The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-18

feet and turn again and rend thcm."
Wherein then, in tho judgment OF our au-
thor, did tho merit OF Jesus consist? 1t con-
sisted especially in his efforts to impart greater
inner force to the prccepts OF Judaism: in the
enthusiasm with which he obeyed them him
self: in his ardor to make the Judoans turn to
God with illial love. as children to their father;
in his forvent unfolding of the brotherhood or
all sraetes whether rch nt or Poo
of mainland. finally. in his endeavors to get
these moral laws accepted by those who nth nth
eto had been regarded Us the lowest anu most
degraded of mankind.
or peculiar interest is the authors account
OF the causes OF the prejudices which un-
doubtedly existed against Jesus in the jewish
capital and which led to his crucih1ion.
Prof Graetz points out that tho educated
classes could not imagine tho Messiah's saw
Ing work TO be performed by an unlearned
Galilenn. Indeed. the idea that the Messiah
who was expected to come from Bethlehem.
and out OF the branch OF David. should emerge
from Gnlilee. overthrow the cherished convic-
tion OF many centuries. 1t Is probably at this
time in tho authors opinion. that the proverb
quoted in the gospel OF John arose. Can
there any good thing como out OF Nazareth =
The scrupulously devout took offence at his
going about eating and drinking with sinners.
publicans. and women OF degraded class
Even the Essences were displeased at his In
fringement OF rules and customs. The sham
mates were scandalized at his healing the
sick on the Sabbath day. and could not recog-
nize the Messiah in one who even for good
purpose desecrated the Sabbath. He also
reused the opposition OF the Pharisees by the
disspproval he expressed here and mere OF
their Interpretations Of the laws and OF the
conclusions they drew from them. The zealots.
on their part, could not look toJesus for deeds
e e, with hatred OF Rome he advocated peace;
and in his cont Tempt for !nammon admonlehed
sMsher re- Render there ore INTO Cesar those
things WhGh are aaa s Hn19 ne ene
hfss wR Me hrs to the
ceivod idea OF tho Messianic character. caused
the higher and the learned classes to bo coldly
with no friendly reception in Jerusalem: These
various objections, however TO the mode q ne .
any legal accusation against him. Freedom Of
speech had owing to the frednYfInt debates debates IN
the schools 81 h ana h nn ono c@ui be
attack ed for expressing religious opinions un-
less he controvcrted dogma unvccrsally, con-
this latter partcuar, that Jesus laid himself
he had called himself the Son Of God. words
| which if taken literally wounded the religious
Of tn" %3san nSpf fb ,T d to- s 50
scathcd. But how was it possible TO ascertain
whether Jesus, had really called himself the
tached to the Words 70 bring the inner Sc
cret Of Ills sect t? light was NECESSARY to seek
| that traii"t wts found in Judas Iscnriot. A
Judcan account derived from what is here de-
scribed as trustworhy .s,',itcc. seems seem, 20. 70
use maize G'IS'~ Of tie traitor: In rider to
be able to nrraiSn Jesus either as "a, a
, nn9nle r tha i"w aemonded TINT tw"
should have heard him utter the criminal
speak T" whcro two hidden witnesses might
ensuing trial was, according to ourauthor, to
| determine whether Jesus Ind really claimed
to be- rs ths tTG wne.ses tested ths son
tribunal because ,ho had housted that il, was
| In his power to destroy the Tenn la and re-
BULL it in three days. such n declaration il
really uttered L!y him, could not have been
then. is. assumed to have pointed to the
assumed Affirmation OF Jesus that he was the
OF Sai .snf ss "a AZ Twas Was sH
siding, judge, however asked him him q 2
God. he is renorted to hav, answcrsd Thou
hast said IT." oonh TO have pdded, - Hereafter
OF heaven" Our author holds that. il these
rssy Ss
as the Son OF God. From the accounts given
| by the Christian authorities themselves. there
| is no proof that. according 10 the existing pena
law. the Judges had PRONOUNCED an unjust
verdict. All appearances Wtre Against Jesus ~
death warrant. or rather tho permission tc
| execute It. from the l'oman Governor. iontius
PLATE. who was Just then present for tho fes
Here. however, Prof. Graetz proceeds ,tc
draw n sharp and deerdistinction tetwoen the
| mart taken Ly the Jewish authorities and b,
the Homnn governor IN the cruciixion ant
Tho inci."nts attepdinS IT. He dcnounces as
Jesus innocent and wished to save him. Will,
the Jud"ans had determined upon puttin,,l
Jesus was scotfed at and obliged to wear
crown Of thorns in ironirnl II fusion TO tn!
and pSys dE who IN nj sad
digniiies upon him. hut the Roman soldiers
WHO souch through him to derde the JudeaI
nation. Among the Judeans who had con
demncd him. there was. as our author insists
so little Of personal hatred that he was treateI
TO him the cur of wine and irankincense t
render htm nsrns'Ds o to the pain, Of death
according to the Roman penal laws, for
y the JHdsnG soaS ia one ssn'ens.d t
Gucn,ly the ,Itoman lictorS who alciousi
scourgc.d with faEots or ,rropes tho set-style'
caused Jn.uS to 10 nailed 10th cross. and Z
suffer the :hnmclrl death awarded 10y thr LAY
of su" sn and a w
justified 10y history: vas the end OF man VIII
had devoted himSelf TO tho imrroyemrnt %
the m ost neglected. miserable. and abandone'
menii "rs Of his pe pic. aud who. perhaps. Tel
a victim 10 y NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. How great
| adds the author, haS been tho woe caused ~
that one execution How many deaths and SUI
fernRs Of every description has i not caused
Ken hearts and tragic iates have not yet atone,
Tor that ono death, Jesus Is the only NOR
tai Of whom one can say without eTagrratior
that his death was more elective than HI lille
In his account of the members If tho chris
tian community, in the years immediately fol
1 lg,r inFF lnnf lie bFl l.FtR.. -.
marks-and on this head he is confirmed by
| Christian historians that they deyiatod in M
degree from the preeepts Of Judaism. obsery