant said to the centurion, "The governor has sent me +to inquire of thee whether it can really be true that Jesus of Nazareth +is already dead as this man has informed me." +</P> + +<P> +"It is so, indeed," replied the centurion, pointing to the cross. +"Look for yourself. Besides, for a complete certainty, his heart has +been thrust through with a lance." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the servant, "I have orders to inform you that the body is to +be delivered over to this man as a gift from Pilate." And having said +this he departed. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, blessed tidings!" cried the holy women still gathered together +around the foot of the cross. +</P> + +<P> +But the Jews hearing the message, waxed furious and the rabbi, speaking +of Jesus, said to the other priests and rulers, "The traitor of the +synagogue, he has fooled us again." +</P> + +<P> +"And spoiled our triumph," said Annas. +</P> + +<P> +But Caiaphas would not submit and said haughtily, "We shall not +tolerate it that his body be laid anywhere else than in the grave of +the transgressors." +</P> + +<P> +The centurion replied, "As the body is given to this man, it is obvious +that he can bury it where and how he will. There is no disputing that." +</P> + +<P> +Then he said to the soldiers and executioners, "Men, our work is done. +We will return." +</P> + +<P> +Then the hangmen gathered up their basket and their cord, their dice +and the fragments of Christ's mantle and departed. With them went the +centurion and his band, leaving Caiaphas and the Jews face to face with +the holy women and their friends at the foot of the cross. The Jews +were exceedingly wroth and raged amongst themselves at the centurion. +</P> + +<P> +Annas cried out to Joseph of Arimathea, "Dost thou still persist in thy +headstrong obstinacy? Art thou not ashamed to do honor to the very +corpse of an executed malefactor?" +</P> + +<P> +Joseph replied, "I indeed honor this noblest of men, the teacher sent +from God, whom being innocent you have murdered." +</P> + +<P> +And Nicodemus added, "Envy and pride were the motives of his +condemnation. The judge himself was forced to bear witness to his +innocence, and swore he would have no part in his death." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Caiaphas furiously, "The curse of our law will destroy you, +ye enemies of our fathers." +</P> + +<P> +The rabbi said, "Do not excite thyself about them, O, high priest; they +are smitten with blindness." +</P> + +<P> +But Caiaphas, refusing to be silenced, cried, "Cursed are ye by the +holy council. Deprived of all your honors, never more shall ye dare to +take your seats in our midst." +</P> + +<P> +"Neither do we desire to do so," said Nicodemus. +</P> + +<P> +Then said Annas, "As the body is now in the hands of his friends, we +must be on our guard, for this deceiver, while he was yet alive said +that in three days he would rise again." +</P> + +<P> +The rabbi said, "They could easily practice a new deception on the +people and make fresh trouble for us. His disciples might take his +body away secretly and then give out that he had risen from the dead." +</P> + +<P> +"In that case," said Caiaphas, "the last error would be worse than the +first. Let us therefore go at once to Pilate and ask him for a guard +of soldiers to keep watch over the grave until the third day." +</P> + +<P> +"A prudent thought," cried Annas, and the rabbi added, "Thus their +schemes will be foiled." Then they departed to go to Pilate. +</P> + +<P> +His enemies having left his friends alone around the cross, Nicodemus +and Joseph set about taking down the body of Jesus. Bringing the +ladders Joseph mounted on the shorter one that was placed in front, +while Nicodemus ascended the longer one behind. Joseph had with him a +roll of linen so long that after putting it around the body of Jesus, +the ends hanging over the cross reached to the ground, where they were +held by Simon of Bethany and Lazarus. Then, after taking off the crown +of thorns Nicodemus took the pincers and began to pull out the nails +from the hands of Jesus and bent the stiffening arms lovingly away from +the cross. While they were thus engaged the Magdalen and Mary talked +together. "At last," said Mary Magdalene, "the madmen have departed. +Be comforted, beloved mother, now we are alone with our friends; the +mockery and blasphemy are past and a holy evening stillness surrounds +us." +</P> + +<P> +Mary said, "O, my friends! What my Jesus suffered this mother's heart +suffered with him. Now he has finished his work and entered into the +rest of his Father. Peace also and trust from Heaven fills my soul." +</P> + +<P> +Mary Magdalene comforted her, saying, "He is not taken from us forever; +that he promised." +</P> + +<P> +"O, noble men," said Mary to Joseph and Nicodemus, "make haste and +bring me the body of my beloved son." +</P> + +<P> +The Magdalene said, "Mother, wilt thou not rest a little here, while we +prepare his resting place?" Then seating herself on a stone a little +to the right of the cross, Mary waited while her friends made ready to +receive the body of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +"Come, my companions," said Salome, "and help me to prepare the winding +sheet to receive the body." They spread the linen on the ground at +Mary's feet, placing one end upon her lap. +</P> + +<P> +By this time Nicodemus had extracted the second nail which was in his +left hand, and Joseph had taken the nail from the feet of Jesus. Then +Simon and Lazarus, holding the ends of the linen roll, slowly lowered +the body into the arms of Joseph of Arimathea. +</P> + +<P> +"O, come," said Joseph, "thou sweet and holy burden; let me take thee +upon my shoulders." Then with the body of Jesus resting upon his +shoulders Joseph began to descend the ladder. +</P> + +<P> +Nicodemus had already come down and awaited him at the foot of the +cross. Spreading out his arms to receive the body of Jesus, he said, +"Come thou holy body of my only friend, let me embrace thee." Then +they carried the body of Jesus and placed it on the linen winding sheet +that was prepared for it on his mother's lap. Nicodemus, looking at +his wounds sighed, "How the rage of thy enemies hath torn thy flesh." +</P> + +<P> +"Now," said John, "the best of sons rests once more on the bosom of the +best of mothers." +</P> + +<P> +Mary looked down upon the pale, blood-spotted face of Jesus, and then +sighing heavily she said, "O, my Son, how is thy body covered with +wounds!" +</P> + +<P> +"Mother," said John, "from these wounds flowed salvation and blessing +for mankind." +</P> + +<P> +"See, mother," said the Magdalene, who stood on her right hand, "how +the peace of heaven rests in death upon his face." +</P> + +<P> +Then said Nicodemus who had brought some ointment, "Let us anoint him +and then wrap him in this new linen." He then poured the ointment into +all the wounds on the body of Jesus. +</P> + +<P> +"He shall be laid," said Joseph of Arimathea, "in my new grave which I +have prepared in the rock in my garden." +</P> + +<P> +But before they could wrap him in the winding sheets, Salome came near, +and kneeling, raised to her lips the pierced left hand of Jesus saying, +"O, best of Masters! One more loving tear upon thy lifeless body." +</P> + +<P> +Then came the Magdalene on the right hand, and kneeling down, stooped +low and kissed the right hand, saying, "O, let me once more kiss the +hand which has so often blessed me." +</P> + +<P> +Then said John, "We shall see him again." +</P> + +<P> +"Help me," said Joseph to Nicodemus, "to bear him into the garden." +</P> + +<P> +"Blessed am I," said Nicodemus, "that I may lay to rest the remains of +him who was sent from God." Then taking up the body they bore it away. +</P> + +<P> +Then said John to Mary and the other woman, "Let us follow the dear, +the divine friend." +</P> + +<P> +"It is the last honor," said Mary, "that I can do my Jesus." +</P> + +<BR> +<HR WIDTH="80%" ALIGN="center"> +<BR> + +<P> +On the morning of the third day since Jesus had been crucified, before +the sun had arisen, the four soldiers who were appointed to watch the +grave sat outside the tomb where the body of Jesus had been laid. One +of them awaking, cried, "Brothers, is not the night nearly over?" Then +said Titus, "The sky is already reddening in the east; a beautiful +spring day is beginning to dawn." +</P> + +<P> +Hardly had he said these words when there was a great earthquake. +Pedius springing up exclaimed, "Immortal Gods! What a fearful shock!" +"The earth is splitting," cried Rufus. Then there was a peal of +thunder. Titus called out, "Away from the rock; it is tottering; it is +falling!" and the stone which had been rolled up into the mouth of the +sepulcher fell down with a crash. +</P> + +<P> +Jesus arose. For a moment he appeared at the mouth of the sepulchre, +radiant in white apparel, while the watch fell on their faces to the +ground crying out, "Ye gods, what do we see? A fire from heaven is +blinding our eyes!" +</P> + +<P> +Jesus then passed out through the door of the sepulchre and went down +into the garden and out of sight. +</P> + +<P> +After awhile the soldiers, who were lying prostrate on the ground said +to each other, "Brother, what has happened to us?" Then said one of +the soldiers, "I will not stop here another moment." +</P> + +<P> +But Titus looking up said, "The apparition is vanished," and grasping +his spear he rose to his feet saying, "Brothers, take heart; we have +nothing to fear, as we have done no wrong." They then stood up and saw +the open door of the sepulchre from which the stone had fallen. Then +said Titus, "The stone is rolled away from the grave. The grave is +open." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said another, "and the garden door is bolted." Then they went +with fear and trembling to the door of the sepulchre, and one looking +in, said, "I do not see the corpse." +</P> + +<P> +Then another going farther inside said, "Here is the linen cloth lying +in which the body was wrapped. He has gone out of the grave." +</P> + +<P> +Titus said, "He must have risen again, as no one came into the garden." +</P> + +<P> +Then said the third soldier, "It has happened thus as the priests +feared." +</P> + +<P> +And Titus answered, "He has fulfilled his word!" "Now, what shall we +do?" said the soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +"There is nothing else to be done," said one, "excepting to hasten to +the Pharisees and tell them what has happened." +</P> + +<P> +All replied at once, "That we will," and they hastened away. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CHAPTER X. +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +CONCLUSION. +</H3> + +<H3> +I.—THE STORY THAT TRANSFORMED THE WORLD +</H3> + +<P CLASS="intro"> +Written by Mr. Stead at Ober-Ammergau the night after witnessing the +performance of the Passion Play. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +This is the story that transformed the world! +</P> + +<P> +This is the story that transformed the world! +</P> + +<P> +Yes, and will yet transform it! +</P> + +<P> +Yes, thank God, so the answer comes; and will yet transform it until +the kingdom comes! +</P> + +<P> +This is the story that transformed the world. I awoke shortly after +midnight, after seeing the Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau, with these +words floating backward and forward in my head like a peal of bells +from some distant spire. Backward and forward they went and came, and +came and went. +</P> + +<P> +This is the story that transformed the world! +</P> + +<P> +This is the story that transformed the world. And then in the midst of +the reiterated monotone of this insistent message came the glad +response from I know not where, "Yes, and will yet transform it!" And +then the two met and mingled, strophe and anti-strophe, one answering +the other, "This is the story that transformed the world. Yes, and +will yet transform the world!" +</P> + +<A NAME="img-208"></A> +<CENTER> +<IMG CLASS="imgcenter" SRC="images/img-208.jpg" ALT="He is risen." BORDER="2" WIDTH="399" HEIGHT="617"> +<H4 CLASS="h4center" STYLE="width: 399px"> +He is risen. +</H4> +</CENTER> + +<P> +I tried to sleep, but could not. It was as if church bells were +pealing their sweet but imperious music within my brain. So I got up +and wrote. +</P> + +<P> +All is silent save the ticking of the watch by my bedside; silent as +the stars which gleam down from the blue sky above the cross-crowned +crag, which stands like some giant sentinel keeping watch over the +village, at its foot. Herod, our host, sleeps soundly, and Johannes, +wearied by his double service of waiter at the hotel and his role in +the sacred play, is oblivious of all. The crowded thousands who +watched for hours yesterday the unfolding of the passion of Christ +Jesus of Galilee have disappeared, and I am alone. +</P> + +<P> +But not alone. For as real and as vivid as that same crowd of +yesterday seem to me the thronging memories of other days, of the +centuries that rise between the time when Jesus really lived on earth, +and today. Nineteen hundred years have gone since all that we saw +represented yesterday was no mere mimic show but deadly tragic fact; +nineteen hundred years during which the shaping power of the world has +been that story. The old, old, story never before so vividly realized +in all its human significance and its Divine import. +</P> + +<P> +Its human significance, for thank God, we have at last seen Jesus as a +man among men, a human being with no halo round his brow, no radiance +not of this world marking him off apart from the rest of his +fellow-men, but simply Jesus, the Galilean, gibbeted on the gallows of +his time, side by side with the scum of mankind. +</P> + +<P> +And it was this story that transformed the world. "Thou hast +conquered, O pale Galilean!" Over how many tribes and nations and +kindreds of men? +</P> + +<P> +Oh, the wonder of it all, the miracle of miracles surely is this. That +this story should have transformed the world. For after all, what was +the passion? Looked at as we looked at it yesterday, not from the +standpoint of those who see the sacred story through the vista of +centuries that have risen in splendor and set in the glory of the +cross, but from the standpoint which the actors on the stage assumed +yesterday, what was the passion? It was merely a passing episode in +the unceasing martyrdom of man. Think you that of the thirty thousand +Jews whom the humane Titus by a mere stroke of his stylus condemned to +be crucified round the walls of Jerusalem forty years after that scene +on Calvary, none suffered like this! For them, also, was reared the +horrid cross, nor were they spared the mockings and the scourgings, the +cruel thirst, and the slow-drawn agony of days of death. And among all +that unnamed multitude how few were there but had some distracted +mother to mourn for him, some agonized mother to swoon at the news of +his death? Jews they were, as was he. Hero souls, no doubt faithful +unto death, and now, let us hope, wearing a crown of life; patriots who +knew how to die in the service of the land which their fathers had +received from God, and of the temple in which was preserved his holy +law. But their self-sacrifice availed not even to save their names +from oblivion. Their martyrdom was as powerless to avert the doom of +the chosen people as the bursting of the foam-flakes on the sand is to +arrest the rush of the returning tide. +</P> + +<P> +Why, then, should the death of one Jew have transformed the world, +while the death of these uncounted thousands failed even to save the +synagogue? +</P> + +<P> +Why? That is the question that the Passion Play forces home—a +question which never even comes to the mind of those who are accustomed +from childhood to regard this Jew as mysteriously Divine, not so much +man as God, cut off from us and our daily littleness by the +immeasurable abyss that yawns between the finite and the infinite. +This greatest of all the miracles, the coming of Christendom into +being, has become so much a matter of course that we marvel as little +at it as we do at the sunrise—which also in its way is a wonder worthy +enough. Think for a moment of the many myriads of fierce heathen, +worshipping all manner of proud ancestral gods, that have gone down +before the might of that pale form. Civilizations and empires have +gone down into the void; darkness covers them over and oblivion is fast +erasing the very inscriptions which history has traced on their tombs. +But the kingdom which this man founded knoweth no end. The voice that +echoed from the hills of Galilee is echoing today from hills the Romans +never trod, and the story of that life is rendered in tongues unknown +at Pentecost. The more you look at it from the standpoint of the +contemporaries of the carpenter of Nazareth the more incredibly +marvelous it appears. +</P> + +<P> +And this is the great gain of the Passion Play. It takes us clear back +across the ages to the standpoint of those who saw Jesus, the Galilean, +as merely a man among men. It compels us to see him without the +aureole of Divinity, as he appeared to those who knew him from his +boyhood, and who said, "Are not his brethren still with us?" It is +true that it is still not real enough. The dresses are too +beautiful—everything is conventional. We have here not the real +Christ, the Jew, the outcast and the vagabond. For him we must wait +till Vereschagin or some other realist painter may bring us reality. +But even behind all the despisers of conventional Christian art, we +have at least a sufficiently human figure to elicit sympathy, +compassion and love. We get near enough to Christ to hear the blows +that fall upon his face, to appreciate the superior respectability of +the high priests, and to understand the contempt of Herod for the "king +of fools." Not until we start low enough do we understand the heights +to which the crucified has risen. It is only after realizing the +depths of his humiliation we can even begin to understand the miracle +of the transformation that he has wrought. +</P> + +<P> +Nor is that all. It is the greatest thing, but it does not stand +alone. For besides enabling us to realize the story which transformed +the world, it enables us to understand the agency by which that story +effected its beneficent revolution. +</P> + +<P> +I learned more of the inner secret of the Catholic church in +Ober-Ammergau than ever I learnt in Rome. Yet there is nothing +distinctively Roman about the Passion Play. With the exception of the +legend of St. Veronica with which Gabriel Maxs' picture has +familiarized every Protestant who looks into a photograph shop and sees +the strange face on the handkerchief, whose eyes reveal themselves +beneath your gaze, there is nothing from first to last to which the +Protestant Alliance could take exception. And yet it is all there. +There, condensed into eight hours or less, is the whole stock-in-trade +of the Christian church. It was in its effort to impress that story +upon the heart of man that there came into being all that is +distinctively Roman. To teach truth by symbols, to speak through the +eye as much as the ear, to leave no gate of approach unsummoned by the +bearer of the glad tidings of great joy, and above all in so doing to +use every human element of pathos, of tragedy, and of awe that can +touch the heart or impress the imagination—that was the mission of the +church; and as it got further and further afield and had to deal with +rude and ruder barbarians the tendency grew to print in still larger +capitals. The Catholic church, in short, did for religion what the new +journalism has done for the press. It has sensationalized in order to +get a hearing among the masses. +</P> + +<P> +Protestantism that confines its gaze solely to the sublime central +figure of the gospel story walks with averted face past the beautiful +group of the holy women. Because others have ignorantly worshiped, +therefore we must not even contemplate. But plant a competent +Protestant dramatic critic in the theater of Ober-Ammergau, let him +look with dry eyes if he can upon the leave-taking at Bethany, and then +as the universal sob rises from thousands of gazers, he will realize +perhaps for the first time how intense is the passion of sympathy which +they have sealed up, how powerful the emotion to which they are +forbidden to appeal. The most pathetic figure in the Passion Play is +not Christ, but his mother. There is in him also sublimity. She is +purely pathetic. And after Mary the mother comes Mary Magdalene. +Protestantism will have much leeway to make up before it can find any +influence so potent for softening the hearts and inspiring the +imagination of men. Even in spite of all the obloquy of centuries of +superstition, and of the consequent centuries of angry reaction against +this abuse, these two women stand out against the gloom of the past +radiant as the angels of God, and yet the true ideals of the womanhood +of the world. +</P> + +<P> +Yes, this was the story that transformed the world! This and no other. +This it was which to make visible, men carved it in stone and built it +in the cathedral, and then, lest even the light of heaven should come +to the eye of man without bearing with it the story of the cross, they +filled their church windows with stained glass, so that the sun should +not shine without throwing into brighter relief the leading features of +the wonder-working epoch of his life and death. Wherever you go in +Christendom you come upon endless reproductions of the scenes which +yesterday we saw presented with all the vividness of the drama. The +cross, the nails, the lance, have been built into the architecture of +the world, often by the descendants of the men who crucified their +Redeemer—not knowing what they did. For centuries art was but an +endless repetition in color or in stone of the scenes we witnessed +yesterday, or of incidents in lives which had been transformed by these +scenes. The more utterly we strip the story of the Passion of all +supernatural significance the more irresistibly comes back upon the +mind the overwhelming significance of the transformation which it has +affected in the world. +</P> + +<P> +Why?—I keep asking why? If there were no divine and therefore natural +law behind all that, why should that trivial incident, the crucifixion +of one among the unnumbered host of vagabonds executed every year in +the reign of Tiberius and the Caesars that followed him, how comes it +that we are here today? Why are railways built and special trains +organized and six thousand people gathered in curiosity or in awe to +see the representation of this simple tale? How comes it if there were +no dynamo at the other end of that long coil of centuries, that the +light should still be shining at our end today? Shining alas! not so +brightly as could be wished, but to shine at all, is that in itself not +miraculous? +</P> + +<P> +Through all the ages it has shone with varying luster. And still it +shines. The dawn of a new day as I write is breaking upon this +mountain valley. The cocks are crowing in the village, recalling the +apostle who in the midst of the threatening soldiery denied his Lord. +And even as Peter went out and wept bitterly, and ever after became the +stoutest and bravest disciple of the Master, may it not yet be with +those of this generation who also have denied their Redeemer? +</P> + +<P> +Who knows? The transformation would be far less startling than that +which converted the Coliseum from the shambles of imperial Rome into +the gigantic monument of triumphant martyrdom, far less violent than +that which made the German forbears of these good Ammergauers into +Christian folk. +</P> + +<P> +But if the transformation is to be effected, and the light and warmth +of a new day of faith, and hope, and love, are to irradiate the world, +then may it not be confidently asserted that in the old, old story of +the cross lies the secret of the only power which can save mankind? +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3> +II.—THE INTERPRETATION OF THE STORY. +</H3> + +<P> +Wherein does it modify orthodox opinions? Chiefly in humanizing them, +in making the gospel story "palpitate with actuality" to quote the +French phrase which Matthew Arnold loved to use. These people on the +stage at Ober-Ammergau are not lay figures, mere abstract +representations of the virtues or the opposite. They live, breathe and +act just as if they were actors in a French or Russian novel. That is +the great difference. These poor players have brought our Lord to life +again. In their hands he is no mere influence of abstraction, no +infinite and almighty ruler of the universe. He may be and no doubt +every one of the Ober-Ammergauers would shrink with horror from the +suggestion that he was any other than the second person of the trinity. +But they have done more than repeat the Athanasian creed. They have +shown how it came to be believable. If that poor carpenter's son by +getting himself crucified as one part fool and three parts seditious +adventurer could revolutionize the world, then the inference seemed +irresistible that he must have been divine. If the illegitimate son of +a Bengalese peasant hanged by order of our lieutenant-governor in the +northwest provinces because of the mischief he was making among the +Moslems of Lahore were to establish his faith on the ruins of +Westminster Abbey, and install the successor of his leading disciple on +the throne of the British empire, we should not wonder at his +apotheosis. To do so much, with so little material, compels the +inference that there is the infinite behind. Nothing but a God could +control such a machine. It needed a fulcrum in eternity to make such a +change in the things of time with so weak a lever as the life of this +Galilean. +</P> + +<P> +But it is not only Christ himself who becomes real to us, but what is +almost as important, we see his contemporaries as they saw themselves, +or as he saw them. Caiaphas—who that has seen Burgomaster Lang in +that leading role can feel anything but admiration and sympathy for the +worthy chief of the Sanhedrin? He had everything on his side to +justify him. Law, respectability, patriotism, religious expediency, +common sense. Against him there was only this poor vagabond from +Nazareth—and the Invisible. But Caiaphas, like other men, does not +see the Invisible and he acts, according to his lights, as he was bound +to act. He is the great prototype of the domineering and intolerant +ecclesiastic all the world over. Since the crucifixion he has often +changed his clothes. But at heart he is the same. He has worn the +three-crowned hat of the successor of Peter; he has paraded in a +bishop's miter; he has often worn the gown and bands of Presbyterian +Geneva. Caiaphas is eternal. He produces himself in every church and +in every village, because there is a latent Caiaphas in every heart. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps the character who comes out best is Pilate. He is a noble +Roman, whose impartiality and rectitude, coupled with an anxious desire +to take the line of least resistance and find out some practical middle +course, is worthy of that imperial race to whose vices, as well as to +many of their virtues, we English have succeeded. Pilate did his best +to save Jesus up to a point—beyond that point he did not go, and +according to the accepted ethics of men in his position, it would have +been madness to have gone. Why should he, Pontius Pilate, procurator +of Judea, risk his career and endanger the tranquillity of Jerusalem +merely to save a poor wretch like that Galilean? What Englishman who +has ever ruled a province in India, where religious ferment was rife, +who would not have felt tempted to act as Pilate acted—nay, would not +have acted as he acted without even the hesitation he showed, if the +life of some poor devil of a wandering fakir stood between him and the +peace of the empire? Would to God that British magistrates, even at +home in our own land, would give the despised and unpopular poor man +the same number of chances Pilate gave to Jesus. With Downing street +eager for the conviction of a socialist agitator, and the whole of +society and the mob savage against him, a man would be a fool who would +not appeal from Bow street or old Bailey to so just a judge as Pilate. +To the last Pilate never made himself the willing instrument of popular +frenzy. He argued against it, he denounced it, he resorted to every +subterfuge by which he could save the prisoner's life, and it was only +when the Sanhedrin threatened to denounce him to Caesar as an enemy of +the emperor that he unwillingly gave way. Here and there no doubt +there are among our latter day magistrates and judges fanatical +believers in abstract right, who would have risked the empire rather +than let a hair of Christ's head be touched; but the average English or +American magistrate—especially if the accused was "only a +nigger"—would shrug his shoulders at such Quixotism as folly and +worse. It is better, they would say, that one man should die, even +unjustly, than that everything should be upset. +</P> + +<P> +Another person who comes out better than might be expected is Judas. +The conception of his character is very fine and very human. Judas, as +the treasurer of the little band, naturally felt indignant at the +apparent wanton extravagance which led Mary Magdalene to pour ointment +worth 300 pence upon the head of her master. There is real human +nature and sound practical common sense in his reply to those who told +him not to worry about the money, when he retorted, "Who is there to +take care about it if I don't?" Judas never really from first to last +meditates betraying his master to death. The salves which he lays to +his conscience when consenting to identify Jesus at night are very +ingenious. Judas was a smart man who calculated he stood to win in any +event. He got the indispensable cash; all that he did was to indicate +what could perfectly well have been discovered without his aid; if +Jesus were what he believed him to be he could easily have baffled his +enemies; if he were not, well, then, he had deceived them. But the +moment Judas learns that he has really endangered his master's life, +his whole demeanor changes. He flings back the blood money at the feet +of those who had given it to him, and in the madness of despair he +hangs himself. So far from Judas being callous to Christ's fate, his +suicide was a proof that his penitence was far more agonizing than that +of Peter. +</P> + +<P> +Simon Peter also comes in for a share in the general rehabilitation. +It was impossible not to feel sympathy for the hasty old man, hustled +from side to side by a pack of violent soldiery. Knowing moreover that +he had cut off one of their ears but a few hours before, and that if +they recognized him his own ears would have been cropped, even if he +didn't share the fate of the crucified, his denial is so natural under +the circumstances that you cease to marvel that even the cock crow on +the roof failed to remind him of his master's warning. +</P> + +<P> +The Passion Play has at least done this—it sets us discussing the +conduct of Caiaphas and Pilate and Judas, as if they were our +contemporaries, as if they were statesmen at Westminster or at +Washington or administrators in India or Canada. And this, no doubt, +is no small service, for these men are types of human character who are +eternally re-embodied among us. +</P> + +<BR> + +<H3> +III.—THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE. +</H3> + +<P> +The story of the Passion Play has ever been real to me in another than +a Catholic sense. It has been the perpetual re-incarnation of the +divine story in the history of our own times that has absorbed my +attention. These ancient figures on the stage of New Testament history +were but of importance in so far as they lived again in our own life. +Of their mystical theological significance I am, of course, not +speaking. This is a thing apart. But the perpetual re-incarnation of +God's Messiah in the great causes of justice, freedom and humanity, it +is that which has made the gospel story ever new to me. +</P> + +<P> +Leaving Ober-Ammergau I returned by Switzerland to London. At Lucerne +while waiting for the train, I turned over the book in the waiting-room +that describes the construction of the Gotthard railway. About one +thousand tons of dynamite, it is said, had sufficed to pierce the +tunnels through the mountain barrier that separated Italy from +Switzerland. Blasting powder could never have done the work. That +helped to level the military roads for the legions of Suwarrow. It +needed dynamite to tunnel the St. Gotthard—dynamite directed by +science—and as I read this I fell a-thinking. The old story, that +mediaeval Christ in magenta and pearl gray, with his disciples in +artistic symphonies of harmonious and contrasted color, no doubt +transformed the world. But a new world has arisen which sorely needs +transforming again, and is it not possible that the conventional +Christ, who no doubt did mighty things in the past, may have become as +obsolete as blasting powder. May we not hope that if the conventional +Christ did so much, the real Christ may do much more; that the +realization of the Christ as he actually lived and died among us may be +as much superior in its transforming efficacy as the dynamite of the +modern engineer is to the powder sack of the soldiers who marched under +old Suwarrow? Of one thing we may at least be certain, and that is, if +everyone of those who call themselves by the Christian name would but +say one Christ-like word, and do one Christ-like deed between every +sunrise and sunset, it would lift a very Alpine mass of sorrow and +anxiety from the weary heart of the world. What then might not be done +if in very truth, and with all sincerity, we, each of us, tried to be a +real Christ in his or her sphere, the sent of God in the midst of those +with whom we pass our lives? +</P> + +<P> +One more word and I have done. The actors play different parts as they +grow old. They begin with being children in the tableaux and they pass +in turn from one role to another. The Judas of 1890 was the apostle +John in 1880. When the Christ was selected in 1870, he was chosen out +of four competitors. One of the unsuccessful today plays King Herod, +the other Pontius Pilate. So it is ever in real life. Few, indeed, +are those who are always Christs. When Christians ceased to be martyrs +they martyred their enemies. The church came from the catacombs to +establish the inquisition. In our own lives we may be Christs today +and atheists tomorrow. Power and authority destroy more Christs than +the dungeon and the stake. And perhaps one reason why the +Ober-Ammergauers have been able to give us the Christ we see this year +is because in their secluded valley they have remained poor and humble +in spirit, and have never ceased to remember the story that transformed +the world. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Jews, by William T. 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Stead + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: King of the Jews + A story of Christ's last days on Earth + +Author: William T. Stead + +Release Date: September 23, 2007 [EBook #22735] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING OF THE JEWS *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Cover art] + + + + + + +THE KING + +OF THE JEWS + + + +A STORY + +OF CHRIST'S LAST DAYS + +ON EARTH + + + +_ADAPTED FROM THE OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY_ + + +By + +WILLIAM T. STEAD + + + +CHICAGO: + +The Church Press + +104 LaSALLE AVENUE + + + + +Copyright 1900 and 1902 + +By George T. B. Davis. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + I--JESUS DRIVES OUT MONEY CHANGERS + II--JESUS' LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM + III--THE LAST SUPPER + IV--BETRAYED BY A KISS + V--PETER COMMITS PERJURY + VI--JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF + VII--JESUS, PILATE AND HEROD + VIII--"JESUS OR BARABBAS" + IX--THE CRUCIFIXION + X--CONCLUSION + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +The entry into Jerusalem + +"Knelt down and anointed Jesus' feet." + +"Drinking of it he passed the cup to Peter." + +"He reached over and kissed him." + +"What accusation have you to bring against this man?" + +"Jesus staggered under the cross." + +"It is finished." + +He is risen. