his disciples and his doctrine. To this Jesus replied, that he had lived and taught publicly; what he had done was before the world; witnesses might easily be found to testify on this head; he was not himself the proper person to be inquired of. It shows the temper of the tribunal, that for this reply one of the officers was permitted to strike Jesus. Yet he had plainly done nothing but state the proper course of proceeding. If he was on trial, witnesses should be summoned. A show was then made of calling witnesses. But it was not easy to find such as would answer the purpose. At length two men came forward, and declared that they had heard him say, "I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days." Something like this he had said at the preceding Passover; and that must have been a faultless life indeed, from which nothing more could be gathered that would bear a criminal construction. As if this were a heinous offence, and nothing further need be required, the High-priest rose from his seat, and asked the prisoner what he had to reply. Jesus had already perceived how vain it was to speak, and remained silent. But it was necessary, if possible, to extort from his own mouth something which might serve to justify their proceeding against him. Therefore the High-priest said, "I adjure thee, by the living God, that thou tell us whether This was thou be the Christ, the Son of God." the regular form of a judicial oath. Jesus felt bound to reply; and declared, that he was not only the Messiah, but that they should witness his glory and exaltation. Upon hearing this, the High-priest declared it to be blasphemy, rent his garments to express his horror, and appealed to the Council that no further testimony was necessary. To this they all assented, and pronounced sentence of death. Then ensued a Scene of outrage, which would not be tolerated in the presence of any modern tribunal in the civilized world. He was buffeted, spit upon, derided, and the officers and servants made him their mockery and sport. If we rightly understand the account, there was now a little pause in the doings of the council; for it is said to have come together again at day break, to consult as to the manner of carrying their sentence into execution. By the law of Moses, a person convicted of blasphemy should be stoned to death. But whether the council really did not now possess this power, which is uncertain, or whether they apprehended that the people would rise to prevent them, or whether they sought to gratify their malice by exposing him to a death more cruel and ignominious;— whichever the reason might be, they determined to carry him before the governor on a charge of sedition and treason. During all this painful scene, no one had appeared for Jesus, no one had spoken for him. Only two of his disciples had even had the courage to follow him. One of these, generally sup Peter posed to be John, being known to the Highpriest, had found easy admission to his house, and obtained admittance for Peter also. Where John placed himself, he has not told us. mingled with the servants who were sitting around a fire in the hall, and hoped to escape notice while he observed what was going forward. What he saw and heard, agitated and intimidated him; so that when one person after another recognised him as a follower of Jesus, he stoutly denied it; and when at last the proof seemed to be growing stronger, and detection to be unavoidable, he, a third time, denied it with oaths. At this moment the cock crew, and the recollection of his Master's words and a sense of his own baseness, rushed upon his mind. He looked toward Jesus, and met his eye fixed full upon him. He could not bear it. He rushed out, and burst into tears. So fell the first and most ardent of the Apostles. But he repented, and rose again, and obtained mercy, and lived to compensate for his temporary defection. Not so with that more unhappy man, who had deliberately betrayed his Lord. He, indeed, sorrowed for his sin; but it was the sorrow of despair. When he found that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse; he carried back the money to the priests, declaring that he had betrayed innocent blood; they derided him for his scruples; and he went away in a state of desperation, and destroyed himself. CHAPTER XXI. JESUS IS BROUGHT BEFORE PILATE, AND CONDEMNED. THE stated residence of the Roman governors of Judea, was Cesarea, a town on the sea-coast. At the great festivals, they came to Jerusalem to enjoy the pomp of the occasion, and attend to the administration of justice. Pilate was accordingly now in the city. He had been governor for about five years; and was acquainted with the peculiarities of the people and of their institutions. It was yet early in the morning, when the members of the Council, removing from the house of Caiaphas, presented themselves with Jesus at the Prætorium, for so the palace of the governor was called. Jesus was led into the presence of Pilate; but his accusers remained without; for they could not enter the house of a Gentile without danger of contracting a pollution, which would unfit them for participating in the festival. They could do a great injustice, but they would not endure a small defilement. So much stronger was their superstition than their principle. Accordingly they remained at the tribunal in front of Mat. xxvii. 11. Mark xv. 1. Luke xxiii. 1. |
