River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-11-24

son to-day? Do we not know that
in the most civilized lands he would
be beaten or executed? When, we
view the situation from this stand |
point we lose any spirit of antago-
nism which might have been ours; it
turns to sympathy-that a religious /
nation should allow itself to get in /
to the hands of politicians to such
an extent.
BROUGHT BEFORE CAIAPHAS
It was very courageous on the
part of ST. Peter that, after having
smitten off the ear of the High
Priests servant Though the wound
was healed by Jesus) he followed
his Master into the Court of the
high-priest to see what would be
done. The arraignment was at
night, although it was contrary to
Jewish Law to try prisoner at
night for any serious offense. But
there was an excuse. This was
| special case; haste was necessary,
because whatever would be done
must be done quickly; the very next
day the unbelieving officials per-
ceived that Jesus had great influ-
ence with the common people.
They believed him to be brilliant
but harmless fraud. He had COM
mitted no crime, but he was a dis
turber of he peace, and they felt
fully justified in taking his life.
| The Feast of Passover was at hand
and would last week and it would
be contrary to their Law that any
execution take place during that
week. Besides, they feared the
amount of influence which Jesus
might exercise during the week,
when there would be from one TO
two millions of people in and
around Jerusalem from all over
Palestine. They had already de-
termined that their action must be
short, sharp and decisive. This
was decided before the arrest was
made. They were ready and wait
ing at that midnight hour to carry
out their murderous designs, for
the good of their nation, as they
thought.
The examination was merely
preliminary one to get together such
evidence as at the morning Tri-
bunal could be rushed through
rapidly at prearranged session.
HE WAS CHARGED WITH BLAsPHEMY
They had difficulty in finding
charge. For what had Jesus ever
done except acts of kindness and
the uttering of words of wisdom
and correction and hope? Bias
phemy was a serious charge under
the Jewish code, They would
charge him with that as being east
est to prove. He had said when near
the Temple, Destroy this Temple,
and l will rear it up in three 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 ii 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 premeditated his
murder. They wanted something
to give color of justice atleast to
their findings. So the chief-priest
| thought to get Jesus to commit
himself in their presence and said,
/ 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 de-
clared, sufficient proof of bias
phemy. Behold now We have heard
his blasphemy. What reply We?
And the council replied that he was
worthy of death. The rabble in the
Court, hearing the commotion, felt
at liberty to abuse this prisoner, as
they had done others. They show
ed their contempt of him by. splitting
upon him. They derided him by
shifting him and saying, "Prophesy,
tell who smote thee" He was re-
viled, yet reYiled not again"