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +JESUS DRIVES OUT THE MONEY-CHANGERS. + + Cast thyself down in adoring love, + Race bowed down by the curse of God! + Peace and grace out of Zion above! + He is not wroth forever, + Though his wrath be just--though uplifted his rod. + Thus saith he, who changeth never: + "I will not the death of a sinner--I will forgive-- + Let him live!" + And he gave up his son the world from sin to free, + Praise and thanks we give, Eternal, to thee! + + +Suddenly there was heard a noise of singing. A great multitude came +pouring down the narrow street that runs past Pilate's house, chanting +as they came, "Hail to thee, O Son of David!" Little children, old men +and maidens ran forward, some raising palm branches, but all ever +looking backward to one who should come. More and ever more streamed +down the street into the open space in front of the temple, but still +the Hosanna song went on. + +[Illustration: The entry into Jerusalem.] + +At last, in the midst of the jubilant throng, Jesus appeared, clad in a +long garment of gray, over which was cast a flowing robe. His face was +composed and pensive. His long black hair and beard surrounded +features somewhat swarthy from the rays of the hot sun, and he rode on +the side of the ass's colt that seemed almost too small to support his +weight. + +John, the beloved disciple, dressed in green raiment with a red mantle, +led the little ass, carrying in his hand a long pilgrim staff. The mob +pressed tumultuously around, singing and crying: "Hosanna to the Son of +David!" Jesus blessed them as he rode through their midst. After +passing the house of Pilate he suddenly dismounted. Then Jesus +advanced to the front of the temple. The hosannas died away as he +contemplated the busy scene. There were the priests busily engaged +with the money-changers. Nathanael, chief orator of the Sanhedrin, +stood conspicuous among the chattering throng. There were baskets with +pigeons for sale as sacrifices. There were the tables of the dealers. +Buying and selling, haggling and bargaining were in full swing in the +market-place. + +For a moment Jesus, who was above the average height, and whose mien +was dignified and commanding, stood as if amazed and indignant, then +suddenly burst out upon the astonished throng of priests and merchants, +with the following protest: "What see I here? Shall my Father's house +be thus dishonored? Is this the house of God, or is it a market-place? +How can the strangers who come from the land of the Gentiles to worship +God perform their devotions in this tumult of usury? And you," he +continued, advancing a step toward the priests, who stared at him in +amazement, "You priests, guardians of the temple, can you see this +abomination and permit it to continue? Woe be unto you! He who +searches the heart knows why you encourage such disorder." + +The crowd, silent now, watched with eager interest the money-changers +and priests, who but imperfectly understanding what had been said to +them, stared at the intruder. + +"Who can this man be?" they asked. + +And then from the lips of all the multitude there went up the +simultaneous response, as if the whole throng had but one voice: "It is +the great prophet from Nazareth, in Galilee!" + +Jesus, then moving forward into the midst of the astonished merchants +in the temple, exclaimed, in words of imperious authority: "Away with +you from here, servants to Mammon! I command it. Take what belongs to +you and quit the holy place!" + +One of the traders exclaimed in terror: "Come, let us go, that his +wrath destroy us not." + +Then the priests, recovering somewhat their self-possession, stepped +forward to remonstrate. "Why troublest thou this people?" they asked. +"Everything here is for sacrifice. How canst thou forbid that which +the council has allowed?" And then the traders, led by one Dathan, +chimed in, in eager chorus: "Must there then be no more sacrifices?" + +For answer Jesus stood forth and exclaimed: "There is room enough +outside the temple for your business. 'My house,' says the Lord, +'shall be called a house of prayer for all nations;' you have made it a +den of thieves." + +And then crying, "Away with all this!" with one vigorous movement he +overturned the tables of the money-changers. + +A rabbi exclaimed: "This must not be--thou darest not do this!" but his +voice passed unheeded in the tumult. The earthenware vessels fell +crashing to the ground, the money was scattered over the floor. Some +of the dismayed merchants crying, "My money, oh! my money," scrambled +for the glittering coins. Others stared in fury at the unceremonious +intruder. Half a dozen doves, released from their wicker baskets, took +to flight amid the despairing lamentation of their owners: "Oh, my +doves; who will compensate me for this loss?" + +Their lamentations were rudely cut short. A small rope was hanging +near by. Seizing it in the middle and twisting it once or twice round +his hand, Jesus converted it into a whip of cords, with which he drove +out the traders. "Away! get you hence. I will that this desecrated +place be restored to the worship of the Father!" + +The traders fled, but the priests remained, and, after muttering +together, they asked in angry tones: "By what miraculous sign dost thou +prove that thou hast the power to act in this wise?" + +Jesus answered them: "You seek after a sign; yea, a sign shall be given +unto you. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will have built it +up again." + +The priests replied, contempt mingling with indignation in their tones: +"What a boastful declaration! Six and forty years was this temple in +building, and thou wilt build it up again in three days!" + +At this point the children who had been standing around watching the +altercation with the dealers, cried out in unison with their elders: +"Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord!" + +The priests, shocked at their homage, were sorely displeased, and +appealed to Jesus, saying: "Hearest thou what they say? Forbid them!" + +They paused for his reply. + +Then Jesus answered and said unto them: "I say unto you, if they were +silent the very stones would cry out." + +Encouraged by this emphatic approval, the children cried out once more, +louder than ever, the sound of their childish voices filling the +temple: "Hosanna to the Son of David!" + +Then the Pharisees, who stood by the overthrown tables of the +money-changers, spoke up and said angrily to the little ones: "Silence, +you silly children!" + +Jesus turned to them and said: "Have you never read 'Out of the mouths +of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.' That which is +hidden from the proud is revealed unto babes?" And as the priests and +Pharisees muttered in indignation among themselves, he continued: "For +the Scripture must be fulfilled. The stone which the builders rejected +is become the headstone of the corner. The Kingdom of God shall be +taken from you and it shall be given to a people which shall bring +forth the fruits thereof. But that stone, whosoever shall fall upon it +shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall it shall grind him to +powder. Come, my disciples, I have done what the Father has commanded +me, I have vindicated the honor of his house. The darkness remains +darkness, but in many hearts it will soon be day. Let us go into the +inner court of the temple that we may there pray unto the Father." +Thereupon Jesus, followed by his disciples, disappeared in the interior +of the temple, while the people cried aloud as with one voice: "Praise +be to the anointed one!" and the priests said angrily: "Silence, +rabble!" The Pharisees adding: "Ye shall all be overthrown with your +leader." To which the crowd responded by crying louder than ever: +"Blessed be the Kingdom of David which again appears!" + +Then Nathanael, a leading man in the Sanhedrin, tall and well favored, +wearing a horned mitre, and possessing the tongue of an orator, stood +forth, and seeing Jesus had departed and that there was now no one to +withstand him in the hearing of the people, lifted up his voice and +cried: "Whosoever holds with our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, let +him stand by us! The curse of Moses upon all the rest!" + +Then a rabbi in blue velvet apparel, sprang forward and declared with a +loud voice: "He is a deceiver of the people, an enemy of Moses, an +enemy of the Holy Law!" The people answered mockingly: "Then, if so, +why did you not arrest him? Is he not a prophet?" + +Several of the multitude followed Jesus into the temple, but the rest +remained listening to the priests, who cried more vehemently than ever: +"Away with the prophet! He is a false teacher." + +But Nathanael, seizing the opportunity, thus addressed the remainder of +the multitude: "Oh, thou blinded people, wilt thou run after the +innovator, and forsake Moses, the prophets, and thy priests? Fearest +thou not that the curse which the law denounces against the apostate +will crush thee? Would you cease to be the chosen people?" + +The crowd shaken by this appeal, responded sullenly: "That would we +not." + +Nathanael pressed his advantage. "Who," he asked, "has to watch over +the purity of the law? Is it not the holy Sanhedrin of the people of +Israel? To whom will you listen; to us or to him? To us or to him who +has proclaimed himself the expounder of a new law?" + +Then the multitude cried all together: "We hear you! we follow you!" +Nathanael continued: "Down with him, then, this man full of deceit and +error!" + +The people replied: "Yes, we stand side by side with you! Yes, we are +Moses' disciples!" and the priests answered, speaking all together: +"The God of your fathers will bless you for that." + +At this moment loud and angry voices were heard approaching down the +narrow street that led to the house of Annas, the high priest. The +priests and Pharisees listened eagerly. As they caught the word +"revenge" they turned to each other with exultant looks. Meanwhile +Dathan, a merchant, the chief of the traders who had been driven from +the temple, was seen to be leading on his fellow merchants, who were +lifting up their hands and weeping as they recounted their losses. +They shouted confusedly as they came: "This insult must be punished! +Revenge! Revenge! He shall pay dearly for his insolence. Money, oil, +salt; doves--he must pay for all. Where is he, that he may experience +our vengeance?" + +The priests replied: "He has conveyed himself away." + +"Then," cried the traders, "we will pursue him." + +But Nathanael, seeing what advantage might result from the discontent +of the merchants, arrested their pursuit. "Stay friends," he said; +"the faction that follows this man is at present too large. If you +attacked them it might cause a dangerous fight, which the Roman sword +would finish. Trust to us. He shall not escape punishment." + +And the priests who stood around Nathanael cried: "With us and for us: +that is your salvation!" Then Dathan and his friends exclaimed +triumphantly: "Our victory is near." + +Nathanael assured of the control of the multitude, continued: "We are +now going to inform the council of the Sanhedrin of today's events." + +The traders impatiently exclaimed: "We will go with you. We must have +satisfaction." + +But Nathanael dissuaded them, saying: "Come in an hour's time to the +forecourt of the high priest. I will plead your cause in the council, +and bring forward your complaint." + +And as Nathanael and the priests and the Pharisees went out, the +traders and the people cheered them, crying aloud: "We have Moses! +Down with every other! We are for Moses' law to the death! Praise be +to our fathers! Praise to our father's God!" + + * * * * * * + +Then the high priests and the rulers and the elders gathered together +late in the night in the council of the Sanhedrin. In the highest +place sat Caiaphas with his jewelled breast-plate, in robes of white +embroidered with gold. A vestment of green and gold covered his +shoulders, and on his head he wore a white-horned mitre adorned with +golden bells, which added to the majesty of his aspect. Annas, the +aged high priest, sat on his left. Nathanael, also on the raised dais, +was on the right. Below him sat the rabbis in blue velvet, while +seated around were Pharisees, scribes and doctors of the law. + +Caiaphas, whose white hair and beard showed that he was well stricken +in years, was still in the full vigor of life. As president of the +Sanhedrin, he briefly opened the session: + +"Honored brothers, fathers and teachers of the people, an extraordinary +occurrence is the occasion of the present extraordinary assembly. +Listen to it from the mouth of our worthy brother." + +Then Nathanael arose, and standing on the right hand of Caiaphas, said: +"Is it allowed; O, fathers, to say a word?" + +All answered: "Yes, speak! speak!" + +Then said Nathanael: "Marvel not, O fathers, that you should be called +together at so late an hour for the transaction of business. It must +be only too well known to you what we have with shame been compelled to +see today with our own eyes. You have seen the triumphal progress of +the Galilean through the Holy City. You have heard the Hosannas of the +befooled populace. You have perceived how this ambitious man arrogates +to himself the office of the high priest. What now lacks for the +destruction of all civil and ecclesiastical order? Only a few steps +further, and the law of Moses is upset by the innovations of this +misleader. The sayings of our forefathers are despised, the fasts and +purifications abolished, the Sabbath desecrated, the priests of God +deprived of their office, and the holy sacrifices are at an end." + +As Nathanael concluded, all the fathers of the council exclaimed with +one voice: "True--most true." As he had been speaking they had been +interchanging notes of appreciative and sympathetic comment. But it +was not until Caiaphas spoke that the Sanhedrin was roused to the +highest pitch of excitement. Caiaphas, who spoke with great fire and +fervor, thus addressed the rulers of Israel: "And more than all this. +Encouraged by the success of his efforts, he will proclaim himself King +of Israel (murmurs of alarm and indignation), then the land will be +distracted with civil war and revolt, and the Romans will come with +their armies and bring destruction upon our land and our people. Woe +is me for the children of Israel, for the Holy City, and for the temple +of the Lord, if no barrier is opposed to the evil while there is yet +time! It is indeed high time. We must be the saviors of Israel. +Today must a resolution be passed, and whatever is resolved upon must +be carried out without regard to any other consideration. Do we all +agree to this?" + +And all the Sanhedrin as one man cried out: "We do." + +Up sprang a priest to emphasize his vote: + +"A stop must be put to the course of this misleader." + +Caiaphas then said: "Give your opinion without reserve as to what +should be done." + +And then a rabbi arose and said: "If I may be permitted to declare my +opinion unreservedly, I must assert that we ourselves are to blame that +things have come to such a pass. Against this onrushing ruin much too +mild measures have been employed. Of what avail have been our +disputations with him, or what has it profited that we have by our +questionings, put him in a dilemma; that we have pointed, out the +errors in his teaching and his violations of the law? Nay, of what use +has been even the excommunication pronounced on all who acknowledged +him as the Messiah? All this was labor in vain. Men turn their backs +on us, and all the world runs after him. To restore peace to Israel, +that must be done which ought to have been done long ago--we must +arrest him and throw him into prison. That is the only way to put an +end to his evil influence." + +The suggestion was hailed with enthusiasm, and springing to their feet +they cried: "Yea, that must be done!" + +Then a third priest stood up and said: "Once he is in prison, the +credulous people will no longer be attracted by the fascination of his +manner or the charm of his discourse. When they have no more miracles +to gape at; he will soon be forgotten." + +And a fourth priest exulted as he added: "In the darkness of his +dungeon let him make his light shine and proclaim his Messiahship to +the walls of the jail." + +Then it was the turn of the Pharisees. The first said: "He has been +allowed long enough to lead the people astray and to denounce as +hypocrisy the strict virtue of the Holy Order of the Pharisees. Let +him suffer in fetters for his contempt." + +A second Pharisee added complacently: "The enthusiasm of his hangers-on +will soon cool down when he who has promised them freedom is himself in +chains." + +By this time it was evident all the council was of one mind. Then +Annas, the venerable high priest, arose and addressed the Sanhedrin +with much emotion: "Now, venerable priests, a ray of confidence and joy +penetrates to my breast when I see your unanimous resolution. Alas! an +unspeakable grief has weighed down my soul at the sight of the onward +progress of the false teachings of this Galilean. It seemed as if I +had lived to old age but in order to have the misfortune of seeing the +downfall of our holy law. But now I will not despair. The God of our +fathers still lives, and he is with us. If you have the courage to act +boldly, and to stand firmly and faithfully together, there is safety at +hand. Take courage, steadfastly pursue the aim in view, and be the +deliverer of Israel, and undying fame will be your reward." + +With one accord all answered and said: "We are of one mind," while the +priests added, shouting eagerly, "Israel must be saved!" + +Then Caiaphas began: "All honor to your unanimous resolution, worthy +brethren, but now let me have the benefit of your wise counsels how we +can most safely bring this deceiver into our power." + +"It might be dangerous," remarked the first Pharisee, "to seize him now +at the time of the feast. In the streets or in the temple he is +everywhere surrounded by a mob of infatuated followers. It could +easily lead to an uproar." + +Then cried all the priests together with a loud voice, as if impatient +that one should speak at a time: "But something must be done at once. +The matter brooks no delay. Perhaps at the feast he might raise a +commotion, and then it might come to pass that we should be consigned +to the place which we have destined for him." + +"No delay;" cried some other priests, "no delay!" + +Then the second Pharisee stood up and said: "We cannot now seize him +openly with the strong hand. We must carry out our scheme cunningly +and in secret. Let us find out where he usually spends the night; then +we could fall upon him unobserved and take him into custody." + +Nathanael sprang to his feet, for the auspicious moment had come,--the +furious merchants from the temple were without in the courtyard. "To +track the fox to his lair will not be difficult. We could then soon +find someone to help, if it should please the high council to offer a +large reward." + +Caiaphas at once put the resolution to the Sanhedrin. Rising from his +seat he said, "If you, assembled fathers, agree, then in the name of +the high council I will issue notice that whoever knows of his nightly +resort, and will inform us of the same, will be rewarded for his pains." + +With one voice the rulers and chief priests and scribes cried out, +rising from their seats, "We are all agreed." + +Then said Nathanael, "Without doubt we could secure the services, as +informers, of those men whom the Galilean today has injured so deeply +in the sight of all the people, driving them with a scourge out of the +temple. From of old they were zealous of the law, but now they are +thirsting for revenge against him who has made so unheard-of an attack +upon their privileges." + +"But where," said Caiaphas, "are these traders to be found?" + +"They are waiting," said Nathanael, "in readiness in the outer court. +I have promised them to be the advocate of their cause before the holy +Sanhedrin, and they await our decision." + +"Worthy priest," said Caiaphas, "inform them that the high council is +disposed to listen to their grievance, and bring them in." + +Nathanael as he went said, "This will be a joy to them and of great use +to us." + +When Nathanael left the hall, Caiaphas addressed the council with words +of cheer: "The God of our fathers has not withdrawn his hand from us. +Moses still watches over us. If only we can succeed in gathering +around us a nucleus of men out of the people then I no longer dread the +result. Friends and brethren, let us be of good courage, our fathers +look down upon us from Abraham's bosom." + +"God bless our high priest!" rang through the hall as Nathanael, +followed by Dathan and the other traders, returned to his place. He +introduced them thus: "High priests and chosen teachers! These men, +worthy of our blessing, appear before this assembly in order to lodge a +complaint against the notorious Jesus of Nazareth, who has today +insulted them in the temple in an unheard-of fashion and brought them +to grief." + +Then with one voice the traders, led by Dathan, cried out, "We beseech +the council to procure us satisfaction. The council ought to support +our righteous demands." + +The priests and Pharisees responded eagerly, "You shall have +satisfaction, we will answer for that." + +Then ensued the following dialogue between the traders and the +Sanhedrin: + +The Traders: "Has not the council authorized us to display openly in +the court of the temple all things useful for the sacrifice?" + +A Priest: "Yes, that has been sanctioned. Woe be to those who disturb +you in the exercise of this right!" + +The Traders: "And the Galilean has driven us out with a scourge. And +the tables of the money changers has he overturned, and released the +doves. We demand satisfaction." + +Caiaphas: "That you should have satisfaction the law decrees. Your +losses will be made good in the meantime out of the temple treasury" +(joy among the traders). "But that the offender himself may be duly +punished it is necessary for us to have your help. What can we do so +long as he is not in our power?" + +The Traders: "He goes daily to the temple; there he can easily be +arrested and carried off." + +Caiaphas: "That will not do. You know that as he has a multitude of +excited followers such a course might lead to a dangerous uproar. The +thing must be done quietly." + +The Traders: "That could be done best at night-time." + +Caiaphas: "If you could find out where he retires at night he would +soon be without tumult in our hands. Then would you not only have the +delight of seeing him chastised, but also a considerable reward would +fall to your lot." + +Nathanael: "And you would also have rendered good service to the law of +Moses if you assist in this." + +Then all the traders cried out together: "You can depend upon us, we +will spare no trouble." + +And all the priests and Pharisees congratulated themselves that the +business was going well. Dathan, conspicuous by his apparel, then +volunteered a statement. He said: "I know one of his followers from +whom I could easily gain some information if I could offer him a +sufficient reward." + +Caiaphas at once authorized him, "If thou findest such a one make all +necessary promises in our name. Only don't loiter; we must attain our +end before the feast." + +Annas enjoined the strictest silence, to which with one voice the +traders responded, "We swear it," and then Caiaphas proceeded to urge +upon them the need of creating a party on their side among the people. +"If, my good fellows, you really desire fully to glut your longing for +revenge, then take care and use every means to kindle in others the +same holy zeal which glows in you." + +They answered that they had not waited for his prompting, but had +already brought several others over to their side. "We will not rest +until the whole populace is roused against him." + +Annas and Caiaphas applauded their zeal. "You will thereby merit the +greatest gratitude from the council," said Annas, and Caiaphas chimed +in, "Openly will ye then be honored before all the people as you have +been today put to shame before them by this presumptuous man." + +"Our life for the law of Moses and the holy Sanhedrin," then cried the +traders. "The God of Abraham guide you," said Caiaphas dismissing +them, and they left the hall crying aloud, "Long live Moses! long live +the high priests and the Sanhedrin! Even today may the role of the +Galilean be played out!" + +Then Caiaphas addressed these parting words to the council: "As though +refreshed by sweet slumbers, I live once more. With such men as these +we can put everything through. Now we shall see who will triumph,--he +with his followers to whom he is always preaching love,--a love which +is to include publicans and sinners and even the Gentiles also,--or we +with this troop inspired by hate and revenge which we are sending +against him. There can be no doubt to which side the victory will +incline." + +"The God of our fathers give us the victory!" said Annas; "joy in my +old age will renew my youth!" + +Then said Caiaphas, "Let us now break up, looking forward with +confidence to the joy of victory. Praised be our fathers!" + +And all the assembly with a deep, sonorous voice exclaimed, "Praised be +the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +JESUS' LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. + + People of God behold; thy Savior is nigh to thee! + He is come who was promised thee long ago. + Oh! hear him, follow his guidance + Blessing and life will he bring to thee. + + But blind and deaf Jerusalem has shown herself; + She has thrust back the hands held out to her in love; + Therefore also the Highest has turned away his face, + And lets her sink to destruction. + + +Jesus, accompanied by all his disciples, set out to pay his last visit +to Bethany. Peter, with his staff in hand, walked with John beside the +master. Judas was present, with disheveled locks and haggard look, +James the Greater and James the Less, and Andrew and Thomas, and the +rest of the disciples. + +Then Jesus spoke unto them and said: "You know, dear disciples, that +after two days is the feast of the Passover. So now let us make one +last visit to our friends in Bethany, and then go to Jerusalem, where +in these days all will be fulfilled which has been written by the +prophets concerning the Son of Man." + +The disciples understood not his saying, and after some questioning +among themselves Philip ventured to address Jesus, saying unto him, +"Has the day then really come at last when thou wilt restore the +kingdom to Israel?" + +Jesus looked upon Philip with tender compassion, and said unto him, +"Then shall the Son of Man be delivered up to the Gentiles, and shall +be mocked and spat upon and they will crucify him; but on the third day +he will rise again." + +Then said John in a voice that trembled with emotion, as the other +disciples gazed at each other in horror, "Dear master, what dark and +terrible words thou speakest. What are we to understand by them? Make +it clear unto us." + +Then Jesus answered and said unto him, "The hour is now come when the +Son of Man shall be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a +corn of wheat does not fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone, +but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. Now is the judgment of the +world. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be +lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." + +Then were the breasts of the disciples troubled, for they could not +understand what these things meant. Thaddeus said to Simon, "What does +he mean by this speech?" + +Simon replied with a puzzled air, "Why does he compare himself to a +grain of corn?" + +Then said Andrew unto him, "Lord, thou speakest at once of shame and of +victory. I know not how to reconcile those ideas in my mind." + +Jesus said, "That which is now dark to you as the night will be as +clear as the day. I have told you before that you may not lose courage +whatever may happen. Believe and hope. When the tribulation is +passed, then you will see and understand." + +Thomas answered and said unto him, "What I cannot understand is that +thou shouldst speak of suffering and of death. Have we not heard from +the prophets that the Messiah shall live forever? What can thine +enemies do unto thee? One single word from thee would annihilate them +all." + +Jesus said unto him, "Thomas, reverence the secret counsels of God +which thou canst not fathom." + +Then, turning to the others, he said, "Yet a little while is the light +with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you." + +By this time they had approached near the village of Bethany, and there +met them one Simon, after whom there came Lazarus, who was raised from +the dead, with Martha, his sister, and Mary Magdalene, the latter tall, +dark, with long black hair, in dark blue dress with a yellow mantle. + +Simon pressed forward; he was an old man and he hastened to meet Jesus. +"Welcome, best of teachers, O what joy that thou shouldst honor my +house with thy entrance. Dear friends, be also welcome," he exclaimed; +but he was startled to hear the reply, "Simon, for the last time I, +with my disciples, lay claim to thy hospitality." + +Simon replied in grief, "Say not so, Lord. Often still shall Bethany +afford thee brief repose." + +By this time Lazarus drew near; he was of less than middle stature and +silent, as if his sojourn in the other world left him little to speak +of in this. "See," said Jesus, "there is our friend Lazarus." + +"My Lord," cried Lazarus, embracing him, "the vanquisher of death, +lifegiver and Lord, I see thee once again and hear the voice that +called me from the grave." + +Then hastened the Magdalene to his side, and kneeling down, "Rabbi," +she exclaimed; Martha also said, "Welcome, Rabbi." + +Then Jesus blessed them, saying, "God's blessing be upon you!" + +Then Martha asked, "Wilt thou Lord, grant me the happiness of serving +thee?" while the Magdalene timidly inquired, "Wilt thou despise a token +of love and gratitude from me?" + +And Jesus replied with tenderness, "Do, good souls, that which you +purpose to do." + +Then said Simon, "Best of masters, come under my roof and refresh +thyself and thy disciples." + +So Jesus entered into Simon's house, exclaiming, "Peace be upon this +house," to which the disciples added, speaking together, "And to all +that dwell therein." Then said Simon, "Lord, all is ready, set thee +down at table and bid thy disciples sit down also." + +Then Jesus sat down to meat, saying, "Let us now, beloved disciples, +enjoy with thanks the gifts which our Father in heaven bestows upon us +through Simon, his servant. O Jerusalem, would that my coming were as +dear to thee as it is to these, my friends! But thou are stricken with +blindness." + +"Yes, Lord," remarked Lazarus; "O best of masters, dangers threaten +thee. The Pharisees are anxiously wondering whether thou wilt come up +to the Passover. They are eagerly watching for thy destruction." + +Simon said, "Stay here, Lord; here thou art safe." + +Then Peter interposed with an entreaty, "Lord, it is good to be here. +Remain here, in the seclusion of this house, served by faithful love, +till the gathering storm be passed." + +But Jesus rebuked him sternly, saying: "Get thee behind me, tempter. +Thou savorest not of the things that are of God, but those that be of +men. Can the reaper tarry in the shade while the ripe harvest awaits +him? The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister +and to give his life a ransom for many." + +Then the dark-browed Judas spoke, uttering this time the thought of +all. "But, master, what will become of us if thou givest up thy life?" + +A chorus of approval burst from all the disciples, "Ah, all our hopes +would then be destroyed." + +"Trouble not yourselves," said Jesus, "I have power to lay down my life +and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received +of my Father." + +And lo, while they were yet speaking, Mary Magdalene silently +approached Jesus, carrying in her hand a bottle of ointment of +spikenard, very precious, which she poured over his head as she +murmured but one word, "Rabbi." And Jesus also said but one word, +"Mary," but his tone was full of tenderness and love. + +As the perfume of the ointment filled the room the disciples spoke +among themselves. "What an exquisite odor!" said Thomas, leaning past +the others to look. + +"It is real oil of spikenard, very costly," said Bartholomew. + +Thaddeus added, "Such an honor has never been shown to our master." + +But Judas could not contain himself. He growled from his distant seat, +"To what purpose is this waste? The money might have been much better +expended." + +"Yes," said Thomas, "I almost think so, too." + +Then Magdalene, heedless of the murmurs of the disciples, knelt down +and anointed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her long black tresses. +Jesus, after a little while, noticing the muttering down the table, +asked, "What are you saying to each other? Why do you condemn that +which is done only from grateful love." + +[Illustration: "Knelt down and anointed Jesus' feet."] + +The Magdalene knelt back, sheltering herself as it were behind her Lord. + +Judas blurted out impetuously his dissatisfaction. "To pour out so +much costly ointment, what wasteful extravagance!" + +"Friend Judas," said Jesus, "look at me. Is what is done for me, thy +master, waste?" + +Judas said, "I know that thou lovest not useless expense; the ointment +might have been sold and the poor helped with the money!" Hearing +Judas' answer he half turned away and looked wearily upward, folding +his hands. + +"Judas," said Jesus somewhat sternly, "hand upon thy heart now. Is it +only pity for the poor which moves thee so much?" + +Judas replied, "At least three hundred pence could have been got for +it. What a loss both for the poor and for us." + +Then Jesus answered and said, "The poor you have always with you, but +me ye have not always." Then he said, "Let her alone, she has wrought +a good work on me, for in that she has poured out the ointment upon me, +she has anointed me for my burial. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever +the gospel will be preached through the whole world, there shall also +this which she hath done be told for a memorial of her." + +He then said to the disciples, "Let us arise"--and then turning to +Simon, his host, he said, "I thank thee, benevolent man, for thy +hospitality, the Father will repay it unto thee." + +"Say nothing of thanks, master," said Simon; "I know what I owe to +thee." + +Then Jesus arose and said, "It is time to go hence. Farewell all ye +dwellers in this hospitable house. My disciples, follow me." + +Peter said unto him, "Lord, wherever thou wilt, only not to Jerusalem." + +Jesus answered, "I go where my Father calls me. If it please thee to +remain here, Peter, do so." Then Peter declared, "Lord, where thou +abidest there will I also abide; whither thou goest there go I also." + +Jesus said, "Come then." + +The disciples arose and clasping their staffs were ready to depart. +Then Jesus turned to Mary Magdalene and Martha and said, "Remain here, +beloved! Once more, fare ye well. Dear, peaceful Bethany, never more +shall I tarry in thy quiet vale." + +Simon, sore troubled in speech as he heard these words, said unto him, +"Then wilt thou really depart hence forever?" + +Mary Magdalene threw herself at his feet and said, "Alas, I am filled +with terrible forebodings. Friend of my soul! My heart--oh! my +heart--it will not let thee go!" + +Jesus said unto her, "Stand up, Mary. The night cometh and the winter +storms come blustering on. But be comforted. In the early morning in +the garden of spring, thou wilt see me again." + +Lazarus exclaimed, "Oh! my friend, my benefactor!" + +"Alas!" cried Martha, "thou art going; and comest thou back nevermore?" + +Jesus said, "The Father wills it, beloved. Wherever I am I bear you +ever with me in my heart, and wherever you are, my blessings will +follow you. Farewell." + +And behold as they turned to go, there met them Mary, the mother of +Jesus, with her companions. Mary had a white mantle round her head, +from beneath which her long dark hair hung down. She hastened to her +son, crying, "Jesus, dearest son, I hastened after thee with my +friends, in eager longing to see thee once more before thou goest, all +whither?" + +Jesus clasped her hands gently and replied, "Mother, I am on the way to +Jerusalem." + +"To Jerusalem," said his mother. "There is the temple of Jehovah, +whither I once carried thee in my arms to offer thee to the Lord." + +"Mother," said Jesus in solemn sadness, "the hour is come when +according to the will of the Father I shall offer myself. I am ready +to complete the sacrifice which the Father demands from me." + +"Ah," cried Mary with bitter and piteous cry, "I foresee what kind of a +sacrifice that will be." + +John and Mary Magdalene had joined the mother of Jesus, and the two +Marys standing together united their lament. + +"How much we had wished," said the Magdalene, "to keep back the master +and make him remain with us." + +"It is of no use," said Simon gloomily, "his purpose is fixed." + +Then said Jesus to his mother, tenderly beholding her, "My hour is +come." + +All the disciples cried, "Oh, ask the Father that he should let it pass +by." + +Then all the women said, "The Father has always listened to thee." + +But Jesus said: "How is my soul troubled, and what shall I say? +Father, deliver me from this hour! But for this hour came I into the +world." + +But Mary hearing him, exclaimed as in a trance, "Oh, venerable Simon, +now will be fulfilled that which thou once prophesied to me, 'A sword +shall pierce through thine own soul!'" And as she spoke Mary Magdalene +gently supported her from falling. + +Jesus said in terms of gentle reproach, "Mother, the will of the Father +was also ever sacred to thee." His word rallied her courage and she +replied, "It is so to me still. I am the handmaid of the Lord. What +he requires of me I will bear patiently. But one thing I beg of thee, +my son." + +"What desirest thou, my mother?" + +"That I may go with thee into the fierce conflict of suffering, yea, +even unto death!" + +"Oh, what love!" exclaimed John, who stood tearfully beside the two +Marys, wistfully looking for some ray of hope to illumine the darkness +beyond. + +Jesus embraced her lovingly. "Dear mother, thou wilt suffer with me, +thou wilt fight with me in my death struggle, but thou wilt also +rejoice with me in my victory, therefore be comforted." + +"Oh, God!" she cried in heartrending accents, "give me strength that my +heart may not break." + +"We all weep with thee, thou best of mothers," said the holy women, +adding their tears to those of the mother of Jesus. + +"I will go with thee, my son, to Jerusalem," said Mary. + +And the holy women declared they also would go with her. + +But Jesus, holding her hand, tenderly forbade her: "Later you may go +thither, but not now. For the present stay with our friends at +Bethany. I commend to you, O faithful souls, my beloved mother, with +those who have followed her here." + +Eagerly the Magdalene accepted the charge. + +"After thee," she exclaimed, "there is no one dearer to us than thy +mother." + +But even at the eleventh hour Lazarus interposed one last word of +entreaty: "If only thou, O master, couldst remain!" + +Not noticing this, Jesus said, "Comfort ye one another. After two days +you may come up together to Jerusalem, to be there on the great day of +the feast." + +Mary said: "As thou wilt, my son." + +But the holy women said: "How sadly will the hours pass when thou art +far from us." + +Then Jesus spoke to his mother and said, "Mother, mother, for the +tender love and motherly care which thou hast shown to me for the three +and thirty years of my life, receive the warmest thanks of thy son." +And stooping down he kissed her. Then raising his head, he said, "The +Father calls me. Fare thee well, best of mothers." + +Mary asked him: "My son, where shall I see thee again?" + +And Jesus replied: "There, beloved mother, where the Scripture shall be +fulfilled: 'He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and he opened not +his mouth.'" + +Mary sobbing, cried aloud, "Jesus, thy mother, oh! Oh, God, my son!" + +Half fainting she was held up by the holy women, who exclaimed, "O +beloved, faithful mother!" + +The disciples departed, muttering, "We cannot endure it. What will be +the end of all this?" + +Then burst from their lips the despairing cry, "Alas, what affliction +lies before us all?" + +But Jesus said, "Sink not in the first conflict. Hold fast by me." + +And the disciples repeated, "Yea, master, fast by thee." + +Lazarus and the women looking back after Christ as he passed out of +sight, exclaimed, "Ah! our dear teacher," while Simon said, "He brought +happiness to my house." + +Simon then turned tenderly to Mary and said: "Come, mother, and +condescend to enter in." "One consolation remains to us in +tribulation," said Mary Magdalene, and Martha added, "To have the +mother of our Lord with us." Turning to the other women, Lazarus said, +"And you, beloved ones, come with us, we will share our woe and tears +together." + +All then together went into the house, Mary Magdalene supporting the +mother of Jesus. + + * * * * * * + +Now as they came unto Jerusalem they looked down upon the whole city +which lay before them. Then said John unto Jesus, "Master, behold what +a splendid view of Jerusalem from this spot!" + +Matthew said, "The majestic temple, how splendidly it is built." + +Jesus was troubled in spirit, and after gazing for a moment over the +city, clasped his hands in grief and cried, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, O +that thou hadst known even in this thy day the things that belong unto +thy peace! but now they are hidden from thine eyes!" + +Jesus wept. + +His disciples beholding him weep were amazed. At last Peter ventured +to say, "Master, why grievest thou so sorely?" + +Jesus answered, "My Peter, the fate of this unhappy city goes to my +heart." + +Then said John, "Lord, tell us what shall this fate be?" + +Jesus answered and said unto them, "The days will come when her enemies +will make a trench about her walls and close her in on every side, and +lay her even with the ground. She and her children within her walls +will be dashed to the earth, and not one stone will be left upon +another." + +Andrew, giving expression to the general consternation, asked, +"Wherefore shall the city have so sad a doom?" + +Jesus said, "Because she hath not known the day of her visitation. +Alas! she who hath slain the prophets will kill the Messiah himself." + +Then spoke all the disciples together, "What a terrible deed!" + +James, the elder, said, "God forbid that the city of Jehovah should +bring such a curse upon herself." + +And John with pleading voice added, "Dearest master, for the sake of +the holy city and the temple, I beg of thee go not thither, so that the +opportunity may be wanting to those evil men to do the worst." + +"Or," said Peter, "go thither and display thyself in all thy majesty, +so that the good may rejoice and the evil tremble." + +"Yes," cried all the twelve eagerly, "do that." + +Philip said, "Strike down thine enemies!" and all added earnestly, "And +set up the kingdom of God among men!" + +Jesus answered, "Children, that which you desire shall come to pass in +due time, but my ways are appointed to me by my father, and thus saith +the Lord, 'My thoughts are not as your thoughts, and my ways are not as +your ways.'" + +Then, as if to cut short a useless discussion, he said, "Peter!" Peter +replied, "What wilt thou, Lord?" and the Lord continued, "It is now the +first day of unleavened bread, in which the law commands that we should +eat the Passover; you, both Peter and John, go forward and prepare the +Passover that we may eat it in the evening." + +Peter and John, who stood the one on the left and the other on the +right, asked, "Where wilt thou, Lord, that we prepare the Passover?" + +Jesus said, "When you come into the city there shall meet you a man +bearing a pitcher of water, follow ye him and wheresoever he shall go +in, say ye to the good man of the house, 'The master says, Where is the +guest-chamber that I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' and he +will show you a large upper chamber furnished and prepared; there make +ready the Passover." + +"Thy blessing, O best of masters!" said Peter. He and John knelt on +either side of their Lord, Jesus placed his right hand on the head of +John and his left hand on the head of Peter, exclaiming, "God's +blessing be with you!" + +Peter and John having departed, Jesus said to the others, "Accompany me +for the last time to the house of my Father." + +Then Judas, who had for some time past stood apart, came forward and +said, "But, master, allow me; if thou wilt really leave us, make some +arrangement for our future support. Look here," he added, pointing to +the small bag almost empty of coin, which he carried in his girdle, +"there is not enough here for one day more." + +Jesus looked upon him and said, "Judas, do not be more anxious than is +needful." + +But Judas went on muttering and looking not at his Lord, but at the +bag, "How well the value of that uselessly wasted ointment would have +lain therein! how long we could have lived on it without care!" + +Jesus reproved him, saying, "You have never lacked anything hitherto +and, believe me, that what is necessary will not fail you in time to +come." + +Judas said, "But, master, when thou art no longer with us our good +friends will soon draw back, and then we shall be left in sore +distress." + +Jesus said unto him, "Friend Judas, beware lest thou fall into +temptation." + +The other disciples who had listened to this conversation then +interrupted, saying altogether, "Judas, trouble not the master so much." + +Judas retorted, "Who will take thought if I do not? Have I not been +appointed by the master to carry the bag?" + +"Thou hast," said Jesus, "but I fear----" + +"And I also fear," interrupted Judas, "that soon it will be empty and +remain so." + +Then Jesus went close up to him and said gravely and gently, "Judas, +forget not thy warning. Arise, now let us go hence, I desire to be in +the house of my Father." + +Jesus then, followed by his disciples, excepting Judas, passed on to +the city. + +Judas, being left alone, said to himself, "Shall I follow him any +longer. I do not much care to do so. The master's conduct to me is +very inexplicable. His great deeds allowed us to hope that he would +restore again the kingdom to Israel. But he does not seize the +opportunities that offer themselves, and now he constantly talks of +parting and dying, and puts us off with mysterious words about a future +which lies too far off in the dim distance for me. I am tired of +hoping and waiting. I can see very well, that with him there is no +prospect of anything but continued poverty and humiliation,--and +instead of the sharing, as we expected, in his glorious kingdom, we +shall perhaps be persecuted and thrown into prison with him. I will +draw back. It was a good thing that I was always prudent and cautious, +and have now and then laid aside a trifle out of the bag in case of +need. How useful I should find those 300 pence now which the foolish +woman threw away on a useless mark of respect. If, as seems likely, +the society is about to dissolve, they would have remained in my +hands--then I should have been safe for a long while to come. As it +is, I must consider the question, where and how I can find subsistence." + +As he stood alone under the trees, perplexed and troubled, Dathan +appeared in the distance, and, spying Judas, said to himself, "The +occasion is favorable. He is alone and seems much perplexed. I must +try everything in order to secure him." + +Then stepping forward he laid his hand upon the shoulder of Judas, +exclaiming, "Friend Judas!" + +Judas started as if a serpent had stung him and striking his head with +his hand cried, "Who calls?" + +"A friend," said Dathan; "has anything sad happened to thee? Thou art +so absorbed in thought?" + +Judas, staring wildly, asked, "Who art thou?" + +"Thy friend, thy brother," cried Dathan. + +Judas, staring backward, exclaimed: "Thou art my friend, my brother?" + +"At least," said Dathan, "I wish to be so. How is it with the master? +I also would like to become one of his disciples." + +Judas said, "One of his disciples?" + +"Why?" said Dathan, "hast thou then forsaken him? Are things not well +with him? Tell me that I may know how to act." + +Then Judas said unto him, "Canst thou keep silence?" + +"Be assured of that," said Dathan. + +"Then," answered Judas, "it is no longer going well with him. He says +himself his last hour has come." And then Judas rapidly ran over the +various predictions of disaster which he had heard from the lips of +Jesus. "I intend to forsake him, for he will yet bring us all to ruin. +See here," said he, producing the almost empty purse, "I am treasurer, +see how it stands with us." + +"Friend," said Dathan, shrugging his shoulders, "I shall remain as I +am." At this moment six of Dathan's companions came up. + +Judas, alarmed, asked, "Who are these? I will not say another word." + +"Stay, friend," said one of the newcomers, "you will not regret it." + +"Why have you come here?" asked Judas. + +"We were going back to Jerusalem and we will bear thee company if it +please thee." + +Judas, suspiciously eyeing them, asked, "Do you also perhaps wish to go +after the master?" + +Then said the traders, "Has he gone to Jerusalem?" + +"For the last time," said Judas, "so he says." + +"What!" said they, "for the last time? Is he then never going to leave +the land of Judea again?" + +"Why do you ask me this so eagerly?" said Judas, "do you wish to become +his followers?" + +"Why not?" said the traders with a laugh, "if the prospects are good;" +and Dathan added, "Explain to us, Judas, the meaning of thy words that +he would bring you all to ruin." + +And Judas replied: "He tells us always to take no thought for the +morrow, but if today anything happened we should all be as poor as +beggars. Does a master care thus for his own?" + +"Truly," said the traders, "the lookout is bad." + +Then Judas related once more the story of Mary Magdalene's waste of +precious ointment. "And at the same time this very day he permitted +the most senseless waste which a foolish woman was guilty of, thinking +to obtain honor; and when I found fault with this I only met with +reproachful words and looks." + +"And thou canst still care for him after that?" said the traders +contemptuously, "and art still willing to remain with him? Thou +shouldst take thought for thine own future; it is high time." + +"So I have been thinking," said Judas, "but how can I find a good +opening?" + +Then said Dathan, "Thou hast not long to seek, for the fairest +opportunity is awaiting thee." + +"Where? How?" said Judas eagerly. + +"Hast thou not heard," said the traders, "of the proclamation of the +council? Such a good opportunity of making thy fortune thou wilt never +find again thy whole life long." + +Judas' eyes gleamed. "What proclamation?" he asked. + +The traders said, "Whosoever gives information as to the nightly resort +of Jesus of Nazareth shall receive a large reward." + +"A large reward!" said Judas. + +"Now who," said they, "can earn it easier than thou?" + +Dathan muttered to himself, "We have nearly attained our end." + +The traders pressed Judas anew, "Brother, don't neglect this good +fortune." + +Judas said hesitatingly, "A fair opportunity. Shall I let it slip?" + +Then struck in Dathan, "The reward is not all. The council will look +after thee in the future. Who knows what might not yet come of it for +thee!" + +"Consent, friend! Strike the bargain," cried all the traders together. + +Judas hesitated one moment and then clasped Dathan's hand, saying, +"Well, be it so." + +"Come, Judas," said Dathan, "we will bring thee straightway to the +council." But Judas said, "No, I must first go after the master, and +so obtain information in order to make things sure." + +Dathan said, "Well, then, we will go to the council and report you in +the meantime. But when and where shall we meet?" + +"In three hours you will find me in the street of the temple," replied +Judas. + +Judas then shook hands all around with the traders. "Done!" exclaimed +Judas, as Dathan and the traders left him. + +Judas was now alone. He walked to and fro under the trees and said to +himself: "My word is given; I shall not repent of it. Shall I avoid +the good fortune which is coming to meet me? Yes, my fortune is made. +I will do what I promised, but will make them pay me in advance. If +then the priests succeed in taking him prisoner, if his reign is +over--I have assured my own prospects and will besides become famous +throughout all Judea, as a man who has helped to save the law of Moses, +and shall reap praise and glory. But if the master should gain the +victory, then--yes, then I will cast me down repentant at his feet, for +he is good. I have never seen him drive the penitent from him. He +will take me back again and then I shall have the credit of bringing +about the decision. Anyhow, I'll take good care to leave a bridge +behind so that should I be unable to go forward I can return. The plan +is well thought out. Judas, thou art a prudent man. And yet I feel a +little afraid to meet the master, for I shall not be able to bear his +keen, searching look, and my comrades will see by my face that I am +a----No, I will not be that. I am no traitor! What am I going to do +but let the Jews know where the master is to be found? That is no +betrayal. Betrayal is something more than that. Away with these +fancies! Courage, Judas, thy future is at stake." + +Judas, who had started with horror when he first mentioned the word +traitor, resolved to play his appointed role and departed to find Jesus. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE LAST SUPPER. + + O Judas, art thou blinded quite + By untamed greed of gold and gear? + And would thou sell thy master dear + For base gain? Shudders not thy soul in dire affright? + Thy lot has passed into the night, + Already doth thy doom appear. + + "'Tis one of you that shall betray," + Three times the Lord thus spoke to him-- + Who's purposed his own soul to slay-- + Yet is his conscience dull and dim, + For Satan rules his heart within + And lust for gold that's won by sin. + + "Oh Judas! but one moment stay. + Oh! finish not this foulest deed!" + But no! for deaf and blind with greed, + To the council Judas hastes away, + And there repeats in evil trade, + The bargain once with Dathan made. + + +And it came to pass that when Peter and John were still on their way to +Jerusalem, Baruch, the servant of Mark, came out into the street with a +pitcher of water, which he went to get filled at the well. + +As he went he said to himself, "There is a great deal of business +today, there will be no lack of work this Passover; from the great +crowd of pilgrims we can expect nothing else. My master must expect +many guests as he is already making so much to-do in the house." When +he was drawing the water John and Peter came upon him. + +"See," said they, "there is someone at the well." + +Baruch, not noticing them, went on drawing the water, saying, "There +must be something exceptional at this Passover, seeing the way in which +the rulers of the council hasten about hither and thither." + +As he lifted the pitcher and turned to go Peter said, "This is he who +carries the pitcher of water that our master gave us for a sign." + +Then said John, "Let us follow him." + +Baruch looked around as he came to the door of his master's house, and, +seeing the disciples, said, "Will you come in with me, friends? You +are welcome." + +"We wish," said John, "to speak with your master." + +"Perhaps," said Baruch, "you desire to take the Passover with us?" + +"Yes," said Peter, "the master desired us to bring this request to your +master." + +Then said Baruch, "Come with me. It will be a joy to my master to take +you into his house. There, see," he said as Mark came out of his +house, "there he is himself. See, master, I bring guests." + +"Welcome, strangers," said Mark, "how can I serve you?" + +Then said Peter unto him, "Our teacher sent us to say unto thee, 'My +time is at hand. Where is the hall where I can eat the Passover with +my disciples, for my time is at hand. I will keep the Passover in thy +house with my disciples.'" + +"Oh, joy!" exclaimed Mark, "now I recognize you as the disciples of the +miracle-worker who restored to me the light of my eyes. How have I +deserved that he should choose my house before all others that are in +Jerusalem in which to celebrate the Passover? Oh, fortunate man that I +am, that it should be my house which he honors with his presence. +Come, dear friends, I will at once show you the hall." + +Peter and John replied, "Good friend, we follow thee." And they went +into the house and found all things as Jesus had said unto them. + + * * * * * * + +In the upper chamber which Mark had prepared for the Passover Jesus and +his disciples stood around a long table. Jesus stood in the center +with Peter on his right hand and John on his left. Judas, sullen and +scowling, sat next to Peter, and the other disciples were arranged in +their order. The table was covered with a white cloth with embroidered +edges. On the cloth stood a flagon of wine and several cups, and a +plate on which lay a loaf of bread. Jesus, standing in the midst, said +unto them, "With longing have I desired to eat this Passover with you +before I suffer, for I say unto you I will not any more eat thereof +until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Jesus then took the cup, +and lifting it with both hands, looked up to heaven and said, "I thank +thee for this fruit of the vine." Then drinking of it he passed the +cup to Peter, who also drank and passed it to Judas, who in his turn, +after drinking, passed it to the next disciple, and so on until it went +all around. "Take this," said Jesus, as he passed the cup to Peter, +"and divide it amongst yourselves, for I say unto you, I will not drink +henceforth of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." + +[Illustration: "Drinking of it he passed the cup to Peter."] + +Then exclaimed all the disciples together, "Alas, Lord, is this then +the last Passover?" + +Jesus said unto them, "There is a cup which I will drink with you in +the kingdom of God my Father. As it is written, 'Thou shalt make them +drink of the river of thy pleasures.'" + +Then said Peter unto him, "Master, when this kingdom shall appear, how +will the offices be portioned out?" + +"Who amongst us," said James the elder, "will have the first place?" + +Then Thomas said, "Will each one of us have lordship over a separate +land?" + +"That would be the best," said Bartholomew; "then no dispute would +arise amongst us." + +Then Jesus looked upon them and said, "So long a time have I been +amongst you and you are still entangled in earthly things? Verily, I +appoint unto you, which have continued with me in my temptations, the +kingdom which my Father has appointed unto me, that you may eat and +drink with me in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve +tribes of Israel. But, remember, the kings of the Gentiles exercise +lordship over them, and they that exercise authority over them are +called benefactors, but ye shall not be so. He that is greatest among +you, let him be as the least, and the chief as your servant. For +whether is greatest he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth? Is not +he that sitteth at meat; but I am among you as one that serveth." + +Thereupon John removed the long purple robe from the shoulders of +Jesus, and handed him a white linen towel, with which he girded himself +round the middle. Then came Baruch in, carrying a ewer of water and a +basin. As they looked in amazement one at another, Jesus said unto +them, "Now sit down, beloved disciples." + +Then said the disciples one to another, "What is he going to do?" + +Jesus, turning to Peter, said, "Peter, reach me thy foot." + +Peter, starting backward in amazement, said, "Lord, dost thou wash my +feet?" + +Then said Jesus, "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know +hereafter." + +Peter replied stoutly, "Lord, thou shalt never to all eternity wash my +feet!" + +But Jesus said, "If I wash thee not thou shalt have no part with me." + +Peter said, "Lord, if it be so, then not my feet only, but also my +hands and my head." + +But Jesus answered, "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his +feet, but is clean every whit." Then stooping down Baruch poured the +water over the feet of Peter, and Jesus dried them with a towel. The +other disciples took the sandals off their feet, whispering to +themselves in wonder as to what this meant. Jesus washed the feet of +Judas as those of the others. Last of all he washed the feet of John +also. Then he washed his hands, Baruch pouring the water over them. +After which he took off the towel, and John placed his mantle once more +upon his shoulders. Looking round upon the twelve, he said, "Ye are +now clean, but not all." Jesus then seated himself in the midst of +them. + +Then said Jesus unto them, "Do you know what I have done unto you? Ye +call me master and Lord, and ye do well, for so I am. If I then, your +Lord and master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one +another's feet. For I have given you an example that ye should do as I +have done unto you. Verily, verily, the servant is not greater than he +that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." +Then Jesus stood up again and said, "Children, but for a little while +shall I be with you. That my memory may never perish from among you, I +will leave behind an everlasting memorial, and so I shall ever dwell +with you and amongst you. The old covenant which my Father made with +Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has reached its end and I say unto you, a new +covenant begins, which I solemnly consecrate today with my blood, as +the Father has commanded me, and this covenant will last until all be +fulfilled." Jesus then took the bread, lifted it up before him, and +replacing it on the table, looked up to heaven and blessed it. Then, +lifting it up again, he broke it in two, saying, "Take, eat, this is my +body which was broken for you." Then passing around the table, he +placed a morsel of bread with his own hand in the mouth of each of his +disciples. All took it reverently, but Judas bit at it almost as a dog +snatcheth meat from its master's hands. After Jesus had returned to +his place, he said, "This do in remembrance of me." In like manner he +took the cup and blest it and said, "Take this, and drink ye all of it; +for this is the cup of the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for +you and for many for the remission of sins." Then passing round the +table again he gave each of them to drink, and returning to his place +he said, "As often as ye do this, do it in remembrance of me." During +the time Jesus went round the table administering the bread and wine to +his disciples, there was heard in the distance a chorus of angels +singing: + + Oh! the lowly love and tender! + See the Saviour kneeling still + At the feet of his disciples + Loving service to fulfil. + Oh! this love remember ever! + Love as he has loved, and so + Unto others render service + As your Lord has done to you. + + +Then John in an ecstacy of affection exclaimed, "Oh, best of masters, +never will I forget thy love! Thou knowest that I love thee," and +leaning forward he laid his head on the breast of Jesus. + +The rest of the twelve, who were sitting with clasped hands with the +exception of Judas, who sat apart moody and sullen, exclaimed together, +"O, Master, who art so full of love for us, ever will we remain united +with thee." + +Then said Peter, "This holy meal of the new covenant shall ever be +celebrated amongst us according to thy commandment." + +And Matthew added, "And as often as we shall keep it, we will remember +thee!" + +Then cried they all, "O, best teacher, O divine one! O best friend and +teacher!" + +And Jesus looking upon them said, "My children, abide in me, and I in +you! As the Father has loved me, so have I also loved you, continue ye +in my love. But, alas, must I say it! the hand of him who betrays me +is with me at the table!" Judas started, but the confusion of the +disciples caused his guilty look to be unnoticed. + +Several of the disciples exclaimed, "What! a traitor amongst us!" + +"Is it possible?" said Peter. + +Then Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, one of you shall +betray me." + +"Lord," said Andrew, "one of us twelve?" + +"Yes," replied Jesus, "one of the twelve who dipped his hand in the +dish with me shall betray me. So the Scriptures shall be fulfilled. +He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me." + +Thomas and Simon, speaking together with the same thought and same +words, asked, "Who can this faithless one be?" while Matthew said, +"Lord, thou seest all hearts, thou knowest that it is not I"--and the +two James cried, "Name him publicly, the traitor!" Then while these +words were on their lips, Judas, fearing lest his silence should be +observed, started forward and asked furtively, "Lord, is it I?" but +excepting by Jesus his words passed unnoticed. + +Thaddeus exclaimed, "I would rather give my life for thee than that +such a deed should be done;" and Bartholomew, "I would rather sink into +the earth with shame." + +Jesus, looking toward Judas said, "Thou hast said it." Turning to the +rest, Jesus continued, "The son of man goeth indeed as it is written of +him, but woe unto that man by whom the son of man is betrayed; better +were it for him that he had never been born!" + +Peter, leaning over to John, whispered to him to ask Jesus who it was. +Then John whispered to Jesus, saying, "Lord, who is it?" + +Jesus answered, speaking so low as to be heard by John alone, "He it is +to whom I shall give a sop after having dipped it." + +The other apostles who had not heard this kept on asking, "Who can it +be?" + +Jesus, taking a piece of bread, dipped it into a cup, and placed it in +the mouth of Judas, saying, "What thou doest, do quickly." + +Then Judas arose and hurried from the room. The disciples seeing his +departure wondered among themselves, and Thomas said to Simon, "Why +does Judas go away?" + +Simon replied, "Probably the master has sent him to buy something," +while Thaddeus added, "Or to distribute alms to the poor." + +Judas being now gone, Jesus spoke to the eleven, saying, "If God be +glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself and shall +straightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am with +you. Ye shall seek me; but as I have said to the Jews, whither I go +you cannot come, even so now I say unto you." + +Then said Peter unto him, "Lord, whither goest thou?" + +Jesus answered, "Whither I go thou canst not follow me now, but thou +shalt follow me later." + +Peter passionately cried, "Why can I not follow thee now? I will lay +down my life for thy sake." + +Then Jesus looked upon him with compassion and said, "Wilt thou lay +down thy life for my sake? Simon! Simon! Satan hath desired to have +thee that he may sift thee as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that +thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strength thy brethren! +This night all ye shall be offended because of me, for it is written, +'I shall smite the shepherd and the sheep of his flock shall be +scattered abroad.'" + +Peter answered, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. Lord, +I am ready to go with thee to prison and to death." + +Jesus said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Peter, today, +even this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice." + +Then said Peter, rising and clasping his hands, "Even if I should die +with thee, I would never deny thee," and the other ten disciples said +altogether with a loud voice, "Master, we also will always remain +faithful to thee; none of us will ever deny thee." + +Then said Jesus unto them, "When I sent you out without purse or scrip, +or shoes, lacked ye anything?" + +All replied with one voice, "No, nothing." + +Then Jesus said, "But now I say unto you, let everyone take his purse +and likewise his scrip, and whosoever hath not a sword, let him sell +his coat and buy one, for now begins a time of trial; and I say unto +you that thus it is written, and it must yet be accomplished in me, +'And he was reckoned among the transgressors!'" + +Peter then and Philip each drew a sword from the scabbard which hung at +his side under his cloak, exclaiming, "Lord, see here are two swords." + +Then said Jesus, "It is enough. Let us stand up and give thanks." +Then standing, Jesus and all the disciples said together with a loud +voice, "Praise the Lord, all ye people! Praise him, all ye nations! +for his merciful kindness is everlasting; the truth of the Lord +endureth forever." + +Then Jesus, leaving the table, advanced to the foreground and stood for +some time with his eyes raised to heaven, the disciples standing on +either side watching him with troubled faces. Shortly after he said +unto them, "Children, why are ye so sad and why look ye on me so +sorrowfully? Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, +believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions. I go to +prepare a place for you; and I will come again and receive you unto +myself, that where I am there ye may be also. I leave you not as +orphans. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Keep my +commandment. This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I +have loved you! By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, +if ye love one another. Hereafter I will not talk much to you, for the +prince of this world cometh, although he hath nothing in me. But that +the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me +commandment, so do I. Let us go hence." + + * * * * * * + +The Sanhedrin was again in session. Caiaphas presided, Annas as before +sat on his left hand and Nathanael on his right. No sooner had all the +members of the assembly taken their seats than Caiaphas rose and with +radiant countenance began, "Assembled fathers, I have a joyful piece of +news to impart to you. The supposed prophet from Galilee will soon, we +hope, be in our hands. Dathan, the zealous Israelite, has won over one +of the most trusted companions of the Galilean, who will let himself be +employed as a guide, so that we may surprise him by night. Both are +here, only waiting a summons to appear before us." + +"Bring them in," cried with eager voices the priests and Pharisees. + +Josue volunteered, "I will call them." + +"Yes, call them," said Caiaphas. When Josue left the room Caiaphas +asked their counsel as to the price which should be given for the +betrayal of Jesus. + +Nathanael stood up and said, "The law of Moses gives direction for such +a case; a slave is valued at thirty pieces of silver." + +The priests laughed thereat and said, "Yea, yea, it is just the price +of a slave that the false Messiah is worth." + +Then came in Dathan and Judas, Josue conducting them into the presence +of the Sanhedrin. Dathan stood forward and said, "Most learned +council, I here fulfil the task entrusted to me, and present to the +fathers a man who is determined for a suitable reward to deliver our +and your enemy into our power. He is a trusted friend of the notorious +Galilean and knows his ways and his secret abiding places." + +Then said Caiaphas to Judas, "Knowest thou the man whom the council +seeks?" + +Judas answered, "I have now been a long time in his company and know +where he is accustomed to abide." + +Then said Caiaphas, "What is thy name?" + +He replied, "My name is Judas, and I am one of the twelve." + +"Yes, yes," cried several of the priests, "we saw thee often with him." + +Caiaphas asked him, "Art thou steadfastly resolved to do our will?" + +Judas answered firmly, "I give you my word." + +"But," continued Caiaphas, "wilt thou not repent of it? What induced +thee to take this step?" + +Judas answered, "The friendship between him and me has been cooling +down for some time, and now I have quite broken with him." + +"What has led to this?" asked Caiaphas. + +Judas replied, "There is nothing more to be got from him and indeed I +am resolved to remain loyal to lawful authority, that is always the +best. What will you give me if I deliver him up to you?" + +Then Caiaphas, speaking as if they were promising great things, said, +"Thirty pieces of silver, which shall be at once paid over to thee!" + +"Hear that, Judas?" cried Dathan, "thirty pieces of silver, what a +gain!" + +Before Judas could reply, Nathanael sprang to his feet, saying, "And +mark thee well, Judas, this is not all! If thou executest this work +right well thou shalt be cared for still further." + +"And thou mayest become a rich and famous man," added a priest. + +Judas said aloud, "I am contented," and added to himself, "Now the star +of hope is rising for me." + +Then said Caiaphas to the rabbi who sat below the judgment seat arrayed +in blue velvet and gold, "Bring the thirty pieces of silver out of the +treasury, and pay it over in the presence of the council." + +"Is this your will?" he added, putting the question to the Sanhedrin. + +A great shout went up of "Yes, yes, it is." + +But some there were present who did not join in that cry. One of +these, Nicodemus, stood up and asked the Sanhedrin, "How can you +conclude so godless a bargain?" Then turning to Judas, he said, "And +thou, abject wretch, dost thou not blush to sell thy Lord and master, +thou God-forgetting traitor whom the earth shall swallow up? For +thirty pieces of silver wouldst thou now sell that most loving friend +and benefactor? O, pause while there is yet time. That blood-money +will cry to heaven for vengeance, will burn like hot iron thy +avaricious soul!" + +Judas, surprised by this sudden outburst, stood trembling and amazed. +Dathan, Caiaphas and the rest of the Sanhedrin displayed unmistakable +indignation at this unexpected intervention on the part of Nicodemus. + +Josue said: "Don't trouble yourself, Judas, about the speech of this +zealot; let him go and be a follower of the false prophet. Thou dost +thy duty as a disciple of Moses in serving the rightful authorities." + +Then came in the rabbi with the silver in a dish. "Come, Judas," said +he, "take the thirty pieces of silver and play the man," counting the +coins out on a stone table so that they chinked merrily as they fell. + +Judas snatched them up eagerly, testing them now and then to see if +they were genuine, and then transferred them piece by piece with +feverish haste to his bag, which he tied up when filled and replaced in +his girdle. Then, resuming his place on the left of the judgment seat, +he exclaimed: "You can rely upon my word." + +"But," said the priests, "the work must be accomplished before the +feast." + +Judas answered and said: "Even now the fairest opportunity offers +itself. This very night he shall be in your hands. Give me an armed +band so that he can be duly surrounded and every road of escape cut +off." + +Then said Annas, who up to now had not broken silence: "Let us send +with him the Temple Watch." + +"Yes, yes," cried all the priests, "let us order them to go." + +Caiaphas said: "It would also be advisable to send some members of the +Holy Sanhedrin with them." + +Half the assembly sprang to their feet crying: "We are ready." + +Caiaphas said: "If the choice is left to me I appoint Nathan, Josaphat, +Solomon and Ptolomaus." Each of the four, as he was named, rose and +bowed low. + +Then, Caiaphas, turning to Judas, said: "But, Judas, how will the band +be able to distinguish the Master in the darkness?" + +Judas answered: "They must come with torches and lanterns and I will +give them a sign." + +"Excellent, Judas," cried the priests in approving chorus. + +"Now," said Judas, "I will hasten away to spy out everything. Then I +will come back to fetch the armed men." + +"I will go with you, Judas," said Dathan, "and will not leave your side +until this work is finished." + +"At the gate of Bethpage I will meet your people," said Judas, as he +departed, taking with him Dathan and the four priests to accompany him. + +When they had left the Sanhedrin Caiaphas addressed the assembly: "All +goes admirably, venerable fathers, but now we are called to look the +great question frankly in the face. What shall we do with this man +when God has delivered him into our hands?" + +Then: said Zadok: "Let us throw him into the deepest and darkest of +dungeons and keep him well watched and laden down with chains. Let him +be buried while still alive." + +This, however, did not please Caiaphas, so using the full might of his +eloquence and authority he continued: "Which of you would guarantee +that his friends would not raise a tumult and free him, or that the +guard might not be corrupted, or could he not break his fetters with +his abhorred magic arts?" The priests were silent. Caiaphas replied +in tones of the deepest conviction: "I see that ye neither know nor +understand. Then listen to the high priest. It is better that one man +should die and the whole nation perish not. He must die!" And as the +fatal words fell from the lips of Caiaphas the whole Sanhedrin was +moved. Caiaphas continued: "Until he is dead there is no peace in +Israel, no security for the law of Moses, and no quiet hours for us." + +Hardly had Caiaphas ended than the rabbi sprang to his feet exclaiming +in excited tones: "God has spoken through our high priest! Only by the +death of Jesus of Nazareth can and must the people of Israel be +delivered!" + +Nathanael exclaimed: "Long has the word lain upon my tongue! Now is it +uttered. Let him die, the foe of our fathers!" Then sprang all the +priests from their seats and with uplifted hands and eager voices +exclaimed: "Yes, he must die; in his death is our salvation!" When +they sat down, Annas, the aged high priest arose, and speaking with +intense bitterness, declared: "By my gray hairs let it be sworn, I will +never rest until our shame is washed out in the blood of this deceiver." + +Then stood up Nicodemus and said: "O, fathers, is it allowed to say one +word?" And all cried: "Yes, yes, speak, speak!" Then said Nicodemus: +"Is the sentence already pronounced upon this man before there has been +an examination or hearing of the witnesses? Is this a proceeding +worthy of the fathers of the people of God?" Nathanael said: "What! +Wilt thou accuse the council of injustice?" Zadok exclaimed: "Dost +thou know the holy law? Compare----" Nicodemus replied: "I know the +law; therefore also I know that the judge may not pass sentence before +witnesses are heard." "What need we any further witnesses?" cried +Josue. "We ourselves have often enough been witnesses to his speech +and his actions, by which he blasphemously outraged the law." +Nicodemus answered, unmoved by the clamor of the assembly: "Then you +yourselves are at once the accusers, the witnesses and the judges. I +have listened to his sublime teachings; I have seen his mighty deeds. +They call for belief and admiration; not for contempt and punishment." + +"What," exclaimed Caiaphas indignantly, "this scoundrel deserves +admiration! Thou wilt cleave to Moses and yet defendest thou that +which the law condemns? Ha! Fathers of Israel, the impious words call +for vengeance." + +The priests shouted: "Out with thee from our assembly, if thou persist +in this way of speaking!" when another voice is heard. + +Joseph of Arimathea stood forth on the opposite side of the hall and +said: "I must also agree with Nicodemus. No one has imputed any deed +to Jesus which makes him worthy of death; he has done nothing but good." + +Then said Caiaphas: "Dost thou also speak in this wise? Is it not +known everywhere how he desecrated the Sabbath; how he has misled the +people by his seditious speeches? Hath he not also as a deceiver +worked his pretended miracles by the aid of Beelzebub? Has he not +given himself out as a God, when he is nothing but a man?" + +"You hear that?" cried the priests to Joseph. He remained standing and +continued saying: "Envy and malice have misrepresented his words and +imputed evil motives to the noblest acts. That he is a man come from +God his God-like acts testify." + +"Ha," cried Nathanael, with a laugh of scorn, "now we know thee. +Already for a long time hast thou been a secret follower of this +Galilean! Now, thou hast shown thyself in thy true colors!" + +Aged Annas, without leaving his seat, remarked: "So, then, we have in +our very midst traitors to our holy law, and even here has the deceiver +cast his net." + +"What do ye here, apostates?" cried Caiaphas. "Be off to your prophet, +to see him once more, before the hour strikes when he must die, for +that is irrevocably determined." + +"Yes," cried all the priests. "Yes! die he must; that is our resolve." + +Then said Nicodemus, "I curse this resolution; I will neither have part +nor lot in this shameful condemnation." + +"And I also," said Joseph of Arimathea, "will quit this place where the +innocent are condemned to death. By God, I swear that my hands are +clean!" + +Gathering their robes together, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea +walked slowly out of the Sanhedrin. + +Then said Josue, "At last we are rid of these traitors. Now we can +speak out freely." Caiaphas, however, profiting by the protests of +Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, said to the assembly: "It will +certainly be necessary that we should sit formally in judgment upon +this man, to try him and to bring forth witnesses against him, +otherwise the people will believe that we have only persecuted him from +envy and hatred." + +Then said one Jacob, "Two witnesses at least the law requires," and +Samuel answered: "These shall not be lacking; I will provide them +myself." + +Then said Dariabbas, "Our decision stands firm, but in order not to +offend the weak it would be well to observe the usual forms of justice." + +"And," added Ezekiel complacently, "should these forms not suffice the +strength of our will we must supply what is lacking." + +And a rabbi said, "A little more or less guilty matters little, since +once for all the public weal demands that he should be removed." + +Then Caiaphas said, "In securing the execution of our sentences it +would be safest if we could so contrive that the sentence of death +should be pronounced by the governor; then we should be clear of all +responsibility." + +"We can try," said Nathanael. "If it miscarries, it is still always +open to us to have our sentence carried out by our trusty friends in +the commotion of a great tumult, without ourselves being openly +responsible for anything." + +"And then," said the rabbi, "if the worst come we should have him in +our hands, and in the silence of a dungeon it will not be difficult to +find a more sure hand to deliver the Sanhedrin from its enemy." + +Then Caiaphas arose and said, "Circumstances will teach us what should +be done. Now let us break up. But hold yourselves ready at any hour +of the night to be called together. There is no time to be lost. Our +resolution is, he must die." + +And all the members of the high council cried tumultuously: "Let him +die! Let him die! The enemy of our holy land!" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +BETRAYED BY A KISS. + + The foulest deed will soon be done + That earth or hell displays-- + Alas! ere this night's course be run + Judas his Lord betrays! + + Come now, ye faithful souls draw nigh + See Jesus suffer, bleed and die, + Now has begun the anguished fight + Beyond in dark Gethsemane. + O, sinners never let this night + For evermore forgotten be! + + For your salvation this has been + Which on the mountain we have seen, + When, sorrowing unto death, he sank + To earth, it was for you-- + 'Twas for your sake the damp turf drank + Those drops of crimson dew. + + +In the twilight of the same day there were gathered together in the +neighborhood of the Mount of Olives those appointed by the Sanhedrin to +seize Jesus. Judas was there with Dathan and the other traders, as +well as the four priests sent by Caiaphas to see that all things went +well. With them came the Temple Watch under the command of one Selpha, +in steel helmet and steel-embossed leather cuirass. The watch +consisted of twenty men in armor, two of whom carried long clubs set +with spikes, two bore braziers of burning coals, while the rest carried +spears. Conspicuous among the watch were Malchus, the high priest's +servant, and Balbus. They approached stealthily, and Judas addressed +them, saying, "Now be careful! We are now approaching the place +whither the Master has withdrawn himself." + +Then said Solomon, one of the priests, "I suppose the disciples will +not perceive us too soon." + +"No," said Judas, "they rest unconcerned and dream nothing of any +attack. As to any resistance, there is nothing of that to fear." + +Then cried the Temple Watch aloud, "Should they try it they shall feel +the weight of our arms." + +"You will seize him," said Judas, "without a single sword stroke." + +"But," said Josue, "how shall we know him in the darkness so as not to +arrest another in place of the one we desire?" + +"I shall give you a sign," said Judas, "when we are in the garden; then +look out. I will hasten up to him, and the man whom I shall kiss; that +is he; bind him!" + +Then said Korah, "Good, this sign will prevent us from making any +mistake." + +Ptolomaus, the priest, then turned to the watch and said, "Do you hear? +You will know the master by a kiss!" + +"Yes, yes," cried the soldiers, "we shall not miss him." + +"Now," said Judas, "let us make haste; it is time. We are not far from +the garden." + +Then said Josue to Judas, "Judas, if tonight brings us good fortune, +thou wilt profit by the fruit of thy work." + +The traders added, "We, too, will recompense thee richly." + +Then cried all the soldiers together, "Now look out, thou stirrer-up of +the people, thou wilt soon have thy reward." Thereupon the whole +company moved off into the darkness and remained hidden in an ambush +until the signal should be given. + +After a time Jesus and his disciples entered the garden of Gethsemane. +Jesus spoke unto them, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye +shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; ye shall be +sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy, for I will see you +again and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh from +you. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world. I leave +the world again and go unto the Father." + +"Lo," said Peter, "now thou speakest plainly and no more in parables." + +Then said James the Greater, "Now we see that thou knowest all things, +and hast no need that one should ask thee anything." + +And Thomas added, "Therefore we believe that thou comest forth from +God." + +Jesus answered them saying, "Do ye now believe? Behold the hour +cometh, yea, is already come, when ye shall be scattered every man to +his own and leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with +me. Yes, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son that thy Son also +may glorify thee. I have finished the work which thou hast given me to +do. I have manifested thy name to those thou gavest me out of the +world. Holy Father, keep them in thy name; sanctify them in the truth. +Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on +me through their word; that they may all be one, as thou, Father, art +in me, and I in thee. Father, I will pray that they also whom thou +hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory +which thou hast given me, for thou lovedst me before the foundation of +the world." Then turning to the disciples who were following him into +the garden he said in a voice which was broken with sorrow: "Children, +sit down here while I go and pray yonder. Pray that ye enter not into +temptation; but you, Peter, James and John follow me." Eight of the +disciples then sat down on the ground under the trees, while Jesus went +forward with the three. + +Bartholomew said, "Never have I seen him so sad;" and James the Less +replied, "My heart is also laden down with sadness;" while Matthew +cried, "Ah, that this night were passed with its weary hours." And +another apostle exclaimed, "Not in vain has our master prepared us for +this." + +Philip said, "Dear brothers, we will sit down here and rest until he +comes back." + +"Yes," said Thomas, "that we will, for I am utterly worn out and weary." + +Then Jesus, who had come forward with Peter, James and John, said unto +them, "Ah, beloved children, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto +death. Tarry ye here and watch with me." Then after a pause he added, +"I will go a little further apart in order to strengthen myself by +communion with the Father." + +As Jesus with slow and staggering steps went toward the grotto, Peter +cried, looking after him, "Ah, dear good master," and John exclaimed, +"My soul is suffering with our teacher." + +As they sat down Peter said, "I am very anxious." + +James said, "Why does our dear master thus separate us from one +another?" + +John replied, "Alas, we are to be witnesses," and Peter continued, "Ye +know, brethren, we were the witnesses of his transfiguration on the +mountain, but now, what is it that we have to see?" + +Slowly Peter, James and John, who were sitting apart, fell asleep. + +Jesus having reached the grotto, said, "This hour must come upon +me--the hour of darkness. For this it was that I came into the world." +Then falling upon his knees he clasped his hands, and looking up to +heaven cried, with a great and pitiful voice, "Father, my Father! If +it be possible, and with thee all things are possible, let this cup +pass from me!" Then Jesus fell upon his face on the ground and +remained silent for a while. Then again he rose upon his knees and +cried, "Yes, Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt!" Then standing +up, he looked toward heaven and slowly returned to the three disciples. + +And lo, when he approached he found them asleep. "Simon," he said. + +Simon Peter, as in a dream, rubbed his head and said, "Alas, my master." + +Jesus said, "Simon, dost thou sleep?" + +Peter, rousing himself, said, "Master, here I am." + +Jesus said, "Could you not watch with me one hour?" + +Peter cried, "O, Master, forgive." + +The apostles said, "Rabbi, sleep has overpowered us." + +Then said Jesus, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." + +The apostles answered, "Yes, Lord, we will watch and pray." + +Then said Jesus unto them; "The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh +is weak." So saying he turned from them, and again slowly walked +toward the grotto. + +Praying he said, "My Father, thy demand is just, thy decrees are holy, +thou claimest this sacrifice." Then falling upon his knees, he prayed, +saying, "Father, the strife is hot." Falling upon his face he remained +silent for a time, then raising himself again he cried, "Yes, Father, +if this cup may not pass from me unless I drink it, Father thy will be +done." Then standing up he said, "Holy One, it will be completed by me +in righteousness." + +Then once more he came back to his sleeping disciples; this time he did +not rouse them. + +"Are also your eyes so heavy that you could not watch?" he said. "Ah, +my most trusted ones, even among you I find no consolation." + +Then returning over the rocky road which led to the grotto he paused +for a moment in sorrow, while a great sorrow overwhelmed him. "Oh, how +dark it grows around me; the anguish of death encompasses me! The +burden of God's judgment lies upon me! Oh, the sins! Oh, the sins of +mankind! They weigh me down. Oh, the fearful burden; oh, the +bitterness of this cup!" Then coming to the grotto again, he cried, +"My Father!" and falling down he prayed, "If it is not possible that +this hour pass away from me, thy will be done! Thy holiest will! +Father! Thy son! Hear him!" + +Then from out of the darkness a bright and shining angel in white +apparel and with radiant wings descended upon him. And out of the +silence were heard these words, "O, Son of Man, sanctify the Father's +will! Look upon the blessedness which will proceed from thy struggles. +The Father has laid it upon thee to become the sacrifice for sinful +man. Carry it through to the end. The Father will glorify thee!" + +Then said Jesus, "Yes, most Holy Father, I adore thy Providence; I will +complete the work--to reconcile--to save, to bless!" Then standing up +he cried in a more joyous tone, "Strengthened by thy word, O Father! I +go joyfully to meet that to which thou hast called me, as the +substitute for sinful man." + +With lighter step he returned to the place where the three disciples +lay slumbering peacefully. He looked upon them and said, "Sleep now +and take your rest." + +Peter, hearing his voice, said, "What is it, master?" + +Then all three answered, "Behold, we are ready." + +Then said Jesus, "The hour is come; the son of man is betrayed into the +hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going." + +Even as he spoke these words the tramp of armed men was heard in the +immediate neighborhood of the garden mingled with loud cries of +denunciation and vengeance. + +"What is that uproar?" said the apostles. + +"Come," said Philip, who hurried from behind with the rest of the +eight, "Come, let us gather around the master." At that word the +disciples hastened forward. + +"Behold," said Jesus, "he who betrayeth me is at hand." The disciples +looked in the direction which Jesus indicated, and there by the flaring +light of the braziers carried by the Temple Watch, they saw Judas +advancing at the head of his band. + +"What does this multitude want?" said Andrew. + +For an answer all the disciples cried as with one voice, "Alas! we are +undone!" + +"And see," cried John, "Judas is at their head." + +Even as he said this, Judas, with long and stealthy steps, sprang +forward, looking from side to side as he came, until he stopped +immediately behind Jesus; then standing on tiptoe he reached over the +shoulder of Jesus and kissed him, saying, "Hail, Master." + +[Illustration: "He reached over and kissed him."] + +Jesus answered, "Friend, wherefore art thou come? Betrayest thou the +son of man with a kiss?" Then stepping forward to meet the armed band, +he faced them fearlessly and said, "Whom seek ye?" + +A loud and angry shout went up from the soldiers: "Jesus of Nazareth!" + +Jesus said, "I am he." + +As he uttered these word the soldiers fell backward to the ground, +crying, "Woe unto us! What is this?" + +The disciples exultantly cried, "One single word from him casts them to +the ground." + +But Jesus said to the soldiers, "Fear not; arise." + +As they regained their feet the disciples whispered eagerly to Jesus +saying, "Lord, cast them down so that they shall never rise again." + +But Jesus a second time asked, "Whom seek ye?" + +Again the crowd replied, "Jesus of Nazareth." + +Then Jesus said, "I have already told you that I am he; if therefore, +ye seek me, let these go their way." + +Selpha, the leader of the band, cried, "Seize him!" The soldiers +approached Jesus, Malchus and Balbus carrying in their hands a small +cord, and grasped him by the wrists in order to bind him. + +Peter and Philip asked Jesus, saying, "Lord, shall we smite with the +sword?" Before Jesus replied, Peter's sword flashed from its sheath +and descended on the head of Malchus. The helmet turned the descending +blade, and instead of splitting his skull it only sliced off his ear. + +"Alas!" cried Malchus, "I am wounded; my ear is off." + +Then said Jesus to the disciples, "Suffer ye thus far," and reaching +forward to Malchus he said, "Be not troubled; thou shalt be healed." +And touching his ear, that moment it was made whole. Malchus felt his +ear with astonishment. His comrades satisfied themselves that the ear +was as the other and stood motionless, while Jesus turned to Peter and +said, "Put up thy sword into its sheath, for all they who take the +sword shall perish with the sword. The cup which the Father hath +given, shall I not drink it? Thinkest thou I cannot now pray to my +Father, and he would presently give me more than twelve legions of +angels? But how, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus it +must be?" Then turning to the Pharisees he said, "Are ye come out as +against a thief with swords and staves to take me? I sat daily with ye +in the temple teaching, and ye took me not. But this is your hour and +the power of darkness. Behold, I am here!" + +"Surround him!" cried Selpha; "bind him fast that he escape not." + +Then said Nathanael, whose eager zeal to destroy Jesus had led him to +join the soldiers, "You are responsible to the council that he does not +escape." At Selpha's command Malchus and Balbus had seized Christ, and +were busily engaged in tying his hands together with cords. Slowly, +one by one, the disciples stole away, leaving Jesus alone in the midst +of his captors. + +In reply to Nathanael, the soldiers said, "Out of our hands he will not +escape." + +Then cried with a loud voice the traders, with Dathan at their head, +"Now, we will wreak our vengeance." And Dathan added, "Dost thou still +remember what thou didst to us in the temple?" + +Josaphat said to the other Pharisees, "We will hasten on into the city. +The Sanhedrin will be awaiting our arrival with impatience." + +The traders replied, "But we will not leave this scoundrel for an +instant." + +"First," said Nathanael, "we must go to the High Priest Annas. Lead +him thither!" + +Selpha said, "We follow thee!" + +As the band prepared to obey the word of command a trader came up to +Judas and said approvingly, "Thou art a man, indeed. Thou knowest how +to keep thy word." + +Judas complacently answered, "Did I not tell you that he would be in +your power today?" + +The Pharisees said, "Thou hast placed the whole council under an +obligation to thee." + +The procession then went off, leading Jesus to the palace of Annas. +The Temple Watch formed behind Jesus, who with his hands bound before +him, was thrown violently forward by Malchus and Balbus, who held the +other ends of the cords which bound him, and marched behind him. They +cried, "On with thee! In Jerusalem they will settle your affair!" + +Selpha, who marched at the head of his band, cried, "Let us hasten; +lead him away carefully." + +And all the band shouted, "Ha, run now as thou hast hitherto run to and +fro about the land of Judea." + +"Spare him not!" said Selpha, "drive him on!" + +"Forward," shouted the soldiers, shouting together; "otherwise thou +shalt be driven on with staves." + +And as they marched away, driving Jesus before them the traders derided +him, saying, "Doth Beelzebub, then, aid thee no longer?" + + * * * * * * + +It was dark night and there was silence in the street before the house +of Annas, the high priest, when his door opened and Annas, attended by +Esdras, Sidrach and Missel, came upon the balcony. "I can find no rest +this night," said Annas, looking impatiently down the street, "until I +know that this disturber of the peace is in our hands. Oh, if he were +only safe, and in fetters. Full of longing and anxiety I await the +arrival of my servants with the joyful news." + +Then said Esdras, "They cannot be much longer, for it is a good while +since they went away." + +"In vain has my troubled gaze looked up and down the street of Kedron. +But nothing can I see and nothing hear. Go, my Esdras, go toward the +Kedron gate and see." + +"I will hasten out," said Esdras, hurrying away as quickly as his +short, squat figure would allow. + +Annas, walking about impatiently, tormented by misgivings as to the +success of the enterprise, began: "It would be a blow to the Sanhedrin +if this time the work should not succeed." + +Sidrach said, "Do not give away to anxiety, high priest," and Missel +added, "There is no doubt of our success." + +Annas, heeding not the consolation of his priests, said, "They may have +altered their way and returned through the Siola Gate. I must send to +see also on that side." + +Sidrach said, "If the high priest wishes it I will go to the Siola +Gate." + +"Yes, do," said Annas, "but first see whether anyone comes through the +street of the Sanhedrin." + +"I will not loiter, my lord," said Sidrach, as he disappeared in the +darkness. + +Annas resumed his troubled thoughts. "The night is going by, and still +the old uncertainty. Every minute of this weary waiting time is as an +hour to me. Hark, I think some one comes running! Yes, he comes. +Surely there will be good tidings." + +Sidrach, bursting into the presence of the high priest, exclaimed, "My +lord, Esdras comes in haste. I saw him just now running down the +street with rapid foot." + +Then said Annas, "Surely it is joyful news that he brings since he +hastens so. Truly, I long for nothing now but the death of this +malefactor." + +Then came Esdras, breathless with haste, crying, "Hail to the high +priest. I have seen the fathers who were sent to Judas. All has gone +according to your wish. The Galilean is in bonds. I heard it from +their mouth, and hurried as fast as I could to bring the joyful news in +haste to thee." + +Annas cried, "Oh, heavenly message! Auspicious hour! A stone is +lifted from my heart; I feel as if I were born again. Now for the +first time can I rejoice to call myself high priest of the chosen +people." + +Then came in to Annas, Judas and the four Pharisees, who had been sent +by the council to accompany him, crying, "Long live our high priest!" + +Nathanael exclaimed, "The wish of the council is accomplished." + +Annas said, "Oh, I must embrace you for joy. So, then, our plan has +succeeded. Judas, thy name shall take an honorable place in our +annals. Even before the feast shall the Galilean die." + +Judas, whom the Pharisees had brought in with the prisoner, startled by +that word, sprang back, repeating incredulously, "Die!" + +"His death is declared!" said Annas. + +"For his life and blood," cried Judas, "I will not be responsible." + +"That is unnecessary," said Annas coolly, "he is in our power." + +"But," persisted Judas passionately, "I have not delivered him over to +you for that." + +"Thou hast delivered him over," said the Pharisees, "and the rest is +our business." + +Repulsed on every side, Judas, striking his forehead with his hand, +cried, "Woe is me; what have I done? Shall he die? No! That I did +not wish. That I will not have." + +As he hurried into the street the Pharisees laughed at him and said, +"Whether thou wilt have it or not, die he must." + +Then said the priests to Annas, "High priest, the prisoner is at the +threshold." + +Annas said, "Let Selpha, with as many of the watch as are necessary, +bring him up here, while the rest await him below." Then was Jesus +brought before Annas on the balcony in custody with Selpha, the leader +of the Temple Watch and the two servants of the temple, Malchus and +Balbus, holding the cords by which Jesus was bound. The rest of the +watch remained in the street below. + +Selpha bowed low as he entered and said, "High priest, in accordance +with thy command the prisoner now stands at thy bar." + +When Annas saw Jesus he said, "Have you brought him alone as prisoner?" + +Balbus answered, "His disciples dispersed like timid sheep." + +Selpha said, "We did not find it worth the trouble to arrest them. +Nevertheless Malchus almost lost his life." + +"How did that happen?" asked Annas. + +"One of his followers," said Selpha, "with a drawn sword smote him and +cut off his ear." + +"How could that be?" said Annas, looking first at one side of Malchus' +head and then at the other. "It has left no mark; there is nothing to +be seen." + +"Oh," said Balbus, mocking, "the magician has conjured it back again." + +"What sayest thou to that?" asked Annas. Malchus replied seriously, "I +cannot explain it. It is a miracle that has happened to me." + +Annas frowned, "Has the deceiver also bewitched thee?" he asked, and +then turning to Jesus said to him, "Say, by what power hast thou done +this?" Jesus did not answer. + +"Speak," said Selpha, "when the high priest asks thee." + +"Speak," said Annas. "Give an account of thy disciples and thy +teaching, which thou hast spread abroad over the whole land of Judea +and with which thou hast corrupted the people." + +Then Jesus answered and said unto him, "I spake openly to the world, I +ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, and in secret I taught +nothing. What askest thou me? Ask them that heard me what I have +spoken. Behold, they know what I have said." + +Balbus, who was standing on the left hand of Jesus holding one end of +the cord by which his hands were bound, struck him over the face a +resounding blow, saying, "Answerest thou the high priest so?" + +Jesus answered, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but +if I have spoken well why smitest thou me?" + +Then Annas exclaimed, "Wilt thou even now defy us, when thy life and +death are in our power? I am weary of this villain!" and gave the +signal for Jesus to be removed. + +"Oh," said Balbus, as he roughly thrust him forward, "wait a little. +Thy obstinacy will vanish." + +As Jesus was being led down the steps Annas exclaimed, "I will go in +now for a little while to rest, or rather to meditate quietly as to how +the work so happily begun may be brought to an end. In any case the +summons to the Sanhedrin will reach me at an early hour in the +morning." Annas then entered into his own house, leaving Jesus in the +street below in the midst of the soldiers. As Selpha appeared bringing +Jesus into the street the watch cried out loudly, "Ha, is this business +already over?" + +Selpha said, "His defense has turned out badly," and Balbus added, +"After all it gained him a smart slap over the face." + +Selpha said, "Take him now and away with him to the palace of Caiaphas." + +"Off with him," cried the soldiers tumultuously. + +"Lift up thy feet. Cheer up!" said Balbus, mocking, "Thou wilt have a +still better reception from Caiaphas," and the soldiers shouted as they +marched, "There will be the raven's croak about thine ears!" + +When Jesus was taken from the house of Annas he was led through the +streets, the band accompanying him, shouting as they went. On their +way to the Sanhedrin they led Jesus down the street which passed +Pilate's house, and as they went they cried to him with riotous +laughter, "Thou shalt become a laughing stock for the whole nation!" + +Balbus said unto him scoffingly, "Make haste! Thy disciples are quite +ready to proclaim thee King of Israel." + +And the soldiers laughed as they said, "Thou hast often dreamed of +this; is it not so?" + +Then said Selpha, "Caiaphas will soon explain this dream to him." + +And Balbus, seeing that Jesus opened not his mouth, and was silent, +shouted in his ear, "Dost thou hear? Caiaphas will announce to thee +thy exaltation to a high position!" + +A great burst of hoarse laughter from the watch followed, as they +shouted, "An exalted position between heaven and earth!" + +"Look out, you fellows!" cried Selpha, "there through the hall of +Pilate's lies our nearest way to the palace of Caiaphas. There, +station yourselves in the courtyard until further orders." + +The soldiers answered, "Thy command shall be fully obeyed!" + +Hardly had the noisy soldiery passed with their prisoner out of the +street than Peter and John appeared before the house of Annas. Then +said Peter, "How will it fare here with our good master? Oh, John, how +anxious I am about him!" + +John answered, "He is certain to have to suffer here scorn and ill +treatment. I am very much afraid of approaching the house." + +Peter said, "But it is so silent about here." + +John replied, "One hears not a sound in the place. Could they have +taken him away again?" + +As they were talking Esdras came out from the house of Annas and asked, +"What do you want at the palace at this time of night?" + +John answered, "Forgive us; we saw a number of people from afar come +hither from the Kedron Gate, and we came here in order to see what had +happened." + +Esdras answered, "They have brought in a prisoner, but he has already +been sent to Caiaphas." + +"To Caiaphas," said the disciples, "then we will go away at once." + +"You had better, otherwise I will have you taken, up as night +brawlers," said Esdras. + +"We will go away quietly and make no disturbance," said Peter, meekly. + +As they went the priest, looking after them, said, "Perhaps they are +followers of the Galilean. If I only knew. However, they will not +escape our people if they go to the palace of Caiaphas. The whole of +his following must be destroyed. Otherwise the people will never be +brought into obedience." He then returned into the house. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +PETER COMMITS PERJURY. + + How bleeds my heart! + The Holiest stands before the judgement seat. + The malice of sinners he must bear, + Betrayed and outraged, bound and beaten there. + O, sons of men, your faces veil this day!