[Illustration: Cover art]

THE KING

OF THE JEWS

A STORY

OF CHRIST'S LAST DAYS

ON EARTH

_ADAPTED FROM THE OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY_

By

WILLIAM T. STEAD

CHICAGO:

The Church Press

104 LaSALLE AVENUE

Copyright 1900 and 1902

By George T. B. Davis. 

CONTENTS. 

 I--JESUS DRIVES OUT MONEY CHANGERS II--JESUS' LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM III--THE LAST SUPPER IV--BETRAYED BY A KISS V--PETER COMMITS PERJURY VI--JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF VII--JESUS, PILATE AND HEROD VIII--"JESUS OR BARABBAS" IX--THE CRUCIFIXION X--CONCLUSION

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

The entry into Jerusalem

"Knelt down and anointed Jesus' feet. "

"Drinking of it he passed the cup to Peter. "

"He reached over and kissed him. "

"What accusation have you to bring against this man?"

"Jesus staggered under the cross. "

"It is finished. "

He is risen. 

CHAPTER I. 

JESUS DRIVES OUT THE MONEY-CHANGERS. 

 Cast thyself down in adoring love, Race bowed down by the curse of God! Peace and grace out of Zion above! He is not wroth forever, Though his wrath be just--though uplifted his rod. Thus saith he, who changeth never: "I will not the death of a sinner--I will forgive-- Let him live!" And he gave up his son the world from sin to free, Praise and thanks we give, Eternal, to thee!

Suddenly there was heard a noise of singing. A great multitude camepouring down the narrow street that runs past Pilate's house, chantingas they came, "Hail to thee, O Son of David!" Little children, old menand maidens ran forward, some raising palm branches, but all everlooking backward to one who should come. More and ever more streameddown the street into the open space in front of the temple, but stillthe Hosanna song went on. 

[Illustration: The entry into Jerusalem. ]

At last, in the midst of the jubilant throng, Jesus appeared, clad in along garment of gray, over which was cast a flowing robe. His face wascomposed and pensive. His long black hair and beard surroundedfeatures somewhat swarthy from the rays of the hot sun, and he rode onthe side of the ass's colt that seemed almost too small to support hisweight. 

John, the beloved disciple, dressed in green raiment with a red mantle, led the little ass, carrying in his hand a long pilgrim staff. The mobpressed tumultuously around, singing and crying: "Hosanna to the Son ofDavid!" Jesus blessed them as he rode through their midst. Afterpassing the house of Pilate he suddenly dismounted. Then Jesusadvanced to the front of the temple. The hosannas died away as hecontemplated the busy scene. There were the priests busily engagedwith the money-changers. Nathanael, chief orator of the Sanhedrin, stood conspicuous among the chattering throng. There were baskets withpigeons for sale as sacrifices. There were the tables of the dealers. Buying and selling, haggling and bargaining were in full swing in themarket-place. 

For a moment Jesus, who was above the average height, and whose mienwas dignified and commanding, stood as if amazed and indignant, thensuddenly burst out upon the astonished throng of priests and merchants, with the following protest: "What see I here? Shall my Father's housebe thus dishonored? Is this the house of God, or is it a market-place?How can the strangers who come from the land of the Gentiles to worshipGod perform their devotions in this tumult of usury? And you, " hecontinued, advancing a step toward the priests, who stared at him inamazement, "You priests, guardians of the temple, can you see thisabomination and permit it to continue? Woe be unto you! He whosearches the heart knows why you encourage such disorder. "

The crowd, silent now, watched with eager interest the money-changersand priests, who but imperfectly understanding what had been said tothem, stared at the intruder. 

"Who can this man be?" they asked. 

And then from the lips of all the multitude there went up thesimultaneous response, as if the whole throng had but one voice: "It isthe great prophet from Nazareth, in Galilee!"

Jesus, then moving forward into the midst of the astonished merchantsin the temple, exclaimed, in words of imperious authority: "Away withyou from here, servants to Mammon! I command it. Take what belongs toyou and quit the holy place!"

One of the traders exclaimed in terror: "Come, let us go, that hiswrath destroy us not. "

Then the priests, recovering somewhat their self-possession, steppedforward to remonstrate. "Why troublest thou this people?" they asked. "Everything here is for sacrifice. How canst thou forbid that whichthe council has allowed?" And then the traders, led by one Dathan, chimed in, in eager chorus: "Must there then be no more sacrifices?"

For answer Jesus stood forth and exclaimed: "There is room enoughoutside the temple for your business. 'My house, ' says the Lord, 'shall be called a house of prayer for all nations;' you have made it aden of thieves. "

And then crying, "Away with all this!" with one vigorous movement heoverturned the tables of the money-changers. 

A rabbi exclaimed: "This must not be--thou darest not do this!" but hisvoice passed unheeded in the tumult. The earthenware vessels fellcrashing to the ground, the money was scattered over the floor. Someof the dismayed merchants crying, "My money, oh! my money, " scrambledfor the glittering coins. Others stared in fury at the unceremoniousintruder. Half a dozen doves, released from their wicker baskets, tookto flight amid the despairing lamentation of their owners: "Oh, mydoves; who will compensate me for this loss?"

Their lamentations were rudely cut short. A small rope was hangingnear by. Seizing it in the middle and twisting it once or twice roundhis hand, Jesus converted it into a whip of cords, with which he droveout the traders. "Away! get you hence. I will that this desecratedplace be restored to the worship of the Father!"

The traders fled, but the priests remained, and, after mutteringtogether, they asked in angry tones: "By what miraculous sign dost thouprove that thou hast the power to act in this wise?"

Jesus answered them: "You seek after a sign; yea, a sign shall be givenunto you. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will have built itup again. "

The priests replied, contempt mingling with indignation in their tones:"What a boastful declaration! Six and forty years was this temple inbuilding, and thou wilt build it up again in three days!"

At this point the children who had been standing around watching thealtercation with the dealers, cried out in unison with their elders:"Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord!"

The priests, shocked at their homage, were sorely displeased, andappealed to Jesus, saying: "Hearest thou what they say? Forbid them!"

They paused for his reply. 

Then Jesus answered and said unto them: "I say unto you, if they weresilent the very stones would cry out. "

Encouraged by this emphatic approval, the children cried out once more, louder than ever, the sound of their childish voices filling thetemple: "Hosanna to the Son of David!"

Then the Pharisees, who stood by the overthrown tables of themoney-changers, spoke up and said angrily to the little ones: "Silence, you silly children!"

Jesus turned to them and said: "Have you never read 'Out of the mouthsof babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise. ' That which ishidden from the proud is revealed unto babes?" And as the priests andPharisees muttered in indignation among themselves, he continued: "Forthe Scripture must be fulfilled. The stone which the builders rejectedis become the headstone of the corner. The Kingdom of God shall betaken from you and it shall be given to a people which shall bringforth the fruits thereof. But that stone, whosoever shall fall upon itshall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall it shall grind him topowder. Come, my disciples, I have done what the Father has commandedme, I have vindicated the honor of his house. The darkness remainsdarkness, but in many hearts it will soon be day. Let us go into theinner court of the temple that we may there pray unto the Father. "Thereupon Jesus, followed by his disciples, disappeared in the interiorof the temple, while the people cried aloud as with one voice: "Praisebe to the anointed one!" and the priests said angrily: "Silence, rabble!" The Pharisees adding: "Ye shall all be overthrown with yourleader. " To which the crowd responded by crying louder than ever:"Blessed be the Kingdom of David which again appears!"

Then Nathanael, a leading man in the Sanhedrin, tall and well favored, wearing a horned mitre, and possessing the tongue of an orator, stoodforth, and seeing Jesus had departed and that there was now no one towithstand him in the hearing of the people, lifted up his voice andcried: "Whosoever holds with our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, lethim stand by us! The curse of Moses upon all the rest!"

Then a rabbi in blue velvet apparel, sprang forward and declared with aloud voice: "He is a deceiver of the people, an enemy of Moses, anenemy of the Holy Law!" The people answered mockingly: "Then, if so, why did you not arrest him? Is he not a prophet?"

Several of the multitude followed Jesus into the temple, but the restremained listening to the priests, who cried more vehemently than ever:"Away with the prophet! He is a false teacher. "

But Nathanael, seizing the opportunity, thus addressed the remainder ofthe multitude: "Oh, thou blinded people, wilt thou run after theinnovator, and forsake Moses, the prophets, and thy priests? Fearestthou not that the curse which the law denounces against the apostatewill crush thee? Would you cease to be the chosen people?"

The crowd shaken by this appeal, responded sullenly: "That would wenot. "

Nathanael pressed his advantage. "Who, " he asked, "has to watch overthe purity of the law? Is it not the holy Sanhedrin of the people ofIsrael? To whom will you listen; to us or to him? To us or to him whohas proclaimed himself the expounder of a new law?"

Then the multitude cried all together: "We hear you! we follow you!"Nathanael continued: "Down with him, then, this man full of deceit anderror!"

The people replied: "Yes, we stand side by side with you! Yes, we areMoses' disciples!" and the priests answered, speaking all together:"The God of your fathers will bless you for that. "

At this moment loud and angry voices were heard approaching down thenarrow street that led to the house of Annas, the high priest. Thepriests and Pharisees listened eagerly. As they caught the word"revenge" they turned to each other with exultant looks. MeanwhileDathan, a merchant, the chief of the traders who had been driven fromthe temple, was seen to be leading on his fellow merchants, who werelifting up their hands and weeping as they recounted their losses. They shouted confusedly as they came: "This insult must be punished!Revenge! Revenge! He shall pay dearly for his insolence. Money, oil, salt; doves--he must pay for all. Where is he, that he may experienceour vengeance?"

The priests replied: "He has conveyed himself away. "

"Then, " cried the traders, "we will pursue him. "

But Nathanael, seeing what advantage might result from the discontentof the merchants, arrested their pursuit. "Stay friends, " he said;"the faction that follows this man is at present too large. If youattacked them it might cause a dangerous fight, which the Roman swordwould finish. Trust to us. He shall not escape punishment. "

And the priests who stood around Nathanael cried: "With us and for us:that is your salvation!" Then Dathan and his friends exclaimedtriumphantly: "Our victory is near. "

Nathanael assured of the control of the multitude, continued: "We arenow going to inform the council of the Sanhedrin of today's events. "

The traders impatiently exclaimed: "We will go with you. We must havesatisfaction. "

But Nathanael dissuaded them, saying: "Come in an hour's time to theforecourt of the high priest. I will plead your cause in the council, and bring forward your complaint. "

And as Nathanael and the priests and the Pharisees went out, thetraders and the people cheered them, crying aloud: "We have Moses!Down with every other! We are for Moses' law to the death! Praise beto our fathers! Praise to our father's God!"

 * * * * * *

Then the high priests and the rulers and the elders gathered togetherlate in the night in the council of the Sanhedrin. In the highestplace sat Caiaphas with his jewelled breast-plate, in robes of whiteembroidered with gold. A vestment of green and gold covered hisshoulders, and on his head he wore a white-horned mitre adorned withgolden bells, which added to the majesty of his aspect. Annas, theaged high priest, sat on his left. Nathanael, also on the raised dais, was on the right. Below him sat the rabbis in blue velvet, whileseated around were Pharisees, scribes and doctors of the law. 

Caiaphas, whose white hair and beard showed that he was well strickenin years, was still in the full vigor of life. As president of theSanhedrin, he briefly opened the session:

"Honored brothers, fathers and teachers of the people, an extraordinaryoccurrence is the occasion of the present extraordinary assembly. Listen to it from the mouth of our worthy brother. "

Then Nathanael arose, and standing on the right hand of Caiaphas, said:"Is it allowed; O, fathers, to say a word?"

All answered: "Yes, speak! speak!"

Then said Nathanael: "Marvel not, O fathers, that you should be calledtogether at so late an hour for the transaction of business. It mustbe only too well known to you what we have with shame been compelled tosee today with our own eyes. You have seen the triumphal progress ofthe Galilean through the Holy City. You have heard the Hosannas of thebefooled populace. You have perceived how this ambitious man arrogatesto himself the office of the high priest. What now lacks for thedestruction of all civil and ecclesiastical order? Only a few stepsfurther, and the law of Moses is upset by the innovations of thismisleader. The sayings of our forefathers are despised, the fasts andpurifications abolished, the Sabbath desecrated, the priests of Goddeprived of their office, and the holy sacrifices are at an end. "

As Nathanael concluded, all the fathers of the council exclaimed withone voice: "True--most true. " As he had been speaking they had beeninterchanging notes of appreciative and sympathetic comment. But itwas not until Caiaphas spoke that the Sanhedrin was roused to thehighest pitch of excitement. Caiaphas, who spoke with great fire andfervor, thus addressed the rulers of Israel: "And more than all this. Encouraged by the success of his efforts, he will proclaim himself Kingof Israel (murmurs of alarm and indignation), then the land will bedistracted with civil war and revolt, and the Romans will come withtheir armies and bring destruction upon our land and our people. Woeis me for the children of Israel, for the Holy City, and for the templeof the Lord, if no barrier is opposed to the evil while there is yettime! It is indeed high time. We must be the saviors of Israel. Today must a resolution be passed, and whatever is resolved upon mustbe carried out without regard to any other consideration. Do we allagree to this?"

And all the Sanhedrin as one man cried out: "We do. "

Up sprang a priest to emphasize his vote:

"A stop must be put to the course of this misleader. "

Caiaphas then said: "Give your opinion without reserve as to whatshould be done. "

And then a rabbi arose and said: "If I may be permitted to declare myopinion unreservedly, I must assert that we ourselves are to blame thatthings have come to such a pass. Against this onrushing ruin much toomild measures have been employed. Of what avail have been ourdisputations with him, or what has it profited that we have by ourquestionings, put him in a dilemma; that we have pointed, out theerrors in his teaching and his violations of the law? Nay, of what usehas been even the excommunication pronounced on all who acknowledgedhim as the Messiah? All this was labor in vain. Men turn their backson us, and all the world runs after him. To restore peace to Israel, that must be done which ought to have been done long ago--we mustarrest him and throw him into prison. That is the only way to put anend to his evil influence. "

The suggestion was hailed with enthusiasm, and springing to their feetthey cried: "Yea, that must be done!"

Then a third priest stood up and said: "Once he is in prison, thecredulous people will no longer be attracted by the fascination of hismanner or the charm of his discourse. When they have no more miraclesto gape at; he will soon be forgotten. "

And a fourth priest exulted as he added: "In the darkness of hisdungeon let him make his light shine and proclaim his Messiahship tothe walls of the jail. "

Then it was the turn of the Pharisees. The first said: "He has beenallowed long enough to lead the people astray and to denounce ashypocrisy the strict virtue of the Holy Order of the Pharisees. Lethim suffer in fetters for his contempt. "

A second Pharisee added complacently: "The enthusiasm of his hangers-onwill soon cool down when he who has promised them freedom is himself inchains. "

By this time it was evident all the council was of one mind. ThenAnnas, the venerable high priest, arose and addressed the Sanhedrinwith much emotion: "Now, venerable priests, a ray of confidence and joypenetrates to my breast when I see your unanimous resolution. Alas! anunspeakable grief has weighed down my soul at the sight of the onwardprogress of the false teachings of this Galilean. It seemed as if Ihad lived to old age but in order to have the misfortune of seeing thedownfall of our holy law. But now I will not despair. The God of ourfathers still lives, and he is with us. If you have the courage to actboldly, and to stand firmly and faithfully together, there is safety athand. Take courage, steadfastly pursue the aim in view, and be thedeliverer of Israel, and undying fame will be your reward. "

With one accord all answered and said: "We are of one mind, " while thepriests added, shouting eagerly, "Israel must be saved!"

Then Caiaphas began: "All honor to your unanimous resolution, worthybrethren, but now let me have the benefit of your wise counsels how wecan most safely bring this deceiver into our power. "

"It might be dangerous, " remarked the first Pharisee, "to seize him nowat the time of the feast. In the streets or in the temple he iseverywhere surrounded by a mob of infatuated followers. It couldeasily lead to an uproar. "

Then cried all the priests together with a loud voice, as if impatientthat one should speak at a time: "But something must be done at once. The matter brooks no delay. Perhaps at the feast he might raise acommotion, and then it might come to pass that we should be consignedto the place which we have destined for him. "

"No delay;" cried some other priests, "no delay!"

Then the second Pharisee stood up and said: "We cannot now seize himopenly with the strong hand. We must carry out our scheme cunninglyand in secret. Let us find out where he usually spends the night; thenwe could fall upon him unobserved and take him into custody. "

Nathanael sprang to his feet, for the auspicious moment had come, --thefurious merchants from the temple were without in the courtyard. "Totrack the fox to his lair will not be difficult. We could then soonfind someone to help, if it should please the high council to offer alarge reward. "

Caiaphas at once put the resolution to the Sanhedrin. Rising from hisseat he said, "If you, assembled fathers, agree, then in the name ofthe high council I will issue notice that whoever knows of his nightlyresort, and will inform us of the same, will be rewarded for his pains. "

With one voice the rulers and chief priests and scribes cried out, rising from their seats, "We are all agreed. "

Then said Nathanael, "Without doubt we could secure the services, asinformers, of those men whom the Galilean today has injured so deeplyin the sight of all the people, driving them with a scourge out of thetemple. From of old they were zealous of the law, but now they arethirsting for revenge against him who has made so unheard-of an attackupon their privileges. "

"But where, " said Caiaphas, "are these traders to be found?"

"They are waiting, " said Nathanael, "in readiness in the outer court. I have promised them to be the advocate of their cause before the holySanhedrin, and they await our decision. "

"Worthy priest, " said Caiaphas, "inform them that the high council isdisposed to listen to their grievance, and bring them in. "

Nathanael as he went said, "This will be a joy to them and of great useto us. "

When Nathanael left the hall, Caiaphas addressed the council with wordsof cheer: "The God of our fathers has not withdrawn his hand from us. Moses still watches over us. If only we can succeed in gatheringaround us a nucleus of men out of the people then I no longer dread theresult. Friends and brethren, let us be of good courage, our fatherslook down upon us from Abraham's bosom. "

"God bless our high priest!" rang through the hall as Nathanael, followed by Dathan and the other traders, returned to his place. Heintroduced them thus: "High priests and chosen teachers! These men, worthy of our blessing, appear before this assembly in order to lodge acomplaint against the notorious Jesus of Nazareth, who has todayinsulted them in the temple in an unheard-of fashion and brought themto grief. "

Then with one voice the traders, led by Dathan, cried out, "We beseechthe council to procure us satisfaction. The council ought to supportour righteous demands. "

The priests and Pharisees responded eagerly, "You shall havesatisfaction, we will answer for that. "

Then ensued the following dialogue between the traders and theSanhedrin:

The Traders: "Has not the council authorized us to display openly inthe court of the temple all things useful for the sacrifice?"

A Priest: "Yes, that has been sanctioned. Woe be to those who disturbyou in the exercise of this right!"

The Traders: "And the Galilean has driven us out with a scourge. Andthe tables of the money changers has he overturned, and released thedoves. We demand satisfaction. "

Caiaphas: "That you should have satisfaction the law decrees. Yourlosses will be made good in the meantime out of the temple treasury"(joy among the traders). "But that the offender himself may be dulypunished it is necessary for us to have your help. What can we do solong as he is not in our power?"

The Traders: "He goes daily to the temple; there he can easily bearrested and carried off. "

Caiaphas: "That will not do. You know that as he has a multitude ofexcited followers such a course might lead to a dangerous uproar. Thething must be done quietly. "

The Traders: "That could be done best at night-time. "

Caiaphas: "If you could find out where he retires at night he wouldsoon be without tumult in our hands. Then would you not only have thedelight of seeing him chastised, but also a considerable reward wouldfall to your lot. "

Nathanael: "And you would also have rendered good service to the law ofMoses if you assist in this. "

Then all the traders cried out together: "You can depend upon us, wewill spare no trouble. "

And all the priests and Pharisees congratulated themselves that thebusiness was going well. Dathan, conspicuous by his apparel, thenvolunteered a statement. He said: "I know one of his followers fromwhom I could easily gain some information if I could offer him asufficient reward. "

Caiaphas at once authorized him, "If thou findest such a one make allnecessary promises in our name. Only don't loiter; we must attain ourend before the feast. "

Annas enjoined the strictest silence, to which with one voice thetraders responded, "We swear it, " and then Caiaphas proceeded to urgeupon them the need of creating a party on their side among the people. "If, my good fellows, you really desire fully to glut your longing forrevenge, then take care and use every means to kindle in others thesame holy zeal which glows in you. "

They answered that they had not waited for his prompting, but hadalready brought several others over to their side. "We will not restuntil the whole populace is roused against him. "

Annas and Caiaphas applauded their zeal. "You will thereby merit thegreatest gratitude from the council, " said Annas, and Caiaphas chimedin, "Openly will ye then be honored before all the people as you havebeen today put to shame before them by this presumptuous man. "

"Our life for the law of Moses and the holy Sanhedrin, " then cried thetraders. "The God of Abraham guide you, " said Caiaphas dismissingthem, and they left the hall crying aloud, "Long live Moses! long livethe high priests and the Sanhedrin! Even today may the role of theGalilean be played out!"

Then Caiaphas addressed these parting words to the council: "As thoughrefreshed by sweet slumbers, I live once more. With such men as thesewe can put everything through. Now we shall see who will triumph, --hewith his followers to whom he is always preaching love, --a love whichis to include publicans and sinners and even the Gentiles also, --or wewith this troop inspired by hate and revenge which we are sendingagainst him. There can be no doubt to which side the victory willincline. "

"The God of our fathers give us the victory!" said Annas; "joy in myold age will renew my youth!"

Then said Caiaphas, "Let us now break up, looking forward withconfidence to the joy of victory. Praised be our fathers!"

And all the assembly with a deep, sonorous voice exclaimed, "Praised bethe God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob!"

CHAPTER II. 

JESUS' LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM. 

 People of God behold; thy Savior is nigh to thee! He is come who was promised thee long ago. Oh! hear him, follow his guidance Blessing and life will he bring to thee. 

 But blind and deaf Jerusalem has shown herself; She has thrust back the hands held out to her in love; Therefore also the Highest has turned away his face, And lets her sink to destruction. 

Jesus, accompanied by all his disciples, set out to pay his last visitto Bethany. Peter, with his staff in hand, walked with John beside themaster. Judas was present, with disheveled locks and haggard look, James the Greater and James the Less, and Andrew and Thomas, and therest of the disciples. 

Then Jesus spoke unto them and said: "You know, dear disciples, thatafter two days is the feast of the Passover. So now let us make onelast visit to our friends in Bethany, and then go to Jerusalem, wherein these days all will be fulfilled which has been written by theprophets concerning the Son of Man. "

The disciples understood not his saying, and after some questioningamong themselves Philip ventured to address Jesus, saying unto him, "Has the day then really come at last when thou wilt restore thekingdom to Israel?"

Jesus looked upon Philip with tender compassion, and said unto him, "Then shall the Son of Man be delivered up to the Gentiles, and shallbe mocked and spat upon and they will crucify him; but on the third dayhe will rise again. "

Then said John in a voice that trembled with emotion, as the otherdisciples gazed at each other in horror, "Dear master, what dark andterrible words thou speakest. What are we to understand by them? Makeit clear unto us. "

Then Jesus answered and said unto him, "The hour is now come when theSon of Man shall be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if acorn of wheat does not fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone, but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. Now is the judgment of theworld. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I belifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. "

Then were the breasts of the disciples troubled, for they could notunderstand what these things meant. Thaddeus said to Simon, "What doeshe mean by this speech?"

Simon replied with a puzzled air, "Why does he compare himself to agrain of corn?"

Then said Andrew unto him, "Lord, thou speakest at once of shame and ofvictory. I know not how to reconcile those ideas in my mind. "

Jesus said, "That which is now dark to you as the night will be asclear as the day. I have told you before that you may not lose couragewhatever may happen. Believe and hope. When the tribulation ispassed, then you will see and understand. "

Thomas answered and said unto him, "What I cannot understand is thatthou shouldst speak of suffering and of death. Have we not heard fromthe prophets that the Messiah shall live forever? What can thineenemies do unto thee? One single word from thee would annihilate themall. "

Jesus said unto him, "Thomas, reverence the secret counsels of Godwhich thou canst not fathom. "

Then, turning to the others, he said, "Yet a little while is the lightwith you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. "

By this time they had approached near the village of Bethany, and theremet them one Simon, after whom there came Lazarus, who was raised fromthe dead, with Martha, his sister, and Mary Magdalene, the latter tall, dark, with long black hair, in dark blue dress with a yellow mantle. 

Simon pressed forward; he was an old man and he hastened to meet Jesus. "Welcome, best of teachers, O what joy that thou shouldst honor myhouse with thy entrance. Dear friends, be also welcome, " he exclaimed;but he was startled to hear the reply, "Simon, for the last time I, with my disciples, lay claim to thy hospitality. "

Simon replied in grief, "Say not so, Lord. Often still shall Bethanyafford thee brief repose. "

By this time Lazarus drew near; he was of less than middle stature andsilent, as if his sojourn in the other world left him little to speakof in this. "See, " said Jesus, "there is our friend Lazarus. "

"My Lord, " cried Lazarus, embracing him, "the vanquisher of death, lifegiver and Lord, I see thee once again and hear the voice thatcalled me from the grave. "

Then hastened the Magdalene to his side, and kneeling down, "Rabbi, "she exclaimed; Martha also said, "Welcome, Rabbi. "

Then Jesus blessed them, saying, "God's blessing be upon you!"

Then Martha asked, "Wilt thou Lord, grant me the happiness of servingthee?" while the Magdalene timidly inquired, "Wilt thou despise a tokenof love and gratitude from me?"

And Jesus replied with tenderness, "Do, good souls, that which youpurpose to do. "

Then said Simon, "Best of masters, come under my roof and refreshthyself and thy disciples. "

So Jesus entered into Simon's house, exclaiming, "Peace be upon thishouse, " to which the disciples added, speaking together, "And to allthat dwell therein. " Then said Simon, "Lord, all is ready, set theedown at table and bid thy disciples sit down also. "

Then Jesus sat down to meat, saying, "Let us now, beloved disciples, enjoy with thanks the gifts which our Father in heaven bestows upon usthrough Simon, his servant. O Jerusalem, would that my coming were asdear to thee as it is to these, my friends! But thou are stricken withblindness. "

"Yes, Lord, " remarked Lazarus; "O best of masters, dangers threatenthee. The Pharisees are anxiously wondering whether thou wilt come upto the Passover. They are eagerly watching for thy destruction. "

Simon said, "Stay here, Lord; here thou art safe. "

Then Peter interposed with an entreaty, "Lord, it is good to be here. Remain here, in the seclusion of this house, served by faithful love, till the gathering storm be passed. "

But Jesus rebuked him sternly, saying: "Get thee behind me, tempter. Thou savorest not of the things that are of God, but those that be ofmen. Can the reaper tarry in the shade while the ripe harvest awaitshim? The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to ministerand to give his life a ransom for many. "

Then the dark-browed Judas spoke, uttering this time the thought ofall. "But, master, what will become of us if thou givest up thy life?"

A chorus of approval burst from all the disciples, "Ah, all our hopeswould then be destroyed. "

"Trouble not yourselves, " said Jesus, "I have power to lay down my lifeand I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I receivedof my Father. "

And lo, while they were yet speaking, Mary Magdalene silentlyapproached Jesus, carrying in her hand a bottle of ointment ofspikenard, very precious, which she poured over his head as shemurmured but one word, "Rabbi. " And Jesus also said but one word, "Mary, " but his tone was full of tenderness and love. 

