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SECTION XIX
KOPH
The Trial and Execution of Jesus
Chapter 165
Jesus before Caiaphas. Peter denies his Lord thrice. The indictment, signed by seven ruling Jews. A hundred perjured witnesses testify to the truth of the charges.
1. Caiaphas was the high priest of the Jews; the mob led Jesus to his palace hall.
2. The court had been convened, and all the galleries were packed with scribes and Pharisees already sworn as witnesses against the Lord.
3. The maid who kept the palace door knew John and this disciple asked that he and Peter be admitted to the hall.
4. The maid permitted them to enter in, and John went in; but Peter was afraid and tarried in the outer court.
5. The woman said to Peter, as he stood beside the door, Are you a follower of this man from Galilee?
6. And Peter said, No, I am not.
7. The men who had brought Jesus to the hall sat by a fire in the outer court, because the night was cool, and Peter sat with them.
8. Another maid who waited in the place saw Peter and she said to him, You surely are from Galilee; your speech is that of Galilee; you are a follower of this man.
9. And Peter said, I know not what you mean; I do not even know this man.
10. And then a servant of Caiaphas, one of those who seized the Lord and brought him to the court, saw Peter and he said to him,
11. Did I not see you in the orchard of Massalian with this seditious Nazarene? I'm sure I did, and you are one of those who followed him.
12. Then Peter rose and stamped upon the floor, and swore by every sacred thing, that he knew not the criminal.
13. Now, John was standing near and when he heard the words and knew that Peter had denied his Lord, he looked at him in sheer astonishment.
14. Just then a cock crew loud beneath the court, and Peter called to mind the words the Lord had said,
15. Before the cock shall crow to-morrow morn you will deny me thrice.
16. And Peter's conscience smote him heavily, and he went out into the night and wept.
17. Caiaphas sat in state; before him stood the man from Galilee.
18. Caiaphas said, You people of Jerusalem, who is the man that you accuse?
19. They answered: In the name of every loyal Jew we do accuse this man from Galilee, this Jesus, who assumes to be our king, as enemy of God and man.
20. Caiaphas said to Jesus, Man, you are permitted now to speak and tell about your doctrines and your claims.
21. And Jesus said, You priest of carnal man, why do you ask about my words and works?
22. Lo, I have taught the multitudes in every public place; I have restored your sick to health; have caused your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and I have brought your dead to life again.
23. My works have not been done in secret place but in your public halls and thoroughfares.
24. Go ask the people, who have not been bought with gold or glittering promises, to tell about my words and works.
25. When Jesus had thus said a Jewish guard came up and smote him in the face and said, How dare you speak thus unto him, the high priest of the Jews?
26. And Jesus said, If I have spoken falsely bear witness unto what I say; If I have told the truth why did you smite me thus?
27. And then Caiaphas said, What'er you, do in a legal way, for we must answer to a higher court for everything we do or say.
28. Let the accusers of this man present their charges in a legal form.
29. And then Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and said, I have the accusations here in legal form; the charges made and signed by scribes and priests and Pharisees.
30. Caiaphas said, Be still, you men, and hear the charges read. The scribe took up a roll and read:
31. To the Sanhedrim of the Jews and to Caiaphas the high priest, most honoured men:
32. The highest duty man can render is to his nation and his own is to protect them from their foes.
33. The people of Jerusalem are conscious that a mighty foe is in their very midst.
34. A man named Jesus has come forth and claims to be heir to David's throne.
35. As an imposter he is foe, and in the name of every loyal Jew we here submit these charges which we are competent to prove;
36. At first, he blasphemes God; he says he is son of God; that he and God are one;
37. And he profanes our holy days by healing, and doing other work upon the Sabbath days;
38. And he proclaims himself the king, successor of our David and our Solomon;
39. And he declares that he will tear our temple down and build it up again in form more glorious in three days;
40. And he declares that he will drive the people from Jerusalem, as he drove out the merchants from the temple court; and bring to occupy our sacred hills a tribe of men that know not God;
41. And he aver that every doctor, scribe and Pharisee and Sadducee, shall go in exile, and shall never more return;
42. And to these charges we do set our hands and seals. Annas. Simon. Abinadab. Annanias. Joash. Azaniah. Hezekiah.
43. Now, when the scibe had read the charges, all the people called for blood; they said, Let such a wretch be stoned; let him be crucified.