-- + The scarred form is touched by impious hands, + From Annas dragged to Caiaphas away, + What's here foreshadowed, see, fulfilled it stands. + See Jesus, how in silence he + Bears outrage, blows and mockery! + O! what a man! + Oh, hearts of men who now draw near, + Melt with compassion when you see + Bowed down in deepest misery! + O! what a man! + + +Caiaphas, in his bed chamber, wearing a dressing gown, surrounded by +priests, exulted over the news which had been brought him of the arrest +of Jesus. + +"This happy capture," said he, "promises us a fortunate realization of +our wishes. I thank you, noble members of the Sanhedrin, for zealous +and prudent co-operation." + +But the priests with one voice cried, "The greatest share of praise +belongs to our high priest!" + +"Now," said Caiaphas, "let us pursue our path without delay. +Everything is ready! The council will immediately be assembled. The +necessary witnesses have already been brought along. I shall now +without losing a moment, at once begin the trial of the prisoner. Then +judgment shall be pronounced and provision made that it shall be +executed. The quicker the execution the surer the result!" + +Dathan said, "It would be advisable to get everything over before our +adversaries recover their senses." + +Caiaphas replied, "I have encountered this necessity. Trust me, my +friends. I have thought of a plan. I hope to carry it out." + +At this Zadok said, "The wisdom of our high priest deserves our fullest +confidence," and then cried they all, "the God of our fathers bless all +his measures!" + +Then Selpha, the leader of the band, brought Jesus into the chamber of +Caiaphas, the high priest, Balbus and Malchus holding the cords by +which his hands were bound. + +"Illustrious High Priest, here is the prisoner," said Selpha. + +"Bring him nearer," said Caiaphas, "so that I may look him in the face +and question him." + +"Step forward," said Selpha, "and show respect here to the head of the +Sanhedrin." + +Then Caiaphas, having looked into the face of Jesus, said to him +disdainfully, "Thou art he then who dreamed of bringing about the +destruction of the synagogue, and the law of Moses?" Then assuming a +more judicial tone, he said, "Thou art accused that thou hast stirred +up the people to disobedience, that thou hast despised the holy +traditions of the fathers, that thou hast transgressed the divine +command for the keeping of the Sabbath day, and that thou hast even +been guilty of many blasphemous speeches and acts. Here," Caiaphas +continues, pointing to five Jews who had entered the chamber at the +same time as Selpha brought in Jesus, and had taken their stand on the +left of the high priest, confronting the accused, "Here stand honorable +men who are prepared to prove the truth, of these accusations by their +testimony. Hear them and then thou mayest answer if thou canst." + +Then stood forth the first witness and spoke, saying, "I can testify +before God that this man has stirred up the people by openly denouncing +the members of the council and the scribes as hypocrites, ravening +wolves in sheeps' clothing, blind leaders of the blind, and has +declared that no one shall follow their work." At this the members of +the Sanhedrin smiled approvingly one to another. + +The second witness said, "I can also testify to this, and can still +further declare that he has forbidden the people to pay tribute to +Caesar." + +"Yes," interrupted the first witness, "at any rate he has dropped words +of double meaning about that." + +Then Caiaphas turned to Jesus and said, "What sayest thou unto this?" +He paused for a reply, but Jesus opened not his mouth. Then said +Caiaphas, "Art thou silent? Hast thou nothing to answer?" But Jesus +never answered a word. + +The third witness took up his testimony. "I have often seen how he +with his disciples, in defiance of the law, has eaten with unwashed +hands; how he has become accustomed to hold friendly intercourse with +publicans and sinners and go into their houses to eat with them." + +"That we have also seen," cried the other witnesses together. "I have +heard many credible people say that he has even spoken with Samaritans, +and indeed has lived with them for days together." + +Then the first witness began to speak again: "I was a witness how he +has done on the Sabbath what is forbidden by God's law, in that he +healed sick and infirm people without fear on that day. He has seduced +others to break the Sabbath; he ordered a man to take up his bed and +carry it to his house." The second witness joined in, "I also can +testify to this." + +Again Caiaphas turned to Jesus and said, "What has thou to say against +this evidence?" And after a pause, seeing that Jesus still spoke not, +he said, "Hast thou nothing to say in reply?" But Jesus spoke not. + +Then said the third witness, addressing himself to Jesus, "Thou hast, +for I was present, taken upon thyself to forgive sins, which belongs to +God alone. Thou hast, therefore, blasphemed God." + +Then again spoke the first witness, "Thou hast called God thy Father, +and hast dared to declare that thou art one with the Father. Thou hast +therefore made thyself equal to God." + +The second witness added, "Thou hast exalted thyself above our father +Abraham. Thou didst say, 'Before Abraham was, I am.'" + +Then spoke the fourth witness, who said, "Thou hast said, 'I can +destroy the temple of God, and in three days build it up again.'" + +The fifth witness, who had not hitherto spoken, stood forward and said, +"I have heard thee say, 'I will destroy this temple which is made with +hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'" +This concluded the testimony of the witnesses. + +Then Caiaphas, turning to Jesus, spoke to him with indignation: "So +thou hast claimed to possess a superhuman divine power? These are +serious accusations, and they are legally proved; answer if thou +canst." Jesus remaining silent, Caiaphas resumed, "Thou thinkest that +by silence thou canst save thyself. Thou darest not to admit before +the fathers and judges of the people what thou hast taught before the +people. Or dost thou dare?" Then rising to his utmost height, and +stretching his hand on high, Caiaphas continued, "Hear, then, I, the +high priest, adjure thee by the living God. Say--art thou the Messiah, +the Son of the Most High?" and as he uttered the sacred name Caiaphas +crossed his arms and dropped his head on his breast. + +For a moment there was silence, then Jesus answered and said, "Thou +hast said it, and so I am. Nevertheless, I say unto you, hereafter ye +shall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of God in power and +coming in the clouds of heaven." + +As Jesus spoke these words, the members of the council started in +horror, and Caiaphas rending his robe, exclaimed with a loud voice, "He +has blasphemed God! What need have we of any further witnesses? You +yourselves have heard the blasphemy. What think ye?" + +And all the members of the council cried together, "He is worthy of +death." + +Then said Caiaphas, "He is thus unanimously declared worthy of death. +But not I, not the council, but the law of God pronounces the death +sentence upon him. You teachers of the law, I call upon you to answer; +what does the holy law say of him who is guilty of disobedience to the +authorities appointed by God?" Then stood up Josue, and unrolling the +book of the law read therefrom: "The man that will do presumptuously +and will not hearken to the priest that standest to minister there +before the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shalt die, +and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel." + +Then again said Caiaphas, "What does the law decree concerning him who +profaneth the Sabbath?" + +Then Ezekiel stood up and read, "Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore, +for it is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it shall surely be +put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein that soul shall be +cut off from his people." + +Then asked Caiaphas, "How does the law punish the blasphemer?" + +Then stood up Nathanael, and unrolling the book of the law, read: +"Speak unto the children of Israel saying, whosoever curseth his God +shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord he +shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly +stone him, as well the stranger as him that is born in this land." + +"Thus," said Caiaphas, "is the judgment pronounced upon this Jesus of +Nazareth--pronounced according to law, and shall be carried out as +speedily as possible. Meanwhile I will have the condemned placed under +safe guard. Lead him forth, guard him, and by the safe dawn of the +morning bring him to the Great Sanhedrin." + +"Come, then, Messiah," said Selpha, roughly, "we will show thee thy +palace." + +"There thou shalt receive due homage," said Balbus, as he placed his +hand on the shoulder of Jesus, and marched him out of the chamber. + +Then said Caiaphas exultingly, "We are approaching the goal. Now, +however, resolute steps are necessary." + +The priests and Pharisees cried together, "We will not rest until he is +brought to death." + +Then said Caiaphas, "With the break of day let us come together again. +This must be announced to the High Priest Annas and the rest. Then +shall the sentence be confirmed by the whole assembled council, and the +prisoner will immediately be brought before Pilate in order that he may +confirm it and have it executed." + +The priests then departed, crying as they went, "God deliver us soon +from our enemy." + +When the council had been dismissed and all was still, Judas, moving as +one distracted, came down the street in front of the high priest's +palace; as he went he muttered to himself: "Fearful forebodings drive +me hither and thither. That word of Annas' 'He must die!' Oh, that +word pursues me everywhere." Then, as if he remembered all that had +happened, Judas cried, "No, it cannot come to that; they will not carry +things so far! That would be too terrible if my Master--no!--and +I--guilty of it? No! Here in the house of Caiaphas, I will inquire +how things stand. Shall I go in? I can no longer bear this +uncertainty, and it terrifies me to ascertain the certainty. My heart +throbs with terror--surely I shall not have to hear the worst. Yet it +must come some time." And thereupon he went into the house of the high +priest. + +Meanwhile in the hall of Caiaphas the Temple Watch was standing waiting +the result of the examination of Jesus before Caiaphas. In the hall +were the servant maids, Sarah and Hagar, who seeing the soldiers +standing outside, went to the door, and said, "You may come in here." +It was Hagar who spoke first, and Sarah added, "It is more comfortable +in here." + +"True for you, good people," said Melchi, one of the soldiers. Then +calling out, "Ho, comrades, come in! It is better for us to lie down +in the hall." + +Then said a soldier named Arphaxad, "I like this; I wish we had come in +long ago; how stupid we are, always standing outside in the open air +and shivering. But where is there any fire?" + +"Sarah," added another soldier, "go and bring us fire, also wood to lay +thereon." + +"Willingly," said Hagar. + +"That you shall have," said Sarah. They went out together to comply +with the soldier's wish. + +"Will the trial soon come to an end?" asked several of the soldiers. + +"It will last," said Melchi, "until all the witnesses are examined." + +"And," added Panther, "the accused will also use all his eloquence to +get himself out of the scrape." + +"That will help him nothing," said Arphaxad; "he has offended the +priests too much." Then returned the serving maids with a brazier in +which there was a little fire and some wood, which they placed thereon, +making a great smoke. + +"Here is your fire," said Hagar, "wood and fire tongs." + +Then cried the soldiers together, "Thanks, you good girls." + +"Yes," said Panther, stooping down over the brazier, "that is good. +Now take care that the fire does not go out." Several of the soldiers +stooped over the fire, piled on wood, and Sarah busied herself with +bringing in meat and bread. + +Peter and John, who had been wandering about the streets seeking for +tidings, came to the door, John preceding Peter. Hagar, who saw John +standing in the entrance of the door, said, "John, comest thou also +hither in the middle of the night? Come in here, then, thou must warm +thyself. Could you make a little room for this young man here?" said +Hagar addressing the soldiers. + +"Yes, indeed," cried the band together. + +Then said John, "Good Hagar, I have a companion with me; can he not +also come in?" + +"Where is he?" said Hagar. "Let him come in; why does he stand out in +the cold?" + +John went to where Peter was standing, but came back alone. + +"Where is he?" said Hagar. + +"He stands on the threshold, but does not trust himself to come in," +replied John. + +Then Hagar went to the door and said, "Come in, good friend; do not be +afraid." + +All the soldiers cried, "Friend, come also in here to us and warm +thyself!" Peter without saying a word timidly drew near to the fire +and warmed his hands in the smoke. + +The men went on talking round the fire and Arphaxad said, after a +pause, "We still see and hear nothing of the prisoner." + +Several then asked together, "How much longer must we wait here?" + +Then said Panther, "Probably he will come out from the trial as a man +condemned to death." + +"I wonder," said Arphaxad, "whether his disciples will be sought after?" + +Peter trembled as the band with hoarse laughter cried aloud, "That +would be a fine piece of work if they all had to be captured!" + +Then said Panther, "It would not be worth the trouble. If the Master +is once out of the way, then the Galileans will fly and never let +themselves be seen again in Jerusalem. But," said Panther, "one at +least ought to receive sharp punishment; he who in the garden drew his +sword and cut off Malchus' ear." + +"Yes, yes," cried the band, laughing, "that should be, as it is said, +an ear for an ear!" + +"Ha, ha, ha, a good idea!" laughed Panther, "but that rule would here +find no application, for Malchus has his ear back again." + +During this time, while the soldiers were laughing and talking, Hagar +was curiously looking at Peter. Immediately a pause took place, Hagar +said to Peter, "I have been observing thee for some time. Now, if I do +not mistake, thou art one of the disciples of the Galilean. Yes, yes, +thou wert with Jesus of Nazareth." + +Peter started up from the fire over which he had been warming his hands +and stammered out, "I? No, I am not. Woman, I know him not, neither +know I what thou sayest." + +When Hagar thus spoke all the soldiers looked at Peter, who fearing his +attack on Malchus might be resented, tried to slip through the band and +escape unobserved. Passing the fire, he came close to the other +waiting maid, Sarah, who, looking him full in the face, said in a +shrill voice, "See, this man was also with Jesus of Nazareth." + +The attention of the whole band being aroused, they all clustered +around Peter, asking, "Art thou also one of the disciples?" + +Levi said, "Thou art one of them, quite certainly." + +Peter in the midst of armed and violent men, looked confusedly from +side to side and declared, "Upon my soul--I am not--I do not know the +man." + +Even as he spoke the cock crew, but the rattle of the weapons of the +soldiers and imminent menace of a violent death left him no leisure to +attend to anything but his own safety, for a soldier at the same moment +exclaimed, "Look at this man. Of a truth he was also with him." + +Then said Peter stoutly, "I know not what ye have to do with me. What +does this man matter to me?" + +But the soldiers crowding round him said, "Yes, yes, thou art one of +them. Thou art also a Galilean; thy speech betrayeth thee." + +Then Peter, raising his hands on high, said with a troubled voice, "God +be my witness that I do not know the man of whom ye speak;" and the +cock crew a second time. + +Then Melchi, pressing forward, looked Peter full in the face and said, +"Did I not see thee in the garden with him, when my cousin Malchus had +his ear cut off?" + +At this moment, when the situation was getting very serious for Peter, +attention was called off from him by a cry from the soldiers round the +fire. "Make ready, they are bringing in the prisoner." Selpha then +brought in Jesus bound between Malchus and Balbus. + +"Now, how have things gone?" eagerly inquired Arphaxad. + +"He is condemned to death," said Selpha. + +The soldiers mocking, cried, "Poor king!" + +At this moment Jesus met Peter, and looked upon him with a gaze full of +sorrow. Peter smote his head with his hand and went out into the night. + +"Come," said Arphaxad, "he will help us to pass the time." + +"Forward, comrades," said Selpha, "we must guard him till morning." +Thereupon they all went out. + +Peter, when he had left the hall of the high priest, went out into the +street weeping bitterly and suffering anguish of soul. "Oh, my +Master," he cried, "how deeply have I fallen! Oh, woe unto me, weak +and wretched man! I have three times denied my dearest friend and +teacher. I cannot understand how I could so forget myself. A curse +upon my shameful faithlessness! How my heart will repent of it--this +contemptible cowardice. My dearest Lord, hast thou still grace for +me--grace for a faithless, one--oh! send it me! This once more hear +the voice of my repentant heart. Alas! the sin is committed. I cannot +undo it, but ever, ever, will I weep for it and repent of it--and now +nevermore will I leave thee! Oh, thou most loving one! Thou wilt +surely not cast me off! Thou wilt not despise my bitter, repentance. +No! the gentle pitying look which thou didst cast upon thy deeply +fallen disciple promises it--thou wilt forgive me. I have this hope +from thee, best of teachers, and the whole love of my heart shall from +this moment be given to thee. I will cling closely to thee and +nothing, nothing shall ever be able to separate thee from me again!" + +And with a face beaming with hope of forgiveness, even for his +threefold denial, he went away. + +Hardly had he gone, when John entered at the other end of the street, +asking anxiously, looking on either side, "Where, then, can Peter have +gone? In vain my eyes have sought him in the crowd. Surely nothing +evil can have befallen him. Perhaps I still may meet him upon the +road. I will now go to Bethany. Dearest mother, if I bring thee the +tidings of these terrible things which have happened--the innocent one +ill-treated and condemned by sinners, what wilt thy heart feel? O, +Judas, Judas, what hast thou done?" + +Now it came to pass that the soldiers having taken Jesus into the +guardroom of Caiaphas' palace, mocked him and despitefully used him +until it was day. They seated him on a stool with a bandage over his +eyes, and surrounded him mockingly, saying, "Is not this throne too +mean for thee, great king? Hail to thee, thou new-born sovereign! But +sit more firmly," said one, seizing Jesus from behind and pressing him +down on his chair. "Thou mightest otherwise fall down. Thou art +verily also a prophet. So say, O great Elias, say who it is who has +struck thee," and with that he dealt Jesus a blow on the face. + +Others came in and also struck him, saying, "Was it I?" but Jesus +answered nothing. + +Then one of the band went up to him and shouted, "Hearest thou +nothing?" and shook him violently by the shoulders. "Art thou asleep?" +Then turning to his comrades he exclaimed, "He is deaf and dumb; a fine +prophet indeed." And thereupon he roughly pushed Jesus forward so that +he fell from the stool upon the ground upon his face. + +"Alas! alas!" they cried. "Our king has fallen from his throne. What +is to be done now? We have no longer any king. Thou art to be pitied, +such a great magician and now so weak and weary! Come, help us to put +him again upon his throne." + +And then they seized him where he lay on the ground with his eyes +bandaged and his hands tied, and lifted him again upon his seat. +"Raise thyself, O mighty king; receive anew our homage." + +As they were kneeling around him in scorn a messenger of Caiaphas +entered saying, "How goes it now with the king?" and the band shouted, +"He speaks and prophesies not; we can do nothing with him." + +"Then," said the messenger, "the high priest and Pilate will soon make +him speak. Caiaphas sends me to bring him." + +"Up, comrades," said Selpha. + +Thereupon, taking Jesus again by the cords which bound his hands, they +led him off, saying, "Stand up; thou hast been king long enough." And +all shouted, "Away with thee. Thy kingdom has come to an end." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF. + + The guilty deed fails not to win its wages, + The guiltless blood he sold cries from the ground; + Driven to madness by the worm that rages + And scourged by furies, Judas ranges round + Wildly, and finds no rest + From the fire in his breast, + Till swept away by bitterest despair + He flings away in reckless haste + The load of life he can no longer bear. + + +When Jesus was being mocked and ill-treated by the soldiers in the +guardroom of Caiaphas' palace, Judas wandered to and fro in despair. +"Now my fearful foreboding has become a terrible certainty. Caiaphas +has sentenced the Master to death, and the council has concurred in his +sentence. All is over. There is no hope, no way of escape. Had the +Master wished to save himself he would have made them feel his might a +second time in the garden. As he did not do it then, he will now do so +no more. What can I do for him, I, a miserable wretch who have +delivered him into their hands? They shall have the money back, that +blood money. They must give me my Master back again. I will go at +once and make the demand. But, oh, will he be saved by that? Oh, +vain, foolish hope. They will mock me, I know it. O cursed synagogue, +thou hast tempted me through thy messengers, thou hast hidden from me +thy bloody designs until thou hadst him in thy clutches. I will +torture thee with bitter reproaches, ye unjust judges. I will have +nothing to do with your devilish decision. I will have no share in the +blood of this innocent. Oh, what tortures, what pains of hell, tear my +inmost soul!" So saying he departed. + +Now within the hall of the Sanhedrin were assembled the high priests, +the scribes and the leaders. Caiaphas and Annas arrayed in their +robes, sat in the high place of the council, and all the seats were +filled except those of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Caiaphas +spoke, saying, "I thought, fathers, that I could not wait till the +morning to send the enemy of the synagogue to death." + +And Annas said, "I could not get a moment's rest for eagerness to hear +the sentence pronounced." + +Then cried they all, "It is pronounced. He shall and must die." + +Caiaphas said, "I did not wish to trouble all the members of the +Sanhedrin to come hither in the night time. But there was present the +necessary number of judges to pronounce as the law prescribes. All as +with one mouth declared the accused worthy of death, for all had heard +with their own ears how this man blasphemed God in the most terrible +way, and was impious enough to call himself the Son of God." + +The priests and Pharisees who had previously been present answered, +"Yea, we bear witness to it. We have ourselves heard the impious +blasphemy from his lips." + +"Then," said Caiaphas, "I will have the criminal brought before you +once more, so that you may be convinced of his being worthy of death. +Then may the whole council pronounce the just sentence." + +As he was speaking, Judas, looking haggard and distracted, rushed into +the midst of the council, crying wildly, "Is it true? Have you +condemned my Master to death?" + +Then said the rabbi unto him, "Why dost thou force thyself uncalled for +in this assembly? Be off. We will call thee if we have need of thee." + +But Judas took no heed. "I must know it," he said. "Have you +condemned him?" + +Then all in the council cried aloud, "He must die." + +"Woe, woe!" said Judas. "I have sinned. I have betrayed innocent +blood. Oh, you blood-thirsty judges, to condemn the innocent blood." + +"Peace, peace, Judas," cried the council. + +"There will never, never more be peace for me," said Judas, bitterly, +"and none for you. The blood of the innocent cries aloud for +vengeance." + +"What has driven you crazy? Speak, but speak with reverence--thou +standest before the Sanhedrin," said Caiaphas. + +Then said Judas passionately: "You are determined to deliver him up to +death; him who is free from all guilt. You must not do it. I have a +protest to make against it. You have made me a traitor. Your accursed +pieces of silver!" + +Annas interrupted him, saying, "Thou didst propose it thyself and close +the bargain." + +Then said the priest unto him, "Recollect thyself, Judas, thou hast +received what thou didst desire; and if thou behavest thyself decently +thou canst still----" + +Judas interrupted him. "I will have nothing more. I tear up your +shameful bargain. Let the innocent go." + +"Be off, madman," said a rabbi angrily. + +But Judas, taking no heed, knelt and stretched his hands toward +Caiaphas. "I demand the release of the innocent. My hands shall be +free from his blood." + +"What," said the rabbi, "thou contemptible traitor, wilt thou dictate +to the Sanhedrin? Know this, thy Master must die, and thou hast +delivered him to death." + +And all the priests and Pharisees cried aloud, "He must die." + +And Judas, with staring eyes, as one demented, repeated, "Die? Then I +am a traitor. I have given him up to death!" He sank down like a man +crushed by a blow, and then springing up and breaking out into wild +passion, he shouted aloud: "May ten thousand devils from hell tear me +in pieces! Let them grind me to powder! Here, ye bloodhounds, take +your accursed blood money!" And with that he snatched the bag from his +girdle and flung it violently before the seat of the high priest. + +"Why didst thou let thyself be made the tool for a transaction which +thou didst not weigh beforehand?" said Caiaphas. + +"Yes," cried several, "it is your own business." + +Then shouted Judas wildly, "May my soul be damned, my body burnt +asunder, and ye--" + +"Silence and out from here," cried all the priests together. + +"And you," shouted Judas, above them all, "you will sink with me into +the lowest hell!" He then rushed from the hall. + +After a pause, during which the chief priests and rulers looked at each +other in silence, the money lay unnoticed on the floor. Caiaphas said, +"What a fearful man!" + +"I had some foreboding of this," said Annas. + +"It is his own fault," remarked a priest. + +Then said Caiaphas, "Let him expiate that fault himself. He has +betrayed his friend, we pursue our enemy. I remain steadfast by my +determination, and if anyone here should be of another opinion, let him +stand up." + +"No," cried they all with one voice, "what has been resolved upon, let +it be carried out." + +Then said Caiaphas, "What shall we do with this money? It is blood +money; it can no longer be put into the treasury of God." + +Annas said, "It might be used for some useful purpose under the +sanction of the high council." + +All agreed to this, and a priest said, "A burying place for strangers +is much wanted. With this money a field may be purchased for that +purpose." + +"Is there such a one in the market?" asked Caiaphas. + +"Yes," said a priest, "a potter in the city has offered a piece of +ground for sale at just this price." + +"Let Saras conclude the purchase," said Caiaphas. They then picked up +the money which had lain untouched on the floor. + +"But now we will no longer delay to pronounce the capital sentence upon +the prisoner," continued Caiaphas. + +Then said a rabbi, "I will have him brought in at once." + +"I shall see," said Annas, "whether the scorn which he showed toward me +has not yet left him. A real satisfaction will it be to me to share in +the sentence. Let him die." + +Jesus then was brought in a second time before Caiaphas. Selpha, as +before, preceded him, and Balbus and Malchus led him bound by the hands +with a cord. + +"Stand there," said Selpha, "and show more respect to the council than +thou didst before." Then he added, "Venerable fathers, here we bring +the prisoner." + +Then said Caiaphas, "Lead him into the middle." + +Balbus, laying his hand on the shoulder of Jesus, thrust him forward +saying, "Step forward." + +Then Caiaphas spake unto Jesus, saying, "Jesus of Nazareth, dost thou +stand by the words which thou hast pronounced this night before thy +judges?" + +Annas added, "If thou be the Christ, tell us!" + +Then Jesus answered and said, "If I tell you ye will not believe; if I +also ask you, ye will not answer me nor let me go. But hereafter shall +ye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of Almighty God." A +shudder ran through the Sanhedrin, and all cried excitedly, "Art thou +the Son of God?" + +Jesus answered, "Ye say it and so I am." + +Annas exclaimed, "It is enough; what need have we of any further +witnesses?" + +The priests and Pharisees who had not attended the night council, said, +"We have now heard it out of his own mouth." + +Then said Caiaphas, "Fathers of the people of Israel, it is now your +duty to come to a final decision as to the guilt and punishment of this +man." + +Then cried they all, "He is guilty of blasphemy. He hath deserved +death." + +Caiaphas said, "We will therefore lead him before the judgment seat of +Pilate." + +And they all answered and said, "Yes, away with him. Let him die." + +"Pilate," said Caiaphas, "must first be informed in order that he may +proclaim the sentence before the feast." + +A rabbi said, "Could some one be sent from the council in order to give +him timely information?" + +"Thou thyself," said Caiaphas, "together with Dariabbas and Rabinth +shalt go before. We will speedily come after." + +When these three had departed Caiaphas said, "This day, then, will save +the religion of our fathers, and exalt the honor of the synagogue, so +that the echo of our fame shall reach our latest descendants." + +All shouted, "Men will speak of us centuries hence!" and Caiaphas +resumed, "Lead him away; we follow." + +Once more they cried, "Down with the Galilean!" and departed. + +The three messengers sent by the Sanhedrin drew near to the house of +Pilate, and as they went they spoke among themselves. The rabbi said: +"At last we breathe more freely again; we have been insulted long +enough." + +Dariabbas replied, "It was indeed high time; his following was becoming +very large." + +"Now," said the rabbi, "there is nothing more to be feared from him. +The traders have in these days displayed the most creditable activity, +to have gained for us a crowd of determined people. You will see if it +comes to anything, they will effectively take the lead. The waverers +will concur with them, and the followers of the Nazarene will find it +well to be silent, and take themselves off." + +Then said Rabinth, seeing they had approached the place of Pilate, "How +shall we bring our message to Pilate? We dare not enter the house of +the Gentile today, as in that case we should become unclean and could +not eat the Passover?" + +"We will send a message through one of his own people," said the rabbi, +and going up the stairs to the balcony of Pilate's house, he knocked +gently at the door. + +Standing and listening, he said, "Surely, there is some one there? +Yes, there is some one coming," and retired a little way down the +steps, so as to avoid any contact with the Gentile. + +A servant of Pilate opened it and said, "Welcome, rabbi, will you not +come in?" + +"The precepts of the law will not allow us so to do today," said the +rabbi. + +The servant said, "Is that so? Can I carry your message?" + +"The high priest sends us to bring a petition to the viceroy of Caesar +to ask if he will allow the council to appear before him and to bring +before him a malefactor for the confirmation of his sentence." + +"I will deliver the message at once to my lord; wait here in the +meantime," said the servant, and went into Pilate. + +The rabbi returning down the steps joined Dariabbas and Rabinth, who +stood below. "It is very sad," said Dariabbas, "that we must knock at +the door of a Gentile in order to get the behests of our holy law +executed." + +"Take courage," said the rabbi, "when once this domestic enemy is +removed out of the way, who knows whether we might not soon free +ourselves from the foreign foe?" + +Rabinth exclaimed, "Oh, may I live to see the day which will bring +freedom to the children of Israel!" + +Pilate's servant returned and spoke unto them saying, "The governor +greets you. You are to inform the high priest that Pilate is ready to +receive the petition of the Sanhedrin." + +"Accept our thanks for thy kindness," said the rabbi. "Now let us +hasten to report to the high priest the result of our errand." The +servant then returned and closed the door behind him. + +The three messengers then returned. Rabinth remarked anxiously, +"Pilate will surely agree to the demand of the council." + +"He must," said the rabbi, "how could he resist it when the Sanhedrin +and the whole people demand with one voice the death of this man?" + +"And besides," said Dariabbas, "what does the governor care about the +life of a single Galilean? Were it merely to please the high priest, +who is of great importance to him, he would not hesitate to permit the +execution." + +Now, Judas, being distracted by remorse, found himself, after wandering +to and fro, in the potter's field, purchased with the thirty pieces of +silver, in the midst of which stood a blasted tree. Then after wildly +looking around to see if anyone was near, he said: "Oh, where, where +can I go to hide my shame, to escape the torments of conscience? No +forest is dark enough! No rocky cavern deep enough! O, earth, open +and swallow me up! I can no longer exist. O, my dear Master! Him, +best of all men, have I sold, giving him up to ill treatment, to a most +painful death of torture. I, detestable betrayer--oh! where is there +another man on whom such guilt of blood doth rest? Alas! nevermore can +I appear before the face of the brethren. An outcast, hated and +abhorred everywhere--branded as a traitor by those who led me astray--I +wander about alone with this burning fire in my heart. There is still +one left. Oh! might I look on the Master's face once more, I would +cling to him as my only anchor. But he lies in prison, has perhaps +been already slain by the rage of his enemies, although by my guilt, by +my fault. I am the abhorred one who has brought him to prison and to +death. Woe to me, the scum of men! There is no hope for me, my crimes +can be expiated by no penance. For he is dead--and I, I am his +murderer! Thrice unhappy hour in which my mother gave me to the world! +Must I still drag on this life of agony and bear these tortures about +with me?--as one pest stricken, flee from men, and be despised and +shunned by all the world? No! I can bear it no longer! Not one step +further! Here, O life accursed, here will I end thee! On these +branches let the most disastrous fruit hang!" He untwined his girdle +and twined it about his neck. "Ha, ha! come, thou serpent, entwine my +neck and strangle the betrayer!" + +As Judas spoke the last words he tied with convulsive and feverish +agony the long girdle around his neck, fastened it to the branch of the +tree, and swung himself off. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +JESUS, PILATE AND HEROD. + + Thus before Pilate's judgment seat + The council, full of passion's heat, + Come to demand Messiah's blood. + Oh, what has made them mad and blind? + And what has kindled in their mind + Of fury such a fiery flood? + + 'Tis envy which no mercy knows + In which hell's flame most fiercely glows-- + Lights this devouring fire, + All's sacrificed unto its lust-- + Nothing too sacred, good or just + To fall to its desire. + Oh, woe to those whom passion sweeps + Helpless and bound into the deeps. + + +Then went the high priests and the scribes, together with the rulers +and traders of the temple, and the witnesses, to the house of Pilate. +Jesus was led forth in front of them by Balbus and Malchus as before, +Selpha being in command of the band of soldiers. As they went the +soldiers shouted aloud, "Away with thee to death, thou false prophet! +Ha! doth it dismay thee that thou wilt not go forward?" + +"Drive him on," said Selpha. But Jesus being weary walked with slow +footsteps. + +Then the soldiers thrust him forward, crying, "Shall we have to carry +thee in our arms? Go on! Thou hast not far to go, only to Calvary; +there upon the cross thou canst rest in comfort." + +By this time they had approached the precincts of Pilate's house. Then +said Caiaphas to the soldiers, "Be still; we have to announce our +coming." And they were still. + +The rabbi said, "Go to the door and knock." + +It was done, and Quintus came out, saying, "What does this crowd of +people want here?" + +The rabbi replied that the council had assembled there. Quintus +promised to announce them at once, and the rabbi turning to the members +of the Sanhedrin, said, "Do you hear? He will announce our presence +without delay." + +Caiaphas addressed those who were following him: "Ye members of the +Sanhedrin, if you have at heart the holy traditions, our honor, the +tranquility of the whole land, then consider well this moment. It +decides between us and that deceiver. If you are men in whom flows the +blood of your fathers, then listen to us. An imperishable monument you +will set up for yourselves. Be firm in your resolve." + +Then cried the priests, "Our fathers forever; death to the enemy of the +nation!" + +"Do not rest, then," said Caiaphas, "until he is blotted out of the +number of the living!" + +And they cried again, "We will not rest, we demand his death, his +blood." + +Then the soldiers turned to Jesus and said, "Hearest thou that, O king +and prophet?" + +Then came Pilate out with his attendants upon the balcony of the house; +two spearmen on either side advanced to the foot of the steps of the +balcony, and stood spear in hand whilst the audience listed. Then +Caiaphas stepped forward in front of the crowd, and, bowing low, thus +began, "Governor and representative of the great Caesar, health and +blessing to thee." Then Caiaphas continued: "We have brought here +before thy judgment seat a man of the name of Jesus that thou mayest +consent to the execution of the death sentence pronounced against him +by the Sanhedrin." + +Pilate answered, "Bring him forth," and the soldiers led Jesus, out +before Pilate so that he stood on the right hand of the balcony. +Pilate having looked upon him asked, "What accusations have you to +bring against this man?" + +[Illustration: "What accusations have you to bring against this man?"] + +Caiaphas, speaking with some surprise, said, "If he were not a great +malefactor we would not have delivered him over to thee, but have dealt +with him ourselves according to the direction of our holy law." + +"Well, of what evil deeds has he been guilty?" asked Pilate. + +Caiaphas answered, "He has in many ways grievously offended against the +holy law of Israel." + +Pilate answered, "Then take him away and judge him according to your +law." + +Then said Annas, "He has already been judged by the Sanhedrin and has +been declared to be worthy of death." + +Then all the priests cried aloud, "For according to our law he has +deserved death." + +But Caiaphas explained: "It is not lawful for us to execute the +sentence of death upon any one; therefore we bring the application for +the execution of the sentence to the representative of Caesar." + +Then Pilate having looked upon Jesus and upon Caiaphas asked, with +indignation, "How can I deliver a man over to death unless I know the +crime, and before I have satisfied myself that his crime is worthy of +death? What has he done?" + +Then said the rabbi, "The sentence of the council upon this man was +unanimously pronounced, and grounded upon a careful investigation into +his crimes. It seems therefore unnecessary that the illustrious +governor should take upon himself the trouble of a second investigation. + +"What," said Pilate, hotly, "do you dare to suggest to me, the +representative of Caesar, that I should be a blind instrument for the +execution of your orders? Be that far from me! I must know what law +he has broken, and in what way." + +Caiaphas, Annas and the members of the Sanhedrin waxed wroth and spoke +warmly among themselves on hearing the words of Pilate. Caiaphas +answered and said, "We have a law and by our law he ought to die +because he made himself the Son of God," while all the people shouted, +"We all have heard the blasphemy from his own lips," and Annas added, +"And upon that account we must insist that he suffers the legal +punishment." + +Then Pilate said scornfully unto them, "On account of such a speech, +which at the most is only the outcome of an enthusiastic imagination, a +Roman can find no one guilty of death. Who knows also," he added, with +a glance at Jesus, "whether this man may not be the son of some god! +If you have no other crime to lay to his charge you need not think that +I will fulfil your desires." + +Caiaphas answered and said, "Not only against our holy law, but also +against Caesar himself has this man been guilty of serious offences. +We have found him to be an insurgent and deceiver of the people." + +Then cried all the priests and Pharisees together tumultuously, "He is +an agitator and a rebel." + +Pilate answered, "I have heard of one Jesus who was said to go about +the country and teach and do extraordinary works, but I have never +heard of any sedition stirred up by him. Were anything of that kind to +happen I should have heard of it before you, who am appointed for the +maintenance of peace in the land, and am perfectly well informed +concerning the words and deeds of the Jews. But tell me, when and +where has he stirred up any commotion?" + +Then Nathanael stood forward and said unto Pilate, "He brings together +multitudes by thousands around him and he has quite recently, +surrounded by such a crowd, made a solemn entry into Jerusalem itself." + +"O I know that," said Pilate contemptuously, "but nothing took place on +that occasion to disturb the public peace." + +By this time Caiaphas and the priests were in a state of indignation +which they did not care to conceal, and Caiaphas asked angrily, "Is it +not sedition if he forbid the people to pay tribute to Caesar?" + +Pilate asked, "Where have you proof of that?" + +"Proof enough," retorted Caiaphas, "for he gives himself out as the +Messiah, the king of Israel. Is not that to challenge the imperial +authority?" + +Pilate replied, sarcastically, "I admire your suddenly awakened zeal +for the authority of Caesar." + +Then turning to Jesus, who had stood silent during the altercation, he +asked him, saying, "Hearest thou what serious accusations these bring +against thee? What answerest thou?" Jesus remained silent. + +"See," said Caiaphas, eagerly, "He cannot deny it. His silence is an +admission of his crime." + +Then cried all the multitude, stretching out their hands toward Pilate, +"Sentence him then!" + +"Patience," said Pilate, "there is time enough for that. I will take +him apart for a private hearing." + +Pilate, speaking to his attendants, said, "Perhaps when he is no longer +confused by the crowd and the fury of his accusers he will answer me." +Then, speaking to his servants he said, "Lead him into the court." And +turning to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, he said, "Go! my guard shall +take charge of him, but do you examine the justice or injustice of your +complaints, and be careful to investigate whether they do not perhaps +come from a polluted source. Then let me know the result of your +reflections." + +At this Caiaphas turned his back upon Pilate and looked with +indignation upon his followers, who showed the liveliest manifestations +of disgust. Josue said, "Everything has been well considered and +examined already. The law pronounces him worthy of death." The Jews, +turning to go, angrily discussed this reverse. + +"This is a troublesome delay," said the rabbi. + +But Caiaphas encouraged them, saying, "Do not lose heart, victory +belongs to the steadfast." + +Then was Jesus brought before Pilate's judgment seat, and Pilate said +unto him, "Thou hast heard the complaint of the council against thee. +Give me an answer thereto. Thou hast, they say, called thyself a Son +of God. Whence art thou?" But Jesus made no answer. Then Pilate said +unto him with some surprise, "Dost thou not speak even unto me? +Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee and to release thee?" + +Then Jesus turned to him and said, "Thou couldst have no power at all +against me except it were given unto thee from above. Therefore he +that delivereth me unto thee hath the greater sin." + +"Frankly spoken," said Pilate, aside. Then, speaking to Jesus he said, +"Art thou the king of the Jews?" + +Jesus answered, "Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or only because +others have told it to thee?" + +Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests +have delivered thee unto me. They accuse thee that thou hast desired +to be the king of Israel. What ground is there for this?" + +Then answered Jesus and said unto him, "My kingdom is not of this +world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, +so that I should not be delivered unto the hands of the Jews; but now +is my kingdom not from hence." + +Then said Pilate, "Art thou a king then?" + +Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born +and for this cause came I into the world, that I might bear witness +unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice." + +When Pilate heard this he said, "What is truth?" + +Hardly had he asked this question when the servant Quintus entered +hastily from the door behind. "Lord, thy servant Claudius is here; he +has to bring thee a pressing message from thy wife." + +Pilate said, "Let him come in. Lead the man hence for a moment into +the hall." The attendants having led Jesus out, Claudius entered. +Pilate asked him, "What bringest thou from my dear spouse?" + +"My lord," said Claudius, "thy wife greeteth thee and prays thee from +her heart, for thine own sake and for hers, that thou wouldst have +nothing to do with this just man who has been accused before the +judgment seat. She has suffered anguish and terror on his account last +night, owing to a fearful dream." + +Pilate answered, "Go back and tell her that she need not disturb +herself. I will have nothing to do with the proposals of the Jews, but +do all that I can to save him." Saluting Pilate, the messenger +departed. + +Pilate then said to his attendants, "Would that I had nothing to do +with this business! What do you think, my friends, of the complaint of +the Jewish priests?" + +Then said the courtier Mela, "It seems to me that they are only +inspired by envy and jealousy. The most passionate hatred appears in +their words and countenances." + +And the courtier Sylvius added, "The hypocrites pretend that they have +the authority of Caesar at heart, whereas the matter concerns only +their own authority, which they believe endangered by this famous +teacher of the people." + +Pilate answered, "I agree with you. I cannot believe that this man +entertains any criminal schemes in his mind. There is so much that is +noble in his features and in his demeanor. His speech displays so +noble a candor and such high natural gifts that he seemed much more to +be a very wise man, perhaps only too wise for these gloomy fanatics to +be able to bear the light of his countenance. And then the dream which +troubled my wife on his account! If he were really of higher origin? +No," said Pilate decidedly, arriving at a resolution, "I will not let +myself be induced to comply with the wishes of the priests." Then he +ordered his servants, saying, "Let the chief priests appear here again, +and let the accused be led out again from the judgment hall." + +Then came Caiaphas, Annas and the chief priests, and the scribes and +rulers of the people once more before Pilate to receive his decision. +Then Pilate spoke unto them as follows: "Here you have your prisoner +again; he is without guilt." Consternation and fury were displayed on +the faces of all the Jews. + +Then Annas said, "We have Caesar's word that our law shall be upheld. +How can he be without guilt who treads this very law beneath his feet?" + +Then cried all the council, saying, "He is worthy of death!" + +Caiaphas, who stood before the council, asked, "Is he not punishable by +Caesar when he maliciously injures that which Caesar's will has +guaranteed us?" + +Pilate said, "I have told you already, if he hath done anything against +your law, then punish him according to your law, in so far as you are +authorized so to do. I cannot pronounce the death sentence upon him, +because I find nothing in him which according to the laws upon which I +have to act is deserving of death." + +Then were the Jews vexed beyond measure and muttered among themselves +in hot displeasure, but Caiaphas replied, "If any one proclaims himself +as king, is he not a rebel? Does he not deserve the death punishment +of high treason?" + +"If," said Pilate, "this man has called himself a king it seems to me +that so ambiguous a word is not sufficient to condemn him. For it is +openly taught among the Romans that every wise man is a king. But you +have brought forward no facts to prove that he has usurped kingly +authority." + +Then said Nathanael, "Is it not a sufficient fact that through him the +whole people are stirred up; that he fills the whole of Judea with his +teaching, beginning from Galilee, where he first attracted followers to +himself, until here in Jerusalem?" + +Then asked Pilate in surprise, "Has he come out of Galilee?" + +Then cried they all, "Yes, he is a Galilean," and the rabbi added, "His +home is in Nazareth, in the jurisdiction of King Herod." + +"If that be so, then am I relieved of the jurisdiction. Herod, King of +Galilee, has come hither for the feast; he can now judge his own +subject. Take him away and bring him unto his own king. He shall be +conducted thither by my body guard." Then Pilate with his attendants +left the judgment hall. + +Caiaphas exclaimed, "Off, then, to Herod! With Herod, who professeth +the faith of our fathers, we shall find better protection for our holy +law." + +Annas said, "And if a thousand hindrances were to oppose themselves, +the criminal must meet with the deserved punishment." + +Then they cried to Christ, as they went off to the palace of Herod, +"One hour sooner or later, what matters it? Thou must come to die, and +this very day!" + + * * * * * * + +King Herod stood beside his throne, arrayed in scarlet robes, wearing a +golden crown upon his head, and holding a golden scepter in his hand. +On either side were his courtiers. He said unto them, "What! have they +the famous man from Nazareth? And are they bringing him a prisoner +here to me?" + +"Yes, my Lord," said Zabulon, "I saw him and recognized him at the +first glance." + +Then said Herod, "I have for a long time desired to see this man, with +whose wondrous works the whole land rings, to whom, as if by magic, +people run in crowds. Can he be John, risen from the dead?" + +"Oh, no," said Naason, "John worked no miracles; whereas they relate +deeds done by this man which in truth are wonderful if they are not +exaggerated." + +"As I have," said Herod, "so unexpected an opportunity of seeing him, I +am impatient to put his magic skill to the proof." + +"He will be very willing," said Manasses, "to oblige you in that +respect in order to obtain your favor and protection." + +Then said Herod, who had seated himself, to Zabulon: "Tell the +priesthood they may bring their prisoner in." + +"They are probably coming with complaints against this man," said +Manasses, "as they are forsaken by all the people." + +Herod replied, "Let them do that before Pilate--here I have nothing to +do--no judgment to pronounce." + +Manasses remarked: "Perhaps they have met with a refusal from the +governor and are now siding another way." + +Herod replied, "I do not enter into their pious quarrels. I will see +him for myself and test his alleged miraculous powers." + +Then came into the presence of Herod, Caiaphas, Annas, the rabbi, +Nathanael and four priests, bringing Jesus with them led by the +soldiers of Herod. Caiaphas bowed before King Herod, saying "Most +mighty king," and all the priests cried, "Prosperity and blessing upon +thee from the Almighty!" + +Then said Caiaphas, "A criminal is brought before thee here from the +Sanhedrin, that thou mayest execute on him the judgment of the law." + +"The law," said Nathanael, "decrees his death;" and Annas added, "May +it please the king to confirm the sentence of the synagogue." + +"But," said Herod, "how can I be a judge in a foreign territory? Go to +your own governor; he will do justice." + +Then said Caiaphas. "Pilate sent him hither, because being a Galilean +he is thy subject." + +"Then this man belongeth to my jurisdiction? Who is he?" + +The priests said, "Jesus of Nazareth." + +Caiaphas added, "Pilate himself said, 'Go to King Herod; let him +pronounce sentence upon his own subject.'" + +"Did Pilate say that? Wonderful!" said Herod. And turning to his +courtiers he remarked, "Pilate sends him to me! Allows me to act as +judge in his own province!" + +A courtier replied, "It seems as if he wished to make approaches to +thee again." + +Herod replied, "I will accept it as a proof of his friendly feeling." + +Then turning to Jesus Herod said, "I have heard very much of thee by +common report and have longed to see the man that has created such a +sensation in this country." + +"He is a deceiver," said the rabbi; "an enemy of the holy law." + +"I have heard," said Herod, taking no notice of the interruption, "that +thou canst interpret all mysteries and achieve feats which set at +defiance the laws of nature. Let us have an example of thy skill and +mighty power; then we will honor thee like the people and believe in +thee." + +"O king," said Zadok, "do not let him lead thee astray, for he is in +league with Beelzebub." + +"That is all the same to me," said Herod. Then, addressing Jesus, he +said, "I had last night a wonderful dream. If thou canst tell me what +I have dreamed of I will esteem thee as a first-class reader of hearts." + +Herod paused, but Christ remained motionless and silent. "Thou canst +not do so much as that," continued Herod, "but perhaps thou +understandest how to explain the dream if I tell thee what it was. I +dreamt I stood upon the battlements of my palace at Herodium and saw +the sun go down. There stood suddenly a man who stretched out his hand +and pointed to the setting sun and said, 'See there, there is Hesperia +in thy bedchamber.' Hardly had he said this when his form melted into +mist. I started and woke up. If thou desirest to be like Joseph when +he stood before the King of Egypt interpret to thy king this dream." +Christ remained silent, looking sadly at Herod. + +"Art thou not experienced in this branch of the business? Well, then, +show some of thy famous magic art. Cause it suddenly to become dark in +this hall, or raise thyself and depart from us without touching the +ground, or convert the roll on which thy death sentence is written into +a snake. Thou wilt not, or thou canst not? Any of these things ought +to be easy to thee; they relate much more wondrous miracles of thine." +Then turning to the courtiers Herod said, "He does not stir. Ah, I see +well that what has made him so notorious was only idle tittle-tattle. +He knows nothing and can do nothing." + +"It is easy," said Naason, "to make believe before the foolish mob; it +is another thing to stand before a wise and powerful king." + +Then said Manasses to Jesus, "Why should you not display your wisdom +here? Why should your power vanish before the eyes of the king, even +as a soap bubble?" + +Then said Herod scornfully, "There is nothing remarkable about him. He +is a conceited fellow whom the applause of the people hath made crazy. +Let him go. It is not worth while making so much trouble on his +account." + +"O, King," said Caiaphas, "do not trust this sly and crafty rogue. +Indeed, he only makes himself out to be a fool in order to obtain a +milder sentence from thee." + +Annas said, "If he be put away, then would the peace of the kingdom +also stand in danger, for he has presumed to exalt himself to be king." + +"What!" said Herod, "to be a king! To be a king of fools, that is more +credible. As such he deserves to receive homage, therefore will I give +him as a present a king's mantle, and do formally install him as the +king of all fools." + +Then cried the priests aloud, "Not this; he has deserved death." + +Caiaphas said, "O, King, protector of our holy law, remember thy duty +to punish the transgressor as the law ordains." + +Then said Herod, "What have you really against him?" + +"He hath profaned the Sabbath," said the rabbi. + +Nathanael added, "He is a blasphemer." + +And all the priests cried, "And as such the law declares him worthy of +death." + +Then said Ezekiel, "He has also spoken contemptuously of the Temple, +which thy father so gloriously rebuilt; he has declared that he would +rebuild a more beautiful one in three days." + +Then Herod laughed and said, "Now that proves indeed that he is a king +of fools." + +Then said Jonas, "He has also spoken insultingly of thee. He has +presumed to call thee, his lord and king, a fox." + +"Then he has attributed to me a quality which he cannot certainly claim +himself," replied Herod. "Clothe him--wrapped in this splendid robe he +will play his part well before the people." + +Then came in a servant bringing a white robe, which he put on the +shoulders of Jesus, and after Jesus had been robed, Zabulon said to +him, "Now for the first time thou wilt create a real sensation, thou +great wonder-worker." + +The priests cried, "He must die!" + +Herod said, "No, I will not be guilty of the blood of so exalted a +king; rather lead him forth before the people in this his proper +apparel, that they may admire him to their heart's content." + +Then said the first soldier to Jesus, "Come, thou miraculous king, and +allow us to accompany thee!" + +The second soldier said, "What good luck for me to walk by the side of +so illustrious a lord!" And so saying, they led away Jesus, wearing +the white robe which Herod had put on him. + +Then said Caiaphas, "Thou hast convinced thyself that his alleged great +works were nothing but lies and deceit, whereby the people were +defrauded by him. Give, then, thy sentence!" + +And all the priests cried, "Pronounce the sentence of death upon him, +as the law demands!" + +Herod replied, "My opinion is, he is a simple fellow and not capable of +the crime of which you accuse him. If he has perchance done or spoken +anything against the law it is to be attributed to his simplicity." + +"O, King," said Caiaphas, "take care that thou dost not err!" + +"I fear," said Annas, "thou wilt repent if thou allowest him to escape +punishment." + +"I fear nothing of the kind," said Herod. "A fool one must treat as a +fool. He has already suffered by his follies and will avoid them in +the future. With that the trial is at an end." + +Then said the rabbi, "Then it is all over with our law, our religion, +Moses and the prophets!" + +Herod said, "I abide by my decision. I am weary and will not concern +myself further about this affair. Pilate may decide according to his +official duty. Offer to him duty and friendship from King Herod." + +Then went the priests out, sorely dissatisfied with the decision of the +king. Then Herod rose from his seat and said, "This time the result +has not corresponded to our expectations. I expected to find a great +wonder-worker and eloquent orator, and behold, there is only quite an +ordinary man with never a word to say for himself." + +"Ah," said Manasses, "how lying rumor exaggerates that which, when more +closely examined, is shown to be nothing." + +"Friends," said Herod, "that is not John. John at least spoke, and +spoke with wisdom, and an eloquence which one must esteem, but this one +is as dumb as a fish. I am less than ever purposed to put him out of +the way, now that I have seen him for myself. Pilate would not have +sent him to me if he had been found guilty of any serious crime against +the state. To revenge oneself on such a man would be the greatest +folly. We have occupied ourselves about this wearisome business long +enough. Let us now go and make up for lost time by seeking more +agreeable amusement." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +"JESUS OR BARABBAS." + + See! what form of woe standeth the Saviour there! + Even Pilate himself's touched with compassion now + Foolish people and blinded, + Have you no hearts to pity him? + + No, for seized with madness they cry, "To the cross with him!" + Cry for torture and death upon the holiest. + For Barabbas, the murderer, + Pardon asking, and liberty. + + Oh, how otherwise once 'fore the Egyptian folk + Joseph! Around him shouts echoed, and songs of joy + As the Savior of Egypt + He was solemnly shown to them. + + But round the world's deliverer rages a nation in wrath, + Blinded, maddened with hate, no man among them will rest + Till the judge all unwilling + Says, "Then take ye and crucify him." + + * * * * * * + + Ah, see the king that's crowned in scorn, + What monarch such a crown has worn + Or scepter borne, and he so great? + Ye see him decked with purple shreds, + They laugh and jeer and shake their heads, + Is this the royal robe of state? + Ah! what a man! + Where is the trace of deity? + Ah! what a man-- + The sport of the rude hangman he. + + +Caiaphas and Annas and the chief priests and rulers, and the council +and the traders of the temple, and the witnesses accompanied the +soldiers, who once more led Jesus to Pilate's house. Then said +Caiaphas, "Now Pilate must be challenged more imperiously; and if he +does not do according to our will then shall the authority of Caesar +extort the sentence from him." + +"Shall I now," said Annas, "in my gray old age see the synagogue +overthrown? No! with stammering tongue I will cry for the blood and +death of this criminal, and then descend to the bosom of my fathers, +when I have seen this evil-doer die upon the cross." + +"We would sooner," cried the rabbi, speaking with great animation, "be +buried in the ruins of the temple than to go back upon our resolution. +We shall never leave off until he is dead." + +Then proclaimed Caiaphas, "Whosoever goes back on this decision, let +him be cast out of the synagogue." + +And Annas added, "Let the cross of the fathers fall upon him." + +Then said Caiaphas, "Time presses, the day is advancing; now we must +employ all the means at our disposal in order to carry out our will +before the feast." At this time the Jews and the soldiers leading +Jesus stood once more before the house of Pilate. + +Pilate, attended by his servants, soon appeared on the balcony. + +"We bring the prisoner once more before thee and earnestly desire his +death," said Caiaphas. + +All the priests cried aloud, "We insist upon it, he must die." + +Then said Pilate, "Ye brought me this man as an agitator and see, I +have heard your complaints, and I have myself examined him, and have +not found anything in him touching those things whereof you accuse him." + +Then said Caiaphas angrily, "We abide by our accusation; he is a +criminal worthy of death." + +And the priests cried, clamorously, "He is an offender against our law +and against Caesar." + +Then said Pilate, "I have sent him because he is a Galilean to Herod. +Have you brought forward your complaints before him?" + +"Yes," said Caiaphas, "but Herod would not judge the case because thou +art in authority here." + +Then said Pilate, "He, too, has found nothing in the man that deserves +death, but in order to meet your desire I will have this man scourged +and let him go." + +But Annas said, "That sufficeth not," and Caiaphas said, "The law +prescribes for such a criminal not the punishment of scourging, but the +punishment of death." + +The priests cried again, "To death with him." + +Then Pilate, hearing the clamor of the Jews and seeing how bitter they +were against Jesus, said unto them, "Is your hate so deep and bitter +unto the man that it cannot be satisfied by the blood from his wounds? +You compel me to tell you frankly what I think. Driven by ignoble +passion ye persecute him because the people are more devoted to him +than they are to you. I have heard enough of your hateful accusations. +I will now hear the voice of the people. An innumerable number will +now assemble here in order to demand, according to old custom, the +release of one prisoner at the Passover festival. Then it will be seen +whether your complaint is the outcome of popular sentiment or only of +your personal revenge." + +Caiaphas, smiling to himself, bowed low before Pilate and said, "The +result will show, O governor, that thou thinkest evil of us unjustly." + +Then the priests cried, "It is not vengeance, but zeal for the holy law +of God which compels us to demand his death." + +Pilate said, "You know of the murderer, Barabbas, who lies in chains, +and of his evil deeds. Between him and Jesus of Nazareth I will let +the people choose. The one whom they ask for, him will I release." + +Then cried all with one voice, "Release Barabbas and to the cross with +the other." + +"You are not the people," said Pilate haughtily, "the people will speak +for themselves. Meanwhile I will have this one scourged." Then +speaking to his servants, he said, "The soldiers will lead him hence +and scourge him according to the Roman law." Then turning to his +courtiers, he said, "Whatever he has done amiss will be sufficiently +atoned for and perhaps the spectacle of the scourging may soften the +blind wrath of his enemies." + +When Pilate quitted the balcony and entered his house Caiaphas +addressed a stirring speech to the Jews. His opportunity had come. +"Pilate," said Caiaphas, "appeals to the voice of the people. All +right; we appeal to it also. Now," said he, turning to the traders and +witnesses, "now, true-hearted Israelites, your opportunity has arrived. +Go hence into the streets of Jerusalem, summon your friends to come +hither, unite them in masses, kindle in them the most glowing hatred +against the enemy of Moses. The waverers seek to win by the strength +of your words and by promises, but terrify the followers of the +Galilean by an overwhelming outcry against them, by insult and mockery, +by threats, and if necessary by ill-treatment, so that none of them may +dare to let himself be seen here, much less to open his mouth." + +Then cried the traders and witnesses together, "We will go hence and +soon return again, everyone at the head of an excited mob." + +Caiaphas said, "Let us all meet in the street of the Sanhedrin." + +The traders bowed, and as they went the priests cried after them, "Hail +to you, faithful disciples of Moses." + +Then said Caiaphas, "Let us not lose a single moment. Let us go +together to the crowds to encourage them, to inflame them." + +Annas added, "From all the streets of Jerusalem will we lead the +exasperated people before the judgment seat." + +The rabbi said complacently, "If Pilate wishes to hear the voice of the +people, let him hear it!" + +"Let him hear," said Caiaphas, "the unanimous cry of the nation; +release Barabbas; the Galilean to the cross!" + +Then all the Jews cried aloud, with an exceeding loud voice, "Release +Barabbas; the Galilean to the cross!" + +Then the soldiers led Jesus away to the Pretorium and took off his robe +and tied his hands to a low pillar and scourged him. When they were +weary with scourging they said, "He has had enough, he is all running +down with blood." + +"Thou pitiable king of the Jews," said one of the soldiers as they +knelt and mockingly did homage to him, "what kind of a king can this +be? He has no scepter in his hand, no crown upon his head. That can +be mended. I will at once bring the insignia of the Jewish +sovereignty." And then going out he brought a scarlet mantle, a crown +of thorns and a reed. They were laid upon a cushion, and together with +them were laid iron gloves, so that they might handle the crown of +thorns without suffering therefrom. + +"Here," cried they, "this is certainly the most lovely attire for a +king of the Jews. Is it not true that thou hast never expected such an +honor? Come, let us hang this purple robe about thee. But sit down, a +king should not stand. Here is a beautiful pointed crown." And a +soldier, taking the crown of thorns with the iron gloves, placed it +upon the head of Jesus. + +"Let us look at you." Then they laughed aloud for joy. + +"But," said one, "if it is not to fall off your head then must we set +it in firmly. Come, brothers, help me." Then four of the soldiers +seized in their hands two staves, and, crossing them over his head, +pressed the crown heavily down upon the brow of Jesus. Jesus shuddered +in agony. + +"Here," cried the soldiers, "is the scepter." And taking the reed they +placed it in his hands. "Now nothing more is wanted. What a king!" + +Then all knelt before him crying, "Hail to thee, most mighty king of +the Jews!" When they were mocking him a servant entered from Pilate, +saying that the prisoner mast be brought immediately into the judgment +hall. + +Then said the soldiers, "Thou comest at the wrong time. Thou hast +disturbed us in the middle of our demonstrations of reverence." + +Then they said to Jesus, "Stand up, we will lead thee about as a +spectacle. There will be rejoicing among the Jewish people when their +king appears before them in full splendor!" + + * * * * * * + +Then was Jerusalem in an uproar; the traders and the priests ran +everywhere hither and thither, stirring up the people against Jesus. +On all sides the crowds were mustered, and directed by the priests to +assemble in the streets of the Sanhedrin, and from this to proceed to +Pilate's house to demand the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of +Jesus; from four sides the tumultuous mobs came pouring down to the +place of assembly. Their hoarse cries of "To the cross with him! To +the cross with him!" were heard in the distance before the foremost +leaders came in sight. At the head of one mob came Nathanael, +fervently exhorting the multitude to demand the death of Jesus. + +"Moses, your prophet," said he, "calls upon you. His holy law demands +you should avenge it." + +And the multitude cried together, "We belong to Moses. We are and +remain followers of Moses and of his teaching. We hold fast by our +priests and teachers. Away with him who would rise against them." +Another multitude poured down from the right into the central +thoroughfare. Caiaphas was leading them proudly, exulting in the +manifestations of their zeal. + +Into the same central place came a third band led by Annas, whose +followers shouted aloud, "Ye are our fathers, and we will answer for +your honor!" + +Annas answered, "Come, children, throw yourselves into the arms of the +holy Sanhedrin. It will save you." While the clamorous multitudes +from these three quarters were pouring down confusedly into the main +street, the shouting of a fourth mob was heard down Pilate's street. + +Ezekiel marched at the head of this new company crying, "Shake it off; +the yoke of the deceiver!" and they cried in answer, "We will have +nothing more to do with him; we follow you!" As the four contingents +of the populace collected thus in the open space it could be seen how +successfully they had been organized. Each of the four divisions was +led by a ruler of the people and had in its ranks a number of the +traders of the temple, the witnesses and the priests, whose violent +zeal gave movement and direction to the whole crowd. Various cries +burst forth from the multitude and each section as it saw the strength +of the others exulted and greeted their leaders with shouts of joy. +"The whole people applauds you!" cried one part of the multitude. + +"We will be free from that false teacher, the Nazarene!" answered +another section of the crowd. + +Then Caiaphas, Annas, Nathanael and Ezekiel, meeting together, cried +with a loud voice, "Your fathers' God will receive you again! You are +again to him a holy people!" + +The crowd now massed together in the main street cried, "You are our +true friends. Long live the great Sanhedrin! Long live our teachers +and priests!" and Annas answered, "Death to the Galilean!" + +"Up," said Caiaphas, "let us now hasten to Pilate," and Nathanael and +Ezekiel added, "Let us demand his death, his blood." + +Then all the people answered, "On to Pilate; the Nazarene shall die!" + +As they came tripping forward their leaders addressed them from time to +time to incite their zeal. + +"He hath falsified the law," cried the leaders. "He has contemned +Moses and the prophets!" "He hath blasphemed God!" + +Then all the people cried again, "To death with the false prophet!" + +The section led by Ezekiel shouted, "Death by the cross!" and the other +sections took it up, "Pilate must let him be crucified!" + +Then said the leaders, "On the cross he shall atone for his crimes!" + +"We will not rest," cried the crowd, "until his sentence is +pronounced." The whole multitude was now moving rapidly toward the +judgment seat of Pilate. + +Caiaphas, who lorded it over the whole assemblage with look and +gesture, thus addressed them, "Hail to you, children of Israel! You +are indeed still true descendants of your father Abraham! Oh, rejoice +that you have escaped the nameless destruction which this deceiver +would bring upon you and your children!" + +"Only," said Annas, "by the untiring efforts of your fathers has this +nation escaped the abyss." + +Then cried the people, "Long live the council! Death to the Nazarene!" +and the priests and Pharisees cried out, "Curse him who does not vote +for his death!" + +The people responded, "We demand his death!" + +Then for some time there was nothing heard but a confused clamor, but +the voice of Caiaphas rang out notwithstanding, while the people +responded to his appeals. It sounded from afar in this wise: Caiaphas: +"Let him be cast out from the heritage of our fathers," and all the +people cried, "Let him be cast out." + +Caiaphas said, "The governor will give you the choice between this +blasphemer and Barabbas. Let us insist upon the release of Barabbas." + +Then the people cried, "Let Barabbas go free, and down with the +Nazarene." + +Then said Annas, "Let the fathers be praised who have heard our wishes." + +Then all cried out, "Pilate must consent, the whole nation demands it +of him." + +Caiaphas walked backward and forward with excited mien, but proud and +triumphant step, and said, "Oh, most glorious day of the people of +Israel. Children, be steadfast!" + +The priests and Pharisees: "This day brings back honor to the +synagogue and freedom to the people." + +"Now," said Caiaphas, as they approached the house of Pilate, "let us +demand the sentence with uproar and threaten him with universal revolt!" + +Then cried the whole multitude tumultuously, "We demand the blood of +our enemy!" + +So loud was the cry, so savage the emphasis, that two servants of +Pilate started out of the house and looking down on the turbulent +throng cried out, "Uproar! Insurrection!" + +And the people answered, "The Nazarene shall die!" + +Caiaphas, hastening hither and thither in the crowd to excite them to +still further violence, said, "Show