As the perfume of the ointment filled the room the disciples spokeamong themselves. "What an exquisite odor!" said Thomas, leaning pastthe others to look. 

"It is real oil of spikenard, very costly, " said Bartholomew. 

Thaddeus added, "Such an honor has never been shown to our master. "

But Judas could not contain himself. He growled from his distant seat, "To what purpose is this waste? The money might have been much betterexpended. "

"Yes, " said Thomas, "I almost think so, too. "

Then Magdalene, heedless of the murmurs of the disciples, knelt downand anointed Jesus' feet and wiped them with her long black tresses. Jesus, after a little while, noticing the muttering down the table, asked, "What are you saying to each other? Why do you condemn thatwhich is done only from grateful love. "

[Illustration: "Knelt down and anointed Jesus' feet. "]

The Magdalene knelt back, sheltering herself as it were behind her Lord. 

Judas blurted out impetuously his dissatisfaction. "To pour out somuch costly ointment, what wasteful extravagance!"

"Friend Judas, " said Jesus, "look at me. Is what is done for me, thymaster, waste?"

Judas said, "I know that thou lovest not useless expense; the ointmentmight have been sold and the poor helped with the money!" HearingJudas' answer he half turned away and looked wearily upward, foldinghis hands. 

"Judas, " said Jesus somewhat sternly, "hand upon thy heart now. Is itonly pity for the poor which moves thee so much?"

Judas replied, "At least three hundred pence could have been got forit. What a loss both for the poor and for us. "

Then Jesus answered and said, "The poor you have always with you, butme ye have not always. " Then he said, "Let her alone, she has wroughta good work on me, for in that she has poured out the ointment upon me, she has anointed me for my burial. Verily I say unto you, wheresoeverthe gospel will be preached through the whole world, there shall alsothis which she hath done be told for a memorial of her. "

He then said to the disciples, "Let us arise"--and then turning toSimon, his host, he said, "I thank thee, benevolent man, for thyhospitality, the Father will repay it unto thee. "

"Say nothing of thanks, master, " said Simon; "I know what I owe tothee. "

Then Jesus arose and said, "It is time to go hence. Farewell all yedwellers in this hospitable house. My disciples, follow me. "

Peter said unto him, "Lord, wherever thou wilt, only not to Jerusalem. "

Jesus answered, "I go where my Father calls me. If it please thee toremain here, Peter, do so. " Then Peter declared, "Lord, where thouabidest there will I also abide; whither thou goest there go I also. "

Jesus said, "Come then. "

The disciples arose and clasping their staffs were ready to depart. Then Jesus turned to Mary Magdalene and Martha and said, "Remain here, beloved! Once more, fare ye well. Dear, peaceful Bethany, never moreshall I tarry in thy quiet vale. "

Simon, sore troubled in speech as he heard these words, said unto him, "Then wilt thou really depart hence forever?"

Mary Magdalene threw herself at his feet and said, "Alas, I am filledwith terrible forebodings. Friend of my soul! My heart--oh! myheart--it will not let thee go!"

Jesus said unto her, "Stand up, Mary. The night cometh and the winterstorms come blustering on. But be comforted. In the early morning inthe garden of spring, thou wilt see me again. "

Lazarus exclaimed, "Oh! my friend, my benefactor!"

"Alas!" cried Martha, "thou art going; and comest thou back nevermore?"

Jesus said, "The Father wills it, beloved. Wherever I am I bear youever with me in my heart, and wherever you are, my blessings willfollow you. Farewell. "

And behold as they turned to go, there met them Mary, the mother ofJesus, with her companions. Mary had a white mantle round her head, from beneath which her long dark hair hung down. She hastened to herson, crying, "Jesus, dearest son, I hastened after thee with myfriends, in eager longing to see thee once more before thou goest, allwhither?"

Jesus clasped her hands gently and replied, "Mother, I am on the way toJerusalem. "

"To Jerusalem, " said his mother. "There is the temple of Jehovah, whither I once carried thee in my arms to offer thee to the Lord. "

"Mother, " said Jesus in solemn sadness, "the hour is come whenaccording to the will of the Father I shall offer myself. I am readyto complete the sacrifice which the Father demands from me. "

"Ah, " cried Mary with bitter and piteous cry, "I foresee what kind of asacrifice that will be. "

John and Mary Magdalene had joined the mother of Jesus, and the twoMarys standing together united their lament. 

"How much we had wished, " said the Magdalene, "to keep back the masterand make him remain with us. "

"It is of no use, " said Simon gloomily, "his purpose is fixed. "

Then said Jesus to his mother, tenderly beholding her, "My hour iscome. "

All the disciples cried, "Oh, ask the Father that he should let it passby. "

Then all the women said, "The Father has always listened to thee. "

But Jesus said: "How is my soul troubled, and what shall I say?Father, deliver me from this hour! But for this hour came I into theworld. "

But Mary hearing him, exclaimed as in a trance, "Oh, venerable Simon, now will be fulfilled that which thou once prophesied to me, 'A swordshall pierce through thine own soul!'" And as she spoke Mary Magdalenegently supported her from falling. 

Jesus said in terms of gentle reproach, "Mother, the will of the Fatherwas also ever sacred to thee. " His word rallied her courage and shereplied, "It is so to me still. I am the handmaid of the Lord. Whathe requires of me I will bear patiently. But one thing I beg of thee, my son. "

"What desirest thou, my mother?"

"That I may go with thee into the fierce conflict of suffering, yea, even unto death!"

"Oh, what love!" exclaimed John, who stood tearfully beside the twoMarys, wistfully looking for some ray of hope to illumine the darknessbeyond. 

Jesus embraced her lovingly. "Dear mother, thou wilt suffer with me, thou wilt fight with me in my death struggle, but thou wilt alsorejoice with me in my victory, therefore be comforted. "

"Oh, God!" she cried in heartrending accents, "give me strength that myheart may not break. "

"We all weep with thee, thou best of mothers, " said the holy women, adding their tears to those of the mother of Jesus. 

"I will go with thee, my son, to Jerusalem, " said Mary. 

And the holy women declared they also would go with her. 

But Jesus, holding her hand, tenderly forbade her: "Later you may gothither, but not now. For the present stay with our friends atBethany. I commend to you, O faithful souls, my beloved mother, withthose who have followed her here. "

Eagerly the Magdalene accepted the charge. 

"After thee, " she exclaimed, "there is no one dearer to us than thymother. "

But even at the eleventh hour Lazarus interposed one last word ofentreaty: "If only thou, O master, couldst remain!"

Not noticing this, Jesus said, "Comfort ye one another. After two daysyou may come up together to Jerusalem, to be there on the great day ofthe feast. "

Mary said: "As thou wilt, my son. "

But the holy women said: "How sadly will the hours pass when thou artfar from us. "

Then Jesus spoke to his mother and said, "Mother, mother, for thetender love and motherly care which thou hast shown to me for the threeand thirty years of my life, receive the warmest thanks of thy son. "And stooping down he kissed her. Then raising his head, he said, "TheFather calls me. Fare thee well, best of mothers. "

Mary asked him: "My son, where shall I see thee again?"

And Jesus replied: "There, beloved mother, where the Scripture shall befulfilled: 'He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and he opened nothis mouth. '"

Mary sobbing, cried aloud, "Jesus, thy mother, oh! Oh, God, my son!"

Half fainting she was held up by the holy women, who exclaimed, "Obeloved, faithful mother!"

The disciples departed, muttering, "We cannot endure it. What will bethe end of all this?"

Then burst from their lips the despairing cry, "Alas, what afflictionlies before us all?"

But Jesus said, "Sink not in the first conflict. Hold fast by me. "

And the disciples repeated, "Yea, master, fast by thee. "

Lazarus and the women looking back after Christ as he passed out ofsight, exclaimed, "Ah! our dear teacher, " while Simon said, "He broughthappiness to my house. "

Simon then turned tenderly to Mary and said: "Come, mother, andcondescend to enter in. " "One consolation remains to us intribulation, " said Mary Magdalene, and Martha added, "To have themother of our Lord with us. " Turning to the other women, Lazarus said, "And you, beloved ones, come with us, we will share our woe and tearstogether. "

All then together went into the house, Mary Magdalene supporting themother of Jesus. 

 * * * * * *

Now as they came unto Jerusalem they looked down upon the whole citywhich lay before them. Then said John unto Jesus, "Master, behold whata splendid view of Jerusalem from this spot!"

Matthew said, "The majestic temple, how splendidly it is built. "

Jesus was troubled in spirit, and after gazing for a moment over thecity, clasped his hands in grief and cried, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Othat thou hadst known even in this thy day the things that belong untothy peace! but now they are hidden from thine eyes!"

Jesus wept. 

His disciples beholding him weep were amazed. At last Peter venturedto say, "Master, why grievest thou so sorely?"

Jesus answered, "My Peter, the fate of this unhappy city goes to myheart. "

Then said John, "Lord, tell us what shall this fate be?"

Jesus answered and said unto them, "The days will come when her enemieswill make a trench about her walls and close her in on every side, andlay her even with the ground. She and her children within her wallswill be dashed to the earth, and not one stone will be left uponanother. "

Andrew, giving expression to the general consternation, asked, "Wherefore shall the city have so sad a doom?"

Jesus said, "Because she hath not known the day of her visitation. Alas! she who hath slain the prophets will kill the Messiah himself. "

Then spoke all the disciples together, "What a terrible deed!"

James, the elder, said, "God forbid that the city of Jehovah shouldbring such a curse upon herself. "

And John with pleading voice added, "Dearest master, for the sake ofthe holy city and the temple, I beg of thee go not thither, so that theopportunity may be wanting to those evil men to do the worst. "

"Or, " said Peter, "go thither and display thyself in all thy majesty, so that the good may rejoice and the evil tremble. "

"Yes, " cried all the twelve eagerly, "do that. "

Philip said, "Strike down thine enemies!" and all added earnestly, "Andset up the kingdom of God among men!"

Jesus answered, "Children, that which you desire shall come to pass indue time, but my ways are appointed to me by my father, and thus saiththe Lord, 'My thoughts are not as your thoughts, and my ways are not asyour ways. '"

Then, as if to cut short a useless discussion, he said, "Peter!" Peterreplied, "What wilt thou, Lord?" and the Lord continued, "It is now thefirst day of unleavened bread, in which the law commands that we shouldeat the Passover; you, both Peter and John, go forward and prepare thePassover that we may eat it in the evening. "

Peter and John, who stood the one on the left and the other on theright, asked, "Where wilt thou, Lord, that we prepare the Passover?"

Jesus said, "When you come into the city there shall meet you a manbearing a pitcher of water, follow ye him and wheresoever he shall goin, say ye to the good man of the house, 'The master says, Where is theguest-chamber that I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' and hewill show you a large upper chamber furnished and prepared; there makeready the Passover. "

"Thy blessing, O best of masters!" said Peter. He and John knelt oneither side of their Lord, Jesus placed his right hand on the head ofJohn and his left hand on the head of Peter, exclaiming, "God'sblessing be with you!"

Peter and John having departed, Jesus said to the others, "Accompany mefor the last time to the house of my Father. "

Then Judas, who had for some time past stood apart, came forward andsaid, "But, master, allow me; if thou wilt really leave us, make somearrangement for our future support. Look here, " he added, pointing tothe small bag almost empty of coin, which he carried in his girdle, "there is not enough here for one day more. "

Jesus looked upon him and said, "Judas, do not be more anxious than isneedful. "

But Judas went on muttering and looking not at his Lord, but at thebag, "How well the value of that uselessly wasted ointment would havelain therein! how long we could have lived on it without care!"

Jesus reproved him, saying, "You have never lacked anything hithertoand, believe me, that what is necessary will not fail you in time tocome. "

Judas said, "But, master, when thou art no longer with us our goodfriends will soon draw back, and then we shall be left in soredistress. "

Jesus said unto him, "Friend Judas, beware lest thou fall intotemptation. "

The other disciples who had listened to this conversation theninterrupted, saying altogether, "Judas, trouble not the master so much. "

Judas retorted, "Who will take thought if I do not? Have I not beenappointed by the master to carry the bag?"

"Thou hast, " said Jesus, "but I fear----"

"And I also fear, " interrupted Judas, "that soon it will be empty andremain so. "

Then Jesus went close up to him and said gravely and gently, "Judas, forget not thy warning. Arise, now let us go hence, I desire to be inthe house of my Father. "

Jesus then, followed by his disciples, excepting Judas, passed on tothe city. 

Judas, being left alone, said to himself, "Shall I follow him anylonger. I do not much care to do so. The master's conduct to me isvery inexplicable. His great deeds allowed us to hope that he wouldrestore again the kingdom to Israel. But he does not seize theopportunities that offer themselves, and now he constantly talks ofparting and dying, and puts us off with mysterious words about a futurewhich lies too far off in the dim distance for me. I am tired ofhoping and waiting. I can see very well, that with him there is noprospect of anything but continued poverty and humiliation, --andinstead of the sharing, as we expected, in his glorious kingdom, weshall perhaps be persecuted and thrown into prison with him. I willdraw back. It was a good thing that I was always prudent and cautious, and have now and then laid aside a trifle out of the bag in case ofneed. How useful I should find those 300 pence now which the foolishwoman threw away on a useless mark of respect. If, as seems likely, the society is about to dissolve, they would have remained in myhands--then I should have been safe for a long while to come. As itis, I must consider the question, where and how I can find subsistence. "

As he stood alone under the trees, perplexed and troubled, Dathanappeared in the distance, and, spying Judas, said to himself, "Theoccasion is favorable. He is alone and seems much perplexed. I musttry everything in order to secure him. "

Then stepping forward he laid his hand upon the shoulder of Judas, exclaiming, "Friend Judas!"

Judas started as if a serpent had stung him and striking his head withhis hand cried, "Who calls?"

"A friend, " said Dathan; "has anything sad happened to thee? Thou artso absorbed in thought?"

Judas, staring wildly, asked, "Who art thou?"

"Thy friend, thy brother, " cried Dathan. 

Judas, staring backward, exclaimed: "Thou art my friend, my brother?"

"At least, " said Dathan, "I wish to be so. How is it with the master?I also would like to become one of his disciples. "

Judas said, "One of his disciples?"

"Why?" said Dathan, "hast thou then forsaken him? Are things not wellwith him? Tell me that I may know how to act. "

Then Judas said unto him, "Canst thou keep silence?"

"Be assured of that, " said Dathan. 

"Then, " answered Judas, "it is no longer going well with him. He sayshimself his last hour has come. " And then Judas rapidly ran over thevarious predictions of disaster which he had heard from the lips ofJesus. "I intend to forsake him, for he will yet bring us all to ruin. See here, " said he, producing the almost empty purse, "I am treasurer, see how it stands with us. "

"Friend, " said Dathan, shrugging his shoulders, "I shall remain as Iam. " At this moment six of Dathan's companions came up. 

Judas, alarmed, asked, "Who are these? I will not say another word. "

"Stay, friend, " said one of the newcomers, "you will not regret it. "

"Why have you come here?" asked Judas. 

"We were going back to Jerusalem and we will bear thee company if itplease thee. "

Judas, suspiciously eyeing them, asked, "Do you also perhaps wish to goafter the master?"

Then said the traders, "Has he gone to Jerusalem?"

"For the last time, " said Judas, "so he says. "

"What!" said they, "for the last time? Is he then never going to leavethe land of Judea again?"

"Why do you ask me this so eagerly?" said Judas, "do you wish to becomehis followers?"

"Why not?" said the traders with a laugh, "if the prospects are good;"and Dathan added, "Explain to us, Judas, the meaning of thy words thathe would bring you all to ruin. "

And Judas replied: "He tells us always to take no thought for themorrow, but if today anything happened we should all be as poor asbeggars. Does a master care thus for his own?"

"Truly, " said the traders, "the lookout is bad. "

Then Judas related once more the story of Mary Magdalene's waste ofprecious ointment. "And at the same time this very day he permittedthe most senseless waste which a foolish woman was guilty of, thinkingto obtain honor; and when I found fault with this I only met withreproachful words and looks. "

"And thou canst still care for him after that?" said the traderscontemptuously, "and art still willing to remain with him? Thoushouldst take thought for thine own future; it is high time. "

"So I have been thinking, " said Judas, "but how can I find a goodopening?"

Then said Dathan, "Thou hast not long to seek, for the fairestopportunity is awaiting thee. "

"Where? How?" said Judas eagerly. 

"Hast thou not heard, " said the traders, "of the proclamation of thecouncil? Such a good opportunity of making thy fortune thou wilt neverfind again thy whole life long. "

Judas' eyes gleamed. "What proclamation?" he asked. 

The traders said, "Whosoever gives information as to the nightly resortof Jesus of Nazareth shall receive a large reward. "

"A large reward!" said Judas. 

"Now who, " said they, "can earn it easier than thou?"

Dathan muttered to himself, "We have nearly attained our end. "

The traders pressed Judas anew, "Brother, don't neglect this goodfortune. "

Judas said hesitatingly, "A fair opportunity. Shall I let it slip?"

Then struck in Dathan, "The reward is not all. The council will lookafter thee in the future. Who knows what might not yet come of it forthee!"

"Consent, friend! Strike the bargain, " cried all the traders together. 

Judas hesitated one moment and then clasped Dathan's hand, saying, "Well, be it so. "

"Come, Judas, " said Dathan, "we will bring thee straightway to thecouncil. " But Judas said, "No, I must first go after the master, andso obtain information in order to make things sure. "

Dathan said, "Well, then, we will go to the council and report you inthe meantime. But when and where shall we meet?"

"In three hours you will find me in the street of the temple, " repliedJudas. 

Judas then shook hands all around with the traders. "Done!" exclaimedJudas, as Dathan and the traders left him. 

Judas was now alone. He walked to and fro under the trees and said tohimself: "My word is given; I shall not repent of it. Shall I avoidthe good fortune which is coming to meet me? Yes, my fortune is made. I will do what I promised, but will make them pay me in advance. Ifthen the priests succeed in taking him prisoner, if his reign isover--I have assured my own prospects and will besides become famousthroughout all Judea, as a man who has helped to save the law of Moses, and shall reap praise and glory. But if the master should gain thevictory, then--yes, then I will cast me down repentant at his feet, forhe is good. I have never seen him drive the penitent from him. Hewill take me back again and then I shall have the credit of bringingabout the decision. Anyhow, I'll take good care to leave a bridgebehind so that should I be unable to go forward I can return. The planis well thought out. Judas, thou art a prudent man. And yet I feel alittle afraid to meet the master, for I shall not be able to bear hiskeen, searching look, and my comrades will see by my face that I ama----No, I will not be that. I am no traitor! What am I going to dobut let the Jews know where the master is to be found? That is nobetrayal. Betrayal is something more than that. Away with thesefancies! Courage, Judas, thy future is at stake. "

Judas, who had started with horror when he first mentioned the wordtraitor, resolved to play his appointed role and departed to find Jesus. 

CHAPTER III. 

THE LAST SUPPER. 

 O Judas, art thou blinded quite By untamed greed of gold and gear? And would thou sell thy master dear For base gain? Shudders not thy soul in dire affright? Thy lot has passed into the night, Already doth thy doom appear. 

 "'Tis one of you that shall betray, " Three times the Lord thus spoke to him-- Who's purposed his own soul to slay-- Yet is his conscience dull and dim, For Satan rules his heart within And lust for gold that's won by sin. 

 "Oh Judas! but one moment stay. Oh! finish not this foulest deed!" But no! for deaf and blind with greed, To the council Judas hastes away, And there repeats in evil trade, The bargain once with Dathan made. 

And it came to pass that when Peter and John were still on their way toJerusalem, Baruch, the servant of Mark, came out into the street with apitcher of water, which he went to get filled at the well. 

As he went he said to himself, "There is a great deal of businesstoday, there will be no lack of work this Passover; from the greatcrowd of pilgrims we can expect nothing else. My master must expectmany guests as he is already making so much to-do in the house. " Whenhe was drawing the water John and Peter came upon him. 

"See, " said they, "there is someone at the well. "

Baruch, not noticing them, went on drawing the water, saying, "Theremust be something exceptional at this Passover, seeing the way in whichthe rulers of the council hasten about hither and thither. "

As he lifted the pitcher and turned to go Peter said, "This is he whocarries the pitcher of water that our master gave us for a sign. "

Then said John, "Let us follow him. "

Baruch looked around as he came to the door of his master's house, and, seeing the disciples, said, "Will you come in with me, friends? Youare welcome. "

"We wish, " said John, "to speak with your master. "

"Perhaps, " said Baruch, "you desire to take the Passover with us?"

"Yes, " said Peter, "the master desired us to bring this request to yourmaster. "

Then said Baruch, "Come with me. It will be a joy to my master to takeyou into his house. There, see, " he said as Mark came out of hishouse, "there he is himself. See, master, I bring guests. "

"Welcome, strangers, " said Mark, "how can I serve you?"

Then said Peter unto him, "Our teacher sent us to say unto thee, 'Mytime is at hand. Where is the hall where I can eat the Passover withmy disciples, for my time is at hand. I will keep the Passover in thyhouse with my disciples. '"

"Oh, joy!" exclaimed Mark, "now I recognize you as the disciples of themiracle-worker who restored to me the light of my eyes. How have Ideserved that he should choose my house before all others that are inJerusalem in which to celebrate the Passover? Oh, fortunate man that Iam, that it should be my house which he honors with his presence. Come, dear friends, I will at once show you the hall. "

Peter and John replied, "Good friend, we follow thee. " And they wentinto the house and found all things as Jesus had said unto them. 

 * * * * * *

In the upper chamber which Mark had prepared for the Passover Jesus andhis disciples stood around a long table. Jesus stood in the centerwith Peter on his right hand and John on his left. Judas, sullen andscowling, sat next to Peter, and the other disciples were arranged intheir order. The table was covered with a white cloth with embroiderededges. On the cloth stood a flagon of wine and several cups, and aplate on which lay a loaf of bread. Jesus, standing in the midst, saidunto them, "With longing have I desired to eat this Passover with youbefore I suffer, for I say unto you I will not any more eat thereofuntil it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. " Jesus then took the cup, and lifting it with both hands, looked up to heaven and said, "I thankthee for this fruit of the vine. " Then drinking of it he passed thecup to Peter, who also drank and passed it to Judas, who in his turn, after drinking, passed it to the next disciple, and so on until it wentall around. "Take this, " said Jesus, as he passed the cup to Peter, "and divide it amongst yourselves, for I say unto you, I will not drinkhenceforth of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. "

[Illustration: "Drinking of it he passed the cup to Peter. "]

Then exclaimed all the disciples together, "Alas, Lord, is this thenthe last Passover?"

Jesus said unto them, "There is a cup which I will drink with you inthe kingdom of God my Father. As it is written, 'Thou shalt make themdrink of the river of thy pleasures. '"

Then said Peter unto him, "Master, when this kingdom shall appear, howwill the offices be portioned out?"

"Who amongst us, " said James the elder, "will have the first place?"

Then Thomas said, "Will each one of us have lordship over a separateland?"

"That would be the best, " said Bartholomew; "then no dispute wouldarise amongst us. "

Then Jesus looked upon them and said, "So long a time have I beenamongst you and you are still entangled in earthly things? Verily, Iappoint unto you, which have continued with me in my temptations, thekingdom which my Father has appointed unto me, that you may eat anddrink with me in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelvetribes of Israel. But, remember, the kings of the Gentiles exerciselordship over them, and they that exercise authority over them arecalled benefactors, but ye shall not be so. He that is greatest amongyou, let him be as the least, and the chief as your servant. Forwhether is greatest he that sitteth at meat or he that serveth? Is nothe that sitteth at meat; but I am among you as one that serveth. "

Thereupon John removed the long purple robe from the shoulders ofJesus, and handed him a white linen towel, with which he girded himselfround the middle. Then came Baruch in, carrying a ewer of water and abasin. As they looked in amazement one at another, Jesus said untothem, "Now sit down, beloved disciples. "

Then said the disciples one to another, "What is he going to do?"

Jesus, turning to Peter, said, "Peter, reach me thy foot. "

Peter, starting backward in amazement, said, "Lord, dost thou wash myfeet?"

Then said Jesus, "What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt knowhereafter. "

Peter replied stoutly, "Lord, thou shalt never to all eternity wash myfeet!"

But Jesus said, "If I wash thee not thou shalt have no part with me. "

Peter said, "Lord, if it be so, then not my feet only, but also myhands and my head. "

But Jesus answered, "He that is washed needeth not save to wash hisfeet, but is clean every whit. " Then stooping down Baruch poured thewater over the feet of Peter, and Jesus dried them with a towel. Theother disciples took the sandals off their feet, whispering tothemselves in wonder as to what this meant. Jesus washed the feet ofJudas as those of the others. Last of all he washed the feet of Johnalso. Then he washed his hands, Baruch pouring the water over them. After which he took off the towel, and John placed his mantle once moreupon his shoulders. Looking round upon the twelve, he said, "Ye arenow clean, but not all. " Jesus then seated himself in the midst ofthem. 

Then said Jesus unto them, "Do you know what I have done unto you? Yecall me master and Lord, and ye do well, for so I am. If I then, yourLord and master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash oneanother's feet. For I have given you an example that ye should do as Ihave done unto you. Verily, verily, the servant is not greater than hethat sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. "Then Jesus stood up again and said, "Children, but for a little whileshall I be with you. That my memory may never perish from among you, Iwill leave behind an everlasting memorial, and so I shall ever dwellwith you and amongst you. The old covenant which my Father made withAbraham, Isaac and Jacob has reached its end and I say unto you, a newcovenant begins, which I solemnly consecrate today with my blood, asthe Father has commanded me, and this covenant will last until all befulfilled. " Jesus then took the bread, lifted it up before him, andreplacing it on the table, looked up to heaven and blessed it. Then, lifting it up again, he broke it in two, saying, "Take, eat, this is mybody which was broken for you. " Then passing around the table, heplaced a morsel of bread with his own hand in the mouth of each of hisdisciples. All took it reverently, but Judas bit at it almost as a dogsnatcheth meat from its master's hands. After Jesus had returned tohis place, he said, "This do in remembrance of me. " In like manner hetook the cup and blest it and said, "Take this, and drink ye all of it;for this is the cup of the New Testament in my blood, which is shed foryou and for many for the remission of sins. " Then passing round thetable again he gave each of them to drink, and returning to his placehe said, "As often as ye do this, do it in remembrance of me. " Duringthe time Jesus went round the table administering the bread and wine tohis disciples, there was heard in the distance a chorus of angelssinging:

 Oh! the lowly love and tender! See the Saviour kneeling still At the feet of his disciples Loving service to fulfil. Oh! this love remember ever! Love as he has loved, and so Unto others render service As your Lord has done to you. 

Then John in an ecstacy of affection exclaimed, "Oh, best of masters, never will I forget thy love! Thou knowest that I love thee, " andleaning forward he laid his head on the breast of Jesus. 

The rest of the twelve, who were sitting with clasped hands with theexception of Judas, who sat apart moody and sullen, exclaimed together, "O, Master, who art so full of love for us, ever will we remain unitedwith thee. "

Then said Peter, "This holy meal of the new covenant shall ever becelebrated amongst us according to thy commandment. "

And Matthew added, "And as often as we shall keep it, we will rememberthee!"

Then cried they all, "O, best teacher, O divine one! O best friend andteacher!"

And Jesus looking upon them said, "My children, abide in me, and I inyou! As the Father has loved me, so have I also loved you, continue yein my love. But, alas, must I say it! the hand of him who betrays meis with me at the table!" Judas started, but the confusion of thedisciples caused his guilty look to be unnoticed. 