44. Caiaphas said, You men of Israel, do you sustain the charges of these men?
45. A hundred men who had been bribed, stood forth to testify; they swore that every charge was true.
46. Caiaphas said to Jesus, Man, have you a word to say? are you the son of God?
47. And Jesus said, So you have said; and then he said no more.
Chapter 166
Jesus before the Sanhedrim. Nicodemus pleads for justice; he shows the incompetency of the witnesses. The council fail to declare Jesus guilty, but Caiaphas, the presiding judge, declares him guilty. The mob maltreat Jesus. He is taken to Pilate's court.
1. When Jesus would not speak, Caiaphas stood before the Jewish mob and said,
2. Bind fast the prisoner, for he must go before the great Sanhedrim of the Jews to answer for his life.
3. We cannot execute a criminal until our findings have been verified by this, the highest council of the Jews.
4. As soon as it was day the highest council of the people met; the Lord and his accusers stood before the bar.
5. Caiaphas was the chief; he rose and said, Let the accusers of this man from Galilee bring forth their charges and their evidence.
6. Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and read the charges and the names of those who had accused the man from Galilee.
7. And all the witnesses were made to stand and testify before the council of the Jews.
8. And then the lawyers weighed the evidence, and Nicodemus stood among the men who plead.
9. He raised his hands and said, Let justice now be done, though every scribe and Pharisee and priest and Sadducee, as well as Jesus, the accused, be judged a liar.
10. If we can prove this Jesus to be foe and traitor to our laws and lnad, let him be judged acriminal and suffer for his crimes.
11. If it be proved that these who testify are perjurers in the sight of God and man, then let the man from Galilee go free.
12. And then he brought the testimonies of the witnesses before the judges of the law; no two of them agreed; In heat of passion, or for gain, the men had testified.
13. The council would have gladly judged that Jesus was a criminal and sentence him to death; but in the face of all the evidence they were afraid.
14. And then Caiaphas said, You man from Galilee, Before the living God, I now command that you shall answer me, Are you the Christ, the son of God?
15. And Jesus said, If I would answer, Yes, you would not hear, nor yet believe,
16. If I would answer, No, I would be like your witnesses, and stand a liar in the sight of man and God. But this I say,
17. The time will come when you will see the son of man upon the throne of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.
18. And then Caiaphas rent his clothes and said, Have you not heard enough? Did you not hear his vile blasphemous words? What further need have we of witnesses? What shall we do with him?
19. The people said, Put him to death. And then the mob rushed up and spit into his face, and struck him with their hands.
20. And then they bound a cloth about his eyes and smote him in the face and said, You are a prophet; tell us who it was who smote you in the face.
21. And Jesus answered not and like a lamb before his shearer he, the man from Galilee, resisted not.
22. Caiaphas said, We cannot put a man to death until the Roman ruler shall confirm the sentence of this court;
23. So take this criminal away and Pilate will endorse what we have done.
24. And then was Jesus dragged along the way up to the palace of the Roman governor.
Chapter 167
Jesus before Pilate. Is pronounced not guilty. Jesus before Herod and is tortured and returned to Pilate, who again declares him innocent. The Jews demand his death. Pilate's wife urges her husband to have nothing to do with the punishment of Jesus. Pilate weeps.
1. Into the palace of the Roman governor the Jews would enter not lest they become defiled and be unworthy to attend the feast; but they led Jesus to the palace court, abd Pilate met them there.
2. And Pilate said, Why this commotion in the early day? What is your prayer?
3. The Jews replied, We bring before you one, an evil and seditious man.
4. He has been tried before the highest council of the Jews and has been proven traitor to our laws, our state and to the government of Rome.
