The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-30
OF JESUS
VIOLATED PLAIN LAW
unjust Condemnation" Is
Subject of Lenten Sermon
by Rev. w. A. Belts.

Pointing out the legal. logical and moral
Injustice committed In the trial. convic-
tion and sentence of Jesus, the Rev. DR.
WIN \. Belts. pastor OF the First Meth
odist church. last night delivered the third
In his series OF Lenten sermons. Before
the address the choir sang the third sec.
tion OF Gaul's Passion Music An
nouncIng his subject as THE Unjust Con-
demnation." the pastor said In part:
The whole situation in connection
with the trial OF Jesus was greatly
complicated because OF the political
status OF the Jewish nation. Had they
been independent as in other days
the sanhedrin could have handled
the case alone. but Rome was in the
ascendency and the power OF the san
hcdrin was so abridged that its SEN
tence of death could not be executed
without the consent OF the Roman
governor. Tho most striking feature
I'm the trial OF Jesus is that from be-
ginning to end II was an eXemplifica
ton OF the most fragrant and stipend
Gus disregards for justice 10 be found
in the annals of history
The president OF the sanhedrln was
always tho high priest who at this
time was Joseph Caiaphas. a most
unscrupulous politician whose conccp-
ton OF Justice seems 10 have been
governed by an irrevocable purpose
never 10 allow anything TO come be-
tween him and his wishes. He had a
lucrative business at his country seat.
in the sale OF doveg and other ma
terlals used IN the various offerings
and sacrifices in the temple, and SO
when Jesus cleansed the temple by
driving out tho dove-sellers and mon
e. changers he struck right at the
heart OF o mercenary, INSCRIPTIONS.
tyra aunical and constituencies high
priesthood. It was before the san
hedrin. dominated by this corrupt high
priesthood, that Jesus was first
brought for examination.
1t goes without saying that as far
as Gaia phas was concerned Jesus
was tried. convicted and condemned
and sentenced before he received the
traitors kiss In the garden. Accord
ing 10 Jewish law, the sanhedrn
should meet in the temple. Witnesses
for the defense should be called first
and witnesses for the prosecution be
fore giving testimony were to be
charged With the gravity OF their
duty enjoined not 10 affirm any
thing on hearsay.
This code Of just and wise prin.
case of Jesus. Disregarding every
right OF the accused. false witnesses
were called and questioned after
which Caiaphas rent his garments
and left the room. leaving Jesus TO
suffer violence and humiliation at the
hands OF his servants, who IN harmony
with that spirit OF Innate vulgarity that
delights TO insult one who has been
already injured, gave themselves free
ly TO mocking and scourging the suf-
fering Christ. After this he was hur-
ried to the Roman praetorium to have
the sentence OF death confirmed by
PLATE.
The trial before Plate was even
more roprehensible than the one be-
fore Gala phas PLATE certainly lacked
the element OF real manhood. for he
knew from the first that Jesus was
innocent n ln n
courage TO either release or condemn
him. He first tried to shift the bur
den upon the mob by asking. What
accusation bring ye against this
answer he said: Take We him and
Judge him" When PLATE learned that
Jesus was from Gallllec he saw
way out of the difficulty so in II
smooth. gentlemanly manner he sent
Jesus TO the despicabIe Uerod. hoping
thus TO shift the responsibility and at
the same time TO make friends with
ierod. Part OF the plan succeeded.
Plate, the gentleman. and Berod the
day. and when It came TO voting they
voted together against Jesus.
Herod sent Jesus back to PLATE and
once moro the governor is In the iudG-
ment hall alone with the Christ. Aft
er this interview he declared 1T find
no ult In him but in answer 10 the
call OF the mob he said, Take ye him
and cruelty him.
Jesus IS before you tonight for judg-
ment- II is your turn 10 decide his
claims. You may have been preiu-
diced against him because OF some un-
scrupulous and worldly disciple but
that does not excuse YOU. The qucs-
tion that confronts you is. What
VIII you do with Jesus which Is called
the Christi" You cannot escape the
responsibility. you must acquit or con-
dcnln him: crown him or cruelty him
and not TO acqut him is TO condemn
him and not to crown him IS to cru
city him