Several of the disciples exclaimed, "What! a traitor amongst us!"

"Is it possible?" said Peter. 

Then Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, one of you shallbetray me. "

"Lord, " said Andrew, "one of us twelve?"

"Yes, " replied Jesus, "one of the twelve who dipped his hand in thedish with me shall betray me. So the Scriptures shall be fulfilled. He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. "

Thomas and Simon, speaking together with the same thought and samewords, asked, "Who can this faithless one be?" while Matthew said, "Lord, thou seest all hearts, thou knowest that it is not I"--and thetwo James cried, "Name him publicly, the traitor!" Then while thesewords were on their lips, Judas, fearing lest his silence should beobserved, started forward and asked furtively, "Lord, is it I?" butexcepting by Jesus his words passed unnoticed. 

Thaddeus exclaimed, "I would rather give my life for thee than thatsuch a deed should be done;" and Bartholomew, "I would rather sink intothe earth with shame. "

Jesus, looking toward Judas said, "Thou hast said it. " Turning to therest, Jesus continued, "The son of man goeth indeed as it is written ofhim, but woe unto that man by whom the son of man is betrayed; betterwere it for him that he had never been born!"

Peter, leaning over to John, whispered to him to ask Jesus who it was. Then John whispered to Jesus, saying, "Lord, who is it?"

Jesus answered, speaking so low as to be heard by John alone, "He it isto whom I shall give a sop after having dipped it. "

The other apostles who had not heard this kept on asking, "Who can itbe?"

Jesus, taking a piece of bread, dipped it into a cup, and placed it inthe mouth of Judas, saying, "What thou doest, do quickly. "

Then Judas arose and hurried from the room. The disciples seeing hisdeparture wondered among themselves, and Thomas said to Simon, "Whydoes Judas go away?"

Simon replied, "Probably the master has sent him to buy something, "while Thaddeus added, "Or to distribute alms to the poor. "

Judas being now gone, Jesus spoke to the eleven, saying, "If God beglorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself and shallstraightway glorify him. Little children, yet a little while I am withyou. Ye shall seek me; but as I have said to the Jews, whither I goyou cannot come, even so now I say unto you. "

Then said Peter unto him, "Lord, whither goest thou?"

Jesus answered, "Whither I go thou canst not follow me now, but thoushalt follow me later. "

Peter passionately cried, "Why can I not follow thee now? I will laydown my life for thy sake. "

Then Jesus looked upon him with compassion and said, "Wilt thou laydown thy life for my sake? Simon! Simon! Satan hath desired to havethee that he may sift thee as wheat, but I have prayed for thee thatthy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strength thy brethren!This night all ye shall be offended because of me, for it is written, 'I shall smite the shepherd and the sheep of his flock shall bescattered abroad. '"

Peter answered, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. Lord, I am ready to go with thee to prison and to death. "

Jesus said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Peter, today, even this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. "

Then said Peter, rising and clasping his hands, "Even if I should diewith thee, I would never deny thee, " and the other ten disciples saidaltogether with a loud voice, "Master, we also will always remainfaithful to thee; none of us will ever deny thee. "

Then said Jesus unto them, "When I sent you out without purse or scrip, or shoes, lacked ye anything?"

All replied with one voice, "No, nothing. "

Then Jesus said, "But now I say unto you, let everyone take his purseand likewise his scrip, and whosoever hath not a sword, let him sellhis coat and buy one, for now begins a time of trial; and I say untoyou that thus it is written, and it must yet be accomplished in me, 'And he was reckoned among the transgressors!'"

Peter then and Philip each drew a sword from the scabbard which hung athis side under his cloak, exclaiming, "Lord, see here are two swords. "

Then said Jesus, "It is enough. Let us stand up and give thanks. "Then standing, Jesus and all the disciples said together with a loudvoice, "Praise the Lord, all ye people! Praise him, all ye nations!for his merciful kindness is everlasting; the truth of the Lordendureth forever. "

Then Jesus, leaving the table, advanced to the foreground and stood forsome time with his eyes raised to heaven, the disciples standing oneither side watching him with troubled faces. Shortly after he saidunto them, "Children, why are ye so sad and why look ye on me sosorrowfully? Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions. I go toprepare a place for you; and I will come again and receive you untomyself, that where I am there ye may be also. I leave you not asorphans. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Keep mycommandment. This is my commandment, that ye love one another as Ihave loved you! By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another. Hereafter I will not talk much to you, for theprince of this world cometh, although he hath nothing in me. But thatthe world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave mecommandment, so do I. Let us go hence. "

 * * * * * *

The Sanhedrin was again in session. Caiaphas presided, Annas as beforesat on his left hand and Nathanael on his right. No sooner had all themembers of the assembly taken their seats than Caiaphas rose and withradiant countenance began, "Assembled fathers, I have a joyful piece ofnews to impart to you. The supposed prophet from Galilee will soon, wehope, be in our hands. Dathan, the zealous Israelite, has won over oneof the most trusted companions of the Galilean, who will let himself beemployed as a guide, so that we may surprise him by night. Both arehere, only waiting a summons to appear before us. "

"Bring them in, " cried with eager voices the priests and Pharisees. 

Josue volunteered, "I will call them. "

"Yes, call them, " said Caiaphas. When Josue left the room Caiaphasasked their counsel as to the price which should be given for thebetrayal of Jesus. 

Nathanael stood up and said, "The law of Moses gives direction for sucha case; a slave is valued at thirty pieces of silver. "

The priests laughed thereat and said, "Yea, yea, it is just the priceof a slave that the false Messiah is worth. "

Then came in Dathan and Judas, Josue conducting them into the presenceof the Sanhedrin. Dathan stood forward and said, "Most learnedcouncil, I here fulfil the task entrusted to me, and present to thefathers a man who is determined for a suitable reward to deliver ourand your enemy into our power. He is a trusted friend of the notoriousGalilean and knows his ways and his secret abiding places. "

Then said Caiaphas to Judas, "Knowest thou the man whom the councilseeks?"

Judas answered, "I have now been a long time in his company and knowwhere he is accustomed to abide. "

Then said Caiaphas, "What is thy name?"

He replied, "My name is Judas, and I am one of the twelve. "

"Yes, yes, " cried several of the priests, "we saw thee often with him. "

Caiaphas asked him, "Art thou steadfastly resolved to do our will?"

Judas answered firmly, "I give you my word. "

"But, " continued Caiaphas, "wilt thou not repent of it? What inducedthee to take this step?"

Judas answered, "The friendship between him and me has been coolingdown for some time, and now I have quite broken with him. "

"What has led to this?" asked Caiaphas. 

Judas replied, "There is nothing more to be got from him and indeed Iam resolved to remain loyal to lawful authority, that is always thebest. What will you give me if I deliver him up to you?"

Then Caiaphas, speaking as if they were promising great things, said, "Thirty pieces of silver, which shall be at once paid over to thee!"

"Hear that, Judas?" cried Dathan, "thirty pieces of silver, what again!"

Before Judas could reply, Nathanael sprang to his feet, saying, "Andmark thee well, Judas, this is not all! If thou executest this workright well thou shalt be cared for still further. "

"And thou mayest become a rich and famous man, " added a priest. 

Judas said aloud, "I am contented, " and added to himself, "Now the starof hope is rising for me. "

Then said Caiaphas to the rabbi who sat below the judgment seat arrayedin blue velvet and gold, "Bring the thirty pieces of silver out of thetreasury, and pay it over in the presence of the council. "

"Is this your will?" he added, putting the question to the Sanhedrin. 

A great shout went up of "Yes, yes, it is. "

But some there were present who did not join in that cry. One ofthese, Nicodemus, stood up and asked the Sanhedrin, "How can youconclude so godless a bargain?" Then turning to Judas, he said, "Andthou, abject wretch, dost thou not blush to sell thy Lord and master, thou God-forgetting traitor whom the earth shall swallow up? Forthirty pieces of silver wouldst thou now sell that most loving friendand benefactor? O, pause while there is yet time. That blood-moneywill cry to heaven for vengeance, will burn like hot iron thyavaricious soul!"

Judas, surprised by this sudden outburst, stood trembling and amazed. Dathan, Caiaphas and the rest of the Sanhedrin displayed unmistakableindignation at this unexpected intervention on the part of Nicodemus. 

Josue said: "Don't trouble yourself, Judas, about the speech of thiszealot; let him go and be a follower of the false prophet. Thou dostthy duty as a disciple of Moses in serving the rightful authorities. "

Then came in the rabbi with the silver in a dish. "Come, Judas, " saidhe, "take the thirty pieces of silver and play the man, " counting thecoins out on a stone table so that they chinked merrily as they fell. 

Judas snatched them up eagerly, testing them now and then to see ifthey were genuine, and then transferred them piece by piece withfeverish haste to his bag, which he tied up when filled and replaced inhis girdle. Then, resuming his place on the left of the judgment seat, he exclaimed: "You can rely upon my word. "

"But, " said the priests, "the work must be accomplished before thefeast. "

Judas answered and said: "Even now the fairest opportunity offersitself. This very night he shall be in your hands. Give me an armedband so that he can be duly surrounded and every road of escape cutoff. "

Then said Annas, who up to now had not broken silence: "Let us sendwith him the Temple Watch. "

"Yes, yes, " cried all the priests, "let us order them to go. "

Caiaphas said: "It would also be advisable to send some members of theHoly Sanhedrin with them. "

Half the assembly sprang to their feet crying: "We are ready. "

Caiaphas said: "If the choice is left to me I appoint Nathan, Josaphat, Solomon and Ptolomaus. " Each of the four, as he was named, rose andbowed low. 

Then, Caiaphas, turning to Judas, said: "But, Judas, how will the bandbe able to distinguish the Master in the darkness?"

Judas answered: "They must come with torches and lanterns and I willgive them a sign. "

"Excellent, Judas, " cried the priests in approving chorus. 

"Now, " said Judas, "I will hasten away to spy out everything. Then Iwill come back to fetch the armed men. "

"I will go with you, Judas, " said Dathan, "and will not leave your sideuntil this work is finished. "

"At the gate of Bethpage I will meet your people, " said Judas, as hedeparted, taking with him Dathan and the four priests to accompany him. 

When they had left the Sanhedrin Caiaphas addressed the assembly: "Allgoes admirably, venerable fathers, but now we are called to look thegreat question frankly in the face. What shall we do with this manwhen God has delivered him into our hands?"

Then: said Zadok: "Let us throw him into the deepest and darkest ofdungeons and keep him well watched and laden down with chains. Let himbe buried while still alive. "

This, however, did not please Caiaphas, so using the full might of hiseloquence and authority he continued: "Which of you would guaranteethat his friends would not raise a tumult and free him, or that theguard might not be corrupted, or could he not break his fetters withhis abhorred magic arts?" The priests were silent. Caiaphas repliedin tones of the deepest conviction: "I see that ye neither know norunderstand. Then listen to the high priest. It is better that one manshould die and the whole nation perish not. He must die!" And as thefatal words fell from the lips of Caiaphas the whole Sanhedrin wasmoved. Caiaphas continued: "Until he is dead there is no peace inIsrael, no security for the law of Moses, and no quiet hours for us. "

Hardly had Caiaphas ended than the rabbi sprang to his feet exclaimingin excited tones: "God has spoken through our high priest! Only by thedeath of Jesus of Nazareth can and must the people of Israel bedelivered!"

Nathanael exclaimed: "Long has the word lain upon my tongue! Now is ituttered. Let him die, the foe of our fathers!" Then sprang all thepriests from their seats and with uplifted hands and eager voicesexclaimed: "Yes, he must die; in his death is our salvation!" Whenthey sat down, Annas, the aged high priest arose, and speaking withintense bitterness, declared: "By my gray hairs let it be sworn, I willnever rest until our shame is washed out in the blood of this deceiver. "

Then stood up Nicodemus and said: "O, fathers, is it allowed to say oneword?" And all cried: "Yes, yes, speak, speak!" Then said Nicodemus:"Is the sentence already pronounced upon this man before there has beenan examination or hearing of the witnesses? Is this a proceedingworthy of the fathers of the people of God?" Nathanael said: "What!Wilt thou accuse the council of injustice?" Zadok exclaimed: "Dostthou know the holy law? Compare----" Nicodemus replied: "I know thelaw; therefore also I know that the judge may not pass sentence beforewitnesses are heard. " "What need we any further witnesses?" criedJosue. "We ourselves have often enough been witnesses to his speechand his actions, by which he blasphemously outraged the law. "Nicodemus answered, unmoved by the clamor of the assembly: "Then youyourselves are at once the accusers, the witnesses and the judges. Ihave listened to his sublime teachings; I have seen his mighty deeds. They call for belief and admiration; not for contempt and punishment. "

"What, " exclaimed Caiaphas indignantly, "this scoundrel deservesadmiration! Thou wilt cleave to Moses and yet defendest thou thatwhich the law condemns? Ha! Fathers of Israel, the impious words callfor vengeance. "

The priests shouted: "Out with thee from our assembly, if thou persistin this way of speaking!" when another voice is heard. 

Joseph of Arimathea stood forth on the opposite side of the hall andsaid: "I must also agree with Nicodemus. No one has imputed any deedto Jesus which makes him worthy of death; he has done nothing but good. "

Then said Caiaphas: "Dost thou also speak in this wise? Is it notknown everywhere how he desecrated the Sabbath; how he has misled thepeople by his seditious speeches? Hath he not also as a deceiverworked his pretended miracles by the aid of Beelzebub? Has he notgiven himself out as a God, when he is nothing but a man?"

"You hear that?" cried the priests to Joseph. He remained standing andcontinued saying: "Envy and malice have misrepresented his words andimputed evil motives to the noblest acts. That he is a man come fromGod his God-like acts testify. "

"Ha, " cried Nathanael, with a laugh of scorn, "now we know thee. Already for a long time hast thou been a secret follower of thisGalilean! Now, thou hast shown thyself in thy true colors!"

Aged Annas, without leaving his seat, remarked: "So, then, we have inour very midst traitors to our holy law, and even here has the deceivercast his net. "

"What do ye here, apostates?" cried Caiaphas. "Be off to your prophet, to see him once more, before the hour strikes when he must die, forthat is irrevocably determined. "

"Yes, " cried all the priests. "Yes! die he must; that is our resolve. "

Then said Nicodemus, "I curse this resolution; I will neither have partnor lot in this shameful condemnation. "

"And I also, " said Joseph of Arimathea, "will quit this place where theinnocent are condemned to death. By God, I swear that my hands areclean!"

Gathering their robes together, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimatheawalked slowly out of the Sanhedrin. 

Then said Josue, "At last we are rid of these traitors. Now we canspeak out freely. " Caiaphas, however, profiting by the protests ofNicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, said to the assembly: "It willcertainly be necessary that we should sit formally in judgment uponthis man, to try him and to bring forth witnesses against him, otherwise the people will believe that we have only persecuted him fromenvy and hatred. "

Then said one Jacob, "Two witnesses at least the law requires, " andSamuel answered: "These shall not be lacking; I will provide themmyself. "

Then said Dariabbas, "Our decision stands firm, but in order not tooffend the weak it would be well to observe the usual forms of justice. "

"And, " added Ezekiel complacently, "should these forms not suffice thestrength of our will we must supply what is lacking. "

And a rabbi said, "A little more or less guilty matters little, sinceonce for all the public weal demands that he should be removed. "

Then Caiaphas said, "In securing the execution of our sentences itwould be safest if we could so contrive that the sentence of deathshould be pronounced by the governor; then we should be clear of allresponsibility. "

"We can try, " said Nathanael. "If it miscarries, it is still alwaysopen to us to have our sentence carried out by our trusty friends inthe commotion of a great tumult, without ourselves being openlyresponsible for anything. "

"And then, " said the rabbi, "if the worst come we should have him inour hands, and in the silence of a dungeon it will not be difficult tofind a more sure hand to deliver the Sanhedrin from its enemy. "

Then Caiaphas arose and said, "Circumstances will teach us what shouldbe done. Now let us break up. But hold yourselves ready at any hourof the night to be called together. There is no time to be lost. Ourresolution is, he must die. "

And all the members of the high council cried tumultuously: "Let himdie! Let him die! The enemy of our holy land!"

CHAPTER IV. 

BETRAYED BY A KISS. 

 The foulest deed will soon be done That earth or hell displays-- Alas! ere this night's course be run Judas his Lord betrays!

 Come now, ye faithful souls draw nigh See Jesus suffer, bleed and die, Now has begun the anguished fight Beyond in dark Gethsemane. O, sinners never let this night For evermore forgotten be!

 For your salvation this has been Which on the mountain we have seen, When, sorrowing unto death, he sank To earth, it was for you-- 'Twas for your sake the damp turf drank Those drops of crimson dew. 

In the twilight of the same day there were gathered together in theneighborhood of the Mount of Olives those appointed by the Sanhedrin toseize Jesus. Judas was there with Dathan and the other traders, aswell as the four priests sent by Caiaphas to see that all things wentwell. With them came the Temple Watch under the command of one Selpha, in steel helmet and steel-embossed leather cuirass. The watchconsisted of twenty men in armor, two of whom carried long clubs setwith spikes, two bore braziers of burning coals, while the rest carriedspears. Conspicuous among the watch were Malchus, the high priest'sservant, and Balbus. They approached stealthily, and Judas addressedthem, saying, "Now be careful! We are now approaching the placewhither the Master has withdrawn himself. "

Then said Solomon, one of the priests, "I suppose the disciples willnot perceive us too soon. "

"No, " said Judas, "they rest unconcerned and dream nothing of anyattack. As to any resistance, there is nothing of that to fear. "

Then cried the Temple Watch aloud, "Should they try it they shall feelthe weight of our arms. "

"You will seize him, " said Judas, "without a single sword stroke. "

"But, " said Josue, "how shall we know him in the darkness so as not toarrest another in place of the one we desire?"

"I shall give you a sign, " said Judas, "when we are in the garden; thenlook out. I will hasten up to him, and the man whom I shall kiss; thatis he; bind him!"

Then said Korah, "Good, this sign will prevent us from making anymistake. "

Ptolomaus, the priest, then turned to the watch and said, "Do you hear?You will know the master by a kiss!"

"Yes, yes, " cried the soldiers, "we shall not miss him. "

"Now, " said Judas, "let us make haste; it is time. We are not far fromthe garden. "

Then said Josue to Judas, "Judas, if tonight brings us good fortune, thou wilt profit by the fruit of thy work. "

The traders added, "We, too, will recompense thee richly. "

Then cried all the soldiers together, "Now look out, thou stirrer-up ofthe people, thou wilt soon have thy reward. " Thereupon the wholecompany moved off into the darkness and remained hidden in an ambushuntil the signal should be given. 

After a time Jesus and his disciples entered the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus spoke unto them, saying, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, yeshall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; ye shall besorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy, for I will see youagain and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh fromyou. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world. I leavethe world again and go unto the Father. "

"Lo, " said Peter, "now thou speakest plainly and no more in parables. "

Then said James the Greater, "Now we see that thou knowest all things, and hast no need that one should ask thee anything. "

And Thomas added, "Therefore we believe that thou comest forth fromGod. "

Jesus answered them saying, "Do ye now believe? Behold the hourcometh, yea, is already come, when ye shall be scattered every man tohis own and leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is withme. Yes, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son that thy Son alsomay glorify thee. I have finished the work which thou hast given me todo. I have manifested thy name to those thou gavest me out of theworld. Holy Father, keep them in thy name; sanctify them in the truth. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe onme through their word; that they may all be one, as thou, Father, artin me, and I in thee. Father, I will pray that they also whom thouhast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glorywhich thou hast given me, for thou lovedst me before the foundation ofthe world. " Then turning to the disciples who were following him intothe garden he said in a voice which was broken with sorrow: "Children, sit down here while I go and pray yonder. Pray that ye enter not intotemptation; but you, Peter, James and John follow me. " Eight of thedisciples then sat down on the ground under the trees, while Jesus wentforward with the three. 

Bartholomew said, "Never have I seen him so sad;" and James the Lessreplied, "My heart is also laden down with sadness;" while Matthewcried, "Ah, that this night were passed with its weary hours. " Andanother apostle exclaimed, "Not in vain has our master prepared us forthis. "

Philip said, "Dear brothers, we will sit down here and rest until hecomes back. "

"Yes, " said Thomas, "that we will, for I am utterly worn out and weary. "

Then Jesus, who had come forward with Peter, James and John, said untothem, "Ah, beloved children, my soul is exceeding sorrowful, even untodeath. Tarry ye here and watch with me. " Then after a pause he added, "I will go a little further apart in order to strengthen myself bycommunion with the Father. "

As Jesus with slow and staggering steps went toward the grotto, Petercried, looking after him, "Ah, dear good master, " and John exclaimed, "My soul is suffering with our teacher. "

As they sat down Peter said, "I am very anxious. "

James said, "Why does our dear master thus separate us from oneanother?"

John replied, "Alas, we are to be witnesses, " and Peter continued, "Yeknow, brethren, we were the witnesses of his transfiguration on themountain, but now, what is it that we have to see?"

Slowly Peter, James and John, who were sitting apart, fell asleep. 

Jesus having reached the grotto, said, "This hour must come uponme--the hour of darkness. For this it was that I came into the world. "Then falling upon his knees he clasped his hands, and looking up toheaven cried, with a great and pitiful voice, "Father, my Father! Ifit be possible, and with thee all things are possible, let this cuppass from me!" Then Jesus fell upon his face on the ground andremained silent for a while. Then again he rose upon his knees andcried, "Yes, Father, not as I will, but as thou wilt!" Then standingup, he looked toward heaven and slowly returned to the three disciples. 

And lo, when he approached he found them asleep. "Simon, " he said. 

Simon Peter, as in a dream, rubbed his head and said, "Alas, my master. "

Jesus said, "Simon, dost thou sleep?"

Peter, rousing himself, said, "Master, here I am. "

Jesus said, "Could you not watch with me one hour?"

Peter cried, "O, Master, forgive. "

The apostles said, "Rabbi, sleep has overpowered us. "

Then said Jesus, "Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation. "

The apostles answered, "Yes, Lord, we will watch and pray. "

Then said Jesus unto them; "The spirit indeed is willing, but the fleshis weak. " So saying he turned from them, and again slowly walkedtoward the grotto. 

Praying he said, "My Father, thy demand is just, thy decrees are holy, thou claimest this sacrifice. " Then falling upon his knees, he prayed, saying, "Father, the strife is hot. " Falling upon his face he remainedsilent for a time, then raising himself again he cried, "Yes, Father, if this cup may not pass from me unless I drink it, Father thy will bedone. " Then standing up he said, "Holy One, it will be completed by mein righteousness. "

Then once more he came back to his sleeping disciples; this time he didnot rouse them. 

"Are also your eyes so heavy that you could not watch?" he said. "Ah, my most trusted ones, even among you I find no consolation. "

Then returning over the rocky road which led to the grotto he pausedfor a moment in sorrow, while a great sorrow overwhelmed him. "Oh, howdark it grows around me; the anguish of death encompasses me! Theburden of God's judgment lies upon me! Oh, the sins! Oh, the sins ofmankind! They weigh me down. Oh, the fearful burden; oh, thebitterness of this cup!" Then coming to the grotto again, he cried, "My Father!" and falling down he prayed, "If it is not possible thatthis hour pass away from me, thy will be done! Thy holiest will!Father! Thy son! Hear him!"

Then from out of the darkness a bright and shining angel in whiteapparel and with radiant wings descended upon him. And out of thesilence were heard these words, "O, Son of Man, sanctify the Father'swill! Look upon the blessedness which will proceed from thy struggles. The Father has laid it upon thee to become the sacrifice for sinfulman. Carry it through to the end. The Father will glorify thee!"

Then said Jesus, "Yes, most Holy Father, I adore thy Providence; I willcomplete the work--to reconcile--to save, to bless!" Then standing uphe cried in a more joyous tone, "Strengthened by thy word, O Father! Igo joyfully to meet that to which thou hast called me, as thesubstitute for sinful man. "

With lighter step he returned to the place where the three discipleslay slumbering peacefully. He looked upon them and said, "Sleep nowand take your rest. "

Peter, hearing his voice, said, "What is it, master?"

Then all three answered, "Behold, we are ready. "

Then said Jesus, "The hour is come; the son of man is betrayed into thehands of sinners. Rise, let us be going. "

Even as he spoke these words the tramp of armed men was heard in theimmediate neighborhood of the garden mingled with loud cries ofdenunciation and vengeance. 

"What is that uproar?" said the apostles. 

"Come, " said Philip, who hurried from behind with the rest of theeight, "Come, let us gather around the master. " At that word thedisciples hastened forward. 

"Behold, " said Jesus, "he who betrayeth me is at hand. " The discipleslooked in the direction which Jesus indicated, and there by the flaringlight of the braziers carried by the Temple Watch, they saw Judasadvancing at the head of his band. 

"What does this multitude want?" said Andrew. 

For an answer all the disciples cried as with one voice, "Alas! we areundone!"

"And see, " cried John, "Judas is at their head. "

Even as he said this, Judas, with long and stealthy steps, sprangforward, looking from side to side as he came, until he stoppedimmediately behind Jesus; then standing on tiptoe he reached over theshoulder of Jesus and kissed him, saying, "Hail, Master. "

[Illustration: "He reached over and kissed him. "]

Jesus answered, "Friend, wherefore art thou come? Betrayest thou theson of man with a kiss?" Then stepping forward to meet the armed band, he faced them fearlessly and said, "Whom seek ye?"

A loud and angry shout went up from the soldiers: "Jesus of Nazareth!"

Jesus said, "I am he. "

As he uttered these word the soldiers fell backward to the ground, crying, "Woe unto us! What is this?"

The disciples exultantly cried, "One single word from him casts them tothe ground. "

But Jesus said to the soldiers, "Fear not; arise. "

As they regained their feet the disciples whispered eagerly to Jesussaying, "Lord, cast them down so that they shall never rise again. "

But Jesus a second time asked, "Whom seek ye?"

Again the crowd replied, "Jesus of Nazareth. "

Then Jesus said, "I have already told you that I am he; if therefore, ye seek me, let these go their way. "

Selpha, the leader of the band, cried, "Seize him!" The soldiersapproached Jesus, Malchus and Balbus carrying in their hands a smallcord, and grasped him by the wrists in order to bind him. 

Peter and Philip asked Jesus, saying, "Lord, shall we smite with thesword?" Before Jesus replied, Peter's sword flashed from its sheathand descended on the head of Malchus. The helmet turned the descendingblade, and instead of splitting his skull it only sliced off his ear. 

"Alas!" cried Malchus, "I am wounded; my ear is off. "

Then said Jesus to the disciples, "Suffer ye thus far, " and reachingforward to Malchus he said, "Be not troubled; thou shalt be healed. "And touching his ear, that moment it was made whole. Malchus felt hisear with astonishment. His comrades satisfied themselves that the earwas as the other and stood motionless, while Jesus turned to Peter andsaid, "Put up thy sword into its sheath, for all they who take thesword shall perish with the sword. The cup which the Father hathgiven, shall I not drink it? Thinkest thou I cannot now pray to myFather, and he would presently give me more than twelve legions ofangels? But how, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled that thus itmust be?" Then turning to the Pharisees he said, "Are ye come out asagainst a thief with swords and staves to take me? I sat daily with yein the temple teaching, and ye took me not. But this is your hour andthe power of darkness. Behold, I am here!"

