The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1910-11-23
Sunday School Column
Side Lights on Next Sundays Les
son for Teachers and Pupils
BY CHAS. K. MEYERS

Nov. 27-The Trial of Jesus.-Matt.
&c, 57-6S.
Our last lesson found Jesus in the
garden just outside Of the city of Je-
rusalem. There also went the traitor
Judas and the band of men whom the
Jewish authorities had given to his
charge, to effect the capture of Jesus
on that fateful night. 1t might be
we'll to remember that when Jesus
stepped forth announcing Himself the
Christ, that the mob before Him fell
down overcome by the majesty of His
person.
1t was the hour of the evil one, and
soon the men took Jesus under arrest
and moved with Him to the city. 1t
would appear that He first was taken
before Annas, who up to short time
before had been the High Priest of
the Jewish nation. In the lesson
verses of this day we find Jesus on
trial before Caiaphas, the then reign
ing head of the Jewish people, and
the body of some seventy other re-
spected Jews who formed what is
known as the Sanhedrin. Rome was
the master of the country at this time,
but in line with it's policy of con-
quered nations, it was allowing the
former rulers to administer the laws
in local affairs, there being over them
a representative of the emperor at
Rome. Thus it was in proper pro-
cedure to have hearing before the
Sanhedrin or Jewish law making and
expounding body.
OF course there was no idea in the
hearts of Caiaphas and his band as
| to what the outcome of the hearing
Or trial would be. 1t was they who
had given Judas the thirty pieces of
| silver to show the Master to the SOL
diers who took Him in charge. They
had also sworn that they would put
Jesus to death, so the trial by the
Jews was mockery or farce. 1t is
told that Peter followed a long way
off. In the lesson of the next Sunday
we will lconsider the denial of Jesus
by Peter, so will not speak of him at
this time.
The bible record tells how the high
priest and his associates tried to get
witnesses to testify against Jesus.
but no two told the same story.
,aiaphas therefore turned to Jesus
to try to gain case which would
justify the death penalty. He prac-
tically put Jesus under oath to say
whether He was the Son of God, and
when the prison said that he was, the
nigh priest made great show of
wrath and indignation so to appear to
have evidence which would convict
Jesus of blasphemy. For this the
Jewish law directed that death might |
follow at the hands of the authori-
ties.
When asked for an answer Jesus
spoke boldly, claiming sonship with
God and fortelling that at future
line He would come to earth sitting
on the right hand of God, appearing in
the clouds. Caiaphas declared Jesus |
guilty, worthy Of death and then
called on the rest of his conspirators
to confirm what he had said. This
they did, none daring to speak good
word for the lone prisoner. After
the judgment spirit of further law
lessness took place and the crowd be-
gan to tormen Jesus, splitting upon
Him, striking Him, and asking Him
to tell who smote Him. AS none but
the Roman governor could give the
death sentence Jesus was taken be-
fore Plate. This man, although we'll
convinced that Jesus had done nothing
worthy of death, consented to it, to
please the Jews.
When one remembers that although
Jesus said little He was thoroughly
alive TO everything gong on ABOUT
Him, they can appreciate His feelings
as the rude attendants made Him
the object of their scorn and ridicule.
Let it be further remembered that
Jesus bore this all as part of His
pain to redeem mankind through
death and abject humiliation. All
this should add to our determination
to serve Him and sacrifice for Him.
Although reviled Jesus replied not in
bitterness. His attitude toward the
mob about Him is shown in His pray
er for His tormentors and murderers.
Father, forgive them, for they know
not what they do"
If it were not for the fact that Jesus
underwent all this for each of us, we
would turn away from this fearful
narrative to other parts of the bible.
But the death and resurrection of
ho Nf bo