the desire of ages-第168章

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d　Him　to　endure　uncomplainingly　the　coarse　treatment　of　those　He　came　to　save。　It　was　a　part　of　His　mission　to　bear；　in　His　humanity；　all　the　taunts　and　abuse　that　men　could　heap　upon　Him。　The　only　hope　of　humanity　was　in　this　submission　of　Christ　to　all　that　He　could　endure　from　the　hands　and　hearts　of　men。

Christ　had　said　nothing　that　could　give　His　accusers　an　advantage；　yet　He　was　bound；　to　signify　that　He　was　condemned。　There　must；　however；　be　a　pretense　of　justice。　It　was　necessary　that　there　should　be　the　form　of　a　legal　trial。　This　the　authorities　were　determined　to　hasten。　They　knew　the　regard　in　which　Jesus　was　held　by　the　people；　and　feared　that　if　the　arrest　were　noised　abroad；　a　rescue　would　be　attempted。　Again；　if　the　trial　and　execution　were　not　brought　about　at　once；　there　would　be　a　week's　delay　on　account　of　the　celebration　of　the　Passover。　This　might　defeat　their　plans。　In　securing　the　condemnation　of　Jesus　they　depended　largely　upon　the　clamor　of　the　mob；　many　of　them　the　rabble　of　Jerusalem。　Should　there　be　a　week's　delay；　the　excitement　would　abate；　and　a　reaction　would　be　likely　to　set　in。　The　better　part　of　the　people　would　be　aroused　in　Christ's　favor；　many　would　come　forward　with　testimony　in　His　vindication；　bringing　to　light　the　mighty　works　He　had　done。　This　would　excite　popular　indignation　against　the　Sanhedrin。　Their　proceedings　would　be　condemned；　and　Jesus　would　be　set　free；　to　receive　new　homage　from　the　multitudes。　The　priests　and　rulers　therefore　determined　that　before　their　purpose　could　become　known；　Jesus　should　be　delivered　into　the　hands　of　the　Romans。

But　first　of　all；　an　accusation　was　to　be　found。　They　had　gained　nothing　as　yet。　Annas　ordered　Jesus　to　be　taken　to　Caiaphas。　Caiaphas　belonged　to　the　Sadducees；　some　of　whom　were　now　the　most　desperate　enemies　of　Jesus。　He　himself；　though　wanting　in　force　of　character；　was　fully　as　severe；　heartless；　and　unscrupulous　as　was　Annas。　He　would　leave　no　means　untried　to　destroy　Jesus。　It　was　now　early　morning；　and　very　dark；　by　the　light　of　torches　and　lanterns　the　armed　band　with　their　prisoner　proceeded　to　the　high　priest's　palace。　Here；　while　the　members　of　the　Sanhedrin　were　coming　together；　Annas　and　Caiaphas　again　questioned　Jesus；　but　without　success。

When　the　council　had　assembled　in　the　judgment　hall；　Caiaphas　took　his　seat　as　presiding　officer。　On　either　side　were　the　judges；　and　those　specially　interested　in　the　trial。　The　Roman　soldiers　were　stationed　on

704

the　platform　below　the　throne。　At　the　foot　of　the　throne　stood　Jesus。　Upon　Him　the　gaze　of　the　whole　multitude　was　fixed。　The　excitement　was　intense。　Of　all　the　throng　He　alone　was　calm　and　serene。　The　very　atmosphere　surrounding　Him　seemed　pervaded　by　a　holy　influence。

Caiaphas　had　regarded　Jesus　as　his　rival。　The　eagerness　of　the　people　to　hear　the　Saviour；　and　their　apparent　readiness　to　accept　His　teachings；　had　aroused　the　bitter　jealousy　of　the　high　priest。　But　as　Caiaphas　now　looked　upon　the　prisoner；　he　was　struck　with　admiration　for　His　noble　and　dignified　bearing。　A　conviction　came　over　him　that　this　Man　was　akin　to　God。　The　next　instant　he　scornfully　banished　the　thought。　Immediately

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his　voice　was　heard　in　sneering；　haughty　tones　demanding　that　Jesus　work　one　of　His　mighty　miracles　before　them。　But　his　words　fell　upon　the　Saviour's　ears　as　though　He　heard　them　not。　The　people　compared　the　excited　and　malignant　deportment　of　Annas　and　Caiaphas　with　the　calm；　majestic　bearing　of　Jesus。　Even　in　the　minds　of　that　hardened　multitude　arose　the　question；　Is　this　man　of　godlike　presence　to　be　condemned　as　a　criminal？