"Surround him!" cried Selpha; "bind him fast that he escape not. "

Then said Nathanael, whose eager zeal to destroy Jesus had led him tojoin the soldiers, "You are responsible to the council that he does notescape. " At Selpha's command Malchus and Balbus had seized Christ, andwere busily engaged in tying his hands together with cords. Slowly, one by one, the disciples stole away, leaving Jesus alone in the midstof his captors. 

In reply to Nathanael, the soldiers said, "Out of our hands he will notescape. "

Then cried with a loud voice the traders, with Dathan at their head, "Now, we will wreak our vengeance. " And Dathan added, "Dost thou stillremember what thou didst to us in the temple?"

Josaphat said to the other Pharisees, "We will hasten on into the city. The Sanhedrin will be awaiting our arrival with impatience. "

The traders replied, "But we will not leave this scoundrel for aninstant. "

"First, " said Nathanael, "we must go to the High Priest Annas. Leadhim thither!"

Selpha said, "We follow thee!"

As the band prepared to obey the word of command a trader came up toJudas and said approvingly, "Thou art a man, indeed. Thou knowest howto keep thy word. "

Judas complacently answered, "Did I not tell you that he would be inyour power today?"

The Pharisees said, "Thou hast placed the whole council under anobligation to thee. "

The procession then went off, leading Jesus to the palace of Annas. The Temple Watch formed behind Jesus, who with his hands bound beforehim, was thrown violently forward by Malchus and Balbus, who held theother ends of the cords which bound him, and marched behind him. Theycried, "On with thee! In Jerusalem they will settle your affair!"

Selpha, who marched at the head of his band, cried, "Let us hasten;lead him away carefully. "

And all the band shouted, "Ha, run now as thou hast hitherto run to andfro about the land of Judea. "

"Spare him not!" said Selpha, "drive him on!"

"Forward, " shouted the soldiers, shouting together; "otherwise thoushalt be driven on with staves. "

And as they marched away, driving Jesus before them the traders deridedhim, saying, "Doth Beelzebub, then, aid thee no longer?"

 * * * * * *

It was dark night and there was silence in the street before the houseof Annas, the high priest, when his door opened and Annas, attended byEsdras, Sidrach and Missel, came upon the balcony. "I can find no restthis night, " said Annas, looking impatiently down the street, "until Iknow that this disturber of the peace is in our hands. Oh, if he wereonly safe, and in fetters. Full of longing and anxiety I await thearrival of my servants with the joyful news. "

Then said Esdras, "They cannot be much longer, for it is a good whilesince they went away. "

"In vain has my troubled gaze looked up and down the street of Kedron. But nothing can I see and nothing hear. Go, my Esdras, go toward theKedron gate and see. "

"I will hasten out, " said Esdras, hurrying away as quickly as hisshort, squat figure would allow. 

Annas, walking about impatiently, tormented by misgivings as to thesuccess of the enterprise, began: "It would be a blow to the Sanhedrinif this time the work should not succeed. "

Sidrach said, "Do not give away to anxiety, high priest, " and Misseladded, "There is no doubt of our success. "

Annas, heeding not the consolation of his priests, said, "They may havealtered their way and returned through the Siola Gate. I must send tosee also on that side. "

Sidrach said, "If the high priest wishes it I will go to the SiolaGate. "

"Yes, do, " said Annas, "but first see whether anyone comes through thestreet of the Sanhedrin. "

"I will not loiter, my lord, " said Sidrach, as he disappeared in thedarkness. 

Annas resumed his troubled thoughts. "The night is going by, and stillthe old uncertainty. Every minute of this weary waiting time is as anhour to me. Hark, I think some one comes running! Yes, he comes. Surely there will be good tidings. "

Sidrach, bursting into the presence of the high priest, exclaimed, "Mylord, Esdras comes in haste. I saw him just now running down thestreet with rapid foot. "

Then said Annas, "Surely it is joyful news that he brings since hehastens so. Truly, I long for nothing now but the death of thismalefactor. "

Then came Esdras, breathless with haste, crying, "Hail to the highpriest. I have seen the fathers who were sent to Judas. All has goneaccording to your wish. The Galilean is in bonds. I heard it fromtheir mouth, and hurried as fast as I could to bring the joyful news inhaste to thee. "

Annas cried, "Oh, heavenly message! Auspicious hour! A stone islifted from my heart; I feel as if I were born again. Now for thefirst time can I rejoice to call myself high priest of the chosenpeople. "

Then came in to Annas, Judas and the four Pharisees, who had been sentby the council to accompany him, crying, "Long live our high priest!"

Nathanael exclaimed, "The wish of the council is accomplished. "

Annas said, "Oh, I must embrace you for joy. So, then, our plan hassucceeded. Judas, thy name shall take an honorable place in ourannals. Even before the feast shall the Galilean die. "

Judas, whom the Pharisees had brought in with the prisoner, startled bythat word, sprang back, repeating incredulously, "Die!"

"His death is declared!" said Annas. 

"For his life and blood, " cried Judas, "I will not be responsible. "

"That is unnecessary, " said Annas coolly, "he is in our power. "

"But, " persisted Judas passionately, "I have not delivered him over toyou for that. "

"Thou hast delivered him over, " said the Pharisees, "and the rest isour business. "

Repulsed on every side, Judas, striking his forehead with his hand, cried, "Woe is me; what have I done? Shall he die? No! That I didnot wish. That I will not have. "

As he hurried into the street the Pharisees laughed at him and said, "Whether thou wilt have it or not, die he must. "

Then said the priests to Annas, "High priest, the prisoner is at thethreshold. "

Annas said, "Let Selpha, with as many of the watch as are necessary, bring him up here, while the rest await him below. " Then was Jesusbrought before Annas on the balcony in custody with Selpha, the leaderof the Temple Watch and the two servants of the temple, Malchus andBalbus, holding the cords by which Jesus was bound. The rest of thewatch remained in the street below. 

Selpha bowed low as he entered and said, "High priest, in accordancewith thy command the prisoner now stands at thy bar. "

When Annas saw Jesus he said, "Have you brought him alone as prisoner?"

Balbus answered, "His disciples dispersed like timid sheep. "

Selpha said, "We did not find it worth the trouble to arrest them. Nevertheless Malchus almost lost his life. "

"How did that happen?" asked Annas. 

"One of his followers, " said Selpha, "with a drawn sword smote him andcut off his ear. "

"How could that be?" said Annas, looking first at one side of Malchus'head and then at the other. "It has left no mark; there is nothing tobe seen. "

"Oh, " said Balbus, mocking, "the magician has conjured it back again. "

"What sayest thou to that?" asked Annas. Malchus replied seriously, "Icannot explain it. It is a miracle that has happened to me. "

Annas frowned, "Has the deceiver also bewitched thee?" he asked, andthen turning to Jesus said to him, "Say, by what power hast thou donethis?" Jesus did not answer. 

"Speak, " said Selpha, "when the high priest asks thee. "

"Speak, " said Annas. "Give an account of thy disciples and thyteaching, which thou hast spread abroad over the whole land of Judeaand with which thou hast corrupted the people. "

Then Jesus answered and said unto him, "I spake openly to the world, Iever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, and in secret I taughtnothing. What askest thou me? Ask them that heard me what I havespoken. Behold, they know what I have said. "

Balbus, who was standing on the left hand of Jesus holding one end ofthe cord by which his hands were bound, struck him over the face aresounding blow, saying, "Answerest thou the high priest so?"

Jesus answered, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, butif I have spoken well why smitest thou me?"

Then Annas exclaimed, "Wilt thou even now defy us, when thy life anddeath are in our power? I am weary of this villain!" and gave thesignal for Jesus to be removed. 

"Oh, " said Balbus, as he roughly thrust him forward, "wait a little. Thy obstinacy will vanish. "

As Jesus was being led down the steps Annas exclaimed, "I will go innow for a little while to rest, or rather to meditate quietly as to howthe work so happily begun may be brought to an end. In any case thesummons to the Sanhedrin will reach me at an early hour in themorning. " Annas then entered into his own house, leaving Jesus in thestreet below in the midst of the soldiers. As Selpha appeared bringingJesus into the street the watch cried out loudly, "Ha, is this businessalready over?"

Selpha said, "His defense has turned out badly, " and Balbus added, "After all it gained him a smart slap over the face. "

Selpha said, "Take him now and away with him to the palace of Caiaphas. "

"Off with him, " cried the soldiers tumultuously. 

"Lift up thy feet. Cheer up!" said Balbus, mocking, "Thou wilt have astill better reception from Caiaphas, " and the soldiers shouted as theymarched, "There will be the raven's croak about thine ears!"

When Jesus was taken from the house of Annas he was led through thestreets, the band accompanying him, shouting as they went. On theirway to the Sanhedrin they led Jesus down the street which passedPilate's house, and as they went they cried to him with riotouslaughter, "Thou shalt become a laughing stock for the whole nation!"

Balbus said unto him scoffingly, "Make haste! Thy disciples are quiteready to proclaim thee King of Israel. "

And the soldiers laughed as they said, "Thou hast often dreamed ofthis; is it not so?"

Then said Selpha, "Caiaphas will soon explain this dream to him. "

And Balbus, seeing that Jesus opened not his mouth, and was silent, shouted in his ear, "Dost thou hear? Caiaphas will announce to theethy exaltation to a high position!"

A great burst of hoarse laughter from the watch followed, as theyshouted, "An exalted position between heaven and earth!"

"Look out, you fellows!" cried Selpha, "there through the hall ofPilate's lies our nearest way to the palace of Caiaphas. There, station yourselves in the courtyard until further orders. "

The soldiers answered, "Thy command shall be fully obeyed!"

Hardly had the noisy soldiery passed with their prisoner out of thestreet than Peter and John appeared before the house of Annas. Thensaid Peter, "How will it fare here with our good master? Oh, John, howanxious I am about him!"

John answered, "He is certain to have to suffer here scorn and illtreatment. I am very much afraid of approaching the house. "

Peter said, "But it is so silent about here. "

John replied, "One hears not a sound in the place. Could they havetaken him away again?"

As they were talking Esdras came out from the house of Annas and asked, "What do you want at the palace at this time of night?"

John answered, "Forgive us; we saw a number of people from afar comehither from the Kedron Gate, and we came here in order to see what hadhappened. "

Esdras answered, "They have brought in a prisoner, but he has alreadybeen sent to Caiaphas. "

"To Caiaphas, " said the disciples, "then we will go away at once. "

"You had better, otherwise I will have you taken, up as nightbrawlers, " said Esdras. 

"We will go away quietly and make no disturbance, " said Peter, meekly. 

As they went the priest, looking after them, said, "Perhaps they arefollowers of the Galilean. If I only knew. However, they will notescape our people if they go to the palace of Caiaphas. The whole ofhis following must be destroyed. Otherwise the people will never bebrought into obedience. " He then returned into the house. 

CHAPTER V. 

PETER COMMITS PERJURY. 

 How bleeds my heart! The Holiest stands before the judgement seat. The malice of sinners he must bear, Betrayed and outraged, bound and beaten there. O, sons of men, your faces veil this day!-- The scarred form is touched by impious hands, From Annas dragged to Caiaphas away, What's here foreshadowed, see, fulfilled it stands. See Jesus, how in silence he Bears outrage, blows and mockery! O! what a man! Oh, hearts of men who now draw near, Melt with compassion when you see Bowed down in deepest misery! O! what a man!

Caiaphas, in his bed chamber, wearing a dressing gown, surrounded bypriests, exulted over the news which had been brought him of the arrestof Jesus. 

"This happy capture, " said he, "promises us a fortunate realization ofour wishes. I thank you, noble members of the Sanhedrin, for zealousand prudent co-operation. "

But the priests with one voice cried, "The greatest share of praisebelongs to our high priest!"

"Now, " said Caiaphas, "let us pursue our path without delay. Everything is ready! The council will immediately be assembled. Thenecessary witnesses have already been brought along. I shall nowwithout losing a moment, at once begin the trial of the prisoner. Thenjudgment shall be pronounced and provision made that it shall beexecuted. The quicker the execution the surer the result!"

Dathan said, "It would be advisable to get everything over before ouradversaries recover their senses. "

Caiaphas replied, "I have encountered this necessity. Trust me, myfriends. I have thought of a plan. I hope to carry it out. "

At this Zadok said, "The wisdom of our high priest deserves our fullestconfidence, " and then cried they all, "the God of our fathers bless allhis measures!"

Then Selpha, the leader of the band, brought Jesus into the chamber ofCaiaphas, the high priest, Balbus and Malchus holding the cords bywhich his hands were bound. 

"Illustrious High Priest, here is the prisoner, " said Selpha. 

"Bring him nearer, " said Caiaphas, "so that I may look him in the faceand question him. "

"Step forward, " said Selpha, "and show respect here to the head of theSanhedrin. "

Then Caiaphas, having looked into the face of Jesus, said to himdisdainfully, "Thou art he then who dreamed of bringing about thedestruction of the synagogue, and the law of Moses?" Then assuming amore judicial tone, he said, "Thou art accused that thou hast stirredup the people to disobedience, that thou hast despised the holytraditions of the fathers, that thou hast transgressed the divinecommand for the keeping of the Sabbath day, and that thou hast evenbeen guilty of many blasphemous speeches and acts. Here, " Caiaphascontinues, pointing to five Jews who had entered the chamber at thesame time as Selpha brought in Jesus, and had taken their stand on theleft of the high priest, confronting the accused, "Here stand honorablemen who are prepared to prove the truth, of these accusations by theirtestimony. Hear them and then thou mayest answer if thou canst. "

Then stood forth the first witness and spoke, saying, "I can testifybefore God that this man has stirred up the people by openly denouncingthe members of the council and the scribes as hypocrites, raveningwolves in sheeps' clothing, blind leaders of the blind, and hasdeclared that no one shall follow their work. " At this the members ofthe Sanhedrin smiled approvingly one to another. 

The second witness said, "I can also testify to this, and can stillfurther declare that he has forbidden the people to pay tribute toCaesar. "

"Yes, " interrupted the first witness, "at any rate he has dropped wordsof double meaning about that. "

Then Caiaphas turned to Jesus and said, "What sayest thou unto this?"He paused for a reply, but Jesus opened not his mouth. Then saidCaiaphas, "Art thou silent? Hast thou nothing to answer?" But Jesusnever answered a word. 

The third witness took up his testimony. "I have often seen how hewith his disciples, in defiance of the law, has eaten with unwashedhands; how he has become accustomed to hold friendly intercourse withpublicans and sinners and go into their houses to eat with them. "

"That we have also seen, " cried the other witnesses together. "I haveheard many credible people say that he has even spoken with Samaritans, and indeed has lived with them for days together. "

Then the first witness began to speak again: "I was a witness how hehas done on the Sabbath what is forbidden by God's law, in that hehealed sick and infirm people without fear on that day. He has seducedothers to break the Sabbath; he ordered a man to take up his bed andcarry it to his house. " The second witness joined in, "I also cantestify to this. "

Again Caiaphas turned to Jesus and said, "What has thou to say againstthis evidence?" And after a pause, seeing that Jesus still spoke not, he said, "Hast thou nothing to say in reply?" But Jesus spoke not. 

Then said the third witness, addressing himself to Jesus, "Thou hast, for I was present, taken upon thyself to forgive sins, which belongs toGod alone. Thou hast, therefore, blasphemed God. "

Then again spoke the first witness, "Thou hast called God thy Father, and hast dared to declare that thou art one with the Father. Thou hasttherefore made thyself equal to God. "

The second witness added, "Thou hast exalted thyself above our fatherAbraham. Thou didst say, 'Before Abraham was, I am. '"

Then spoke the fourth witness, who said, "Thou hast said, 'I candestroy the temple of God, and in three days build it up again. '"

The fifth witness, who had not hitherto spoken, stood forward and said, "I have heard thee say, 'I will destroy this temple which is made withhands, and in three days I will build another made without hands. '"This concluded the testimony of the witnesses. 

Then Caiaphas, turning to Jesus, spoke to him with indignation: "Sothou hast claimed to possess a superhuman divine power? These areserious accusations, and they are legally proved; answer if thoucanst. " Jesus remaining silent, Caiaphas resumed, "Thou thinkest thatby silence thou canst save thyself. Thou darest not to admit beforethe fathers and judges of the people what thou hast taught before thepeople. Or dost thou dare?" Then rising to his utmost height, andstretching his hand on high, Caiaphas continued, "Hear, then, I, thehigh priest, adjure thee by the living God. Say--art thou the Messiah, the Son of the Most High?" and as he uttered the sacred name Caiaphascrossed his arms and dropped his head on his breast. 

For a moment there was silence, then Jesus answered and said, "Thouhast said it, and so I am. Nevertheless, I say unto you, hereafter yeshall see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of God in power andcoming in the clouds of heaven. "

As Jesus spoke these words, the members of the council started inhorror, and Caiaphas rending his robe, exclaimed with a loud voice, "Hehas blasphemed God! What need have we of any further witnesses? Youyourselves have heard the blasphemy. What think ye?"

And all the members of the council cried together, "He is worthy ofdeath. "

Then said Caiaphas, "He is thus unanimously declared worthy of death. But not I, not the council, but the law of God pronounces the deathsentence upon him. You teachers of the law, I call upon you to answer;what does the holy law say of him who is guilty of disobedience to theauthorities appointed by God?" Then stood up Josue, and unrolling thebook of the law read therefrom: "The man that will do presumptuouslyand will not hearken to the priest that standest to minister therebefore the Lord thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shalt die, and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel. "

Then again said Caiaphas, "What does the law decree concerning him whoprofaneth the Sabbath?"

Then Ezekiel stood up and read, "Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you. Every one that defileth it shall surely beput to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein that soul shall becut off from his people. "

Then asked Caiaphas, "How does the law punish the blasphemer?"

Then stood up Nathanael, and unrolling the book of the law, read:"Speak unto the children of Israel saying, whosoever curseth his Godshall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord heshall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainlystone him, as well the stranger as him that is born in this land. "

"Thus, " said Caiaphas, "is the judgment pronounced upon this Jesus ofNazareth--pronounced according to law, and shall be carried out asspeedily as possible. Meanwhile I will have the condemned placed undersafe guard. Lead him forth, guard him, and by the safe dawn of themorning bring him to the Great Sanhedrin. "

"Come, then, Messiah, " said Selpha, roughly, "we will show thee thypalace. "

"There thou shalt receive due homage, " said Balbus, as he placed hishand on the shoulder of Jesus, and marched him out of the chamber. 

Then said Caiaphas exultingly, "We are approaching the goal. Now, however, resolute steps are necessary. "

The priests and Pharisees cried together, "We will not rest until he isbrought to death. "

Then said Caiaphas, "With the break of day let us come together again. This must be announced to the High Priest Annas and the rest. Thenshall the sentence be confirmed by the whole assembled council, and theprisoner will immediately be brought before Pilate in order that he mayconfirm it and have it executed. "

The priests then departed, crying as they went, "God deliver us soonfrom our enemy. "

When the council had been dismissed and all was still, Judas, moving asone distracted, came down the street in front of the high priest'spalace; as he went he muttered to himself: "Fearful forebodings driveme hither and thither. That word of Annas' 'He must die!' Oh, thatword pursues me everywhere. " Then, as if he remembered all that hadhappened, Judas cried, "No, it cannot come to that; they will not carrythings so far! That would be too terrible if my Master--no!--andI--guilty of it? No! Here in the house of Caiaphas, I will inquirehow things stand. Shall I go in? I can no longer bear thisuncertainty, and it terrifies me to ascertain the certainty. My heartthrobs with terror--surely I shall not have to hear the worst. Yet itmust come some time. " And thereupon he went into the house of the highpriest. 

Meanwhile in the hall of Caiaphas the Temple Watch was standing waitingthe result of the examination of Jesus before Caiaphas. In the hallwere the servant maids, Sarah and Hagar, who seeing the soldiersstanding outside, went to the door, and said, "You may come in here. "It was Hagar who spoke first, and Sarah added, "It is more comfortablein here. "

"True for you, good people, " said Melchi, one of the soldiers. Thencalling out, "Ho, comrades, come in! It is better for us to lie downin the hall. "

Then said a soldier named Arphaxad, "I like this; I wish we had come inlong ago; how stupid we are, always standing outside in the open airand shivering. But where is there any fire?"

"Sarah, " added another soldier, "go and bring us fire, also wood to laythereon. "

"Willingly, " said Hagar. 

"That you shall have, " said Sarah. They went out together to complywith the soldier's wish. 

"Will the trial soon come to an end?" asked several of the soldiers. 

"It will last, " said Melchi, "until all the witnesses are examined. "

"And, " added Panther, "the accused will also use all his eloquence toget himself out of the scrape. "

"That will help him nothing, " said Arphaxad; "he has offended thepriests too much. " Then returned the serving maids with a brazier inwhich there was a little fire and some wood, which they placed thereon, making a great smoke. 

"Here is your fire, " said Hagar, "wood and fire tongs. "

Then cried the soldiers together, "Thanks, you good girls. "

"Yes, " said Panther, stooping down over the brazier, "that is good. Now take care that the fire does not go out. " Several of the soldiersstooped over the fire, piled on wood, and Sarah busied herself withbringing in meat and bread. 

Peter and John, who had been wandering about the streets seeking fortidings, came to the door, John preceding Peter. Hagar, who saw Johnstanding in the entrance of the door, said, "John, comest thou alsohither in the middle of the night? Come in here, then, thou must warmthyself. Could you make a little room for this young man here?" saidHagar addressing the soldiers. 

"Yes, indeed, " cried the band together. 

Then said John, "Good Hagar, I have a companion with me; can he notalso come in?"

"Where is he?" said Hagar. "Let him come in; why does he stand out inthe cold?"

John went to where Peter was standing, but came back alone. 

"Where is he?" said Hagar. 

"He stands on the threshold, but does not trust himself to come in, "replied John. 

Then Hagar went to the door and said, "Come in, good friend; do not beafraid. "

All the soldiers cried, "Friend, come also in here to us and warmthyself!" Peter without saying a word timidly drew near to the fireand warmed his hands in the smoke. 

The men went on talking round the fire and Arphaxad said, after apause, "We still see and hear nothing of the prisoner. "

Several then asked together, "How much longer must we wait here?"

Then said Panther, "Probably he will come out from the trial as a mancondemned to death. "

"I wonder, " said Arphaxad, "whether his disciples will be sought after?"

Peter trembled as the band with hoarse laughter cried aloud, "Thatwould be a fine piece of work if they all had to be captured!"

Then said Panther, "It would not be worth the trouble. If the Masteris once out of the way, then the Galileans will fly and never letthemselves be seen again in Jerusalem. But, " said Panther, "one atleast ought to receive sharp punishment; he who in the garden drew hissword and cut off Malchus' ear. "

"Yes, yes, " cried the band, laughing, "that should be, as it is said, an ear for an ear!"

"Ha, ha, ha, a good idea!" laughed Panther, "but that rule would herefind no application, for Malchus has his ear back again. "

During this time, while the soldiers were laughing and talking, Hagarwas curiously looking at Peter. Immediately a pause took place, Hagarsaid to Peter, "I have been observing thee for some time. Now, if I donot mistake, thou art one of the disciples of the Galilean. Yes, yes, thou wert with Jesus of Nazareth. "

Peter started up from the fire over which he had been warming his handsand stammered out, "I? No, I am not. Woman, I know him not, neitherknow I what thou sayest. "

When Hagar thus spoke all the soldiers looked at Peter, who fearing hisattack on Malchus might be resented, tried to slip through the band andescape unobserved. Passing the fire, he came close to the otherwaiting maid, Sarah, who, looking him full in the face, said in ashrill voice, "See, this man was also with Jesus of Nazareth. "

The attention of the whole band being aroused, they all clusteredaround Peter, asking, "Art thou also one of the disciples?"

Levi said, "Thou art one of them, quite certainly. "

Peter in the midst of armed and violent men, looked confusedly fromside to side and declared, "Upon my soul--I am not--I do not know theman. "

Even as he spoke the cock crew, but the rattle of the weapons of thesoldiers and imminent menace of a violent death left him no leisure toattend to anything but his own safety, for a soldier at the same momentexclaimed, "Look at this man. Of a truth he was also with him. "

Then said Peter stoutly, "I know not what ye have to do with me. Whatdoes this man matter to me?"

But the soldiers crowding round him said, "Yes, yes, thou art one ofthem. Thou art also a Galilean; thy speech betrayeth thee. "

Then Peter, raising his hands on high, said with a troubled voice, "Godbe my witness that I do not know the man of whom ye speak;" and thecock crew a second time. 

Then Melchi, pressing forward, looked Peter full in the face and said, "Did I not see thee in the garden with him, when my cousin Malchus hadhis ear cut off?"

At this moment, when the situation was getting very serious for Peter, attention was called off from him by a cry from the soldiers round thefire. "Make ready, they are bringing in the prisoner. " Selpha thenbrought in Jesus bound between Malchus and Balbus. 

"Now, how have things gone?" eagerly inquired Arphaxad. 

"He is condemned to death, " said Selpha. 

The soldiers mocking, cried, "Poor king!"

At this moment Jesus met Peter, and looked upon him with a gaze full ofsorrow. Peter smote his head with his hand and went out into the night. 

"Come, " said Arphaxad, "he will help us to pass the time. "

"Forward, comrades, " said Selpha, "we must guard him till morning. "Thereupon they all went out. 

Peter, when he had left the hall of the high priest, went out into thestreet weeping bitterly and suffering anguish of soul. "Oh, myMaster, " he cried, "how deeply have I fallen! Oh, woe unto me, weakand wretched man! I have three times denied my dearest friend andteacher. I cannot understand how I could so forget myself. A curseupon my shameful faithlessness! How my heart will repent of it--thiscontemptible cowardice. My dearest Lord, hast thou still grace forme--grace for a faithless, one--oh! send it me! This once more hearthe voice of my repentant heart. Alas! the sin is committed. I cannotundo it, but ever, ever, will I weep for it and repent of it--and nownevermore will I leave thee! Oh, thou most loving one! Thou wiltsurely not cast me off! Thou wilt not despise my bitter, repentance. No! the gentle pitying look which thou didst cast upon thy deeplyfallen disciple promises it--thou wilt forgive me. I have this hopefrom thee, best of teachers, and the whole love of my heart shall fromthis moment be given to thee. I will cling closely to thee andnothing, nothing shall ever be able to separate thee from me again!"

And with a face beaming with hope of forgiveness, even for histhreefold denial, he went away. 

Hardly had he gone, when John entered at the other end of the street, asking anxiously, looking on either side, "Where, then, can Peter havegone? In vain my eyes have sought him in the crowd. Surely nothingevil can have befallen him. Perhaps I still may meet him upon theroad. I will now go to Bethany. Dearest mother, if I bring thee thetidings of these terrible things which have happened--the innocent oneill-treated and condemned by sinners, what wilt thy heart feel? O, Judas, Judas, what hast thou done?"

Now it came to pass that the soldiers having taken Jesus into theguardroom of Caiaphas' palace, mocked him and despitefully used himuntil it was day. They seated him on a stool with a bandage over hiseyes, and surrounded him mockingly, saying, "Is not this throne toomean for thee, great king? Hail to thee, thou new-born sovereign! Butsit more firmly, " said one, seizing Jesus from behind and pressing himdown on his chair. "Thou mightest otherwise fall down. Thou artverily also a prophet. So say, O great Elias, say who it is who hasstruck thee, " and with that he dealt Jesus a blow on the face. 

Others came in and also struck him, saying, "Was it I?" but Jesusanswered nothing. 

