Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-11-15
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR NOVEMBER 18.
Subject: Jesus Before Caiaphas, Matt.
xvi, 57-68-GOlden Text, Isa.
liii., 3-Memory Verses, 81, 6S
Topic: Trial of Christ.

| xvi, 57-68-GOlden Text, Isa.
liii., 3-Memory Verses, 81, 6S
Topic: Trial of Christ.
I. Jesus before the council (57,
| 58). 81. "They-led Him away"
The band of soldiers led on by Judas
! John 1S: 81. 'To. the house of
Caiaphas" (R. W In John IS: 13
we are told that He was taken to An
mas first. 1t is supposed that Annas
and Caiaphas occupied different
apartment in the same palace. "The
scribes," etc. Scribes, that is, rabbis
| learned in the literature of the
church; and elders, who were chosen
from among the most influential of
| the laity; and chief priests (v. 50,
! that Is, the heads of the twenty-four
priestly classes. "Were assembled"
| Annas sent Jesus bound to Caiaphas
/ (John IS: 24, and Caiaphas with all
haste summoned the Sanhedrin, the
highest Jewish council, some time be-
| tween 2 and 4 o'clock on Friday
1 morning, but this was irregular and
informal, because it was contrary to
their law to carry on the trial by
| night.
SIS. peter followed Him." Peter
| loved Jesus; he could not help but
follow Him; he was anxious "to see
the end"-to know what they did
with his Lord. But, alas. Peter fol-
lowed "afar Off" This was the cause
of his downfall. And went in"
John also went with Peter and it
probably was John who succeeded in
getting Peter admitted into the court
of the palace (John IS: IS, 16). Sat
with the servants" THIS was anoth
er great mistake. If he had stayed
by the side of John he would not
have denied his Master, for John
had no such temptation.
II. Jesus witnessed against Tvs.
$500. So "All the council" The
great Sanhedrin, composed of seven
ty or seventy-twO members, and
founded. it Isl supposed, by Moses
(Num. 2D, and was continued long
time after the days of our Lord on
earth. Sought false witness" They
have criminal without crime.
They dared not sentence Jesus to
death without some satisfactory
charge and thus they were obliged
to search for witnesses.
60. Found none" They had
great difficulty in making up a case
against Jesus. Out of the many false
witnesses who came before the cOun-
Gil it was impossible to find two who
agreed Mark IA; 5G). Game two.
From Mark IA: $3.50 We see that
the testimony of these witnesses did
not agree in all points, and this ac-
cusation if agreed upon would not be
inin y . -
hoods seldom agree; only the truth
is harmonious. False witnesses"
Their testimony was false because
the facts were not correctly stated
(see Mark IA: So, and because
Christ's words had been misapplied
This is still very common way of
injuring others. 60. High priest
said" Their case had failed, and
now the high priest arose and tried
to force Jesus to criminato Himself
"Answerest Thou nothing?" There
was nothing to say. The witnesses
had contradictCd themselves. Give
the enemy time and opportunity and
he will destroy his own cause.
III. Jesus declares Himself to be
the Christ tvs. SO, 6i. G3. Held
His peace" Thus fulfilling the pro-
phecy in lisa. 53 7. Jesus knew they
were determined to put Him to death
and reply would have been useless,
II adjure Thee" The high priest
puts solemn oath to Him. The diff
ficulty of this question consisted in
this: If He confessed that He was the
Son of God, they stood ready to con-
denim Him for Dlasphemy; if He de-
MED it, they were prepared to con-
denim Him for being an imposter,
and for deluding the people under
pretense of being the Messiah.
GA. Thou hast said" A common
form of expression for, yes, it is
So" See Mark IA: SO. Christ felt
no disposition to remain silent when
questioned concerning a truth for
which He came into the world to
shed His blood. Right hand Of pow
er." This is reference to Dan. Z:
10, IA. The prophet is describing
Christ's coming into the presence of
His Father to be invested with all
power.
IV. Jesus condemned and NAL
treated Tvs. 65-GS). G5. Rent His
clothes" An expression of violent
grief (Gen. 81: 20, "a; Job 1: 20)
and horror at what was considered
to be blasphemous or impiOus. The
act was enjoined by the rabbinical
rules. When the charge of blasphemy
Is proved the judges rend their gar
ments and do not sew them up again.
"BlasDhemy.' They considered it
basphemy for Jesus to say that He
was tAe Christ Mark IA: 81, 62).
"Witns-Ses." Their witnesses had
proved a failure to them and they
had no more to bring. Jesus was
condemned on His own testimony.
&C. what think ye?' The high
priest had urged the case against
Him and now he puts it to vote.
Guilty of death" Worthy of
death" r. V. The punishment for
blasphemy was death Uev. "a: 16).
The irregular court now adjourned
67. Spit in His face etc. There
is an interval before the regular ses-
sion of the Sanhedrin could convene.
During this time the judges delivered
Him into the hands of the mob. They
spat in His face as mark of con-
tempt "Buffeted. Smote with
their fists.
6S. "Who-smote Thee" They
had blindfolded Him Mark IA: 65(.
They made sport with Him as the
Philistines did with Samson. No less
than five forms of beating are re-
ferred to by the evanselists in de,
scribing this scene,