The record-union., 1896-03-23
TRIALS or JESUS CHRIST.
His Betrayal and SuferingS at the Hands
Of the Rabble.
Synopsis of a Sermon Delivered by Rev.
]. B. Hoyt at the Congrega-
tional Church.

l.
| Civil" was the subject of the sermon
delivered by Rev. DR.. Hoyt in the Con-
gregational Church yesterday morning.
The text was from John xviii. II, 13:
Then the band and the Captain and
the officers of the Jews took Jesus and
bound him, and led him away to An
mas first, for he was father-in-law to
Caiaphas, which was the high priest
that same year.
Mr.. Hoyt began his discourse by al
luding to the time of year as being sug-
gestive of -day-speaking of the
Christmas-t time and of springs ap
proach, when the glory of the season
is most noticeable in the active prep
arations for sowing. The snow is gone,
and the sharp point of the plow is thrust
into the earth to prepare it for seed
that is to spring into new life.
A beautiful application was here
made to the Christian life and of the
sharp thrusts that must need prepare
the heart, and which did enter into the
heart and life of Christ ere he COM
p1eted his work. Spring is necessary
for growth in the natural life; the Cos
pei and grace necessity in the growth
of spiritual life.
The speaker carried his hearers TO
that memorable night in the garden of
Gethsemane, where Jesus fought his
last battle. His last victory was not
wrought out on the cross, but in the
garden where that wonderful prayer,
thrice uttered-that submission to the
divine will should be his. Only the
crimson brow proved the anguish of His
soul, and the bitter disappointment at
finding the three asleep showed how
sorely the man Jesus longed for human
sympathy.
While He fought for victory in that
prayer there was a crowd on the hill
side, with. Judas at the head, encour-
| aging the rabble: HE will be there!
I know the place welll He goeth there
to prayi Follow where lead!" Then
the irregular mob of temple police and
Roman soldiers strode away into the
uncertain darkness of the garden.
Hail, Rabbi" was followed by the sor-
rowful voice Of the Master: Judas, be-
trayest thou the Son of Man with
Iiss?"
Later, when Jesus was delivered up to
be crucif1ed, a man who wore the sem
b1ance of a wild beast ran swiftly to
the temple, to the place where were GER
tain of the chief priests and elders, and,
casting down before them thirty pieces
OF silver, shrieked: II have sinned, in
that I have betrayed the innocent
blood!" With the cruel words of An
mas ringing in his ears, What is that
to us? See thou to that" he fed TO the
garden and hung himself, that he might
Gle In the place where he had betrayed
the Son of God with a kiss.
The pastor gave an outline Of the six
trials Of Jesus-three by the ecclecias-
tical court and three by the civil court.
First, He was brought to Annas, who
ordered His bonds made more secure
and removed to the house of Caiaphas,
whittier he himself would quickly fol-
low. Although it was scarcely dawn,
the Sanhedrim was in solemn session,
in the midst of which, guarded closely,
stood Jesus. With taunts and sarcastic
words the High Priest, Caiaphas, tried
to compel a confession from the pris-
oner, who mildly replied: II have spoken
openly to the world; / taught ever i'll
the synagogue and in the temple,
whittier the Jews always resort, and in
secret have I said nothing. Why askest
thou Me what have said unto them?
Behold, they know what have said
Then Jesus was struck upon the
mouth by one of the men standing near
for thus answering the High Priest.
For moment the prisoner was silent,
then calmly as before, with no sign of
passion at the foul insult, said: IF /
have spoken evil, bear witness of the
evil; but if well, why smitest thou Me?"
A graphic description was then given
Of each trial, of the unlawful way in
which they were conducted, of the GUS
tom of the Jews, of concessions to the
Romans, who were privileged to try all
cases, but they conhicted with certain
laws. Then a second trial must ensue.
He spoke of the criminal charge of
which the High Priest had found Jesus
guilty, but as it was not lawful for the
Sanhedrim to put any man to death, He
was sent to PLATE, who could find no
fault in Him, but, in order to f1atter
Herod, as we'll as to shirk his dury-the
Herod who caused John the Baptist to
be beheaded-Pilate sent the prisoner
to him; and thus back and forth was He
sent buffetted, spat upon, insulted,
mocked, and finally was again taken be-
fore PLATE, who went again to the peo-
pie and spake to them as best he knew
now for the release Of the man whom he
had thrice acquitted and twice con-
demned. Under the pressure of the peo-
pie PLATE yields and Herod washes his
own hands of the suicide.
In the time of war men were for the
North or for the South. We are for
Christ or against Christ. If we are to
come to the Easter morn we must walk
all the weary way through Gethsemane,
up the steep of Calvary which will
bring US to the Easter hour.