Then one of the band went up to him and shouted, "Hearest thounothing?" and shook him violently by the shoulders. "Art thou asleep?"Then turning to his comrades he exclaimed, "He is deaf and dumb; a fineprophet indeed. " And thereupon he roughly pushed Jesus forward so thathe fell from the stool upon the ground upon his face. 

"Alas! alas!" they cried. "Our king has fallen from his throne. Whatis to be done now? We have no longer any king. Thou art to be pitied, such a great magician and now so weak and weary! Come, help us to puthim again upon his throne. "

And then they seized him where he lay on the ground with his eyesbandaged and his hands tied, and lifted him again upon his seat. "Raise thyself, O mighty king; receive anew our homage. "

As they were kneeling around him in scorn a messenger of Caiaphasentered saying, "How goes it now with the king?" and the band shouted, "He speaks and prophesies not; we can do nothing with him. "

"Then, " said the messenger, "the high priest and Pilate will soon makehim speak. Caiaphas sends me to bring him. "

"Up, comrades, " said Selpha. 

Thereupon, taking Jesus again by the cords which bound his hands, theyled him off, saying, "Stand up; thou hast been king long enough. " Andall shouted, "Away with thee. Thy kingdom has come to an end. "

CHAPTER VI. 

JUDAS HANGS HIMSELF. 

 The guilty deed fails not to win its wages, The guiltless blood he sold cries from the ground; Driven to madness by the worm that rages And scourged by furies, Judas ranges round Wildly, and finds no rest From the fire in his breast, Till swept away by bitterest despair He flings away in reckless haste The load of life he can no longer bear. 

When Jesus was being mocked and ill-treated by the soldiers in theguardroom of Caiaphas' palace, Judas wandered to and fro in despair. "Now my fearful foreboding has become a terrible certainty. Caiaphashas sentenced the Master to death, and the council has concurred in hissentence. All is over. There is no hope, no way of escape. Had theMaster wished to save himself he would have made them feel his might asecond time in the garden. As he did not do it then, he will now do sono more. What can I do for him, I, a miserable wretch who havedelivered him into their hands? They shall have the money back, thatblood money. They must give me my Master back again. I will go atonce and make the demand. But, oh, will he be saved by that? Oh, vain, foolish hope. They will mock me, I know it. O cursed synagogue, thou hast tempted me through thy messengers, thou hast hidden from methy bloody designs until thou hadst him in thy clutches. I willtorture thee with bitter reproaches, ye unjust judges. I will havenothing to do with your devilish decision. I will have no share in theblood of this innocent. Oh, what tortures, what pains of hell, tear myinmost soul!" So saying he departed. 

Now within the hall of the Sanhedrin were assembled the high priests, the scribes and the leaders. Caiaphas and Annas arrayed in theirrobes, sat in the high place of the council, and all the seats werefilled except those of Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Caiaphasspoke, saying, "I thought, fathers, that I could not wait till themorning to send the enemy of the synagogue to death. "

And Annas said, "I could not get a moment's rest for eagerness to hearthe sentence pronounced. "

Then cried they all, "It is pronounced. He shall and must die. "

Caiaphas said, "I did not wish to trouble all the members of theSanhedrin to come hither in the night time. But there was present thenecessary number of judges to pronounce as the law prescribes. All aswith one mouth declared the accused worthy of death, for all had heardwith their own ears how this man blasphemed God in the most terribleway, and was impious enough to call himself the Son of God. "

The priests and Pharisees who had previously been present answered, "Yea, we bear witness to it. We have ourselves heard the impiousblasphemy from his lips. "

"Then, " said Caiaphas, "I will have the criminal brought before youonce more, so that you may be convinced of his being worthy of death. Then may the whole council pronounce the just sentence. "

As he was speaking, Judas, looking haggard and distracted, rushed intothe midst of the council, crying wildly, "Is it true? Have youcondemned my Master to death?"

Then said the rabbi unto him, "Why dost thou force thyself uncalled forin this assembly? Be off. We will call thee if we have need of thee. "

But Judas took no heed. "I must know it, " he said. "Have youcondemned him?"

Then all in the council cried aloud, "He must die. "

"Woe, woe!" said Judas. "I have sinned. I have betrayed innocentblood. Oh, you blood-thirsty judges, to condemn the innocent blood. "

"Peace, peace, Judas, " cried the council. 

"There will never, never more be peace for me, " said Judas, bitterly, "and none for you. The blood of the innocent cries aloud forvengeance. "

"What has driven you crazy? Speak, but speak with reverence--thoustandest before the Sanhedrin, " said Caiaphas. 

Then said Judas passionately: "You are determined to deliver him up todeath; him who is free from all guilt. You must not do it. I have aprotest to make against it. You have made me a traitor. Your accursedpieces of silver!"

Annas interrupted him, saying, "Thou didst propose it thyself and closethe bargain. "

Then said the priest unto him, "Recollect thyself, Judas, thou hastreceived what thou didst desire; and if thou behavest thyself decentlythou canst still----"

Judas interrupted him. "I will have nothing more. I tear up yourshameful bargain. Let the innocent go. "

"Be off, madman, " said a rabbi angrily. 

But Judas, taking no heed, knelt and stretched his hands towardCaiaphas. "I demand the release of the innocent. My hands shall befree from his blood. "

"What, " said the rabbi, "thou contemptible traitor, wilt thou dictateto the Sanhedrin? Know this, thy Master must die, and thou hastdelivered him to death. "

And all the priests and Pharisees cried aloud, "He must die. "

And Judas, with staring eyes, as one demented, repeated, "Die? Then Iam a traitor. I have given him up to death!" He sank down like a mancrushed by a blow, and then springing up and breaking out into wildpassion, he shouted aloud: "May ten thousand devils from hell tear mein pieces! Let them grind me to powder! Here, ye bloodhounds, takeyour accursed blood money!" And with that he snatched the bag from hisgirdle and flung it violently before the seat of the high priest. 

"Why didst thou let thyself be made the tool for a transaction whichthou didst not weigh beforehand?" said Caiaphas. 

"Yes, " cried several, "it is your own business. "

Then shouted Judas wildly, "May my soul be damned, my body burntasunder, and ye--"

"Silence and out from here, " cried all the priests together. 

"And you, " shouted Judas, above them all, "you will sink with me intothe lowest hell!" He then rushed from the hall. 

After a pause, during which the chief priests and rulers looked at eachother in silence, the money lay unnoticed on the floor. Caiaphas said, "What a fearful man!"

"I had some foreboding of this, " said Annas. 

"It is his own fault, " remarked a priest. 

Then said Caiaphas, "Let him expiate that fault himself. He hasbetrayed his friend, we pursue our enemy. I remain steadfast by mydetermination, and if anyone here should be of another opinion, let himstand up. "

"No, " cried they all with one voice, "what has been resolved upon, letit be carried out. "

Then said Caiaphas, "What shall we do with this money? It is bloodmoney; it can no longer be put into the treasury of God. "

Annas said, "It might be used for some useful purpose under thesanction of the high council. "

All agreed to this, and a priest said, "A burying place for strangersis much wanted. With this money a field may be purchased for thatpurpose. "

"Is there such a one in the market?" asked Caiaphas. 

"Yes, " said a priest, "a potter in the city has offered a piece ofground for sale at just this price. "

"Let Saras conclude the purchase, " said Caiaphas. They then picked upthe money which had lain untouched on the floor. 

"But now we will no longer delay to pronounce the capital sentence uponthe prisoner, " continued Caiaphas. 

Then said a rabbi, "I will have him brought in at once. "

"I shall see, " said Annas, "whether the scorn which he showed toward mehas not yet left him. A real satisfaction will it be to me to share inthe sentence. Let him die. "

Jesus then was brought in a second time before Caiaphas. Selpha, asbefore, preceded him, and Balbus and Malchus led him bound by the handswith a cord. 

"Stand there, " said Selpha, "and show more respect to the council thanthou didst before. " Then he added, "Venerable fathers, here we bringthe prisoner. "

Then said Caiaphas, "Lead him into the middle. "

Balbus, laying his hand on the shoulder of Jesus, thrust him forwardsaying, "Step forward. "

Then Caiaphas spake unto Jesus, saying, "Jesus of Nazareth, dost thoustand by the words which thou hast pronounced this night before thyjudges?"

Annas added, "If thou be the Christ, tell us!"

Then Jesus answered and said, "If I tell you ye will not believe; if Ialso ask you, ye will not answer me nor let me go. But hereafter shallye see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of Almighty God. " Ashudder ran through the Sanhedrin, and all cried excitedly, "Art thouthe Son of God?"

Jesus answered, "Ye say it and so I am. "

Annas exclaimed, "It is enough; what need have we of any furtherwitnesses?"

The priests and Pharisees who had not attended the night council, said, "We have now heard it out of his own mouth. "

Then said Caiaphas, "Fathers of the people of Israel, it is now yourduty to come to a final decision as to the guilt and punishment of thisman. "

Then cried they all, "He is guilty of blasphemy. He hath deserveddeath. "

Caiaphas said, "We will therefore lead him before the judgment seat ofPilate. "

And they all answered and said, "Yes, away with him. Let him die. "

"Pilate, " said Caiaphas, "must first be informed in order that he mayproclaim the sentence before the feast. "

A rabbi said, "Could some one be sent from the council in order to givehim timely information?"

"Thou thyself, " said Caiaphas, "together with Dariabbas and Rabinthshalt go before. We will speedily come after. "

When these three had departed Caiaphas said, "This day, then, will savethe religion of our fathers, and exalt the honor of the synagogue, sothat the echo of our fame shall reach our latest descendants. "

All shouted, "Men will speak of us centuries hence!" and Caiaphasresumed, "Lead him away; we follow. "

Once more they cried, "Down with the Galilean!" and departed. 

The three messengers sent by the Sanhedrin drew near to the house ofPilate, and as they went they spoke among themselves. The rabbi said:"At last we breathe more freely again; we have been insulted longenough. "

Dariabbas replied, "It was indeed high time; his following was becomingvery large. "

"Now, " said the rabbi, "there is nothing more to be feared from him. The traders have in these days displayed the most creditable activity, to have gained for us a crowd of determined people. You will see if itcomes to anything, they will effectively take the lead. The wavererswill concur with them, and the followers of the Nazarene will find itwell to be silent, and take themselves off. "

Then said Rabinth, seeing they had approached the place of Pilate, "Howshall we bring our message to Pilate? We dare not enter the house ofthe Gentile today, as in that case we should become unclean and couldnot eat the Passover?"

"We will send a message through one of his own people, " said the rabbi, and going up the stairs to the balcony of Pilate's house, he knockedgently at the door. 

Standing and listening, he said, "Surely, there is some one there?Yes, there is some one coming, " and retired a little way down thesteps, so as to avoid any contact with the Gentile. 

A servant of Pilate opened it and said, "Welcome, rabbi, will you notcome in?"

"The precepts of the law will not allow us so to do today, " said therabbi. 

The servant said, "Is that so? Can I carry your message?"

"The high priest sends us to bring a petition to the viceroy of Caesarto ask if he will allow the council to appear before him and to bringbefore him a malefactor for the confirmation of his sentence. "

"I will deliver the message at once to my lord; wait here in themeantime, " said the servant, and went into Pilate. 

The rabbi returning down the steps joined Dariabbas and Rabinth, whostood below. "It is very sad, " said Dariabbas, "that we must knock atthe door of a Gentile in order to get the behests of our holy lawexecuted. "

"Take courage, " said the rabbi, "when once this domestic enemy isremoved out of the way, who knows whether we might not soon freeourselves from the foreign foe?"

Rabinth exclaimed, "Oh, may I live to see the day which will bringfreedom to the children of Israel!"

Pilate's servant returned and spoke unto them saying, "The governorgreets you. You are to inform the high priest that Pilate is ready toreceive the petition of the Sanhedrin. "

"Accept our thanks for thy kindness, " said the rabbi. "Now let ushasten to report to the high priest the result of our errand. " Theservant then returned and closed the door behind him. 

The three messengers then returned. Rabinth remarked anxiously, "Pilate will surely agree to the demand of the council. "

"He must, " said the rabbi, "how could he resist it when the Sanhedrinand the whole people demand with one voice the death of this man?"

"And besides, " said Dariabbas, "what does the governor care about thelife of a single Galilean? Were it merely to please the high priest, who is of great importance to him, he would not hesitate to permit theexecution. "

Now, Judas, being distracted by remorse, found himself, after wanderingto and fro, in the potter's field, purchased with the thirty pieces ofsilver, in the midst of which stood a blasted tree. Then after wildlylooking around to see if anyone was near, he said: "Oh, where, wherecan I go to hide my shame, to escape the torments of conscience? Noforest is dark enough! No rocky cavern deep enough! O, earth, openand swallow me up! I can no longer exist. O, my dear Master! Him, best of all men, have I sold, giving him up to ill treatment, to a mostpainful death of torture. I, detestable betrayer--oh! where is thereanother man on whom such guilt of blood doth rest? Alas! nevermore canI appear before the face of the brethren. An outcast, hated andabhorred everywhere--branded as a traitor by those who led me astray--Iwander about alone with this burning fire in my heart. There is stillone left. Oh! might I look on the Master's face once more, I wouldcling to him as my only anchor. But he lies in prison, has perhapsbeen already slain by the rage of his enemies, although by my guilt, bymy fault. I am the abhorred one who has brought him to prison and todeath. Woe to me, the scum of men! There is no hope for me, my crimescan be expiated by no penance. For he is dead--and I, I am hismurderer! Thrice unhappy hour in which my mother gave me to the world!Must I still drag on this life of agony and bear these tortures aboutwith me?--as one pest stricken, flee from men, and be despised andshunned by all the world? No! I can bear it no longer! Not one stepfurther! Here, O life accursed, here will I end thee! On thesebranches let the most disastrous fruit hang!" He untwined his girdleand twined it about his neck. "Ha, ha! come, thou serpent, entwine myneck and strangle the betrayer!"

As Judas spoke the last words he tied with convulsive and feverishagony the long girdle around his neck, fastened it to the branch of thetree, and swung himself off. 

CHAPTER VII. 

JESUS, PILATE AND HEROD. 

 Thus before Pilate's judgment seat The council, full of passion's heat, Come to demand Messiah's blood. Oh, what has made them mad and blind? And what has kindled in their mind Of fury such a fiery flood?

 'Tis envy which no mercy knows In which hell's flame most fiercely glows-- Lights this devouring fire, All's sacrificed unto its lust-- Nothing too sacred, good or just To fall to its desire. Oh, woe to those whom passion sweeps Helpless and bound into the deeps. 

Then went the high priests and the scribes, together with the rulersand traders of the temple, and the witnesses, to the house of Pilate. Jesus was led forth in front of them by Balbus and Malchus as before, Selpha being in command of the band of soldiers. As they went thesoldiers shouted aloud, "Away with thee to death, thou false prophet!Ha! doth it dismay thee that thou wilt not go forward?"

"Drive him on, " said Selpha. But Jesus being weary walked with slowfootsteps. 

Then the soldiers thrust him forward, crying, "Shall we have to carrythee in our arms? Go on! Thou hast not far to go, only to Calvary;there upon the cross thou canst rest in comfort. "

By this time they had approached the precincts of Pilate's house. Thensaid Caiaphas to the soldiers, "Be still; we have to announce ourcoming. " And they were still. 

The rabbi said, "Go to the door and knock. "

It was done, and Quintus came out, saying, "What does this crowd ofpeople want here?"

The rabbi replied that the council had assembled there. Quintuspromised to announce them at once, and the rabbi turning to the membersof the Sanhedrin, said, "Do you hear? He will announce our presencewithout delay. "

Caiaphas addressed those who were following him: "Ye members of theSanhedrin, if you have at heart the holy traditions, our honor, thetranquility of the whole land, then consider well this moment. Itdecides between us and that deceiver. If you are men in whom flows theblood of your fathers, then listen to us. An imperishable monument youwill set up for yourselves. Be firm in your resolve. "

Then cried the priests, "Our fathers forever; death to the enemy of thenation!"

"Do not rest, then, " said Caiaphas, "until he is blotted out of thenumber of the living!"

And they cried again, "We will not rest, we demand his death, hisblood. "

Then the soldiers turned to Jesus and said, "Hearest thou that, O kingand prophet?"

Then came Pilate out with his attendants upon the balcony of the house;two spearmen on either side advanced to the foot of the steps of thebalcony, and stood spear in hand whilst the audience listed. ThenCaiaphas stepped forward in front of the crowd, and, bowing low, thusbegan, "Governor and representative of the great Caesar, health andblessing to thee. " Then Caiaphas continued: "We have brought herebefore thy judgment seat a man of the name of Jesus that thou mayestconsent to the execution of the death sentence pronounced against himby the Sanhedrin. "

Pilate answered, "Bring him forth, " and the soldiers led Jesus, outbefore Pilate so that he stood on the right hand of the balcony. Pilate having looked upon him asked, "What accusations have you tobring against this man?"

[Illustration: "What accusations have you to bring against this man?"]

Caiaphas, speaking with some surprise, said, "If he were not a greatmalefactor we would not have delivered him over to thee, but have dealtwith him ourselves according to the direction of our holy law. "

"Well, of what evil deeds has he been guilty?" asked Pilate. 

Caiaphas answered, "He has in many ways grievously offended against theholy law of Israel. "

Pilate answered, "Then take him away and judge him according to yourlaw. "

Then said Annas, "He has already been judged by the Sanhedrin and hasbeen declared to be worthy of death. "

Then all the priests cried aloud, "For according to our law he hasdeserved death. "

But Caiaphas explained: "It is not lawful for us to execute thesentence of death upon any one; therefore we bring the application forthe execution of the sentence to the representative of Caesar. "

Then Pilate having looked upon Jesus and upon Caiaphas asked, withindignation, "How can I deliver a man over to death unless I know thecrime, and before I have satisfied myself that his crime is worthy ofdeath? What has he done?"

Then said the rabbi, "The sentence of the council upon this man wasunanimously pronounced, and grounded upon a careful investigation intohis crimes. It seems therefore unnecessary that the illustriousgovernor should take upon himself the trouble of a second investigation. 

"What, " said Pilate, hotly, "do you dare to suggest to me, therepresentative of Caesar, that I should be a blind instrument for theexecution of your orders? Be that far from me! I must know what lawhe has broken, and in what way. "

Caiaphas, Annas and the members of the Sanhedrin waxed wroth and spokewarmly among themselves on hearing the words of Pilate. Caiaphasanswered and said, "We have a law and by our law he ought to diebecause he made himself the Son of God, " while all the people shouted, "We all have heard the blasphemy from his own lips, " and Annas added, "And upon that account we must insist that he suffers the legalpunishment. "

Then Pilate said scornfully unto them, "On account of such a speech, which at the most is only the outcome of an enthusiastic imagination, aRoman can find no one guilty of death. Who knows also, " he added, witha glance at Jesus, "whether this man may not be the son of some god!If you have no other crime to lay to his charge you need not think thatI will fulfil your desires. "

Caiaphas answered and said, "Not only against our holy law, but alsoagainst Caesar himself has this man been guilty of serious offences. We have found him to be an insurgent and deceiver of the people. "

Then cried all the priests and Pharisees together tumultuously, "He isan agitator and a rebel. "

Pilate answered, "I have heard of one Jesus who was said to go aboutthe country and teach and do extraordinary works, but I have neverheard of any sedition stirred up by him. Were anything of that kind tohappen I should have heard of it before you, who am appointed for themaintenance of peace in the land, and am perfectly well informedconcerning the words and deeds of the Jews. But tell me, when andwhere has he stirred up any commotion?"

Then Nathanael stood forward and said unto Pilate, "He brings togethermultitudes by thousands around him and he has quite recently, surrounded by such a crowd, made a solemn entry into Jerusalem itself. "

"O I know that, " said Pilate contemptuously, "but nothing took place onthat occasion to disturb the public peace. "

By this time Caiaphas and the priests were in a state of indignationwhich they did not care to conceal, and Caiaphas asked angrily, "Is itnot sedition if he forbid the people to pay tribute to Caesar?"

Pilate asked, "Where have you proof of that?"

"Proof enough, " retorted Caiaphas, "for he gives himself out as theMessiah, the king of Israel. Is not that to challenge the imperialauthority?"

Pilate replied, sarcastically, "I admire your suddenly awakened zealfor the authority of Caesar. "

Then turning to Jesus, who had stood silent during the altercation, heasked him, saying, "Hearest thou what serious accusations these bringagainst thee? What answerest thou?" Jesus remained silent. 

"See, " said Caiaphas, eagerly, "He cannot deny it. His silence is anadmission of his crime. "

Then cried all the multitude, stretching out their hands toward Pilate, "Sentence him then!"

"Patience, " said Pilate, "there is time enough for that. I will takehim apart for a private hearing. "

Pilate, speaking to his attendants, said, "Perhaps when he is no longerconfused by the crowd and the fury of his accusers he will answer me. "Then, speaking to his servants he said, "Lead him into the court. " Andturning to Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, he said, "Go! my guard shalltake charge of him, but do you examine the justice or injustice of yourcomplaints, and be careful to investigate whether they do not perhapscome from a polluted source. Then let me know the result of yourreflections. "

At this Caiaphas turned his back upon Pilate and looked withindignation upon his followers, who showed the liveliest manifestationsof disgust. Josue said, "Everything has been well considered andexamined already. The law pronounces him worthy of death. " The Jews, turning to go, angrily discussed this reverse. 

"This is a troublesome delay, " said the rabbi. 

But Caiaphas encouraged them, saying, "Do not lose heart, victorybelongs to the steadfast. "

Then was Jesus brought before Pilate's judgment seat, and Pilate saidunto him, "Thou hast heard the complaint of the council against thee. Give me an answer thereto. Thou hast, they say, called thyself a Sonof God. Whence art thou?" But Jesus made no answer. Then Pilate saidunto him with some surprise, "Dost thou not speak even unto me?Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee and to release thee?"

Then Jesus turned to him and said, "Thou couldst have no power at allagainst me except it were given unto thee from above. Therefore hethat delivereth me unto thee hath the greater sin. "

"Frankly spoken, " said Pilate, aside. Then, speaking to Jesus he said, "Art thou the king of the Jews?"

Jesus answered, "Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or only becauseothers have told it to thee?"

Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priestshave delivered thee unto me. They accuse thee that thou hast desiredto be the king of Israel. What ground is there for this?"

Then answered Jesus and said unto him, "My kingdom is not of thisworld. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, so that I should not be delivered unto the hands of the Jews; but nowis my kingdom not from hence. "

Then said Pilate, "Art thou a king then?"

Jesus answered, "Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I bornand for this cause came I into the world, that I might bear witnessunto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice. "

When Pilate heard this he said, "What is truth?"

Hardly had he asked this question when the servant Quintus enteredhastily from the door behind. "Lord, thy servant Claudius is here; hehas to bring thee a pressing message from thy wife. "

Pilate said, "Let him come in. Lead the man hence for a moment intothe hall. " The attendants having led Jesus out, Claudius entered. Pilate asked him, "What bringest thou from my dear spouse?"

"My lord, " said Claudius, "thy wife greeteth thee and prays thee fromher heart, for thine own sake and for hers, that thou wouldst havenothing to do with this just man who has been accused before thejudgment seat. She has suffered anguish and terror on his account lastnight, owing to a fearful dream. "

Pilate answered, "Go back and tell her that she need not disturbherself. I will have nothing to do with the proposals of the Jews, butdo all that I can to save him. " Saluting Pilate, the messengerdeparted. 

Pilate then said to his attendants, "Would that I had nothing to dowith this business! What do you think, my friends, of the complaint ofthe Jewish priests?"

Then said the courtier Mela, "It seems to me that they are onlyinspired by envy and jealousy. The most passionate hatred appears intheir words and countenances. "

And the courtier Sylvius added, "The hypocrites pretend that they havethe authority of Caesar at heart, whereas the matter concerns onlytheir own authority, which they believe endangered by this famousteacher of the people. "

Pilate answered, "I agree with you. I cannot believe that this manentertains any criminal schemes in his mind. There is so much that isnoble in his features and in his demeanor. His speech displays sonoble a candor and such high natural gifts that he seemed much more tobe a very wise man, perhaps only too wise for these gloomy fanatics tobe able to bear the light of his countenance. And then the dream whichtroubled my wife on his account! If he were really of higher origin?No, " said Pilate decidedly, arriving at a resolution, "I will not letmyself be induced to comply with the wishes of the priests. " Then heordered his servants, saying, "Let the chief priests appear here again, and let the accused be led out again from the judgment hall. "

Then came Caiaphas, Annas and the chief priests, and the scribes andrulers of the people once more before Pilate to receive his decision. Then Pilate spoke unto them as follows: "Here you have your prisoneragain; he is without guilt. " Consternation and fury were displayed onthe faces of all the Jews. 

Then Annas said, "We have Caesar's word that our law shall be upheld. How can he be without guilt who treads this very law beneath his feet?"

Then cried all the council, saying, "He is worthy of death!"

Caiaphas, who stood before the council, asked, "Is he not punishable byCaesar when he maliciously injures that which Caesar's will hasguaranteed us?"

Pilate said, "I have told you already, if he hath done anything againstyour law, then punish him according to your law, in so far as you areauthorized so to do. I cannot pronounce the death sentence upon him, because I find nothing in him which according to the laws upon which Ihave to act is deserving of death. "

Then were the Jews vexed beyond measure and muttered among themselvesin hot displeasure, but Caiaphas replied, "If any one proclaims himselfas king, is he not a rebel? Does he not deserve the death punishmentof high treason?"

"If, " said Pilate, "this man has called himself a king it seems to methat so ambiguous a word is not sufficient to condemn him. For it isopenly taught among the Romans that every wise man is a king. But youhave brought forward no facts to prove that he has usurped kinglyauthority. "

Then said Nathanael, "Is it not a sufficient fact that through him thewhole people are stirred up; that he fills the whole of Judea with histeaching, beginning from Galilee, where he first attracted followers tohimself, until here in Jerusalem?"

Then asked Pilate in surprise, "Has he come out of Galilee?"

Then cried they all, "Yes, he is a Galilean, " and the rabbi added, "Hishome is in Nazareth, in the jurisdiction of King Herod. "

"If that be so, then am I relieved of the jurisdiction. Herod, King ofGalilee, has come hither for the feast; he can now judge his ownsubject. Take him away and bring him unto his own king. He shall beconducted thither by my body guard. " Then Pilate with his attendantsleft the judgment hall. 

Caiaphas exclaimed, "Off, then, to Herod! With Herod, who professeththe faith of our fathers, we shall find better protection for our holylaw. "

Annas said, "And if a thousand hindrances were to oppose themselves, the criminal must meet with the deserved punishment. "

Then they cried to Christ, as they went off to the palace of Herod, "One hour sooner or later, what matters it? Thou must come to die, andthis very day!"

 * * * * * *

King Herod stood beside his throne, arrayed in scarlet robes, wearing agolden crown upon his head, and holding a golden scepter in his hand. On either side were his courtiers. He said unto them, "What! have theythe famous man from Nazareth? And are they bringing him a prisonerhere to me?"

"Yes, my Lord, " said Zabulon, "I saw him and recognized him at thefirst glance. "

Then said Herod, "I have for a long time desired to see this man, withwhose wondrous works the whole land rings, to whom, as if by magic, people run in crowds. Can he be John, risen from the dead?"

