The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-09
TOPICS in THE CHURCHES.
Sunday Scf1oO1 Lesson
Christian EndeavOr Work.

could be executed on the anne day on which
sentence was pronounced. Every rule was IA
gravity broken in the trial OF Jesus.
To retrieve the odium OF the legal homicide OF
Jesus. the Jews invented an ex post facto law.
and incorporated IT in the Talmud: TO wit. any
one who gave himself out as a false Messiah
could be tried and condemned on the same cay
or in the night. They also framed the extraor-
binary story that a public herald was sent out
for forty consecutive days before Jesus's con-
demnation TO summon witnesses in His favor:
but none appeared. . . . Silence on the part
OF a defendant in an Oriental court is a COM
plete anomaly. Profuse protestations or inro-
cence, dramatic appeal, wild gesture, copious
tears-these are the rule. The silent dignity Of
Jesus arrested the attention and struck the con-
science OF each court before which He was
brought. . . . The Sanhedrim thought II was
c~ondemning Jesus. In point Of fact IL was con-
demning itself. The Supreme Court OF the He
brew nation stands convicted at the bar of his
tory of the foulest crime OF all the ages. .
Inhdelity is like the Sanhedrim. in that II 10
on the search for evidence against Jesus. IL
is an effort TO impeach His character and claims.
II is bent on conviction. Where there is this
palpable insincerity, the believer does well TO
initiate his Masters silence. +. What oc-
CURED in caiarhas's court has been occurring
ever since in the age-long arraignment OF Jesus.
The witnesses do not agree. One impeaches the
other. Each new generation OF skeptics pre-
sents a new hypothesis. thus denying the suf-
hciency OF the former. Thus Strauss gives the
lie TO voltaire. and Bauer TO Strauss. and
Renan 10 Bauer. But TO this jargon OF inadel-
ity Christendom responds. as from the begin
ming. In it's glorious. unwavering credo. II be-
lieve in Jesus Christ"
Key and Analysis
/. cclesiastica trial Of Jesus. Cd Sanhedrim
unlawfully convened. Suborned witnesses. Je-
sus' silence. CD Jesus adjured TO answer. High
priests sacred oath. CD Jesus significant an
swer.
III. Ecclesiastical condemnation. Cd Death
penalty passed. 90 Personal i~ndignity 10 con-
demned.
MOSAIC FROM II COMMENTARIES.
Led TO caiaphas: son-in-iaw OF Annas. .
scribes, elders: A packed jury, star-chamber OF
self-applied assessors.-F. To put 10
death: No longer a question whether Jesus should
be put TO death. the main object only being
70 observe some kind OF legal form.-L.
Sought false witnesses: They were fully conscious
that true witnesses could not be obtained.
This man said: Misunderstood and altered. but
whether unintenIonally or not can not be de-
cided.-M 1 adjure the: Such a formula
employed. simple affirmation or negation was
considered in law sufficient to constitute a reg
ular oath.-L- Rent his clothes: His
simla. or upper garment, not his high priestly
What further need: Involuntary admission they
were at a loss for witnesses.-L . Worthy
Of death: Full statement OF the sentence which
Caiaphas had already implied when he declared
face: Devilish fanaticism OF superiors had COM
municated itself to lowest officials.