courage. Stand out undismayed. A +righteous cause defends us." + +Then the people called out clamorously; "Pilate--pronounce the sentence +of death!" + +Pilate's servant from the balcony said, "Silence! be quiet!" but the +crowd shouted at him louder than before, "No, we will not be quiet +until Pilate consents." + +Then said the servant, "Pilate will come out immediately." + +Then cried all once more, "We demand the death of the Nazarene." + +And Caiaphas, listening to the shouts of the people, said to the +priests, "Now let Pilate, as he wished, learn the opinion of the +people." + +Then came Pilate with his followers out upon the balcony, and with them +came Jesus, led by two soldiers, with the crown of thorns upon his head +and the scarlet robe about him. The crowd instead of shouting, "Hail, +all hail," as before, shouted violently, "Give judgment! Pass sentence +upon him!" + +Then Pilate spoke, pointing to Jesus, who, with bound hands and the +scarlet robe upon his bleeding shoulders, stood between the soldiers, +"Behold the man!" + +The priests and Pharisees answered, "To the cross with him." + +Pilate pleaded, "Cannot even this pitiful sight awake any compassion in +your hearts?" + +But the multitude answered, "Let him die! To the cross with him!" + +Then Pilate said, "Take him and crucify him at your own risk--I will +have nothing to do with it, for I find no fault in him." + +Then Caiaphas said with a loud voice, "Hear, O governor, the voice of +the people. It concurs in our complaint and demands his death." + +"Yes," shouted the crowd again, "we demand his death." + +Then said Pilate to his soldiers, "Lead him down and let Barabbas be +brought out of prison. The jailer must at once deliver him up to the +chief lictor." + +When Annas heard Pilate's commands he cried, "Let Barabbas live. +Pronounce the death sentence on the Nazarene!" + +Then the people cried, "To death with the Nazarene!" + +Then said Pilate, "I do not understand this, people. Only a few days +ago with rejoicing and joyful clamor you accompanied this man through +the streets of Jerusalem. Is it possible that the same people this day +call for death and destruction upon him? That is indeed contemptible +fickleness." + +"The good people," said Caiaphas, "have at last learned that they have +been deceived by an adventurer who pretended to be the Messiah, the +king of Israel!" + +"And now," said Nathanael, "the eyes of this people are fully opened, +and they see that he cannot help himself--he who promised to bring +freedom and blessing to the nation." + +"Israel," said Ezekiel, "will recognize no Messiah who allows himself +to be taken and bound and treated with scorn." + +"Let him die, the false Messiah, the deceiver," cried the crowd. + +Then Pilate spoke unto the people and said: "Men of Judea, it is +customary that I liberate to you a prisoner at the feast. Look upon +these two. One with mild countenance and dignified demeanor, the ideal +of a wise teacher, whom you have long honored as such, convicted of no +single evil deed and already humiliated by the severest chastisement. +The other, a vicious, savage man, convicted of robbery and murder, a +horrible image of a perfect scoundrel. I appeal to your reason, to +your human feelings--choose! Which will ye that I shall release unto +you, Barabbas or Jesus, who is called the Christ?" + +Then the priests and people cried out together, "Let Barabbas go free." + +"Will ye not that I release unto you the king of the Jews?" asked +Pilate. + +Then the priests and people cried, "Away with him, release unto us, +Barabbas." + +Then said Caiaphas, "Thou hast promised to release him whom the people +demand." + +Pilate answered shortly to Caiaphas, "I am accustomed to keep my +promise without needing a reminder." Then said he to the people, "What +shall I do with the king of the Jews?" + +And the priests and the people cried, "Crucify him!" + +"What," said Pilate, "shall I crucify your king?" + +And the people cried, "We have no king but Caesar." + +Pilate said, "I cannot condemn this man, for I find no fault in him. +He has been sufficiently chastised; I will let him go free." + +Then said the priests, "If thou let him go free thou art no friend of +Caesar's." + +Caiaphas added, "He has proclaimed himself king"; and the priests said, +"Who proclaims himself king is a rebel against Caesar." + +And Nathanael said, "And is this rebel still to remain unpunished, +still to scatter abroad the seed of revolt?" + +Then cried the people, "It is the duty of the governor to put him out +of the way." + +Caiaphas seeing that Pilate answered not, pressed more vehemently upon +him, saying, "We have done our duty as subjects of Caesar and delivered +this rebel to thee. If thou payest no attention to our accusation and +the desire of the people, then are we free from guilt. Thou alone, O +Governor, art responsible to Caesar for the consequences." + +And Annas said, "If on account of this man universal disorder and +revolt ensues, then we know who must bear this guilt, and," he added +significantly, "Caesar shall know it also." + +Then cried the people again, "The matter must be brought before Caesar." + +Then Ezekiel said to Pilate, "They will be astonished when they hear at +Rome that Caesar's viceroy has taken under his protection a traitor +whose death the whole people desired." + +And the crowd cried, "Thou must execute him, or otherwise there would +be no peace in the land." + +Then said Pilate, "Why, what evil hath he done? I cannot, I dare not, +condemn the innocent to death." + +Then said Caiaphas, "Permit me to ask one question. Why shouldst thou +judge this man so carefully when quite recently thou hast allowed thy +soldiers to massacre hundreds without judgment or sentence, merely on +account of some rebellious outcries?" + +As Pilate heard the question of Caiaphas he was dismayed, and the crowd +shouted: "Thou canst not show favor to this man; if thou wilt be a +faithful servant to Caesar." + +Then Pilate's resolution forsook him, and turning to his servants he +said, "Bring water." + +Caiaphas said unto him, "The people will not go away from this place +until thou hast pronounced sentence of death upon the enemy of Caesar." + +"Yes," cried the multitude, "we will not go from this place until +sentence is pronounced." + +Then said Pilate sorrowfully, "Your violence compels me to yield to +your desire. Take him hence and crucify him. But see," said he as he +washed his hands in the basin which had been brought at his command. +"I wash my hands; I am innocent of the blood of this just man. See ye +to it." + +Then arose from the excited multitude a great and awful cry, in which +priests and people joined, speaking as with one voice, "We take it upon +ourselves! His blood be upon us and upon our children!" + +Then said Pilate, "Let Barabbas be set free at the demand of the +people. Lead him outside the city gate and let him never tread this +ground again." The soldiers then led Barabbas away. + +The priests and people cried: "Now hast thou justly judged." + +Pilate said unto them, "I have given way to your violent demands in +order to avoid a great evil. But in the blood-guiltiness I will have +no share. Let it fall upon you and your children as you have so loudly +cried." + +Then again the priests and people cried, "It is good; let it fall upon +us and upon our children." + +Annas said, "We and our children will bless this day and with thankful +joy cry, 'Health and wealth to the governor!'" + +"Long live our governor," cried the crowd. "Long live Pontius Pilate!" + +Then said Pilate, "Bring hither the two murderers who are kept in gaol. +Let the chief lictor give them over without delay to the guard. They +have deserved death much more than the accused." + +But the priests and people cried, "He has deserved death more than any." + +Pilate said, "The sentence of death must be written out and will be +read publicly before all the people." + +The scribe began to write, and as he wrote, from the street were heard +the voices of the soldiers who were bringing the thieves, driving them +forward: "Will you not move on, you wretches? Have you not long ago +deserved your fate? Thrust them on, these outcasts of mankind." When +the thieves driven by the soldiers came to the foot of the balcony they +were halted on the other side of the steps to that where Jesus stood. + +Then said the rabbi, pointing to the thieves, "That is worthy company +for the false Messiah on his last journey." + +Pilate said to the thieves, "Of you and your misdeeds the earth shall +today be free. You shall die upon the cross. Let the sentence of +death be now read." + +Then the scribe stood forward and read thus: "I, Pontius Pilate, +viceroy in Judea of the mighty Caesar Claudius Tiberius, pronounce at +the desire of the high priests and the Sanhedrin and the people of the +Jews, the sentence of death upon a certain Jesus of Nazareth, who is +accused of having stirred up the people to revolt, of having forbidden +to pay tribute to Caesar, and of having proclaimed himself king of the +Jews. The same shall be crucified outside the city between two +malefactors who have been likewise condemned to death for many +robberies and murders, and be brought from life to death. Given at +Jerusalem on the eve of the Passover." + +When the scribe had read the sentence Pilate broke a staff, flung it +among the people, saying in tones of great bitterness, "Now take him +hence and crucify him!" and went rapidly into the house, leaving Jesus +in the hands of the Jews. + +"Triumph!" cried Caiaphas in wild exultation. "The victory is ours! +The enemy of the synagogue is destroyed!" + +The priests and people shouted, "Away with him to Golgotha! Long live +the synagogue! Long live the nation!" + +Then said Annas, "Hasten, that we may come home in time to eat the +Passover." + +The priests and Pharisees said, "We will keep this Passover with joy, +as did our fathers in Egypt." + +"Now," said Caiaphas, "let our triumphal procession go through the +midst of Jerusalem." + +"Where," asked the rabbi, "are his disciples? They are invited to cry +Hosanna!" + +Then rushed the multitude away, crying, "Up and away off to Golgotha! +Come and see him perish on the cross! O delightful day, the enemy of +Moses is overthrown! Ha! now he has his reward! So be it done to +everyone who despises the law! He deserves the death on the cross! O +happy Passover! Now joy will return to Israel! There is an end of the +Galilean!" And so crying, with wild and savage clamor, they swept back +to the street of the Sanhedrin. + +[Transcriber's note: A line seems to be missing from the book at this +point. All that appears is a blank line followed by the single word:] +"me?" + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE CRUCIFIXION. + + Ye pious souls rise up and go, + With grateful penitence aglow + With me to Golgotha, and see + What shall be done your souls to free + See how the Mediator dies + The atoning death of sacrifice. + + O, who can know the love that lives + In this heart now laid bare, + That kindness back for hatred gives + And saves us from despair? + Offer this love of His + Your heart's best impulses, + His cross before, + For evermore. + + +Thus they took Jesus and led him away, and a great multitude followed +him. And when Jesus, bearing the cross, with the thieves also bearing +their cross, was entering the street of Annas, Mary, the mother of +Jesus, with Mary Magdalene and John and Joseph of Arimathea, came down +the street by Pilate's house. + +And Mary said to John, "O beloved disciple, how will it have gone with +Jesus since thou didst last see him in the house of Caiaphas?" + +Then answered John, "If the priests could do as they wish, then sure +enough he would be already among the dead. But they could not carry +out the sentence without permission of the governor. But Pilate, I +hope, will not condemn him, as he has never done anything bad, but only +what is good." + +Then prayed Mary Magdalene, "O Almighty God, incline the ruler's heart +to justice, that he may protect the innocent against the wiles of the +wicked." + +Then said Mary, the mother of Jesus, "Whither shall we go, O friends, +oh, whither, that I may but once more see my beloved son? I must see +him, but where can I find him? Perhaps, O perhaps, he lies buried in +the deepest dungeon." + +Mary Magdalene said, "Alas! the most loving of teachers in prison!" + +Joseph answered, "There is one to be seen from whom we can inquire." + +John said, "The best thing will be to go to Nicodemus; he surely knows +what is happening to our dear Master." + +"Yes, let us go," said Mary. "Every moment increases my grief in this +uncertainty about the fate of my son." + +"Be strong in faith, dear mother," said John. "Whatever happens it is +God's will." Suddenly a horrible noise of confused voices and tramping +feet was heard in the distance. From the tumult could be heard the +words: "On, on with him!" Mary started and they all stood listening +while the noise came nearer and nearer. + +"What terrible noise is that?" said Joseph. Then stood they all still +listening to hear what it might signify. + +Salome said, "As if of a thousand voices. What can it be?" + +As they listened the procession to Golgotha was already half way down +the street of Annas. In front marched the centurion holding in one +hand the staff of authority, followed by Jesus, staggering painfully +under the burden of his cross. Around Jesus stood four executioners +who brutally goaded him forward. Behind Jesus came the thieves, each +bearing his own cross. Behind them came soldiers carrying spears, in +the midst of whom on a white horse rode a horseman carrying the Roman +banner on which were the letters S. P. Q. R. By the side of the +soldiery walked Annas and Caiaphas followed by all the council of the +Sanhedrin. All around crowded a numerous multitude, whose shouts were +heard almost without intermission. "Let him die!" they cried, "and all +who hold with him." Jesus, who had already fallen under the cross, +walked slowly and with difficulty. + +One of the executioners said unto him, "Is the burden already too +heavy?" and the people shouted, "Drive him with violence, that we may +get to Golgotha." + +The second executioner cried, "Take care, or he will be down." + +The progress was so slow that not even the head of the procession could +be seen from where the two Marys and John were standing, wondering what +the noise might mean. + +Joseph said, "What shall we do? In this commotion we cannot venture +into the city." + +But Mary said, "What may this noise signify? Surely it does not +concern my son." + +As the noise waxed ever louder, Joseph said, "It seems as if an +insurrection had broken out." + +Then said John, "We had better stop here till the storm passes over." + +While they stood waiting and wondering Simon of Cyrene came hastily +into the street that lay between those of Pilate and Annas. He carried +a basket, and looking anxiously around him, said, "I must hasten in +order to get into the city. The eve of the feast is coming, and I have +only a short time left in which to make my purchases and get everything +ready, so that I may get home in time." Hardly had he said this than +he heard the sound of a great outcry, and amidst which he could only +distinguish the words, "Let him not rest! Urge him on with blows!" + +Said Simon, "I hear a tumult--an outcry of a crowd--what has happened +in the city? I will keep quiet a little--perhaps my ears have deceived +me." Jesus had fallen faint and had staggered against the house of +Ahasverus and was there endeavoring to support himself. + +The third executioner said to him roughly, "It is no use thy fainting. +Thou must keep on to Golgotha." + +Then Ahasverus came out of his house and said, "Be off from my house; +here is no place for resting." Simon, who was listening without being +able to see the cause of the commotion, said, "The noise waxes louder. +I must hasten to see what it is. What comes there? Ah, I cannot get +in here. I will wait and see what happens." + +Then, as the procession turned the corner of Annas' street, Joseph of +Arimathea, listening, said, "I think the crowd is coming out of the +city gates," and John, seeing the cross said, "It appears that someone +is being led out to Golgotha for execution." + +Mary, the mother of Jesus, saw him and cried out with a piercing wail, +"It is he. Oh God! it is my son." + +Jesus meanwhile staggered under the cross, but was forced forward by +the executioners grumbling as they did so, "He will drop on the road." + +[Illustration: "Jesus staggered under the cross."] + +The centurion, seeing that Jesus from sheer exhaustion had again +fallen, reached him a bottle, saying, "Here, strengthen thyself." +Jesus took it, but did not drink of it. + +Mary cried, weeping, "Ah, there, I see him led to death even as a +malefactor!" + +Then said John, as he tenderly supported her, "Mother, it is the hour +of which he has told us before. Such is the will of the Father." + +Then said the centurion to Jesus, "Wilt thou not drink? Then you must +go on!" + +Then one of the executioners shook him, saying, "Rouse thyself, lazy +king of the Jews!" + +Another of the executioners said, "Forward! Pull thyself together!" +The third said, "Do not act thus weakly; we must get on." + +Then Mary cried as she looked on the scene, "Oh where is any sorrow +like unto my sorrow?" + +The third executioner, seeing that all the efforts to compel Jesus to +move forward had failed, said, "He is too much exhausted; someone must +help him, otherwise--" + +Then the rabbi, seeing Simon of Cyrene, pointed him out, saying, "Here, +this stranger--" + +The Pharisees said, "Just seize him!" + +Then said the centurion, "Come hither, thou hast broad shoulders that +can carry something." + +Simon, protesting, said, "I must--" + +"Truly you must," said one of the executioners, "otherwise there will +be blows." + +Simon began again, "I do not know," but the centurion interrupted him, +saying, "You will find out soon enough--do not refuse." + +"Flog him if he refuses to go!" said the Pharisee. + +Simon struggled crying, "Indeed I am innocent; I have committed no +crime." + +"Silence!" said the centurion. + +Simon replied, "Only not by force like this," and then beholding Christ +he said, "What is this I see? This is the holy man from Nazareth." + +"Place thy shoulders here," said an executioner. + +Then said Simon, "For the love of thee I will carry it. O, could I +thereby make myself useful to thee." + +Christ, who stood exhausted on one side, looked upon Simon and said, +"God's blessing be upon thee and thine!" + +"Now, forward," said the centurion; "follow thou with the beam of the +cross!" + +The first priest advancing, said, "Thou canst come quickly enough now." + +The third executioner, seeing that Jesus still stood unable to move, +seized him by the neck and shook him saying, "See with what +consideration we treat thee; even the cross has been taken from thee." + +"Dost thou need anything else?" said another of the men. + +"Let him be," said the centurion. "We will now halt a little that he +may recover before we ascend the hill." + +While the procession halted Veronica and the women of Jerusalem +approached. Caiaphas meanwhile, chafing with vexation at the delay, +exclaimed, "What! Still another stoppage! When shall we come to +Calvary?" + +Veronica, coming up to Christ, kneeled before him, and offering him her +handkerchief, said, "O Lord, how is thy face covered with blood and +sweat. Wilt thou not wipe it off?" + +Jesus took the handkerchief and wiped his face and gave it back to her, +saying, "Compassionate soul, the Father will reward thee for this." + +Then spoke the women of Jerusalem, who drew near to the Lord with their +little ones, "Thou good teacher; never to be forgotten benefactor; +noblest friend of men, thus art thou rewarded. How we pity thee!" +Then they wept. + +Christ looking upon them in their tears said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, +weep not for me, but for yourselves and your children. For behold the +days are coming in which they shall say 'Blessed are the barren and the +wombs that never bare, and the paps that never gave suck.' Then shall +they call to the mountains, fall on us and to the hills, cover us. For +if they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in the +dry?" + +The women answered, "Alas, how will it be in the future for us and our +children?" + +By this time the patience of the centurion was exhausted, and he cried +out, "Clear out now, these womenfolk." + +The third executioner, pushing them roughly away, said, "What use are +your women's tears? Back!" While the other executioners cried as they +pushed Jesus forward, "On with thee to the hill of death!" + +The crowd took up the cry and said, "Quick; forward to Calvary!" + +"Are we really going forward again?" said the rabbi, and Nathanael +said, shrugging his shoulders, "The centurion is far too mild." + +"Do not spare him so much," said a priest. + +The long procession was once more in motion when there appeared a +servant from Pilate. The man cried, "Halt!" and the procession +stopped. "By command of the governor the centurion must appear before +him as quickly as possible and receive further orders." + +Caiaphas exclaimed, "What does this mean? What new orders are +required? The death sentence is pronounced and must be carried out +without delay." + +Then said the centurion bluntly, "No, this will not happen until I have +received the further orders of my lord." Then turning to the soldiers +he said, "Keep watch meanwhile and go with the condemned to Golgotha. +Then dismiss this man (Simon) and await my arrival." The centurion +then went with the servant to Pilate and the procession set forth again. + +The people cried wildly, "Up to Golgotha, to the cross with him. Hail +to Israel. The enemy is vanquished. We are free. Long live the +Sanhedrin." + +Jesus looked upon his mother as the procession passed the corner of +Annas' street, but spoke not. + +Then said John, when the dolorous procession had passed, "Mother, shall +we not go back to Bethany? Thou wilt not be able to bear the sight?" + +But Mary answered, "How can a mother leave her child in the last and +bitterest need?" + +Cleophas objected, "But evil might befall thee, if they recognized thee +as his mother." + +Mary replied, "I will suffer with him, bear scorn and shame with him; +die with him." + +"Only," said John, "if the strength of thy body does not give way." + +"Fear not," said Mary. "I have asked strength of God and he has heard +me. Let us go after them." + +All answered, "Best of mothers, we follow thee," and they slowly +followed the procession to Calvary. + + * * * * * * + +And when they reached Golgotha, which is by interpretation the place of +a skull, they crucified him there. But first they hanged the two +thieves on the crosses, the one on the left, the other on the right. +Their arms were tied over the cross at the wrists, and their feet were +tied with cord to the beam. But Jesus was nailed to the central cross +while it yet lay with the head slightly raised upon the ground. One +nail was driven through the palms of each hand, and one through the two +feet, which were placed the one above the other. Jesus lay silent +without moving. On his head was the crown of thorns, from which a +little blood trickled over his brow. His hands and his feet bled a +little, but the rest of his body was pale and colorless, a light cloth +only being cast around his loins. + +The centurion who had returned from Pilate, stood on the right of the +cross giving orders. The lictor, mounted on a white horse, stood near +the soldiers, who held on high the Roman standard with the letters S. +P. Q. R. Caiaphas, Annas and all the members of the Sanhedrin stood on +the left exulting. A great crowd of sightseers thronged the place. +Among them, coming from behind the centurion, were the holy women from +Bethany, with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John, and Joseph of +Arimathea and Nicodemus. + +Then said the executioners to the centurion, "We have finished with +these," pointing to the thieves, "Now must the king of Jews be exalted +upon his throne." + +Which, hearing, the priests cried angrily, "Not king! Deceiver, +traitor!" + +The centurion, who held in his hand a scroll or escutcheon, said, +"First, by command of the governor, this writing must be fastened to +the cross. Faustus," he added, turning to one of the hangmen named +Faustus, "make fast this title over the cross." Faustus took the +scroll from the centurion, and going to the cross, nailed it with one +hammer stroke over the head of Jesus, saying, "Ah, an escutcheon +displayed; this is right royal!" When this was done according to the +command of the governor, the centurion said to the executioners, "Now, +up with the cross! Not carelessly, but lay hold firmly." Then two +hangmen, taking the cross by the arms, lifted it up so that its foot +fell into the hole prepared for it. But as the cross bearing the body +of Jesus was heavy, the third hangman placed his back under it near to +the feet of Jesus, saying, "Come, now, all together," and so helping +raised it on high. The fourth then filled in the hole at the foot +saying when he finished, "All right, the cross stands firm." + +Then said the centurion, addressing the chief priests, "The execution +is accomplished." + +"Quite admirably so," said Caiaphas with a radiant face. "Thanks and +applause from us all!" "Yea, thanks, and applause from us all," echoed +the Pharisees, looking up at the cross. + +Caiaphas then declared, "This shall be a feast day forever." + +And the Pharisees said, "Yes, for all time to come it shall be kept +every year with grateful jubilation." + +"And now," said the aged Annas, "now gladly will I go down to my +fathers since I have lived to have the joy of seeing this wretch on the +cross." And as he gazed long as if exultingly drinking in the pleasure +of satisfied vengeance, he saw for the first time the writing on the +cross, but his old eyes could not decipher the words. Turning to +Caiaphas he said, "The superscription seems to be very short." Then +the Jews drew nearer to see what was written. The hangmen seated +themselves on the ground at the foot of the cross and looked up at +Jesus. + +Then the rabbi, reading the words written by Pilate exclaimed, "That is +an insult, an outrage upon the people and the Sanhedrin!" + +Caiaphas, hearing him, asked, "What is written?" + +Annas, who had also looked at the inscription, said, "The rabbi is +right. The Sanhedrin cannot allow this to pass." + +Then said the rabbi, "It is written, 'Jesus of Nazareth, king of the +Jews!'" + +Caiaphas as if incredulous, approached the cross and reading it +himself, started back with indignation. "Verily," he cried, "that is +an affront upon the honor of our nation." + +"Down with it at once," cried the priest. + +But Caiaphas said, "We dare not touch it ourselves, but do you two," +addressing the rabbi and Saras, "hasten at once to the governor to +demand from him, in the name of the Sanhedrin and the assembled people +that the superscription shall be altered. Say to him, 'Write not the +king of the Jews, but that he said, I am king of the Jews?'" + +"We are off at once," said the rabbi and Saras. + +"Stay," said Caiaphas, "also request from the governor that he may +order the bones of the crucified to be broken and their bodies taken +down from the cross before the eve of the Passover." + +When the rabbi and Saras departed on their mission, the hangmen, who +had been sitting at the foot of the cross, bethought themselves, and +the first, who was named Agrippa, standing up, said, "Now, comrades, +let us divide our share." Taking the mantle of Jesus, they seized each +one corner, and then pulling all together, rent it into four parts. +The coat remained. Agrippa held it up, "The mantle has made just four +pieces; shall we rip up the coat also? See, it is without seam." + +"No," said Faustus, who had fastened the superscription over the head +of Jesus, "it would be better to cast lots for it." + +"Look," said Agrippa, as he went to the foot of the cross and took up +the basket, "see, here are dice." Then the four hangmen, standing at +the feet of Jesus threw the dice, Agrippa threw them first, saying, "I +will try my luck first. Alas, that is too little," he added, as he +counted up the result of his throw, "I have lost." + +Catiline, the third hangman, as he rattled the dice in his hand, looked +up at Jesus and said, "Hi! you up there, if you can still work miracles +on the cross, give me good luck." The others shrugged their shoulders +and said, "What does he care about us?" Catiline's throw was not high. + +Then Nero said, "I ought to have had better luck," and throwing the +dice he counted fifteen. "Nearly enough; now, Faustus, it is your +turn." + +Faustus threw the dice, saying, "I ought to get it." They all bent +over to see the result. + +"Eighteen!" cried Catiline; "that is the best yet." + +Then said Agrippa, "Take it," handing him the mantle, "it is thine; +take it away." + +And Nero consoled himself by saying, "You are not to be envied." + +Faustus gathered up the coat, and folding it up put it away. + +By this time the rabbi and Saras returned from Pilate, and coming back +to Caiaphas they said, "Our mission was in vain. The governor would +not listen to us." + +Caiaphas indignantly asked, while the priests and Pharisees crowded +around, "Did he give you no answer at all?" + +"This only," said the rabbi. "What I have written I have written." + +"Intolerable," said Annas. + +Caiaphas also was much perturbed. But collecting himself he asked, +"What did he order about the breaking of the bones?" + +"About this matter he said he would give his orders to the centurion," +answered the rabbi. + +Then seeing that no more could be done, the Jews began to revile Jesus, +going up to the cross and wagging their heads and scoffing at him. +Josue, the priest, went up first and said, "So then it remains written, +king of the Jews. Behold, if thou art king of Israel, come down now +from the cross, that we may see and believe." And all the Jews laughed +together. + +Then said Eliezer, "Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it +again in three days, save thyself!" + +And Caiaphas said, "Ha! thou that savest others, thyself thou canst not +save." + +"Come down," cried one of the witnesses, "Art thou not the Son of God?" + +And Annas said, "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he will +have him." + +Then cried the hangmen, "What! Don't you hear? Show thy power, mighty +king of the Jews," and so the sport went on. + +Then Jesus, who all this time had hung motionless and silent, raised +slowly and with pain, his head, which had been bowed down, and said, +"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!" + +Hearing Jesus speak, the thief who was crucified on his left said unto +him, "Hearest thou? If thou be Christ save thyself and us." + +But the other thief who was crucified on the right, answered and said, +"Dost thou not fear God, seeing that thou art in the same condemnation? +And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but +this man hath done nothing amiss." Then turning to Jesus he said, +"Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom?" + +Then Jesus looked upon him and said, "Verily, I say unto thee, today +shalt thou be with me in Paradise." + +"Listen to that," said Caiaphas scornfully, "he speaks as if he had +power over the gates of Paradise." + +"What," said the rabbi. "Have not his pride and presumption deserted +him even as he hangs helpless on the cross?" And they were wroth with +Jesus. + +During all this time Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John had been +slowly approaching the cross, and now they stood immediately below +Jesus, Mary on the right, John on the left. Then Jesus beholding them, +said to Mary, "Mother, behold thy son." And slowly and with difficulty +turning his head to see John, Jesus added, "Son, behold thy mother." + +Then Mary cried in ecstacy of love and adoration, "Even in dying thou +carest still for thy mother." + +And John tenderly supporting Mary, but looking above to Jesus, +exclaimed, "Thy last request is sacred to me." + +And then to Mary he said, "Thou my mother, I thy son." + +Then Jesus in a hollow voice, cried hoarsely, "I thirst." + +The centurion hearing him said, "He thirsts and calls for drink." + +"Then," said Faustus, "I will reach him some at once." Then taking the +reed with the sponge, he filled it with vinegar and passed it to the +centurion, who, taking a small phial from his dress, poured hyssop on +the sponge. Faustus then reached the sponge up to the lips of Jesus. +But Jesus turned away his head and would not drink. "Here, drink," +said Faustus. "What, wilt thou not?" and seeing that Jesus would not +touch the sponge he took it away. + +Then Jesus cried in agony, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!" + +But those hearing him did not understand, but imagined he cried for +Elias. + +"Hark!" said they. "He cried for Elias." + +Then Caiaphas laughed and said, "Let be; let us see whether Elias will +come to save him." + +Then Jesus raising his head with a great effort to heaven, and +breathing heavily cried with a loud voice and said, "It is finished. +Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!" And as Jesus spoke these +words his head fell forward on his breast and he gave up the ghost. +Then suddenly the earth rocked and shook violently--thunder +pealed--fierce lightnings flashed--darkness fell like a pall over the +scene--the people stood trembling with fear. + +[Illustration: "It is finished."] + +The priests and the people cried out in terror, saying: "What a +dreadful earthquake! Do you hear the crash of falling rocks? Woe, woe +be to us!" + +But the centurion said, "Certainly, this was a righteous man." + +Another soldier replied, "God himself bears witness by these +convulsions of nature." + +The centurion said, "Oh, his patience in the worst agony, his noble +calm, this last loud cry to heaven at the moment before death, all +betoken his divine origin. Verily, he is a Son of God!" + +"Come neighbors," said Oziel, "I will remain no longer in this terrible +place." + +"Yes," cried Helen, "let us go home and may God have mercy on us." + +And others smiting their breasts cried, "Almighty God, we have sinned! +Forgive us." + +And so it came to pass that no one remained round the cross but the +holy women and John, and the friends of Jesus with the hangmen. + +The chief priests and the rulers still stood together marveling near +the cross of the repentant thief, when suddenly a temple servant came +rushing into their midst, breathless with haste. + +"High priests and assembled council!" he exclaimed, "a fearful thing +has occurred in the holy place. I tremble in every limb." + +"What is it?" cried Caiaphas in alarm. "Not the temple?" + +"Has it fallen?" said Annas. + +"No," said the servant, "not that, but the veil of the temple has been +rent in twain from the top to the bottom. I hastened hither with +staggering feet, and feared the whole world was bursting asunder with +the shock!" + +"Dreadful!" exclaimed the priests and Pharisees, throwing up their +hands. + +But Caiaphas said, "It is that wretch who has done this by his magic +arts. What a blessing it is that he is out of the world! Otherwise he +would bring all the elements into disorder." + +Then all the priests and Pharisees raised up their voices and cried, +shaking their fists against Jesus, "Cursed be the ally of Beelzebub!" + +"Now," said Caiaphas, "let us hurry home and see what has happened; +then we will come back at once. For I cannot rest until I have seen +this fellow's bones broken and the corpse flung into the grave of the +transgressors." + +When Caiaphas and Annas and all the rulers of the Jews had departed, +Nicodemus said to Joseph of Arimathea, having overheard the parting +word-of Caiaphas, "Shall the holy body of the Son of God be delivered +over to such dishonor as to be flung into the grave of the evil-doers?" + +"Listen, friends," said Joseph, "what I have decided to do. I will go +straightway to Pilate, and will implore him to give me the body of +Jesus. He can hardly refuse me this favor." + +"Do so, by all means," said Nicodemus. "Hasten hither, and I will +bring the spices for him." They having departed, the holy women +tremblingly drew round the cross. + +"Fear not, good women," said the centurion, "no harm shall happen to +you." + +Then Mary Magdalene clasped the cross with both her arms, pressed it to +her breast and cried through her tears as she looked up at the silent +and lifeless form above, "O dearest Master, my heart hangs with thee on +the cross!" + +Then entered a servant of Pilate, and addressing the centurion, said +unto him, "This is the command of my lord: Break the legs of the +crucified and take down their bodies. Everything must be over before +the eve of the Passover begins." + +The centurion said: "It