"Oh, no, " said Naason, "John worked no miracles; whereas they relatedeeds done by this man which in truth are wonderful if they are notexaggerated. "

"As I have, " said Herod, "so unexpected an opportunity of seeing him, Iam impatient to put his magic skill to the proof. "

"He will be very willing, " said Manasses, "to oblige you in thatrespect in order to obtain your favor and protection. "

Then said Herod, who had seated himself, to Zabulon: "Tell thepriesthood they may bring their prisoner in. "

"They are probably coming with complaints against this man, " saidManasses, "as they are forsaken by all the people. "

Herod replied, "Let them do that before Pilate--here I have nothing todo--no judgment to pronounce. "

Manasses remarked: "Perhaps they have met with a refusal from thegovernor and are now siding another way. "

Herod replied, "I do not enter into their pious quarrels. I will seehim for myself and test his alleged miraculous powers. "

Then came into the presence of Herod, Caiaphas, Annas, the rabbi, Nathanael and four priests, bringing Jesus with them led by thesoldiers of Herod. Caiaphas bowed before King Herod, saying "Mostmighty king, " and all the priests cried, "Prosperity and blessing uponthee from the Almighty!"

Then said Caiaphas, "A criminal is brought before thee here from theSanhedrin, that thou mayest execute on him the judgment of the law. "

"The law, " said Nathanael, "decrees his death;" and Annas added, "Mayit please the king to confirm the sentence of the synagogue. "

"But, " said Herod, "how can I be a judge in a foreign territory? Go toyour own governor; he will do justice. "

Then said Caiaphas. "Pilate sent him hither, because being a Galileanhe is thy subject. "

"Then this man belongeth to my jurisdiction? Who is he?"

The priests said, "Jesus of Nazareth. "

Caiaphas added, "Pilate himself said, 'Go to King Herod; let himpronounce sentence upon his own subject. '"

"Did Pilate say that? Wonderful!" said Herod. And turning to hiscourtiers he remarked, "Pilate sends him to me! Allows me to act asjudge in his own province!"

A courtier replied, "It seems as if he wished to make approaches tothee again. "

Herod replied, "I will accept it as a proof of his friendly feeling. "

Then turning to Jesus Herod said, "I have heard very much of thee bycommon report and have longed to see the man that has created such asensation in this country. "

"He is a deceiver, " said the rabbi; "an enemy of the holy law. "

"I have heard, " said Herod, taking no notice of the interruption, "thatthou canst interpret all mysteries and achieve feats which set atdefiance the laws of nature. Let us have an example of thy skill andmighty power; then we will honor thee like the people and believe inthee. "

"O king, " said Zadok, "do not let him lead thee astray, for he is inleague with Beelzebub. "

"That is all the same to me, " said Herod. Then, addressing Jesus, hesaid, "I had last night a wonderful dream. If thou canst tell me whatI have dreamed of I will esteem thee as a first-class reader of hearts. "

Herod paused, but Christ remained motionless and silent. "Thou canstnot do so much as that, " continued Herod, "but perhaps thouunderstandest how to explain the dream if I tell thee what it was. Idreamt I stood upon the battlements of my palace at Herodium and sawthe sun go down. There stood suddenly a man who stretched out his handand pointed to the setting sun and said, 'See there, there is Hesperiain thy bedchamber. ' Hardly had he said this when his form melted intomist. I started and woke up. If thou desirest to be like Joseph whenhe stood before the King of Egypt interpret to thy king this dream. "Christ remained silent, looking sadly at Herod. 

"Art thou not experienced in this branch of the business? Well, then, show some of thy famous magic art. Cause it suddenly to become dark inthis hall, or raise thyself and depart from us without touching theground, or convert the roll on which thy death sentence is written intoa snake. Thou wilt not, or thou canst not? Any of these things oughtto be easy to thee; they relate much more wondrous miracles of thine. "Then turning to the courtiers Herod said, "He does not stir. Ah, I seewell that what has made him so notorious was only idle tittle-tattle. He knows nothing and can do nothing. "

"It is easy, " said Naason, "to make believe before the foolish mob; itis another thing to stand before a wise and powerful king. "

Then said Manasses to Jesus, "Why should you not display your wisdomhere? Why should your power vanish before the eyes of the king, evenas a soap bubble?"

Then said Herod scornfully, "There is nothing remarkable about him. Heis a conceited fellow whom the applause of the people hath made crazy. Let him go. It is not worth while making so much trouble on hisaccount. "

"O, King, " said Caiaphas, "do not trust this sly and crafty rogue. Indeed, he only makes himself out to be a fool in order to obtain amilder sentence from thee. "

Annas said, "If he be put away, then would the peace of the kingdomalso stand in danger, for he has presumed to exalt himself to be king. "

"What!" said Herod, "to be a king! To be a king of fools, that is morecredible. As such he deserves to receive homage, therefore will I givehim as a present a king's mantle, and do formally install him as theking of all fools. "

Then cried the priests aloud, "Not this; he has deserved death. "

Caiaphas said, "O, King, protector of our holy law, remember thy dutyto punish the transgressor as the law ordains. "

Then said Herod, "What have you really against him?"

"He hath profaned the Sabbath, " said the rabbi. 

Nathanael added, "He is a blasphemer. "

And all the priests cried, "And as such the law declares him worthy ofdeath. "

Then said Ezekiel, "He has also spoken contemptuously of the Temple, which thy father so gloriously rebuilt; he has declared that he wouldrebuild a more beautiful one in three days. "

Then Herod laughed and said, "Now that proves indeed that he is a kingof fools. "

Then said Jonas, "He has also spoken insultingly of thee. He haspresumed to call thee, his lord and king, a fox. "

"Then he has attributed to me a quality which he cannot certainly claimhimself, " replied Herod. "Clothe him--wrapped in this splendid robe hewill play his part well before the people. "

Then came in a servant bringing a white robe, which he put on theshoulders of Jesus, and after Jesus had been robed, Zabulon said tohim, "Now for the first time thou wilt create a real sensation, thougreat wonder-worker. "

The priests cried, "He must die!"

Herod said, "No, I will not be guilty of the blood of so exalted aking; rather lead him forth before the people in this his properapparel, that they may admire him to their heart's content. "

Then said the first soldier to Jesus, "Come, thou miraculous king, andallow us to accompany thee!"

The second soldier said, "What good luck for me to walk by the side ofso illustrious a lord!" And so saying, they led away Jesus, wearingthe white robe which Herod had put on him. 

Then said Caiaphas, "Thou hast convinced thyself that his alleged greatworks were nothing but lies and deceit, whereby the people weredefrauded by him. Give, then, thy sentence!"

And all the priests cried, "Pronounce the sentence of death upon him, as the law demands!"

Herod replied, "My opinion is, he is a simple fellow and not capable ofthe crime of which you accuse him. If he has perchance done or spokenanything against the law it is to be attributed to his simplicity. "

"O, King, " said Caiaphas, "take care that thou dost not err!"

"I fear, " said Annas, "thou wilt repent if thou allowest him to escapepunishment. "

"I fear nothing of the kind, " said Herod. "A fool one must treat as afool. He has already suffered by his follies and will avoid them inthe future. With that the trial is at an end. "

Then said the rabbi, "Then it is all over with our law, our religion, Moses and the prophets!"

Herod said, "I abide by my decision. I am weary and will not concernmyself further about this affair. Pilate may decide according to hisofficial duty. Offer to him duty and friendship from King Herod. "

Then went the priests out, sorely dissatisfied with the decision of theking. Then Herod rose from his seat and said, "This time the resulthas not corresponded to our expectations. I expected to find a greatwonder-worker and eloquent orator, and behold, there is only quite anordinary man with never a word to say for himself. "

"Ah, " said Manasses, "how lying rumor exaggerates that which, when moreclosely examined, is shown to be nothing. "

"Friends, " said Herod, "that is not John. John at least spoke, andspoke with wisdom, and an eloquence which one must esteem, but this oneis as dumb as a fish. I am less than ever purposed to put him out ofthe way, now that I have seen him for myself. Pilate would not havesent him to me if he had been found guilty of any serious crime againstthe state. To revenge oneself on such a man would be the greatestfolly. We have occupied ourselves about this wearisome business longenough. Let us now go and make up for lost time by seeking moreagreeable amusement. "

CHAPTER VIII. 

"JESUS OR BARABBAS. "

 See! what form of woe standeth the Saviour there! Even Pilate himself's touched with compassion now Foolish people and blinded, Have you no hearts to pity him?

 No, for seized with madness they cry, "To the cross with him!" Cry for torture and death upon the holiest. For Barabbas, the murderer, Pardon asking, and liberty. 

 Oh, how otherwise once 'fore the Egyptian folk Joseph! Around him shouts echoed, and songs of joy As the Savior of Egypt He was solemnly shown to them. 

 But round the world's deliverer rages a nation in wrath, Blinded, maddened with hate, no man among them will rest Till the judge all unwilling Says, "Then take ye and crucify him. "

 * * * * * *

 Ah, see the king that's crowned in scorn, What monarch such a crown has worn Or scepter borne, and he so great? Ye see him decked with purple shreds, They laugh and jeer and shake their heads, Is this the royal robe of state? Ah! what a man! Where is the trace of deity? Ah! what a man-- The sport of the rude hangman he. 

Caiaphas and Annas and the chief priests and rulers, and the counciland the traders of the temple, and the witnesses accompanied thesoldiers, who once more led Jesus to Pilate's house. Then saidCaiaphas, "Now Pilate must be challenged more imperiously; and if hedoes not do according to our will then shall the authority of Caesarextort the sentence from him. "

"Shall I now, " said Annas, "in my gray old age see the synagogueoverthrown? No! with stammering tongue I will cry for the blood anddeath of this criminal, and then descend to the bosom of my fathers, when I have seen this evil-doer die upon the cross. "

"We would sooner, " cried the rabbi, speaking with great animation, "beburied in the ruins of the temple than to go back upon our resolution. We shall never leave off until he is dead. "

Then proclaimed Caiaphas, "Whosoever goes back on this decision, lethim be cast out of the synagogue. "

And Annas added, "Let the cross of the fathers fall upon him. "

Then said Caiaphas, "Time presses, the day is advancing; now we mustemploy all the means at our disposal in order to carry out our willbefore the feast. " At this time the Jews and the soldiers leadingJesus stood once more before the house of Pilate. 

Pilate, attended by his servants, soon appeared on the balcony. 

"We bring the prisoner once more before thee and earnestly desire hisdeath, " said Caiaphas. 

All the priests cried aloud, "We insist upon it, he must die. "

Then said Pilate, "Ye brought me this man as an agitator and see, Ihave heard your complaints, and I have myself examined him, and havenot found anything in him touching those things whereof you accuse him. "

Then said Caiaphas angrily, "We abide by our accusation; he is acriminal worthy of death. "

And the priests cried, clamorously, "He is an offender against our lawand against Caesar. "

Then said Pilate, "I have sent him because he is a Galilean to Herod. Have you brought forward your complaints before him?"

"Yes, " said Caiaphas, "but Herod would not judge the case because thouart in authority here. "

Then said Pilate, "He, too, has found nothing in the man that deservesdeath, but in order to meet your desire I will have this man scourgedand let him go. "

But Annas said, "That sufficeth not, " and Caiaphas said, "The lawprescribes for such a criminal not the punishment of scourging, but thepunishment of death. "

The priests cried again, "To death with him. "

Then Pilate, hearing the clamor of the Jews and seeing how bitter theywere against Jesus, said unto them, "Is your hate so deep and bitterunto the man that it cannot be satisfied by the blood from his wounds?You compel me to tell you frankly what I think. Driven by ignoblepassion ye persecute him because the people are more devoted to himthan they are to you. I have heard enough of your hateful accusations. I will now hear the voice of the people. An innumerable number willnow assemble here in order to demand, according to old custom, therelease of one prisoner at the Passover festival. Then it will be seenwhether your complaint is the outcome of popular sentiment or only ofyour personal revenge. "

Caiaphas, smiling to himself, bowed low before Pilate and said, "Theresult will show, O governor, that thou thinkest evil of us unjustly. "

Then the priests cried, "It is not vengeance, but zeal for the holy lawof God which compels us to demand his death. "

Pilate said, "You know of the murderer, Barabbas, who lies in chains, and of his evil deeds. Between him and Jesus of Nazareth I will letthe people choose. The one whom they ask for, him will I release. "

Then cried all with one voice, "Release Barabbas and to the cross withthe other. "

"You are not the people, " said Pilate haughtily, "the people will speakfor themselves. Meanwhile I will have this one scourged. " Thenspeaking to his servants, he said, "The soldiers will lead him henceand scourge him according to the Roman law. " Then turning to hiscourtiers, he said, "Whatever he has done amiss will be sufficientlyatoned for and perhaps the spectacle of the scourging may soften theblind wrath of his enemies. "

When Pilate quitted the balcony and entered his house Caiaphasaddressed a stirring speech to the Jews. His opportunity had come. "Pilate, " said Caiaphas, "appeals to the voice of the people. Allright; we appeal to it also. Now, " said he, turning to the traders andwitnesses, "now, true-hearted Israelites, your opportunity has arrived. Go hence into the streets of Jerusalem, summon your friends to comehither, unite them in masses, kindle in them the most glowing hatredagainst the enemy of Moses. The waverers seek to win by the strengthof your words and by promises, but terrify the followers of theGalilean by an overwhelming outcry against them, by insult and mockery, by threats, and if necessary by ill-treatment, so that none of them maydare to let himself be seen here, much less to open his mouth. "

Then cried the traders and witnesses together, "We will go hence andsoon return again, everyone at the head of an excited mob. "

Caiaphas said, "Let us all meet in the street of the Sanhedrin. "

The traders bowed, and as they went the priests cried after them, "Hailto you, faithful disciples of Moses. "

Then said Caiaphas, "Let us not lose a single moment. Let us gotogether to the crowds to encourage them, to inflame them. "

Annas added, "From all the streets of Jerusalem will we lead theexasperated people before the judgment seat. "

The rabbi said complacently, "If Pilate wishes to hear the voice of thepeople, let him hear it!"

"Let him hear, " said Caiaphas, "the unanimous cry of the nation;release Barabbas; the Galilean to the cross!"

Then all the Jews cried aloud, with an exceeding loud voice, "ReleaseBarabbas; the Galilean to the cross!"

Then the soldiers led Jesus away to the Pretorium and took off his robeand tied his hands to a low pillar and scourged him. When they wereweary with scourging they said, "He has had enough, he is all runningdown with blood. "

"Thou pitiable king of the Jews, " said one of the soldiers as theyknelt and mockingly did homage to him, "what kind of a king can thisbe? He has no scepter in his hand, no crown upon his head. That canbe mended. I will at once bring the insignia of the Jewishsovereignty. " And then going out he brought a scarlet mantle, a crownof thorns and a reed. They were laid upon a cushion, and together withthem were laid iron gloves, so that they might handle the crown ofthorns without suffering therefrom. 

"Here, " cried they, "this is certainly the most lovely attire for aking of the Jews. Is it not true that thou hast never expected such anhonor? Come, let us hang this purple robe about thee. But sit down, aking should not stand. Here is a beautiful pointed crown. " And asoldier, taking the crown of thorns with the iron gloves, placed itupon the head of Jesus. 

"Let us look at you. " Then they laughed aloud for joy. 

"But, " said one, "if it is not to fall off your head then must we setit in firmly. Come, brothers, help me. " Then four of the soldiersseized in their hands two staves, and, crossing them over his head, pressed the crown heavily down upon the brow of Jesus. Jesus shudderedin agony. 

"Here, " cried the soldiers, "is the scepter. " And taking the reed theyplaced it in his hands. "Now nothing more is wanted. What a king!"

Then all knelt before him crying, "Hail to thee, most mighty king ofthe Jews!" When they were mocking him a servant entered from Pilate, saying that the prisoner mast be brought immediately into the judgmenthall. 

Then said the soldiers, "Thou comest at the wrong time. Thou hastdisturbed us in the middle of our demonstrations of reverence. "

Then they said to Jesus, "Stand up, we will lead thee about as aspectacle. There will be rejoicing among the Jewish people when theirking appears before them in full splendor!"

 * * * * * *

Then was Jerusalem in an uproar; the traders and the priests raneverywhere hither and thither, stirring up the people against Jesus. On all sides the crowds were mustered, and directed by the priests toassemble in the streets of the Sanhedrin, and from this to proceed toPilate's house to demand the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion ofJesus; from four sides the tumultuous mobs came pouring down to theplace of assembly. Their hoarse cries of "To the cross with him! Tothe cross with him!" were heard in the distance before the foremostleaders came in sight. At the head of one mob came Nathanael, fervently exhorting the multitude to demand the death of Jesus. 

"Moses, your prophet, " said he, "calls upon you. His holy law demandsyou should avenge it. "

And the multitude cried together, "We belong to Moses. We are andremain followers of Moses and of his teaching. We hold fast by ourpriests and teachers. Away with him who would rise against them. "Another multitude poured down from the right into the centralthoroughfare. Caiaphas was leading them proudly, exulting in themanifestations of their zeal. 

Into the same central place came a third band led by Annas, whosefollowers shouted aloud, "Ye are our fathers, and we will answer foryour honor!"

Annas answered, "Come, children, throw yourselves into the arms of theholy Sanhedrin. It will save you. " While the clamorous multitudesfrom these three quarters were pouring down confusedly into the mainstreet, the shouting of a fourth mob was heard down Pilate's street. 

Ezekiel marched at the head of this new company crying, "Shake it off;the yoke of the deceiver!" and they cried in answer, "We will havenothing more to do with him; we follow you!" As the four contingentsof the populace collected thus in the open space it could be seen howsuccessfully they had been organized. Each of the four divisions wasled by a ruler of the people and had in its ranks a number of thetraders of the temple, the witnesses and the priests, whose violentzeal gave movement and direction to the whole crowd. Various criesburst forth from the multitude and each section as it saw the strengthof the others exulted and greeted their leaders with shouts of joy. "The whole people applauds you!" cried one part of the multitude. 

"We will be free from that false teacher, the Nazarene!" answeredanother section of the crowd. 

Then Caiaphas, Annas, Nathanael and Ezekiel, meeting together, criedwith a loud voice, "Your fathers' God will receive you again! You areagain to him a holy people!"

The crowd now massed together in the main street cried, "You are ourtrue friends. Long live the great Sanhedrin! Long live our teachersand priests!" and Annas answered, "Death to the Galilean!"

"Up, " said Caiaphas, "let us now hasten to Pilate, " and Nathanael andEzekiel added, "Let us demand his death, his blood. "

Then all the people answered, "On to Pilate; the Nazarene shall die!"

As they came tripping forward their leaders addressed them from time totime to incite their zeal. 

"He hath falsified the law, " cried the leaders. "He has contemnedMoses and the prophets!" "He hath blasphemed God!"

Then all the people cried again, "To death with the false prophet!"

The section led by Ezekiel shouted, "Death by the cross!" and the othersections took it up, "Pilate must let him be crucified!"

Then said the leaders, "On the cross he shall atone for his crimes!"

"We will not rest, " cried the crowd, "until his sentence ispronounced. " The whole multitude was now moving rapidly toward thejudgment seat of Pilate. 

Caiaphas, who lorded it over the whole assemblage with look andgesture, thus addressed them, "Hail to you, children of Israel! Youare indeed still true descendants of your father Abraham! Oh, rejoicethat you have escaped the nameless destruction which this deceiverwould bring upon you and your children!"

"Only, " said Annas, "by the untiring efforts of your fathers has thisnation escaped the abyss. "

Then cried the people, "Long live the council! Death to the Nazarene!"and the priests and Pharisees cried out, "Curse him who does not votefor his death!"

The people responded, "We demand his death!"

Then for some time there was nothing heard but a confused clamor, butthe voice of Caiaphas rang out notwithstanding, while the peopleresponded to his appeals. It sounded from afar in this wise: Caiaphas:"Let him be cast out from the heritage of our fathers, " and all thepeople cried, "Let him be cast out. "

Caiaphas said, "The governor will give you the choice between thisblasphemer and Barabbas. Let us insist upon the release of Barabbas. "

Then the people cried, "Let Barabbas go free, and down with theNazarene. "

Then said Annas, "Let the fathers be praised who have heard our wishes. "

Then all cried out, "Pilate must consent, the whole nation demands itof him. "

Caiaphas walked backward and forward with excited mien, but proud andtriumphant step, and said, "Oh, most glorious day of the people ofIsrael. Children, be steadfast!"

The priests and Pharisees: "This day brings back honor to thesynagogue and freedom to the people. "

"Now, " said Caiaphas, as they approached the house of Pilate, "let usdemand the sentence with uproar and threaten him with universal revolt!"

Then cried the whole multitude tumultuously, "We demand the blood ofour enemy!"

So loud was the cry, so savage the emphasis, that two servants ofPilate started out of the house and looking down on the turbulentthrong cried out, "Uproar! Insurrection!"

And the people answered, "The Nazarene shall die!"

Caiaphas, hastening hither and thither in the crowd to excite them tostill further violence, said, "Show courage. Stand out undismayed. Arighteous cause defends us. "

Then the people called out clamorously; "Pilate--pronounce the sentenceof death!"

Pilate's servant from the balcony said, "Silence! be quiet!" but thecrowd shouted at him louder than before, "No, we will not be quietuntil Pilate consents. "

Then said the servant, "Pilate will come out immediately. "

Then cried all once more, "We demand the death of the Nazarene. "

And Caiaphas, listening to the shouts of the people, said to thepriests, "Now let Pilate, as he wished, learn the opinion of thepeople. "

Then came Pilate with his followers out upon the balcony, and with themcame Jesus, led by two soldiers, with the crown of thorns upon his headand the scarlet robe about him. The crowd instead of shouting, "Hail, all hail, " as before, shouted violently, "Give judgment! Pass sentenceupon him!"

Then Pilate spoke, pointing to Jesus, who, with bound hands and thescarlet robe upon his bleeding shoulders, stood between the soldiers, "Behold the man!"

The priests and Pharisees answered, "To the cross with him. "

Pilate pleaded, "Cannot even this pitiful sight awake any compassion inyour hearts?"

But the multitude answered, "Let him die! To the cross with him!"

Then Pilate said, "Take him and crucify him at your own risk--I willhave nothing to do with it, for I find no fault in him. "

Then Caiaphas said with a loud voice, "Hear, O governor, the voice ofthe people. It concurs in our complaint and demands his death. "

"Yes, " shouted the crowd again, "we demand his death. "

Then said Pilate to his soldiers, "Lead him down and let Barabbas bebrought out of prison. The jailer must at once deliver him up to thechief lictor. "

When Annas heard Pilate's commands he cried, "Let Barabbas live. Pronounce the death sentence on the Nazarene!"

Then the people cried, "To death with the Nazarene!"

Then said Pilate, "I do not understand this, people. Only a few daysago with rejoicing and joyful clamor you accompanied this man throughthe streets of Jerusalem. Is it possible that the same people this daycall for death and destruction upon him? That is indeed contemptiblefickleness. "

"The good people, " said Caiaphas, "have at last learned that they havebeen deceived by an adventurer who pretended to be the Messiah, theking of Israel!"

"And now, " said Nathanael, "the eyes of this people are fully opened, and they see that he cannot help himself--he who promised to bringfreedom and blessing to the nation. "

"Israel, " said Ezekiel, "will recognize no Messiah who allows himselfto be taken and bound and treated with scorn. "

"Let him die, the false Messiah, the deceiver, " cried the crowd. 

Then Pilate spoke unto the people and said: "Men of Judea, it iscustomary that I liberate to you a prisoner at the feast. Look uponthese two. One with mild countenance and dignified demeanor, the idealof a wise teacher, whom you have long honored as such, convicted of nosingle evil deed and already humiliated by the severest chastisement. The other, a vicious, savage man, convicted of robbery and murder, ahorrible image of a perfect scoundrel. I appeal to your reason, toyour human feelings--choose! Which will ye that I shall release untoyou, Barabbas or Jesus, who is called the Christ?"

Then the priests and people cried out together, "Let Barabbas go free. "

"Will ye not that I release unto you the king of the Jews?" askedPilate. 

Then the priests and people cried, "Away with him, release unto us, Barabbas. "

Then said Caiaphas, "Thou hast promised to release him whom the peopledemand. "

Pilate answered shortly to Caiaphas, "I am accustomed to keep mypromise without needing a reminder. " Then said he to the people, "Whatshall I do with the king of the Jews?"

And the priests and the people cried, "Crucify him!"

"What, " said Pilate, "shall I crucify your king?"

And the people cried, "We have no king but Caesar. "

Pilate said, "I cannot condemn this man, for I find no fault in him. He has been sufficiently chastised; I will let him go free. "

Then said the priests, "If thou let him go free thou art no friend ofCaesar's. "

Caiaphas added, "He has proclaimed himself king"; and the priests said, "Who proclaims himself king is a rebel against Caesar. "

And Nathanael said, "And is this rebel still to remain unpunished, still to scatter abroad the seed of revolt?"

Then cried the people, "It is the duty of the governor to put him outof the way. "

Caiaphas seeing that Pilate answered not, pressed more vehemently uponhim, saying, "We have done our duty as subjects of Caesar and deliveredthis rebel to thee. If thou payest no attention to our accusation andthe desire of the people, then are we free from guilt. Thou alone, OGovernor, art responsible to Caesar for the consequences. "

And Annas said, "If on account of this man universal disorder andrevolt ensues, then we know who must bear this guilt, and, " he addedsignificantly, "Caesar shall know it also. "

Then cried the people again, "The matter must be brought before Caesar. "

Then Ezekiel said to Pilate, "They will be astonished when they hear atRome that Caesar's viceroy has taken under his protection a traitorwhose death the whole people desired. "

And the crowd cried, "Thou must execute him, or otherwise there wouldbe no peace in the land. "

Then said Pilate, "Why, what evil hath he done? I cannot, I dare not, condemn the innocent to death. "

Then said Caiaphas, "Permit me to ask one question. Why shouldst thoujudge this man so carefully when quite recently thou hast allowed thysoldiers to massacre hundreds without judgment or sentence, merely onaccount of some rebellious outcries?"

As Pilate heard the question of Caiaphas he was dismayed, and the crowdshouted: "Thou canst not show favor to this man; if thou wilt be afaithful servant to Caesar. "

Then Pilate's resolution forsook him, and turning to his servants hesaid, "Bring water. "

Caiaphas said unto him, "The people will not go away from this placeuntil thou hast pronounced sentence of death upon the enemy of Caesar. "

"Yes, " cried the multitude, "we will not go from this place untilsentence is pronounced. "

Then said Pilate sorrowfully, "Your violence compels me to yield toyour desire. Take him hence and crucify him. But see, " said he as hewashed his hands in the basin which had been brought at his command. "I wash my hands; I am innocent of the blood of this just man. See yeto it. "

Then arose from the excited multitude a great and awful cry, in whichpriests and people joined, speaking as with one voice, "We take it uponourselves! His blood be upon us and upon our children!"

Then said Pilate, "Let Barabbas be set free at the demand of thepeople. Lead him outside the city gate and let him never tread thisground again. " The soldiers then led Barabbas away. 

The priests and people cried: "Now hast thou justly judged. "

Pilate said unto them, "I have given way to your violent demands inorder to avoid a great evil. But in the blood-guiltiness I will haveno share. Let it fall upon you and your children as you have so loudlycried. "

Then again the priests and people cried, "It is good; let it fall uponus and upon our children. "

Annas said, "We and our children will bless this day and with thankfuljoy cry, 'Health and wealth to the governor!'"

"Long live our governor, " cried the crowd. "Long live Pontius Pilate!"

