The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-11-24
6rouohtrsefere caiaphas

II waS Very courageous on the part
Of 81. feter that, after having 'smit-
ten OF the c;e =. :Ss High Priests
servant tshou.h the wound was eeaIed
b. Jesus. he followed his Master into
he Court of that high-priest to see
what would be done. The arraign-
ment was at night. although II was
contrary to Jewish Law to try q pris-
oner ut night for any serious offense.
Bat there was ;n cNcuSe. was a
special case: haste vas necessary. be-
cause whatever would be done must
he done quickly: the very next day the
nnbelieving officials perceived that
Jesus had great influence with the
common people. They believed him
to be Il brilliant but harmless fraud.
He had committed nc crime, but he
was a disturber of he peace, and they
felt fully justified in taking his life.
The Feast of Passover was at hand
aud would last a week and 1t would
be contrary to their Law that any ex-
ecution should take place during that
week. Besides. they feared the amount
of influence which Jesus might exer-
else during the week. when there
would be from one to two millions of
people in and around Jerusalem from
all ove Palestine. They had already
determined that their action must be
short, sharp and decisive. This was
decided before the arrest was made.
They were ready and waiting at that
midnight hour to carry out their muir
dcrous designs, for the good of their
nation, as they thought.
The examination was merely a pre-
liminary one to get together such evil
dence as at the morning Tribunal
could be rushed through rapidly at a
prearranged session.
He Was Charged With elasphemy
They had difficulty in finding a
charge. For what had Jesus ever done
except acts of kindness and the utter
ing of words of wisdom and correction |
and hope? Rlasphemy was a serious
charge under the Jewish code. They
would charge him with hat as being
the easiest to prove. He had said, |
when near the Temple. Destroy this
ACAupACs ai1u L VIII lCul IL w II tAlCC !
days" But he spake of the temple
of his Body" Some of those who
heard him understood him to speak of
the literal temple. This they charged
was blasphemy. because it took years !
to build the temple, and for Jesus
to rebuild it in three days would
mean a claim on his part of Divine
power. But the charge did not seem
sufficiently strong, even for those who
had premeditated his murder. They
wanted something to give a color Of
Justice, at least. to their findings. So
the chief-priest thought to get Jesus to
commit himself in their presence and
said. I adjure thee by the Living God
to tell US whether thou be the Christ, !
the Son Of God. Jesus replied that
this was true and that they would yet
see him in heavenly glory and power
at the right hand of Divine favor. |
This. the High Priest declared, was
sufficient proof Of blasphemy. BE
hold. now gsIhave heard his blasphe-
my. What reply ye" And the coun-
ell answered that be was worthy of
death. The rabble in the Court. hear
ing the commotion. felt at liberty to
abuse this prisoner, as they had done
others. They showed their contempt
of him by splitting upon him. They
derided him by shifting him and say
ing. Prophesy. tell wno smote thee.
HE was reviled. yet reviled not
again"