shall be done at once. Men, first break the +legs of these two." + +Catiline said, "Come, let us put this business through without more +delay." Then all the hangmen took ladders and placed them against the +crosses of the thieves. Catiline, seizing a strong club, then mounted +the ladder against the cross on the right hand. + +"Strike," said Faustus, "so as to kill him." Then Catiline smote the +penitent thief heavily over each of the thighs and then across the +shoulder bone. As the blow fell the man's head fell forward and he +gave up the ghost. + +"There," said Catiline, "he wakes no more." + +In like manner did Nero to the thief on the left hand, saying, "I will +hasten the other out of the world." + +When the blows were falling upon the body of the thief, Mary, the +mother of Jesus, who had watched with terror the blows of the hangman, +cried out, shuddering, "O my Son, they will surely not deal so cruelly +with thy holy body!" + +Nero called out to the thief, "Movest thou no more? No, thou hast had +enough. I have given thee thy wages." Then coming down from the +ladder they made ready to break the legs of Jesus. + +But as the hangman approached the foot of the cross with the ladder and +the club, Mary Magdalene sprang before him, and thrusting him back with +her slender arm, cried piteously, "Oh, spare him, spare him!" + +Then Catiline looking up at Jesus said, "Behold, he is already dead. +There is no need therefore to break his legs." + +"But," said Faustus, "in order to make sure, I will pierce his heart +with a spear." Then grasping a lance he thrust it into the right side +of Jesus, and forthwith there spurted out blood and water. John, who +was looking up at the holy women, shuddered as the spear entered the +side of Jesus. + +Mary Magdalene turning to Mary said, "Oh, mother, that thrust hast +pierced thy own heart also." + +Then said the centurion, "Now, take down the bodies from the cross." + +"Where," said one of the hangmen, "shall we put them?" + +The centurion replied, "As ordered, into the grave of the malefactor." + +Then said Mary, with a terrible sob: "What a word; it pierces my heart +anew." + +"Ladders here," said the hangmen, "we shall soon have them down." Then +the hangmen unfastened the cords which bound the thieves to their +crosses, and mounting the ladder received their bodies in their arms +and bore them away. + +While they were busy Mary Magdalene went out to the centurion and said +to him: "May we not even pay the last honors to our friend?" + +"Alas," said the centurion, "it is not within my power to permit this." + +Then came back Caiaphas and Annas and all the rulers of the Sanhedrin +from the temple to Golgotha. Caiaphas, speaking as they approached, +said, "It will be all the more delightful to see the body of this +evil-doer cast into the pit of shame, because we have witnessed the +destruction he has brought to pass within the temple." + +Annas answered, "What joy it would be if my eyes could see him torn +limb from limb by wild beasts." + +"Ha," said Caiaphas, as they saw the hangman bearing off the bodies of +the thieves, "they are already being taken down. Now we shall soon see +our ardent desires fulfilled." + +Hardly had Caiaphas and the priests approached the cross when from the +other side there came Joseph of Arimathea and with him a servant of +Pilate. The servant said to the centurion, "The governor has sent me +to inquire of thee whether it can really be true that Jesus of Nazareth +is already dead as this man has informed me." + +"It is so, indeed," replied the centurion, pointing to the cross. +"Look for yourself. Besides, for a complete certainty, his heart has +been thrust through with a lance." + +Then said the servant, "I have orders to inform you that the body is to +be delivered over to this man as a gift from Pilate." And having said +this he departed. + +"Oh, blessed tidings!" cried the holy women still gathered together +around the foot of the cross. + +But the Jews hearing the message, waxed furious and the rabbi, speaking +of Jesus, said to the other priests and rulers, "The traitor of the +synagogue, he has fooled us again." + +"And spoiled our triumph," said Annas. + +But Caiaphas would not submit and said haughtily, "We shall not +tolerate it that his body be laid anywhere else than in the grave of +the transgressors." + +The centurion replied, "As the body is given to this man, it is obvious +that he can bury it where and how he will. There is no disputing that." + +Then he said to the soldiers and executioners, "Men, our work is done. +We will return." + +Then the hangmen gathered up their basket and their cord, their dice +and the fragments of Christ's mantle and departed. With them went the +centurion and his band, leaving Caiaphas and the Jews face to face with +the holy women and their friends at the foot of the cross. The Jews +were exceedingly wroth and raged amongst themselves at the centurion. + +Annas cried out to Joseph of Arimathea, "Dost thou still persist in thy +headstrong obstinacy? Art thou not ashamed to do honor to the very +corpse of an executed malefactor?" + +Joseph replied, "I indeed honor this noblest of men, the teacher sent +from God, whom being innocent you have murdered." + +And Nicodemus added, "Envy and pride were the motives of his +condemnation. The judge himself was forced to bear witness to his +innocence, and swore he would have no part in his death." + +Then said Caiaphas furiously, "The curse of our law will destroy you, +ye enemies of our fathers." + +The rabbi said, "Do not excite thyself about them, O, high priest; they +are smitten with blindness." + +But Caiaphas, refusing to be silenced, cried, "Cursed are ye by the +holy council. Deprived of all your honors, never more shall ye dare to +take your seats in our midst." + +"Neither do we desire to do so," said Nicodemus. + +Then said Annas, "As the body is now in the hands of his friends, we +must be on our guard, for this deceiver, while he was yet alive said +that in three days he would rise again." + +The rabbi said, "They could easily practice a new deception on the +people and make fresh trouble for us. His disciples might take his +body away secretly and then give out that he had risen from the dead." + +"In that case," said Caiaphas, "the last error would be worse than the +first. Let us therefore go at once to Pilate and ask him for a guard +of soldiers to keep watch over the grave until the third day." + +"A prudent thought," cried Annas, and the rabbi added, "Thus their +schemes will be foiled." Then they departed to go to Pilate. + +His enemies having left his friends alone around the cross, Nicodemus +and Joseph set about taking down the body of Jesus. Bringing the +ladders Joseph mounted on the shorter one that was placed in front, +while Nicodemus ascended the longer one behind. Joseph had with him a +roll of linen so long that after putting it around the body of Jesus, +the ends hanging over the cross reached to the ground, where they were +held by Simon of Bethany and Lazarus. Then, after taking off the crown +of thorns Nicodemus took the pincers and began to pull out the nails +from the hands of Jesus and bent the stiffening arms lovingly away from +the cross. While they were thus engaged the Magdalen and Mary talked +together. "At last," said Mary Magdalene, "the madmen have departed. +Be comforted, beloved mother, now we are alone with our friends; the +mockery and blasphemy are past and a holy evening stillness surrounds +us." + +Mary said, "O, my friends! What my Jesus suffered this mother's heart +suffered with him. Now he has finished his work and entered into the +rest of his Father. Peace also and trust from Heaven fills my soul." + +Mary Magdalene comforted her, saying, "He is not taken from us forever; +that he promised." + +"O, noble men," said Mary to Joseph and Nicodemus, "make haste and +bring me the body of my beloved son." + +The Magdalene said, "Mother, wilt thou not rest a little here, while we +prepare his resting place?" Then seating herself on a stone a little +to the right of the cross, Mary waited while her friends made ready to +receive the body of Jesus. + +"Come, my companions," said Salome, "and help me to prepare the winding +sheet to receive the body." They spread the linen on the ground at +Mary's feet, placing one end upon her lap. + +By this time Nicodemus had extracted the second nail which was in his +left hand, and Joseph had taken the nail from the feet of Jesus. Then +Simon and Lazarus, holding the ends of the linen roll, slowly lowered +the body into the arms of Joseph of Arimathea. + +"O, come," said Joseph, "thou sweet and holy burden; let me take thee +upon my shoulders." Then with the body of Jesus resting upon his +shoulders Joseph began to descend the ladder. + +Nicodemus had already come down and awaited him at the foot of the +cross. Spreading out his arms to receive the body of Jesus, he said, +"Come thou holy body of my only friend, let me embrace thee." Then +they carried the body of Jesus and placed it on the linen winding sheet +that was prepared for it on his mother's lap. Nicodemus, looking at +his wounds sighed, "How the rage of thy enemies hath torn thy flesh." + +"Now," said John, "the best of sons rests once more on the bosom of the +best of mothers." + +Mary looked down upon the pale, blood-spotted face of Jesus, and then +sighing heavily she said, "O, my Son, how is thy body covered with +wounds!" + +"Mother," said John, "from these wounds flowed salvation and blessing +for mankind." + +"See, mother," said the Magdalene, who stood on her right hand, "how +the peace of heaven rests in death upon his face." + +Then said Nicodemus who had brought some ointment, "Let us anoint him +and then wrap him in this new linen." He then poured the ointment into +all the wounds on the body of Jesus. + +"He shall be laid," said Joseph of Arimathea, "in my new grave which I +have prepared in the rock in my garden." + +But before they could wrap him in the winding sheets, Salome came near, +and kneeling, raised to her lips the pierced left hand of Jesus saying, +"O, best of Masters! One more loving tear upon thy lifeless body." + +Then came the Magdalene on the right hand, and kneeling down, stooped +low and kissed the right hand, saying, "O, let me once more kiss the +hand which has so often blessed me." + +Then said John, "We shall see him again." + +"Help me," said Joseph to Nicodemus, "to bear him into the garden." + +"Blessed am I," said Nicodemus, "that I may lay to rest the remains of +him who was sent from God." Then taking up the body they bore it away. + +Then said John to Mary and the other woman, "Let us follow the dear, +the divine friend." + +"It is the last honor," said Mary, "that I can do my Jesus." + + * * * * * * + +On the morning of the third day since Jesus had been crucified, before +the sun had arisen, the four soldiers who were appointed to watch the +grave sat outside the tomb where the body of Jesus had been laid. One +of them awaking, cried, "Brothers, is not the night nearly over?" Then +said Titus, "The sky is already reddening in the east; a beautiful +spring day is beginning to dawn." + +Hardly had he said these words when there was a great earthquake. +Pedius springing up exclaimed, "Immortal Gods! What a fearful shock!" +"The earth is splitting," cried Rufus. Then there was a peal of +thunder. Titus called out, "Away from the rock; it is tottering; it is +falling!" and the stone which had been rolled up into the mouth of the +sepulcher fell down with a crash. + +Jesus arose. For a moment he appeared at the mouth of the sepulchre, +radiant in white apparel, while the watch fell on their faces to the +ground crying out, "Ye gods, what do we see? A fire from heaven is +blinding our eyes!" + +Jesus then passed out through the door of the sepulchre and went down +into the garden and out of sight. + +After awhile the soldiers, who were lying prostrate on the ground said +to each other, "Brother, what has happened to us?" Then said one of +the soldiers, "I will not stop here another moment." + +But Titus looking up said, "The apparition is vanished," and grasping +his spear he rose to his feet saying, "Brothers, take heart; we have +nothing to fear, as we have done no wrong." They then stood up and saw +the open door of the sepulchre from which the stone had fallen. Then +said Titus, "The stone is rolled away from the grave. The grave is +open." + +"Yes," said another, "and the garden door is bolted." Then they went +with fear and trembling to the door of the sepulchre, and one looking +in, said, "I do not see the corpse." + +Then another going farther inside said, "Here is the linen cloth lying +in which the body was wrapped. He has gone out of the grave." + +Titus said, "He must have risen again, as no one came into the garden." + +Then said the third soldier, "It has happened thus as the priests +feared." + +And Titus answered, "He has fulfilled his word!" "Now, what shall we +do?" said the soldiers. + +"There is nothing else to be done," said one, "excepting to hasten to +the Pharisees and tell them what has happened." + +All replied at once, "That we will," and they hastened away. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +CONCLUSION. + +I.--THE STORY THAT TRANSFORMED THE WORLD + +Written by Mr. Stead at Ober-Ammergau the night after witnessing the +performance of the Passion Play. + +This is the story that transformed the world! + +This is the story that transformed the world! + +Yes, and will yet transform it! + +Yes, thank God, so the answer comes; and will yet transform it until +the kingdom comes! + +This is the story that transformed the world. I awoke shortly after +midnight, after seeing the Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau, with these +words floating backward and forward in my head like a peal of bells +from some distant spire. Backward and forward they went and came, and +came and went. + +This is the story that transformed the world! + +This is the story that transformed the world. And then in the midst of +the reiterated monotone of this insistent message came the glad +response from I know not where, "Yes, and will yet transform it!" And +then the two met and mingled, strophe and anti-strophe, one answering +the other, "This is the story that transformed the world. Yes, and +will yet transform the world!" + +[Illustration: He is risen.] + +I tried to sleep, but could not. It was as if church bells were +pealing their sweet but imperious music within my brain. So I got up +and wrote. + +All is silent save the ticking of the watch by my bedside; silent as +the stars which gleam down from the blue sky above the cross-crowned +crag, which stands like some giant sentinel keeping watch over the +village, at its foot. Herod, our host, sleeps soundly, and Johannes, +wearied by his double service of waiter at the hotel and his role in +the sacred play, is oblivious of all. The crowded thousands who +watched for hours yesterday the unfolding of the passion of Christ +Jesus of Galilee have disappeared, and I am alone. + +But not alone. For as real and as vivid as that same crowd of +yesterday seem to me the thronging memories of other days, of the +centuries that rise between the time when Jesus really lived on earth, +and today. Nineteen hundred years have gone since all that we saw +represented yesterday was no mere mimic show but deadly tragic fact; +nineteen hundred years during which the shaping power of the world has +been that story. The old, old, story never before so vividly realized +in all its human significance and its Divine import. + +Its human significance, for thank God, we have at last seen Jesus as a +man among men, a human being with no halo round his brow, no radiance +not of this world marking him off apart from the rest of his +fellow-men, but simply Jesus, the Galilean, gibbeted on the gallows of +his time, side by side with the scum of mankind. + +And it was this story that transformed the world. "Thou hast +conquered, O pale Galilean!" Over how many tribes and nations and +kindreds of men? + +Oh, the wonder of it all, the miracle of miracles surely is this. That +this story should have transformed the world. For after all, what was +the passion? Looked at as we looked at it yesterday, not from the +standpoint of those who see the sacred story through the vista of +centuries that have risen in splendor and set in the glory of the +cross, but from the standpoint which the actors on the stage assumed +yesterday, what was the passion? It was merely a passing episode in +the unceasing martyrdom of man. Think you that of the thirty thousand +Jews whom the humane Titus by a mere stroke of his stylus condemned to +be crucified round the walls of Jerusalem forty years after that scene +on Calvary, none suffered like this! For them, also, was reared the +horrid cross, nor were they spared the mockings and the scourgings, the +cruel thirst, and the slow-drawn agony of days of death. And among all +that unnamed multitude how few were there but had some distracted +mother to mourn for him, some agonized mother to swoon at the news of +his death? Jews they were, as was he. Hero souls, no doubt faithful +unto death, and now, let us hope, wearing a crown of life; patriots who +knew how to die in the service of the land which their fathers had +received from God, and of the temple in which was preserved his holy +law. But their self-sacrifice availed not even to save their names +from oblivion. Their martyrdom was as powerless to avert the doom of +the chosen people as the bursting of the foam-flakes on the sand is to +arrest the rush of the returning tide. + +Why, then, should the death of one Jew have transformed the world, +while the death of these uncounted thousands failed even to save the +synagogue? + +Why? That is the question that the Passion Play forces home--a +question which never even comes to the mind of those who are accustomed +from childhood to regard this Jew as mysteriously Divine, not so much +man as God, cut off from us and our daily littleness by the +immeasurable abyss that yawns between the finite and the infinite. +This greatest of all the miracles, the coming of Christendom into +being, has become so much a matter of course that we marvel as little +at it as we do at the sunrise--which also in its way is a wonder worthy +enough. Think for a moment of the many myriads of fierce heathen, +worshipping all manner of proud ancestral gods, that have gone down +before the might of that pale form. Civilizations and empires have +gone down into the void; darkness covers them over and oblivion is fast +erasing the very inscriptions which history has traced on their tombs. +But the kingdom which this man founded knoweth no end. The voice that +echoed from the hills of Galilee is echoing today from hills the Romans +never trod, and the story of that life is rendered in tongues unknown +at Pentecost. The more you look at it from the standpoint of the +contemporaries of the carpenter of Nazareth the more incredibly +marvelous it appears. + +And this is the great gain of the Passion Play. It takes us clear back +across the ages to the standpoint of those who saw Jesus, the Galilean, +as merely a man among men. It compels us to see him without the +aureole of Divinity, as he appeared to those who knew him from his +boyhood, and who said, "Are not his brethren still with us?" It is +true that it is still not real enough. The dresses are too +beautiful--everything is conventional. We have here not the real +Christ, the Jew, the outcast and the vagabond. For him we must wait +till Vereschagin or some other realist painter may bring us reality. +But even behind all the despisers of conventional Christian art, we +have at least a sufficiently human figure to elicit sympathy, +compassion and love. We get near enough to Christ to hear the blows +that fall upon his face, to appreciate the superior respectability of +the high priests, and to understand the contempt of Herod for the "king +of fools." Not until we start low enough do we understand the heights +to which the crucified has risen. It is only after realizing the +depths of his humiliation we can even begin to understand the miracle +of the transformation that he has wrought. + +Nor is that all. It is the greatest thing, but it does not stand +alone. For besides enabling us to realize the story which transformed +the world, it enables us to understand the agency by which that story +effected its beneficent revolution. + +I learned more of the inner secret of the Catholic church in +Ober-Ammergau than ever I learnt in Rome. Yet there is nothing +distinctively Roman about the Passion Play. With the exception of the +legend of St. Veronica with which Gabriel Maxs' picture has +familiarized every Protestant who looks into a photograph shop and sees +the strange face on the handkerchief, whose eyes reveal themselves +beneath your gaze, there is nothing from first to last to which the +Protestant Alliance could take exception. And yet it is all there. +There, condensed into eight hours or less, is the whole stock-in-trade +of the Christian church. It was in its effort to impress that story +upon the heart of man that there came into being all that is +distinctively Roman. To teach truth by symbols, to speak through the +eye as much as the ear, to leave no gate of approach unsummoned by the +bearer of the glad tidings of great joy, and above all in so doing to +use every human element of pathos, of tragedy, and of awe that can +touch the heart or impress the imagination--that was the mission of the +church; and as it got further and further afield and had to deal with +rude and ruder barbarians the tendency grew to print in still larger +capitals. The Catholic church, in short, did for religion what the new +journalism has done for the press. It has sensationalized in order to +get a hearing among the masses. + +Protestantism that confines its gaze solely to the sublime central +figure of the gospel story walks with averted face past the beautiful +group of the holy women. Because others have ignorantly worshiped, +therefore we must not even contemplate. But plant a competent +Protestant dramatic critic in the theater of Ober-Ammergau, let him +look with dry eyes if he can upon the leave-taking at Bethany, and then +as the universal sob rises from thousands of gazers, he will realize +perhaps for the first time how intense is the passion of sympathy which +they have sealed up, how powerful the emotion to which they are +forbidden to appeal. The most pathetic figure in the Passion Play is +not Christ, but his mother. There is in him also sublimity. She is +purely pathetic. And after Mary the mother comes Mary Magdalene. +Protestantism will have much leeway to make up before it can find any +influence so potent for softening the hearts and inspiring the +imagination of men. Even in spite of all the obloquy of centuries of +superstition, and of the consequent centuries of angry reaction against +this abuse, these two women stand out against the gloom of the past +radiant as the angels of God, and yet the true ideals of the womanhood +of the world. + +Yes, this was the story that transformed the world! This and no other. +This it was which to make visible, men carved it in stone and built it +in the cathedral, and then, lest even the light of heaven should come +to the eye of man without bearing with it the story of the cross, they +filled their church windows with stained glass, so that the sun should +not shine without throwing into brighter relief the leading features of +the wonder-working epoch of his life and death. Wherever you go in +Christendom you come upon endless reproductions of the scenes which +yesterday we saw presented with all the vividness of the drama. The +cross, the nails, the lance, have been built into the architecture of +the world, often by the descendants of the men who crucified their +Redeemer--not knowing what they did. For centuries art was but an +endless repetition in color or in stone of the scenes we witnessed +yesterday, or of incidents in lives which had been transformed by these +scenes. The more utterly we strip the story of the Passion of all +supernatural significance the more irresistibly comes back upon the +mind the overwhelming significance of the transformation which it has +affected in the world. + +Why?--I keep asking why? If there were no divine and therefore natural +law behind all that, why should that trivial incident, the crucifixion +of one among the unnumbered host of vagabonds executed every year in +the reign of Tiberius and the Caesars that followed him, how comes it +that we are here today? Why are railways built and special trains +organized and six thousand people gathered in curiosity or in awe to +see the representation of this simple tale? How comes it if there were +no dynamo at the other end of that long coil of centuries, that the +light should still be shining at our end today? Shining alas! not so +brightly as could be wished, but to shine at all, is that in itself not +miraculous? + +Through all the ages it has shone with varying luster. And still it +shines. The dawn of a new day as I write is breaking upon this +mountain valley. The cocks are crowing in the village, recalling the +apostle who in the midst of the threatening soldiery denied his Lord. +And even as Peter went out and wept bitterly, and ever after became the +stoutest and bravest disciple of the Master, may it not yet be with +those of this generation who also have denied their Redeemer? + +Who knows? The transformation would be far less startling than that +which converted the Coliseum from the shambles of imperial Rome into +the gigantic monument of triumphant martyrdom, far less violent than +that which made the German forbears of these good Ammergauers into +Christian folk. + +But if the transformation is to be effected, and the light and warmth +of a new day of faith, and hope, and love, are to irradiate the world, +then may it not be confidently asserted that in the old, old story of +the cross lies the secret of the only power which can save mankind? + + +II.--THE INTERPRETATION OF THE STORY. + +Wherein does it modify orthodox opinions? Chiefly in humanizing them, +in making the gospel story "palpitate with actuality" to quote the +French phrase which Matthew Arnold loved to use. These people on the +stage at Ober-Ammergau are not lay figures, mere abstract +representations of the virtues or the opposite. They live, breathe and +act just as if they were actors in a French or Russian novel. That is +the great difference. These poor players have brought our Lord to life +again. In their hands he is no mere influence of abstraction, no +infinite and almighty ruler of the universe. He may be and no doubt +every one of the Ober-Ammergauers would shrink with horror from the +suggestion that he was any other than the second person of the trinity. +But they have done more than repeat the Athanasian creed. They have +shown how it came to be believable. If that poor carpenter's son by +getting himself crucified as one part fool and three parts seditious +adventurer could revolutionize the world, then the inference seemed +irresistible that he must have been divine. If the illegitimate son of +a Bengalese peasant hanged by order of our lieutenant-governor in the +northwest provinces because of the mischief he was making among the +Moslems of Lahore were to establish his faith on the ruins of +Westminster Abbey, and install the successor of his leading disciple on +the throne of the British empire, we should not wonder at his +apotheosis. To do so much, with so little material, compels the +inference that there is the infinite behind. Nothing but a God could +control such a machine. It needed a fulcrum in eternity to make such a +change in the things of time with so weak a lever as the life of this +Galilean. + +But it is not only Christ himself who becomes real to us, but what is +almost as important, we see his contemporaries as they saw themselves, +or as he saw them. Caiaphas--who that has seen Burgomaster Lang in +that leading role can feel anything but admiration and sympathy for the +worthy chief of the Sanhedrin? He had everything on his side to +justify him. Law, respectability, patriotism, religious expediency, +common sense. Against him there was only this poor vagabond from +Nazareth--and the Invisible. But Caiaphas, like other men, does not +see the Invisible and he acts, according to his lights, as he was bound +to act. He is the great prototype of the domineering and intolerant +ecclesiastic all the world over. Since the crucifixion he has often +changed his clothes. But at heart he is the same. He has worn the +three-crowned hat of the successor of Peter; he has paraded in a +bishop's miter; he has often worn the gown and bands of Presbyterian +Geneva. Caiaphas is eternal. He produces himself in every church and +in every village, because there is a latent Caiaphas in every heart. + +Perhaps the character who comes out best is Pilate. He is a noble +Roman, whose impartiality and rectitude, coupled with an anxious desire +to take the line of least resistance and find out some practical middle +course, is worthy of that imperial race to whose vices, as well as to +many of their virtues, we English have succeeded. Pilate did his best +to save Jesus up to a point--beyond that point he did not go, and +according to the accepted ethics of men in his position, it would have +been madness to have gone. Why should he, Pontius Pilate, procurator +of Judea, risk his career and endanger the tranquillity of Jerusalem +merely to save a poor wretch like that Galilean? What Englishman who +has ever ruled a province in India, where religious ferment was rife, +who would not have felt tempted to act as Pilate acted--nay, would not +have acted as he acted without even the hesitation he showed, if the +life of some poor devil of a wandering fakir stood between him and the +peace of the empire? Would to God that British magistrates, even at +home in our own land, would give the despised and unpopular poor man +the same number of chances Pilate gave to Jesus. With Downing street +eager for the conviction of a socialist agitator, and the whole of +society and the mob savage against him, a man would be a fool who would +not appeal from Bow street or old Bailey to so just a judge as Pilate. +To the last Pilate never made himself the willing instrument of popular +frenzy. He argued against it, he denounced it, he resorted to every +subterfuge by which he could save the prisoner's life, and it was only +when the Sanhedrin threatened to denounce him to Caesar as an enemy of +the emperor that he unwillingly gave way. Here and there no doubt +there are among our latter day magistrates and judges fanatical +believers in abstract right, who would have risked the empire rather +than let a hair of Christ's head be touched; but the average English or +American magistrate--especially if the accused was "only a +nigger"--would shrug his shoulders at such Quixotism as folly and +worse. It is better, they would say, that one man should die, even +unjustly, than that everything should be upset. + +Another person who comes out better than might be expected is Judas. +The conception of his character is very fine and very human. Judas, as +the treasurer of the little band, naturally felt indignant at the +apparent wanton extravagance which led Mary Magdalene to pour ointment +worth 300 pence upon the head of her master. There is real human +nature and sound practical common sense in his reply to those who told +him not to worry about the money, when he retorted, "Who is there to +take care about it if I don't?" Judas never really from first to last +meditates betraying his master to death. The salves which he lays to +his conscience when consenting to identify Jesus at night are very +ingenious. Judas was a smart man who calculated he stood to win in any +event. He got the indispensable cash; all that he did was to indicate +what could perfectly well have been discovered without his aid; if +Jesus were what he believed him to be he could easily have baffled his +enemies; if he were not, well, then, he had deceived them. But the +moment Judas learns that he has really endangered his master's life, +his whole demeanor changes. He flings back the blood money at the feet +of those who had given it to him, and in the madness of despair he +hangs himself. So far from Judas being callous to Christ's fate, his +suicide was a proof that his penitence was far more agonizing than that +of Peter. + +Simon Peter also comes in for a share in the general rehabilitation. +It was impossible not to feel sympathy for the hasty old man, hustled +from side to side by a pack of violent soldiery. Knowing moreover that +he had cut off one of their ears but a few hours before, and that if +they recognized him his own ears would have been cropped, even if he +didn't share the fate of the crucified, his denial is so natural under +the circumstances that you cease to marvel that even the cock crow on +the roof failed to remind him of his master's warning. + +The Passion Play has at least done this--it sets us discussing the +conduct of Caiaphas and Pilate and Judas, as if they were our +contemporaries, as if they were statesmen at Westminster or at +Washington or administrators in India or Canada. And this, no doubt, +is no small service, for these men are types of human character who are +eternally re-embodied among us. + + +III.--THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE. + +The story of the Passion Play has ever been real to me in another than +a Catholic sense. It has been the perpetual re-incarnation of the +divine story in the history of our own times that has absorbed my +attention. These ancient figures on the stage of New Testament history +were but of importance in so far as they lived again in our own life. +Of their mystical theological significance I am, of course, not +speaking. This is a thing apart. But the perpetual re-incarnation of +God's Messiah in the great causes of justice, freedom and humanity, it +is that which has made the gospel story ever new to me. + +Leaving Ober-Ammergau I returned by Switzerland to London. At Lucerne +while waiting for the train, I turned over the book in the waiting-room +that describes the construction of the Gotthard railway. About one +thousand tons of dynamite, it is said, had sufficed to pierce the +tunnels through the mountain barrier that separated Italy from +Switzerland. Blasting powder could never have done the work. That +helped to level the military roads for the legions of Suwarrow. It +needed dynamite to tunnel the St. Gotthard--dynamite directed by +science--and as I read this I fell a-thinking. The old story, that +mediaeval Christ in magenta and pearl gray, with his disciples in +artistic symphonies of harmonious and contrasted color, no doubt +transformed the world. But a new world has arisen which sorely needs +transforming again, and is it not possible that the conventional +Christ, who no doubt did mighty things in the past, may have become as +obsolete as blasting powder. May we not hope that if the conventional +Christ did so much, the real Christ may do much more; that the +realization of the Christ as he actually lived and died among us may be +as much superior in its transforming efficacy as the dynamite of the +modern engineer is to the powder sack of the soldiers who marched under +old Suwarrow? Of one thing we may at least be certain, and that is, if +everyone of those who call themselves by the Christian name would but +say one Christ-like word, and do one Christ-like deed between every +sunrise and sunset, it would lift a very Alpine mass of sorrow and +anxiety from the weary heart of the world. What then might not be done +if in very truth, and with all sincerity, we, each of us, tried to be a +real Christ in his or her sphere, the sent of God in the midst of those +with whom we pass our lives? + +One more word and I have done. The actors play different parts as they +grow old. They begin with being children in the tableaux and they pass +in turn from one role to another. The Judas of 1890 was the apostle +John in 1880. When the Christ was selected in 1870, he was chosen out +of four competitors. One of the unsuccessful today plays King Herod, +the other Pontius Pilate. So it is ever in real life. Few, indeed, +are those who are always Christs. When Christians ceased to be martyrs +they martyred their enemies. The church came from the catacombs to +establish the inquisition. In our own lives we may be Christs today +and atheists tomorrow. Power and authority destroy more Christs than +the dungeon and the stake. And perhaps one reason why the +Ober-Ammergauers have been able to give us the Christ we see this year +is because in their secluded valley they have remained poor and humble +in spirit, and have never ceased to remember the story that transformed +the world. + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of King of the Jews, by William T. 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