Then said Pilate, "Bring hither the two murderers who are kept in gaol. Let the chief lictor give them over without delay to the guard. Theyhave deserved death much more than the accused. "

But the priests and people cried, "He has deserved death more than any. "

Pilate said, "The sentence of death must be written out and will beread publicly before all the people. "

The scribe began to write, and as he wrote, from the street were heardthe voices of the soldiers who were bringing the thieves, driving themforward: "Will you not move on, you wretches? Have you not long agodeserved your fate? Thrust them on, these outcasts of mankind. " Whenthe thieves driven by the soldiers came to the foot of the balcony theywere halted on the other side of the steps to that where Jesus stood. 

Then said the rabbi, pointing to the thieves, "That is worthy companyfor the false Messiah on his last journey. "

Pilate said to the thieves, "Of you and your misdeeds the earth shalltoday be free. You shall die upon the cross. Let the sentence ofdeath be now read. "

Then the scribe stood forward and read thus: "I, Pontius Pilate, viceroy in Judea of the mighty Caesar Claudius Tiberius, pronounce atthe desire of the high priests and the Sanhedrin and the people of theJews, the sentence of death upon a certain Jesus of Nazareth, who isaccused of having stirred up the people to revolt, of having forbiddento pay tribute to Caesar, and of having proclaimed himself king of theJews. The same shall be crucified outside the city between twomalefactors who have been likewise condemned to death for manyrobberies and murders, and be brought from life to death. Given atJerusalem on the eve of the Passover. "

When the scribe had read the sentence Pilate broke a staff, flung itamong the people, saying in tones of great bitterness, "Now take himhence and crucify him!" and went rapidly into the house, leaving Jesusin the hands of the Jews. 

"Triumph!" cried Caiaphas in wild exultation. "The victory is ours!The enemy of the synagogue is destroyed!"

The priests and people shouted, "Away with him to Golgotha! Long livethe synagogue! Long live the nation!"

Then said Annas, "Hasten, that we may come home in time to eat thePassover. "

The priests and Pharisees said, "We will keep this Passover with joy, as did our fathers in Egypt. "

"Now, " said Caiaphas, "let our triumphal procession go through themidst of Jerusalem. "

"Where, " asked the rabbi, "are his disciples? They are invited to cryHosanna!"

Then rushed the multitude away, crying, "Up and away off to Golgotha!Come and see him perish on the cross! O delightful day, the enemy ofMoses is overthrown! Ha! now he has his reward! So be it done toeveryone who despises the law! He deserves the death on the cross! Ohappy Passover! Now joy will return to Israel! There is an end of theGalilean!" And so crying, with wild and savage clamor, they swept backto the street of the Sanhedrin. 

[Transcriber's note: A line seems to be missing from the book at thispoint. All that appears is a blank line followed by the single word:]"me?"

CHAPTER IX. 

THE CRUCIFIXION. 

 Ye pious souls rise up and go, With grateful penitence aglow With me to Golgotha, and see What shall be done your souls to free See how the Mediator dies The atoning death of sacrifice. 

 O, who can know the love that lives In this heart now laid bare, That kindness back for hatred gives And saves us from despair? Offer this love of His Your heart's best impulses, His cross before, For evermore. 

Thus they took Jesus and led him away, and a great multitude followedhim. And when Jesus, bearing the cross, with the thieves also bearingtheir cross, was entering the street of Annas, Mary, the mother ofJesus, with Mary Magdalene and John and Joseph of Arimathea, came downthe street by Pilate's house. 

And Mary said to John, "O beloved disciple, how will it have gone withJesus since thou didst last see him in the house of Caiaphas?"

Then answered John, "If the priests could do as they wish, then sureenough he would be already among the dead. But they could not carryout the sentence without permission of the governor. But Pilate, Ihope, will not condemn him, as he has never done anything bad, but onlywhat is good. "

Then prayed Mary Magdalene, "O Almighty God, incline the ruler's heartto justice, that he may protect the innocent against the wiles of thewicked. "

Then said Mary, the mother of Jesus, "Whither shall we go, O friends, oh, whither, that I may but once more see my beloved son? I must seehim, but where can I find him? Perhaps, O perhaps, he lies buried inthe deepest dungeon. "

Mary Magdalene said, "Alas! the most loving of teachers in prison!"

Joseph answered, "There is one to be seen from whom we can inquire. "

John said, "The best thing will be to go to Nicodemus; he surely knowswhat is happening to our dear Master. "

"Yes, let us go, " said Mary. "Every moment increases my grief in thisuncertainty about the fate of my son. "

"Be strong in faith, dear mother, " said John. "Whatever happens it isGod's will. " Suddenly a horrible noise of confused voices and trampingfeet was heard in the distance. From the tumult could be heard thewords: "On, on with him!" Mary started and they all stood listeningwhile the noise came nearer and nearer. 

"What terrible noise is that?" said Joseph. Then stood they all stilllistening to hear what it might signify. 

Salome said, "As if of a thousand voices. What can it be?"

As they listened the procession to Golgotha was already half way downthe street of Annas. In front marched the centurion holding in onehand the staff of authority, followed by Jesus, staggering painfullyunder the burden of his cross. Around Jesus stood four executionerswho brutally goaded him forward. Behind Jesus came the thieves, eachbearing his own cross. Behind them came soldiers carrying spears, inthe midst of whom on a white horse rode a horseman carrying the Romanbanner on which were the letters S. P. Q. R. By the side of thesoldiery walked Annas and Caiaphas followed by all the council of theSanhedrin. All around crowded a numerous multitude, whose shouts wereheard almost without intermission. "Let him die!" they cried, "and allwho hold with him. " Jesus, who had already fallen under the cross, walked slowly and with difficulty. 

One of the executioners said unto him, "Is the burden already tooheavy?" and the people shouted, "Drive him with violence, that we mayget to Golgotha. "

The second executioner cried, "Take care, or he will be down. "

The progress was so slow that not even the head of the procession couldbe seen from where the two Marys and John were standing, wondering whatthe noise might mean. 

Joseph said, "What shall we do? In this commotion we cannot ventureinto the city. "

But Mary said, "What may this noise signify? Surely it does notconcern my son. "

As the noise waxed ever louder, Joseph said, "It seems as if aninsurrection had broken out. "

Then said John, "We had better stop here till the storm passes over. "

While they stood waiting and wondering Simon of Cyrene came hastilyinto the street that lay between those of Pilate and Annas. He carrieda basket, and looking anxiously around him, said, "I must hasten inorder to get into the city. The eve of the feast is coming, and I haveonly a short time left in which to make my purchases and get everythingready, so that I may get home in time. " Hardly had he said this thanhe heard the sound of a great outcry, and amidst which he could onlydistinguish the words, "Let him not rest! Urge him on with blows!"

Said Simon, "I hear a tumult--an outcry of a crowd--what has happenedin the city? I will keep quiet a little--perhaps my ears have deceivedme. " Jesus had fallen faint and had staggered against the house ofAhasverus and was there endeavoring to support himself. 

The third executioner said to him roughly, "It is no use thy fainting. Thou must keep on to Golgotha. "

Then Ahasverus came out of his house and said, "Be off from my house;here is no place for resting. " Simon, who was listening without beingable to see the cause of the commotion, said, "The noise waxes louder. I must hasten to see what it is. What comes there? Ah, I cannot getin here. I will wait and see what happens. "

Then, as the procession turned the corner of Annas' street, Joseph ofArimathea, listening, said, "I think the crowd is coming out of thecity gates, " and John, seeing the cross said, "It appears that someoneis being led out to Golgotha for execution. "

Mary, the mother of Jesus, saw him and cried out with a piercing wail, "It is he. Oh God! it is my son. "

Jesus meanwhile staggered under the cross, but was forced forward bythe executioners grumbling as they did so, "He will drop on the road. "

[Illustration: "Jesus staggered under the cross. "]

The centurion, seeing that Jesus from sheer exhaustion had againfallen, reached him a bottle, saying, "Here, strengthen thyself. "Jesus took it, but did not drink of it. 

Mary cried, weeping, "Ah, there, I see him led to death even as amalefactor!"

Then said John, as he tenderly supported her, "Mother, it is the hourof which he has told us before. Such is the will of the Father. "

Then said the centurion to Jesus, "Wilt thou not drink? Then you mustgo on!"

Then one of the executioners shook him, saying, "Rouse thyself, lazyking of the Jews!"

Another of the executioners said, "Forward! Pull thyself together!"The third said, "Do not act thus weakly; we must get on. "

Then Mary cried as she looked on the scene, "Oh where is any sorrowlike unto my sorrow?"

The third executioner, seeing that all the efforts to compel Jesus tomove forward had failed, said, "He is too much exhausted; someone musthelp him, otherwise--"

Then the rabbi, seeing Simon of Cyrene, pointed him out, saying, "Here, this stranger--"

The Pharisees said, "Just seize him!"

Then said the centurion, "Come hither, thou hast broad shoulders thatcan carry something. "

Simon, protesting, said, "I must--"

"Truly you must, " said one of the executioners, "otherwise there willbe blows. "

Simon began again, "I do not know, " but the centurion interrupted him, saying, "You will find out soon enough--do not refuse. "

"Flog him if he refuses to go!" said the Pharisee. 

Simon struggled crying, "Indeed I am innocent; I have committed nocrime. "

"Silence!" said the centurion. 

Simon replied, "Only not by force like this, " and then beholding Christhe said, "What is this I see? This is the holy man from Nazareth. "

"Place thy shoulders here, " said an executioner. 

Then said Simon, "For the love of thee I will carry it. O, could Ithereby make myself useful to thee. "

Christ, who stood exhausted on one side, looked upon Simon and said, "God's blessing be upon thee and thine!"

"Now, forward, " said the centurion; "follow thou with the beam of thecross!"

The first priest advancing, said, "Thou canst come quickly enough now. "

The third executioner, seeing that Jesus still stood unable to move, seized him by the neck and shook him saying, "See with whatconsideration we treat thee; even the cross has been taken from thee. "

"Dost thou need anything else?" said another of the men. 

"Let him be, " said the centurion. "We will now halt a little that hemay recover before we ascend the hill. "

While the procession halted Veronica and the women of Jerusalemapproached. Caiaphas meanwhile, chafing with vexation at the delay, exclaimed, "What! Still another stoppage! When shall we come toCalvary?"

Veronica, coming up to Christ, kneeled before him, and offering him herhandkerchief, said, "O Lord, how is thy face covered with blood andsweat. Wilt thou not wipe it off?"

Jesus took the handkerchief and wiped his face and gave it back to her, saying, "Compassionate soul, the Father will reward thee for this. "

Then spoke the women of Jerusalem, who drew near to the Lord with theirlittle ones, "Thou good teacher; never to be forgotten benefactor;noblest friend of men, thus art thou rewarded. How we pity thee!"Then they wept. 

Christ looking upon them in their tears said: "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but for yourselves and your children. For behold thedays are coming in which they shall say 'Blessed are the barren and thewombs that never bare, and the paps that never gave suck. ' Then shallthey call to the mountains, fall on us and to the hills, cover us. Forif they do these things in the green tree, what will be done in thedry?"

The women answered, "Alas, how will it be in the future for us and ourchildren?"

By this time the patience of the centurion was exhausted, and he criedout, "Clear out now, these womenfolk. "

The third executioner, pushing them roughly away, said, "What use areyour women's tears? Back!" While the other executioners cried as theypushed Jesus forward, "On with thee to the hill of death!"

The crowd took up the cry and said, "Quick; forward to Calvary!"

"Are we really going forward again?" said the rabbi, and Nathanaelsaid, shrugging his shoulders, "The centurion is far too mild. "

"Do not spare him so much, " said a priest. 

The long procession was once more in motion when there appeared aservant from Pilate. The man cried, "Halt!" and the processionstopped. "By command of the governor the centurion must appear beforehim as quickly as possible and receive further orders. "

Caiaphas exclaimed, "What does this mean? What new orders arerequired? The death sentence is pronounced and must be carried outwithout delay. "

Then said the centurion bluntly, "No, this will not happen until I havereceived the further orders of my lord. " Then turning to the soldiershe said, "Keep watch meanwhile and go with the condemned to Golgotha. Then dismiss this man (Simon) and await my arrival. " The centurionthen went with the servant to Pilate and the procession set forth again. 

The people cried wildly, "Up to Golgotha, to the cross with him. Hailto Israel. The enemy is vanquished. We are free. Long live theSanhedrin. "

Jesus looked upon his mother as the procession passed the corner ofAnnas' street, but spoke not. 

Then said John, when the dolorous procession had passed, "Mother, shallwe not go back to Bethany? Thou wilt not be able to bear the sight?"

But Mary answered, "How can a mother leave her child in the last andbitterest need?"

Cleophas objected, "But evil might befall thee, if they recognized theeas his mother. "

Mary replied, "I will suffer with him, bear scorn and shame with him;die with him. "

"Only, " said John, "if the strength of thy body does not give way. "

"Fear not, " said Mary. "I have asked strength of God and he has heardme. Let us go after them. "

All answered, "Best of mothers, we follow thee, " and they slowlyfollowed the procession to Calvary. 

 * * * * * *

And when they reached Golgotha, which is by interpretation the place ofa skull, they crucified him there. But first they hanged the twothieves on the crosses, the one on the left, the other on the right. Their arms were tied over the cross at the wrists, and their feet weretied with cord to the beam. But Jesus was nailed to the central crosswhile it yet lay with the head slightly raised upon the ground. Onenail was driven through the palms of each hand, and one through the twofeet, which were placed the one above the other. Jesus lay silentwithout moving. On his head was the crown of thorns, from which alittle blood trickled over his brow. His hands and his feet bled alittle, but the rest of his body was pale and colorless, a light clothonly being cast around his loins. 

The centurion who had returned from Pilate, stood on the right of thecross giving orders. The lictor, mounted on a white horse, stood nearthe soldiers, who held on high the Roman standard with the letters S. P. Q. R. Caiaphas, Annas and all the members of the Sanhedrin stood onthe left exulting. A great crowd of sightseers thronged the place. Among them, coming from behind the centurion, were the holy women fromBethany, with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John, and Joseph ofArimathea and Nicodemus. 

Then said the executioners to the centurion, "We have finished withthese, " pointing to the thieves, "Now must the king of Jews be exaltedupon his throne. "

Which, hearing, the priests cried angrily, "Not king! Deceiver, traitor!"

The centurion, who held in his hand a scroll or escutcheon, said, "First, by command of the governor, this writing must be fastened tothe cross. Faustus, " he added, turning to one of the hangmen namedFaustus, "make fast this title over the cross. " Faustus took thescroll from the centurion, and going to the cross, nailed it with onehammer stroke over the head of Jesus, saying, "Ah, an escutcheondisplayed; this is right royal!" When this was done according to thecommand of the governor, the centurion said to the executioners, "Now, up with the cross! Not carelessly, but lay hold firmly. " Then twohangmen, taking the cross by the arms, lifted it up so that its footfell into the hole prepared for it. But as the cross bearing the bodyof Jesus was heavy, the third hangman placed his back under it near tothe feet of Jesus, saying, "Come, now, all together, " and so helpingraised it on high. The fourth then filled in the hole at the footsaying when he finished, "All right, the cross stands firm. "

Then said the centurion, addressing the chief priests, "The executionis accomplished. "

"Quite admirably so, " said Caiaphas with a radiant face. "Thanks andapplause from us all!" "Yea, thanks, and applause from us all, " echoedthe Pharisees, looking up at the cross. 

Caiaphas then declared, "This shall be a feast day forever. "

And the Pharisees said, "Yes, for all time to come it shall be keptevery year with grateful jubilation. "

"And now, " said the aged Annas, "now gladly will I go down to myfathers since I have lived to have the joy of seeing this wretch on thecross. " And as he gazed long as if exultingly drinking in the pleasureof satisfied vengeance, he saw for the first time the writing on thecross, but his old eyes could not decipher the words. Turning toCaiaphas he said, "The superscription seems to be very short. " Thenthe Jews drew nearer to see what was written. The hangmen seatedthemselves on the ground at the foot of the cross and looked up atJesus. 

Then the rabbi, reading the words written by Pilate exclaimed, "That isan insult, an outrage upon the people and the Sanhedrin!"

Caiaphas, hearing him, asked, "What is written?"

Annas, who had also looked at the inscription, said, "The rabbi isright. The Sanhedrin cannot allow this to pass. "

Then said the rabbi, "It is written, 'Jesus of Nazareth, king of theJews!'"

Caiaphas as if incredulous, approached the cross and reading ithimself, started back with indignation. "Verily, " he cried, "that isan affront upon the honor of our nation. "

"Down with it at once, " cried the priest. 

But Caiaphas said, "We dare not touch it ourselves, but do you two, "addressing the rabbi and Saras, "hasten at once to the governor todemand from him, in the name of the Sanhedrin and the assembled peoplethat the superscription shall be altered. Say to him, 'Write not theking of the Jews, but that he said, I am king of the Jews?'"

"We are off at once, " said the rabbi and Saras. 

"Stay, " said Caiaphas, "also request from the governor that he mayorder the bones of the crucified to be broken and their bodies takendown from the cross before the eve of the Passover. "

When the rabbi and Saras departed on their mission, the hangmen, whohad been sitting at the foot of the cross, bethought themselves, andthe first, who was named Agrippa, standing up, said, "Now, comrades, let us divide our share. " Taking the mantle of Jesus, they seized eachone corner, and then pulling all together, rent it into four parts. The coat remained. Agrippa held it up, "The mantle has made just fourpieces; shall we rip up the coat also? See, it is without seam. "

"No, " said Faustus, who had fastened the superscription over the headof Jesus, "it would be better to cast lots for it. "

"Look, " said Agrippa, as he went to the foot of the cross and took upthe basket, "see, here are dice. " Then the four hangmen, standing atthe feet of Jesus threw the dice, Agrippa threw them first, saying, "Iwill try my luck first. Alas, that is too little, " he added, as hecounted up the result of his throw, "I have lost. "

Catiline, the third hangman, as he rattled the dice in his hand, lookedup at Jesus and said, "Hi! you up there, if you can still work miracleson the cross, give me good luck. " The others shrugged their shouldersand said, "What does he care about us?" Catiline's throw was not high. 

Then Nero said, "I ought to have had better luck, " and throwing thedice he counted fifteen. "Nearly enough; now, Faustus, it is yourturn. "

Faustus threw the dice, saying, "I ought to get it. " They all bentover to see the result. 

"Eighteen!" cried Catiline; "that is the best yet. "

Then said Agrippa, "Take it, " handing him the mantle, "it is thine;take it away. "

And Nero consoled himself by saying, "You are not to be envied. "

Faustus gathered up the coat, and folding it up put it away. 

By this time the rabbi and Saras returned from Pilate, and coming backto Caiaphas they said, "Our mission was in vain. The governor wouldnot listen to us. "

Caiaphas indignantly asked, while the priests and Pharisees crowdedaround, "Did he give you no answer at all?"

"This only, " said the rabbi. "What I have written I have written. "

"Intolerable, " said Annas. 

Caiaphas also was much perturbed. But collecting himself he asked, "What did he order about the breaking of the bones?"

"About this matter he said he would give his orders to the centurion, "answered the rabbi. 

Then seeing that no more could be done, the Jews began to revile Jesus, going up to the cross and wagging their heads and scoffing at him. Josue, the priest, went up first and said, "So then it remains written, king of the Jews. Behold, if thou art king of Israel, come down nowfrom the cross, that we may see and believe. " And all the Jews laughedtogether. 

Then said Eliezer, "Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest itagain in three days, save thyself!"

And Caiaphas said, "Ha! thou that savest others, thyself thou canst notsave. "

"Come down, " cried one of the witnesses, "Art thou not the Son of God?"

And Annas said, "He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he willhave him. "

Then cried the hangmen, "What! Don't you hear? Show thy power, mightyking of the Jews, " and so the sport went on. 

Then Jesus, who all this time had hung motionless and silent, raisedslowly and with pain, his head, which had been bowed down, and said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!"

Hearing Jesus speak, the thief who was crucified on his left said untohim, "Hearest thou? If thou be Christ save thyself and us. "

But the other thief who was crucified on the right, answered and said, "Dost thou not fear God, seeing that thou art in the same condemnation?And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds; butthis man hath done nothing amiss. " Then turning to Jesus he said, "Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom?"

Then Jesus looked upon him and said, "Verily, I say unto thee, todayshalt thou be with me in Paradise. "

"Listen to that, " said Caiaphas scornfully, "he speaks as if he hadpower over the gates of Paradise. "

"What, " said the rabbi. "Have not his pride and presumption desertedhim even as he hangs helpless on the cross?" And they were wroth withJesus. 

During all this time Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John had beenslowly approaching the cross, and now they stood immediately belowJesus, Mary on the right, John on the left. Then Jesus beholding them, said to Mary, "Mother, behold thy son. " And slowly and with difficultyturning his head to see John, Jesus added, "Son, behold thy mother. "

Then Mary cried in ecstacy of love and adoration, "Even in dying thoucarest still for thy mother. "

And John tenderly supporting Mary, but looking above to Jesus, exclaimed, "Thy last request is sacred to me. "

And then to Mary he said, "Thou my mother, I thy son. "

Then Jesus in a hollow voice, cried hoarsely, "I thirst. "

The centurion hearing him said, "He thirsts and calls for drink. "

"Then, " said Faustus, "I will reach him some at once. " Then taking thereed with the sponge, he filled it with vinegar and passed it to thecenturion, who, taking a small phial from his dress, poured hyssop onthe sponge. Faustus then reached the sponge up to the lips of Jesus. But Jesus turned away his head and would not drink. "Here, drink, "said Faustus. "What, wilt thou not?" and seeing that Jesus would nottouch the sponge he took it away. 

Then Jesus cried in agony, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani!"

But those hearing him did not understand, but imagined he cried forElias. 

"Hark!" said they. "He cried for Elias. "

Then Caiaphas laughed and said, "Let be; let us see whether Elias willcome to save him. "

Then Jesus raising his head with a great effort to heaven, andbreathing heavily cried with a loud voice and said, "It is finished. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit!" And as Jesus spoke thesewords his head fell forward on his breast and he gave up the ghost. Then suddenly the earth rocked and shook violently--thunderpealed--fierce lightnings flashed--darkness fell like a pall over thescene--the people stood trembling with fear. 

[Illustration: "It is finished. "]

The priests and the people cried out in terror, saying: "What adreadful earthquake! Do you hear the crash of falling rocks? Woe, woebe to us!"

But the centurion said, "Certainly, this was a righteous man. "

Another soldier replied, "God himself bears witness by theseconvulsions of nature. "

The centurion said, "Oh, his patience in the worst agony, his noblecalm, this last loud cry to heaven at the moment before death, allbetoken his divine origin. Verily, he is a Son of God!"

"Come neighbors, " said Oziel, "I will remain no longer in this terribleplace. "

"Yes, " cried Helen, "let us go home and may God have mercy on us. "

And others smiting their breasts cried, "Almighty God, we have sinned!Forgive us. "

And so it came to pass that no one remained round the cross but theholy women and John, and the friends of Jesus with the hangmen. 

The chief priests and the rulers still stood together marveling nearthe cross of the repentant thief, when suddenly a temple servant camerushing into their midst, breathless with haste. 

"High priests and assembled council!" he exclaimed, "a fearful thinghas occurred in the holy place. I tremble in every limb. "

"What is it?" cried Caiaphas in alarm. "Not the temple?"

"Has it fallen?" said Annas. 

"No, " said the servant, "not that, but the veil of the temple has beenrent in twain from the top to the bottom. I hastened hither withstaggering feet, and feared the whole world was bursting asunder withthe shock!"

"Dreadful!" exclaimed the priests and Pharisees, throwing up theirhands. 

But Caiaphas said, "It is that wretch who has done this by his magicarts. What a blessing it is that he is out of the world! Otherwise hewould bring all the elements into disorder. "

Then all the priests and Pharisees raised up their voices and cried, shaking their fists against Jesus, "Cursed be the ally of Beelzebub!"

"Now, " said Caiaphas, "let us hurry home and see what has happened;then we will come back at once. For I cannot rest until I have seenthis fellow's bones broken and the corpse flung into the grave of thetransgressors. "

When Caiaphas and Annas and all the rulers of the Jews had departed, Nicodemus said to Joseph of Arimathea, having overheard the partingword-of Caiaphas, "Shall the holy body of the Son of God be deliveredover to such dishonor as to be flung into the grave of the evil-doers?"

"Listen, friends, " said Joseph, "what I have decided to do. I will gostraightway to Pilate, and will implore him to give me the body ofJesus. He can hardly refuse me this favor. "

"Do so, by all means, " said Nicodemus. "Hasten hither, and I willbring the spices for him. " They having departed, the holy womentremblingly drew round the cross. 

"Fear not, good women, " said the centurion, "no harm shall happen toyou. "

Then Mary Magdalene clasped the cross with both her arms, pressed it toher breast and cried through her tears as she looked up at the silentand lifeless form above, "O dearest Master, my heart hangs with thee onthe cross!"

Then entered a servant of Pilate, and addressing the centurion, saidunto him, "This is the command of my lord: Break the legs of thecrucified and take down their bodies. Everything must be over beforethe eve of the Passover begins. "

The centurion said: "It shall be done at once. Men, first break thelegs of these two. "

Catiline said, "Come, let us put this business through without moredelay. " Then all the hangmen took ladders and placed them against thecrosses of the thieves. Catiline, seizing a strong club, then mountedthe ladder against the cross on the right hand. 

"Strike, " said Faustus, "so as to kill him. " Then Catiline smote thepenitent thief heavily over each of the thighs and then across theshoulder bone. As the blow fell the man's head fell forward and hegave up the ghost. 

"There, " said Catiline, "he wakes no more. "

In like manner did Nero to the thief on the left hand, saying, "I willhasten the other out of the world. "

When the blows were falling upon the body of the thief, Mary, themother of Jesus, who had watched with terror the blows of the hangman, cried out, shuddering, "O my Son, they will surely not deal so cruellywith thy holy body!"

Nero called out to the thief, "Movest thou no more? No, thou hast hadenough. I have given thee thy wages. " Then coming down from theladder they made ready to break the legs of Jesus. 

But as the hangman approached the foot of the cross with the ladder andthe club, Mary Magdalene sprang before him, and thrusting him back withher slender arm, cried piteously, "Oh, spare him, spare him!"

Then Catiline looking up at Jesus said, "Behold, he is already dead. There is no need therefore to break his legs. "

"But, " said Faustus, "in order to make sure, I will pierce his heartwith a spear. " Then grasping a lance he thrust it into the right sideof Jesus, and forthwith there spurted out blood and water. John, whowas looking up at the holy women, shuddered as the spear entered theside of Jesus. 

Mary Magdalene turning to Mary said, "Oh, mother, that thrust hastpierced thy own heart also. "

Then said the centurion, "Now, take down the bodies from the cross. "

"Where, " said one of the hangmen, "shall we put them?"

The centurion replied, "As ordered, into the grave of the malefactor. "

Then said Mary, with a terrible sob: "What a word; it pierces my heartanew. "

"Ladders here, " said the hangmen, "we shall soon have them down. " Thenthe hangmen unfastened the cords which bound the thieves to theircrosses, and mounting the ladder received their bodies in their armsand bore them away. 

While they were busy Mary Magdalene went out to the centurion and saidto him: "May we not even pay the last honors to our friend?"

