The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-11-15
Jesus Before CaiaphaS,

base betrayal, HIS lgnoDle deSer-
ton, illegal trial, and superlative-
ly cruel death, are enough to touch
their heart to deepest pity. AS
Renan says, His legend will call
forth tears without ceasing" To
those to whom Jesus is Divine, the
successive scenes from Gethsemane
to Golgotha are cumulative in
strong computations, Bloody
sweat, traitors kiss, bound hands,
hurrying from court to court, false
accusations, blow on the mouth,
mockery, the cry, Cruelty"
sCourging. the Via Dolorosa, the
crucifixion-their hearts are like
to break under such climatical sor-
row.
It is past midnight, but the dev-
otees of an imperial ecclesiasticism
are alert. With murderous jeal-
ousy they anticipated the delivery
into their hands of one for whom
they had just paid goOdly price
one who must be Immediately
put out Of the way, or their honors,
powers, and emoluments be the
forfeit. Rich old Annas PAGES the
marble court Of his palace, and
listens for the footballs of the re-
turning band. He will soon have
the satisfaction OF looking into the
face of the iconoclastic Galilean,
who has imperiled his vast rev.
enues by twice cleansing the tenn
pie of the trafickers whom he had
unlawfully licensed to trade there.
He will see those hands bound
with cords instead fplaiting cords
into a whip to drive out the buy
ers and sellers with. Caiaphas,
also Annas's son-in-law, and act
ing high priest, is on the qui vive
to carry into execution his judg-
ment passed three months before
namely, that it were better that
one should perish, without refer
ence to his guilt or innocence,
than that the nation should be
jeopardized.
The chief priest, scribes, and
Pharisees are anticipating with
venomous pleasure their retalia-
ton upon one who has publicly de-
nounced them as serpents and
vipers, who, with bold hand, has
snatched the mask from their un =
paralleled hypocrisy, and has Xix
ened them to whitened sepulchers.
So all hell is alert that night to
enjoy to the full its short-lived
triumph. y sardonic smile passes
over the face of Annas as his dull
ears catch the tramp of the guard
at his very gate. He hurries into
his grand salon, and mounts his
dais with tottering step. The ex-
animation of Jesus here is purely
informal. 1t is just such a courte-
sy extended by Caiaphas to Annas
as, little later, Plate extended
to Herod. 1t will have arraigned
before one who, according to
Moses law, is still high priest.
And by this device time is gained
to pack the jury" in the only
court which Rome recognizes; and
there is scurrying about for sub
orned witnesses, such as to this
day can be had for price in the
lobby of almost any Oriental court.
There sits the Sanhedrim in form
Of horseshoe, the high priest at
the "toe," and scribe with ink
horn and parchment at either
cork" In the space between
the scribes stands the accused, in
full view of the semi-circle of
venerables, who sit cross-legged
upon their crimson cushions.
Guilt is on the bench; innocence is
in the dock. Not how to deal
justly, but how to condemn is the
problem Of the court. How to
find a verdict that will not too pal
pably outrage the forms of justice,
and one which the Roman COVER
nor will ratify, a verdict that will
involve the EXTREMIST penalty
that is the desideratum.
As sheep before her shearers is
dumb, so the Lamb of God opened