Caiaphas；　perceiving　the　influence　that　was　obtaining；　hastened　the　trial。　The　enemies　of　Jesus　were　in　great　perplexity。　They　were　bent　on　securing　His　condemnation；　but　how　to　accomplish　this　they　knew　not。　The　members　of　the　council　were　divided　between　the　Pharisees　and　the　Sadducees。　There　was　bitter　animosity　and　controversy　between　them；　certain　disputed　points　they　dared　not　approach　for　fear　of　a　quarrel。　With　a　few　words　Jesus　could　have　excited　their　prejudices　against　each　other；　and　thus　have　averted　their　wrath　from　Himself。　Caiaphas　knew　this；　and　he　wished　to　avoid　stirring　up　a　contention。　There　were　plenty　of　witnesses　to　prove　that　Christ　had　denounced　the　priests　and　scribes；　that　He　had　called　them　hypocrites　and　murderers；　but　this　testimony　it　was　not　expedient　to　bring　forward。　The　Sadducees　in　their　sharp　contentions　with　the　Pharisees　had　used　to　them　similar　language。　And　such　testimony　would　have　no　weight　with　the　Romans；　who　were　themselves　disgusted　with　the　pretensions　of　the　Pharisees。　There　was　abundant　evidence　that　Jesus　had　disregarded　the　traditions　of　the　Jews；　and　had　spoken　irreverently　of　many　of　their　ordinances；　but　in　regard　to　tradition　the　Pharisees　and　Sadducees　were　at　swords'　points；　and　this　evidence　also　would　have　no　weight　with　the　Romans。　Christ's　enemies　dared　not　accuse　Him　of　Sabbathbreaking；　lest　an　examination　should　reveal　the　character　of　His　work。　If　His　miracles　of　healing　were　brought　to　light；　the　very　object　of　the　priests　would　be　defeated。

False　witnesses　had　been　bribed　to　accuse　Jesus　of　inciting　rebellion　and　seeking　to　establish　a　separate　government。　But　their　testimony　proved　to　be　vague　and　contradictory。　Under　examination　they　falsified　their　own　statements。

Early　in　His　ministry　Christ　had　said；　〃Destroy　this　temple；　and　in　three　days　I　will　raise　it　up。〃　In　the　figurative　language　of　prophecy；　He　had　thus　foretold　His　own　death　and　resurrection。　〃He　spake　of　the　temple　of　His　body。〃　John　2：19；　21。　These　words　the　Jews　had　understood　in　a　literal　sense；　as　referring　to　the　temple　at　Jerusalem。　Of　all　that　Christ　had　said；　the　priests　could　find　nothing　to　use　against　Him

706

save　this。　By　misstating　these　words　they　hoped　to　gain　an　advantage。　The　Romans　had　engaged　in　rebuilding　and　embellishing　the　temple；　and　they　took　great　pride　in　it；　any　contempt　shown　to　it　would　be　sure　to　excite　their　indignation。　Here　Romans　and　Jews；　Pharisees　and　Sadducees；　could　meet；　for　all　held　the　temple　in　great　veneration。　On　this　point　two　witnesses　were　found　whose　testimony　was　not　so　contradictory　as　that　of　the　others　had　been。　One　of　them；　who　had　been　bribed　to　accuse　Jesus；　declared；　〃This　fellow　said；　I　am　able　to　destroy　the　temple　of　God；　and　to　build　it　in　three　days。〃　Thus　Christ's　words　were　misstated。　If　they　had　been　reported　exactly　as　He　spoke　them；　they　would　not　have　secured　His　condemnation　even　by　the　Sanhedrin。　Had　Jesus　been　a　mere　man；　as　the　Jews　claimed；　His　declaration　would　only　have　indicated　an　unreasonable；　boastful　spirit；　but　could　not　have　been　construed　into　blasphemy。　Even　as　misrepresented　by　the　false　witnesses；　His　words　contained　nothing　which　would　be　regarded　by　the　Romans　as　a　crime　worthy　of　death。

Patiently　Jesus　listened　to　the　conflicting　testimonies。　No　word　did　He　utter　in　self…defense。　At　last　His　accusers　were　entangled；　confused；　and　maddened。　The　trial　was　making　no　headway；　it　seemed　that　their　plottings　were　to　fail。　Caiaphas　was　desperate。　One　last　resort　remained；　Christ　must　be　forced　to　condemn　Himself。　The　high　priest　started　from　the　judgment　seat；　his　face　contorted　with　passion；　his　voice　and　demeanor　plainly　indicating　that　were　it　in　his　power　he　would　strike　down　the　prisoner　before　him。　〃Answerest　Thou　nothing？〃　he　exclaimed；　〃what　is　it　which　these　witness　against　Thee？〃

Jesus　held　His　peace。　〃He　was　oppressed；　and　He　was　afflicted；　yet　He　opened　not　His　mouth：　He　is　brought　as　a　lamb　to　the　slaughter；　and　as　a　sheep　before　her　shearers　is　dumb；　so　He　openeth　not　His　mouth。〃　Isaiah　53：7。

At　last；　Caiaphas；　raising　his　right　hand　toward　heaven；　addressed　Jesus　in　the　form　of　a　solemn　oath：　〃I　adjure　Thee　by　the　living　God；　that　Thou　tell　us　whether　Thou　be　the　Christ；　the　Son　of　God。〃

To　this　appeal　Christ　could　not　remain　silent。　There　was　a　time　to　be　silent；　and　a　time　to　speak。　He　had　not　spoken　until　directly　questioned。　He　knew　that　to　answer　now　would　make　His　death　certain。　But　the　appeal　was　made　by　the　high