"Alas, " said the centurion, "it is not within my power to permit this. "

Then came back Caiaphas and Annas and all the rulers of the Sanhedrinfrom the temple to Golgotha. Caiaphas, speaking as they approached, said, "It will be all the more delightful to see the body of thisevil-doer cast into the pit of shame, because we have witnessed thedestruction he has brought to pass within the temple. "

Annas answered, "What joy it would be if my eyes could see him tornlimb from limb by wild beasts. "

"Ha, " said Caiaphas, as they saw the hangman bearing off the bodies ofthe thieves, "they are already being taken down. Now we shall soon seeour ardent desires fulfilled. "

Hardly had Caiaphas and the priests approached the cross when from theother side there came Joseph of Arimathea and with him a servant ofPilate. The servant said to the centurion, "The governor has sent meto inquire of thee whether it can really be true that Jesus of Nazarethis already dead as this man has informed me. "

"It is so, indeed, " replied the centurion, pointing to the cross. "Look for yourself. Besides, for a complete certainty, his heart hasbeen thrust through with a lance. "

Then said the servant, "I have orders to inform you that the body is tobe delivered over to this man as a gift from Pilate. " And having saidthis he departed. 

"Oh, blessed tidings!" cried the holy women still gathered togetheraround the foot of the cross. 

But the Jews hearing the message, waxed furious and the rabbi, speakingof Jesus, said to the other priests and rulers, "The traitor of thesynagogue, he has fooled us again. "

"And spoiled our triumph, " said Annas. 

But Caiaphas would not submit and said haughtily, "We shall nottolerate it that his body be laid anywhere else than in the grave ofthe transgressors. "

The centurion replied, "As the body is given to this man, it is obviousthat he can bury it where and how he will. There is no disputing that. "

Then he said to the soldiers and executioners, "Men, our work is done. We will return. "

Then the hangmen gathered up their basket and their cord, their diceand the fragments of Christ's mantle and departed. With them went thecenturion and his band, leaving Caiaphas and the Jews face to face withthe holy women and their friends at the foot of the cross. The Jewswere exceedingly wroth and raged amongst themselves at the centurion. 

Annas cried out to Joseph of Arimathea, "Dost thou still persist in thyheadstrong obstinacy? Art thou not ashamed to do honor to the verycorpse of an executed malefactor?"

Joseph replied, "I indeed honor this noblest of men, the teacher sentfrom God, whom being innocent you have murdered. "

And Nicodemus added, "Envy and pride were the motives of hiscondemnation. The judge himself was forced to bear witness to hisinnocence, and swore he would have no part in his death. "

Then said Caiaphas furiously, "The curse of our law will destroy you, ye enemies of our fathers. "

The rabbi said, "Do not excite thyself about them, O, high priest; theyare smitten with blindness. "

But Caiaphas, refusing to be silenced, cried, "Cursed are ye by theholy council. Deprived of all your honors, never more shall ye dare totake your seats in our midst. "

"Neither do we desire to do so, " said Nicodemus. 

Then said Annas, "As the body is now in the hands of his friends, wemust be on our guard, for this deceiver, while he was yet alive saidthat in three days he would rise again. "

The rabbi said, "They could easily practice a new deception on thepeople and make fresh trouble for us. His disciples might take hisbody away secretly and then give out that he had risen from the dead. "

"In that case, " said Caiaphas, "the last error would be worse than thefirst. Let us therefore go at once to Pilate and ask him for a guardof soldiers to keep watch over the grave until the third day. "

"A prudent thought, " cried Annas, and the rabbi added, "Thus theirschemes will be foiled. " Then they departed to go to Pilate. 

His enemies having left his friends alone around the cross, Nicodemusand Joseph set about taking down the body of Jesus. Bringing theladders Joseph mounted on the shorter one that was placed in front, while Nicodemus ascended the longer one behind. Joseph had with him aroll of linen so long that after putting it around the body of Jesus, the ends hanging over the cross reached to the ground, where they wereheld by Simon of Bethany and Lazarus. Then, after taking off the crownof thorns Nicodemus took the pincers and began to pull out the nailsfrom the hands of Jesus and bent the stiffening arms lovingly away fromthe cross. While they were thus engaged the Magdalen and Mary talkedtogether. "At last, " said Mary Magdalene, "the madmen have departed. Be comforted, beloved mother, now we are alone with our friends; themockery and blasphemy are past and a holy evening stillness surroundsus. "

Mary said, "O, my friends! What my Jesus suffered this mother's heartsuffered with him. Now he has finished his work and entered into therest of his Father. Peace also and trust from Heaven fills my soul. "

Mary Magdalene comforted her, saying, "He is not taken from us forever;that he promised. "

"O, noble men, " said Mary to Joseph and Nicodemus, "make haste andbring me the body of my beloved son. "

The Magdalene said, "Mother, wilt thou not rest a little here, while weprepare his resting place?" Then seating herself on a stone a littleto the right of the cross, Mary waited while her friends made ready toreceive the body of Jesus. 

"Come, my companions, " said Salome, "and help me to prepare the windingsheet to receive the body. " They spread the linen on the ground atMary's feet, placing one end upon her lap. 

By this time Nicodemus had extracted the second nail which was in hisleft hand, and Joseph had taken the nail from the feet of Jesus. ThenSimon and Lazarus, holding the ends of the linen roll, slowly loweredthe body into the arms of Joseph of Arimathea. 

"O, come, " said Joseph, "thou sweet and holy burden; let me take theeupon my shoulders. " Then with the body of Jesus resting upon hisshoulders Joseph began to descend the ladder. 

Nicodemus had already come down and awaited him at the foot of thecross. Spreading out his arms to receive the body of Jesus, he said, "Come thou holy body of my only friend, let me embrace thee. " Thenthey carried the body of Jesus and placed it on the linen winding sheetthat was prepared for it on his mother's lap. Nicodemus, looking athis wounds sighed, "How the rage of thy enemies hath torn thy flesh. "

"Now, " said John, "the best of sons rests once more on the bosom of thebest of mothers. "

Mary looked down upon the pale, blood-spotted face of Jesus, and thensighing heavily she said, "O, my Son, how is thy body covered withwounds!"

"Mother, " said John, "from these wounds flowed salvation and blessingfor mankind. "

"See, mother, " said the Magdalene, who stood on her right hand, "howthe peace of heaven rests in death upon his face. "

Then said Nicodemus who had brought some ointment, "Let us anoint himand then wrap him in this new linen. " He then poured the ointment intoall the wounds on the body of Jesus. 

"He shall be laid, " said Joseph of Arimathea, "in my new grave which Ihave prepared in the rock in my garden. "

But before they could wrap him in the winding sheets, Salome came near, and kneeling, raised to her lips the pierced left hand of Jesus saying, "O, best of Masters! One more loving tear upon thy lifeless body. "

Then came the Magdalene on the right hand, and kneeling down, stoopedlow and kissed the right hand, saying, "O, let me once more kiss thehand which has so often blessed me. "

Then said John, "We shall see him again. "

"Help me, " said Joseph to Nicodemus, "to bear him into the garden. "

"Blessed am I, " said Nicodemus, "that I may lay to rest the remains ofhim who was sent from God. " Then taking up the body they bore it away. 

Then said John to Mary and the other woman, "Let us follow the dear, the divine friend. "

"It is the last honor, " said Mary, "that I can do my Jesus. "

 * * * * * *

On the morning of the third day since Jesus had been crucified, beforethe sun had arisen, the four soldiers who were appointed to watch thegrave sat outside the tomb where the body of Jesus had been laid. Oneof them awaking, cried, "Brothers, is not the night nearly over?" Thensaid Titus, "The sky is already reddening in the east; a beautifulspring day is beginning to dawn. "

Hardly had he said these words when there was a great earthquake. Pedius springing up exclaimed, "Immortal Gods! What a fearful shock!""The earth is splitting, " cried Rufus. Then there was a peal ofthunder. Titus called out, "Away from the rock; it is tottering; it isfalling!" and the stone which had been rolled up into the mouth of thesepulcher fell down with a crash. 

Jesus arose. For a moment he appeared at the mouth of the sepulchre, radiant in white apparel, while the watch fell on their faces to theground crying out, "Ye gods, what do we see? A fire from heaven isblinding our eyes!"

Jesus then passed out through the door of the sepulchre and went downinto the garden and out of sight. 

After awhile the soldiers, who were lying prostrate on the ground saidto each other, "Brother, what has happened to us?" Then said one ofthe soldiers, "I will not stop here another moment. "

But Titus looking up said, "The apparition is vanished, " and graspinghis spear he rose to his feet saying, "Brothers, take heart; we havenothing to fear, as we have done no wrong. " They then stood up and sawthe open door of the sepulchre from which the stone had fallen. Thensaid Titus, "The stone is rolled away from the grave. The grave isopen. "

"Yes, " said another, "and the garden door is bolted. " Then they wentwith fear and trembling to the door of the sepulchre, and one lookingin, said, "I do not see the corpse. "

Then another going farther inside said, "Here is the linen cloth lyingin which the body was wrapped. He has gone out of the grave. "

Titus said, "He must have risen again, as no one came into the garden. "

Then said the third soldier, "It has happened thus as the priestsfeared. "

And Titus answered, "He has fulfilled his word!" "Now, what shall wedo?" said the soldiers. 

"There is nothing else to be done, " said one, "excepting to hasten tothe Pharisees and tell them what has happened. "

All replied at once, "That we will, " and they hastened away. 

CHAPTER X. 

CONCLUSION. 

I. --THE STORY THAT TRANSFORMED THE WORLD

Written by Mr. Stead at Ober-Ammergau the night after witnessing theperformance of the Passion Play. 

This is the story that transformed the world!

This is the story that transformed the world!

Yes, and will yet transform it!

Yes, thank God, so the answer comes; and will yet transform it untilthe kingdom comes!

This is the story that transformed the world. I awoke shortly aftermidnight, after seeing the Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau, with thesewords floating backward and forward in my head like a peal of bellsfrom some distant spire. Backward and forward they went and came, andcame and went. 

This is the story that transformed the world!

This is the story that transformed the world. And then in the midst ofthe reiterated monotone of this insistent message came the gladresponse from I know not where, "Yes, and will yet transform it!" Andthen the two met and mingled, strophe and anti-strophe, one answeringthe other, "This is the story that transformed the world. Yes, andwill yet transform the world!"

[Illustration: He is risen. ]

I tried to sleep, but could not. It was as if church bells werepealing their sweet but imperious music within my brain. So I got upand wrote. 

All is silent save the ticking of the watch by my bedside; silent asthe stars which gleam down from the blue sky above the cross-crownedcrag, which stands like some giant sentinel keeping watch over thevillage, at its foot. Herod, our host, sleeps soundly, and Johannes, wearied by his double service of waiter at the hotel and his role inthe sacred play, is oblivious of all. The crowded thousands whowatched for hours yesterday the unfolding of the passion of ChristJesus of Galilee have disappeared, and I am alone. 

But not alone. For as real and as vivid as that same crowd ofyesterday seem to me the thronging memories of other days, of thecenturies that rise between the time when Jesus really lived on earth, and today. Nineteen hundred years have gone since all that we sawrepresented yesterday was no mere mimic show but deadly tragic fact;nineteen hundred years during which the shaping power of the world hasbeen that story. The old, old, story never before so vividly realizedin all its human significance and its Divine import. 

Its human significance, for thank God, we have at last seen Jesus as aman among men, a human being with no halo round his brow, no radiancenot of this world marking him off apart from the rest of hisfellow-men, but simply Jesus, the Galilean, gibbeted on the gallows ofhis time, side by side with the scum of mankind. 

And it was this story that transformed the world. "Thou hastconquered, O pale Galilean!" Over how many tribes and nations andkindreds of men?

Oh, the wonder of it all, the miracle of miracles surely is this. Thatthis story should have transformed the world. For after all, what wasthe passion? Looked at as we looked at it yesterday, not from thestandpoint of those who see the sacred story through the vista ofcenturies that have risen in splendor and set in the glory of thecross, but from the standpoint which the actors on the stage assumedyesterday, what was the passion? It was merely a passing episode inthe unceasing martyrdom of man. Think you that of the thirty thousandJews whom the humane Titus by a mere stroke of his stylus condemned tobe crucified round the walls of Jerusalem forty years after that sceneon Calvary, none suffered like this! For them, also, was reared thehorrid cross, nor were they spared the mockings and the scourgings, thecruel thirst, and the slow-drawn agony of days of death. And among allthat unnamed multitude how few were there but had some distractedmother to mourn for him, some agonized mother to swoon at the news ofhis death? Jews they were, as was he. Hero souls, no doubt faithfulunto death, and now, let us hope, wearing a crown of life; patriots whoknew how to die in the service of the land which their fathers hadreceived from God, and of the temple in which was preserved his holylaw. But their self-sacrifice availed not even to save their namesfrom oblivion. Their martyrdom was as powerless to avert the doom ofthe chosen people as the bursting of the foam-flakes on the sand is toarrest the rush of the returning tide. 

Why, then, should the death of one Jew have transformed the world, while the death of these uncounted thousands failed even to save thesynagogue?

Why? That is the question that the Passion Play forces home--aquestion which never even comes to the mind of those who are accustomedfrom childhood to regard this Jew as mysteriously Divine, not so muchman as God, cut off from us and our daily littleness by theimmeasurable abyss that yawns between the finite and the infinite. This greatest of all the miracles, the coming of Christendom intobeing, has become so much a matter of course that we marvel as littleat it as we do at the sunrise--which also in its way is a wonder worthyenough. Think for a moment of the many myriads of fierce heathen, worshipping all manner of proud ancestral gods, that have gone downbefore the might of that pale form. Civilizations and empires havegone down into the void; darkness covers them over and oblivion is fasterasing the very inscriptions which history has traced on their tombs. But the kingdom which this man founded knoweth no end. The voice thatechoed from the hills of Galilee is echoing today from hills the Romansnever trod, and the story of that life is rendered in tongues unknownat Pentecost. The more you look at it from the standpoint of thecontemporaries of the carpenter of Nazareth the more incrediblymarvelous it appears. 

And this is the great gain of the Passion Play. It takes us clear backacross the ages to the standpoint of those who saw Jesus, the Galilean, as merely a man among men. It compels us to see him without theaureole of Divinity, as he appeared to those who knew him from hisboyhood, and who said, "Are not his brethren still with us?" It istrue that it is still not real enough. The dresses are toobeautiful--everything is conventional. We have here not the realChrist, the Jew, the outcast and the vagabond. For him we must waittill Vereschagin or some other realist painter may bring us reality. But even behind all the despisers of conventional Christian art, wehave at least a sufficiently human figure to elicit sympathy, compassion and love. We get near enough to Christ to hear the blowsthat fall upon his face, to appreciate the superior respectability ofthe high priests, and to understand the contempt of Herod for the "kingof fools. " Not until we start low enough do we understand the heightsto which the crucified has risen. It is only after realizing thedepths of his humiliation we can even begin to understand the miracleof the transformation that he has wrought. 

Nor is that all. It is the greatest thing, but it does not standalone. For besides enabling us to realize the story which transformedthe world, it enables us to understand the agency by which that storyeffected its beneficent revolution. 

I learned more of the inner secret of the Catholic church inOber-Ammergau than ever I learnt in Rome. Yet there is nothingdistinctively Roman about the Passion Play. With the exception of thelegend of St. Veronica with which Gabriel Maxs' picture hasfamiliarized every Protestant who looks into a photograph shop and seesthe strange face on the handkerchief, whose eyes reveal themselvesbeneath your gaze, there is nothing from first to last to which theProtestant Alliance could take exception. And yet it is all there. There, condensed into eight hours or less, is the whole stock-in-tradeof the Christian church. It was in its effort to impress that storyupon the heart of man that there came into being all that isdistinctively Roman. To teach truth by symbols, to speak through theeye as much as the ear, to leave no gate of approach unsummoned by thebearer of the glad tidings of great joy, and above all in so doing touse every human element of pathos, of tragedy, and of awe that cantouch the heart or impress the imagination--that was the mission of thechurch; and as it got further and further afield and had to deal withrude and ruder barbarians the tendency grew to print in still largercapitals. The Catholic church, in short, did for religion what the newjournalism has done for the press. It has sensationalized in order toget a hearing among the masses. 

Protestantism that confines its gaze solely to the sublime centralfigure of the gospel story walks with averted face past the beautifulgroup of the holy women. Because others have ignorantly worshiped, therefore we must not even contemplate. But plant a competentProtestant dramatic critic in the theater of Ober-Ammergau, let himlook with dry eyes if he can upon the leave-taking at Bethany, and thenas the universal sob rises from thousands of gazers, he will realizeperhaps for the first time how intense is the passion of sympathy whichthey have sealed up, how powerful the emotion to which they areforbidden to appeal. The most pathetic figure in the Passion Play isnot Christ, but his mother. There is in him also sublimity. She ispurely pathetic. And after Mary the mother comes Mary Magdalene. Protestantism will have much leeway to make up before it can find anyinfluence so potent for softening the hearts and inspiring theimagination of men. Even in spite of all the obloquy of centuries ofsuperstition, and of the consequent centuries of angry reaction againstthis abuse, these two women stand out against the gloom of the pastradiant as the angels of God, and yet the true ideals of the womanhoodof the world. 

Yes, this was the story that transformed the world! This and no other. This it was which to make visible, men carved it in stone and built itin the cathedral, and then, lest even the light of heaven should cometo the eye of man without bearing with it the story of the cross, theyfilled their church windows with stained glass, so that the sun shouldnot shine without throwing into brighter relief the leading features ofthe wonder-working epoch of his life and death. Wherever you go inChristendom you come upon endless reproductions of the scenes whichyesterday we saw presented with all the vividness of the drama. Thecross, the nails, the lance, have been built into the architecture ofthe world, often by the descendants of the men who crucified theirRedeemer--not knowing what they did. For centuries art was but anendless repetition in color or in stone of the scenes we witnessedyesterday, or of incidents in lives which had been transformed by thesescenes. The more utterly we strip the story of the Passion of allsupernatural significance the more irresistibly comes back upon themind the overwhelming significance of the transformation which it hasaffected in the world. 

Why?--I keep asking why? If there were no divine and therefore naturallaw behind all that, why should that trivial incident, the crucifixionof one among the unnumbered host of vagabonds executed every year inthe reign of Tiberius and the Caesars that followed him, how comes itthat we are here today? Why are railways built and special trainsorganized and six thousand people gathered in curiosity or in awe tosee the representation of this simple tale? How comes it if there wereno dynamo at the other end of that long coil of centuries, that thelight should still be shining at our end today? Shining alas! not sobrightly as could be wished, but to shine at all, is that in itself notmiraculous?

Through all the ages it has shone with varying luster. And still itshines. The dawn of a new day as I write is breaking upon thismountain valley. The cocks are crowing in the village, recalling theapostle who in the midst of the threatening soldiery denied his Lord. And even as Peter went out and wept bitterly, and ever after became thestoutest and bravest disciple of the Master, may it not yet be withthose of this generation who also have denied their Redeemer?

Who knows? The transformation would be far less startling than thatwhich converted the Coliseum from the shambles of imperial Rome intothe gigantic monument of triumphant martyrdom, far less violent thanthat which made the German forbears of these good Ammergauers intoChristian folk. 

But if the transformation is to be effected, and the light and warmthof a new day of faith, and hope, and love, are to irradiate the world, then may it not be confidently asserted that in the old, old story ofthe cross lies the secret of the only power which can save mankind?

II. --THE INTERPRETATION OF THE STORY. 

Wherein does it modify orthodox opinions? Chiefly in humanizing them, in making the gospel story "palpitate with actuality" to quote theFrench phrase which Matthew Arnold loved to use. These people on thestage at Ober-Ammergau are not lay figures, mere abstractrepresentations of the virtues or the opposite. They live, breathe andact just as if they were actors in a French or Russian novel. That isthe great difference. These poor players have brought our Lord to lifeagain. In their hands he is no mere influence of abstraction, noinfinite and almighty ruler of the universe. He may be and no doubtevery one of the Ober-Ammergauers would shrink with horror from thesuggestion that he was any other than the second person of the trinity. But they have done more than repeat the Athanasian creed. They haveshown how it came to be believable. If that poor carpenter's son bygetting himself crucified as one part fool and three parts seditiousadventurer could revolutionize the world, then the inference seemedirresistible that he must have been divine. If the illegitimate son ofa Bengalese peasant hanged by order of our lieutenant-governor in thenorthwest provinces because of the mischief he was making among theMoslems of Lahore were to establish his faith on the ruins ofWestminster Abbey, and install the successor of his leading disciple onthe throne of the British empire, we should not wonder at hisapotheosis. To do so much, with so little material, compels theinference that there is the infinite behind. Nothing but a God couldcontrol such a machine. It needed a fulcrum in eternity to make such achange in the things of time with so weak a lever as the life of thisGalilean. 

But it is not only Christ himself who becomes real to us, but what isalmost as important, we see his contemporaries as they saw themselves, or as he saw them. Caiaphas--who that has seen Burgomaster Lang inthat leading role can feel anything but admiration and sympathy for theworthy chief of the Sanhedrin? He had everything on his side tojustify him. Law, respectability, patriotism, religious expediency, common sense. Against him there was only this poor vagabond fromNazareth--and the Invisible. But Caiaphas, like other men, does notsee the Invisible and he acts, according to his lights, as he was boundto act. He is the great prototype of the domineering and intolerantecclesiastic all the world over. Since the crucifixion he has oftenchanged his clothes. But at heart he is the same. He has worn thethree-crowned hat of the successor of Peter; he has paraded in abishop's miter; he has often worn the gown and bands of PresbyterianGeneva. Caiaphas is eternal. He produces himself in every church andin every village, because there is a latent Caiaphas in every heart. 

Perhaps the character who comes out best is Pilate. He is a nobleRoman, whose impartiality and rectitude, coupled with an anxious desireto take the line of least resistance and find out some practical middlecourse, is worthy of that imperial race to whose vices, as well as tomany of their virtues, we English have succeeded. Pilate did his bestto save Jesus up to a point--beyond that point he did not go, andaccording to the accepted ethics of men in his position, it would havebeen madness to have gone. Why should he, Pontius Pilate, procuratorof Judea, risk his career and endanger the tranquillity of Jerusalemmerely to save a poor wretch like that Galilean? What Englishman whohas ever ruled a province in India, where religious ferment was rife, who would not have felt tempted to act as Pilate acted--nay, would nothave acted as he acted without even the hesitation he showed, if thelife of some poor devil of a wandering fakir stood between him and thepeace of the empire? Would to God that British magistrates, even athome in our own land, would give the despised and unpopular poor manthe same number of chances Pilate gave to Jesus. With Downing streeteager for the conviction of a socialist agitator, and the whole ofsociety and the mob savage against him, a man would be a fool who wouldnot appeal from Bow street or old Bailey to so just a judge as Pilate. To the last Pilate never made himself the willing instrument of popularfrenzy. He argued against it, he denounced it, he resorted to everysubterfuge by which he could save the prisoner's life, and it was onlywhen the Sanhedrin threatened to denounce him to Caesar as an enemy ofthe emperor that he unwillingly gave way. Here and there no doubtthere are among our latter day magistrates and judges fanaticalbelievers in abstract right, who would have risked the empire ratherthan let a hair of Christ's head be touched; but the average English orAmerican magistrate--especially if the accused was "only anigger"--would shrug his shoulders at such Quixotism as folly andworse. It is better, they would say, that one man should die, evenunjustly, than that everything should be upset. 

Another person who comes out better than might be expected is Judas. The conception of his character is very fine and very human. Judas, asthe treasurer of the little band, naturally felt indignant at theapparent wanton extravagance which led Mary Magdalene to pour ointmentworth 300 pence upon the head of her master. There is real humannature and sound practical common sense in his reply to those who toldhim not to worry about the money, when he retorted, "Who is there totake care about it if I don't?" Judas never really from first to lastmeditates betraying his master to death. The salves which he lays tohis conscience when consenting to identify Jesus at night are veryingenious. Judas was a smart man who calculated he stood to win in anyevent. He got the indispensable cash; all that he did was to indicatewhat could perfectly well have been discovered without his aid; ifJesus were what he believed him to be he could easily have baffled hisenemies; if he were not, well, then, he had deceived them. But themoment Judas learns that he has really endangered his master's life, his whole demeanor changes. He flings back the blood money at the feetof those who had given it to him, and in the madness of despair hehangs himself. So far from Judas being callous to Christ's fate, hissuicide was a proof that his penitence was far more agonizing than thatof Peter. 

Simon Peter also comes in for a share in the general rehabilitation. It was impossible not to feel sympathy for the hasty old man, hustledfrom side to side by a pack of violent soldiery. Knowing moreover thathe had cut off one of their ears but a few hours before, and that ifthey recognized him his own ears would have been cropped, even if hedidn't share the fate of the crucified, his denial is so natural underthe circumstances that you cease to marvel that even the cock crow onthe roof failed to remind him of his master's warning. 

The Passion Play has at least done this--it sets us discussing theconduct of Caiaphas and Pilate and Judas, as if they were ourcontemporaries, as if they were statesmen at Westminster or atWashington or administrators in India or Canada. And this, no doubt, is no small service, for these men are types of human character who areeternally re-embodied among us. 

III. --THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE. 

The story of the Passion Play has ever been real to me in another thana Catholic sense. It has been the perpetual re-incarnation of thedivine story in the history of our own times that has absorbed myattention. These ancient figures on the stage of New Testament historywere but of importance in so far as they lived again in our own life. Of their mystical theological significance I am, of course, notspeaking. This is a thing apart. But the perpetual re-incarnation ofGod's Messiah in the great causes of justice, freedom and humanity, itis that which has made the gospel story ever new to me. 

Leaving Ober-Ammergau I returned by Switzerland to London. At Lucernewhile waiting for the train, I turned over the book in the waiting-roomthat describes the construction of the Gotthard railway. About onethousand tons of dynamite, it is said, had sufficed to pierce thetunnels through the mountain barrier that separated Italy fromSwitzerland. Blasting powder could never have done the work. Thathelped to level the military roads for the legions of Suwarrow. Itneeded dynamite to tunnel the St. Gotthard--dynamite directed byscience--and as I read this I fell a-thinking. The old story, thatmediaeval Christ in magenta and pearl gray, with his disciples inartistic symphonies of harmonious and contrasted color, no doubttransformed the world. But a new world has arisen which sorely needstransforming again, and is it not possible that the conventionalChrist, who no doubt did mighty things in the past, may have become asobsolete as blasting powder. May we not hope that if the conventionalChrist did so much, the real Christ may do much more; that therealization of the Christ as he actually lived and died among us may beas much superior in its transforming efficacy as the dynamite of themodern engineer is to the powder sack of the soldiers who marched underold Suwarrow? Of one thing we may at least be certain, and that is, ifeveryone of those who call themselves by the Christian name would butsay one Christ-like word, and do one Christ-like deed between everysunrise and sunset, it would lift a very Alpine mass of sorrow andanxiety from the weary heart of the world. What then might not be doneif in very truth, and with all sincerity, we, each of us, tried to be areal Christ in his or her sphere, the sent of God in the midst of thosewith whom we pass our lives?

One more word and I have done. The actors play different parts as theygrow old. They begin with being children in the tableaux and they passin turn from one role to another. The Judas of 1890 was the apostleJohn in 1880. When the Christ was selected in 1870, he was chosen outof four competitors. One of the unsuccessful today plays King Herod, the other Pontius Pilate. So it is ever in real life. Few, indeed, are those who are always Christs. When Christians ceased to be martyrsthey martyred their enemies. The church came from the catacombs toestablish the inquisition. In our own lives we may be Christs todayand atheists tomorrow. Power and authority destroy more Christs thanthe dungeon and the stake. And perhaps one reason why theOber-Ammergauers have been able to give us the Christ we see this yearis because in their secluded valley they have remained poor and humblein spirit, and have never ceased to remember the story that transformedthe world.