5. We pray that you will sentence him to death upon the cross.
6. And Pilate said, Why do you bring him unto ? Go to, and judge him yourselves.
7. You have a law, and by the sanction of the Roman law, you have a right to judge and right to execute.
8. The Jews replied, We have no right to execute a man upon the cross, and since this man is traitor to Tiberius, our counsellors believe that he should meet the most humiliating death--the death upon the cross.
9. But Pilate said, No man can be found guilty of a crime by Roman law until the testimony all is in, and the accused has been permitted to defend himself;
10. So I will take your bill of charges, with the evidence you have, and judge by Roman law.
11. The Jews had made a copy of the accusations in the language of the Roman court, and they had added to the bill:
12. We charge that Jesus is an enemy of Rome; that he demands that men shall pay no tribute to Tiberius.
13. And Pilate took the bill; his guards led Jesus up the steps into the palace hall.
14. And Jesus stood before the Roman governor, and Pilate read to him the charges of the Jews, and said,
15. What is your answer to this bill? These charges, are they true or false?
16. And Jesus said, Why should I plead before an earthly court? The charges have been verified by perjured men; what need I say?
17. Yes, I am king; but carnal men cannot behold the king, nor see the kingdom of the God; it is within.
18. If I had been king as carnal man is king, my servants would have stood in my defence, and I would not have willingly surrendered to the minions of the Jewish law.
19. I have no testimony from the sons of men. God is my witness, and my words and deeds bear witness to the truth;
20. And every man who comprehends the truth will hearken to my words, and in his soul give witness unto me.
21. And Pilate said, What is the truth?
22. And Jesus said, Truth is the God who knows. It is the changeless one. The Holy Breath is truth; she changes not and cannot pass away.
23. And Pilate went again unto the Jews and said, This man is guilty of no crime; I cannot sentence him to death. 24 And then the Jews grew boisterous; they cried aloud and said, Our council surely knows. The wisest men of all the land have found him guilty of a score of crimes.
25. He would pervert the nation of the Jews; would overthrow the Roman rule and make himself the king. He is a culprit come from Galilee; he must be crucified.
26. And Pilate said, If Jesus is from Galilee he is a subject of the governor of Galilee, who should be judge.
27. Now, Herod had come down from Galilee and with his suite was in Jerusalem.
28. And Pilate sent to him the Lord in chains; he also sent a copy of the charges, and of the testimonies of the Jews and asked that he would pass in judgment on the case.
29. And Herod said, I have heard much about this man and I am pleased to see him in my court.
30. And then he asked the Lord about his claims, about his doctrines and his aims.
31. And Jesus answered not a word; and Herod was enraged; he said, Do you insult the ruler of the land by answering not?
32. and then he called his guards and said, Take you this man and torture him until he answers me.
33. The guards took Jesus and they smote him; mocked him; wrapped him in a royal robe; they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head; they put a broken reed into his hands;
34. And then they said deridingly, All hail, thou royal king! Where are your subjects and your friends?
35. But Jesus answered not a word. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate with this note of courtesy:
36. Most worthy counsellor of Rome, I have examined all the charges and the testimonies that you sent to me regarding this seditious man from Galilee, and while I might adjudge him guilty of the crimes as charged, 37 I yield to you my rights as judge, because you are superior to me in power. I will approve of any judgment you may render in this case.
38. Now, Pilate and the tetrarch had been foes, but the experience of this hour destroyed their enmity and they were friends in after days.
39. When Jesus had been brought again to Pilate's court, the Roman Governor stood forth before the accusers of the Lord and said,
40. I cannot find this Nazarene to be a criminal as charged; there is no evidence that he should suffer death; so I will scourge him well and let him go.
41. The Jews cried angrily, It is not meet that such a dangerous man should live; he must be crucified.
42. Then Pilate said, I bid you wait a little time. And then he went into an inner room and sat in silent thought.
43. And as he mused his wife, a godly woman, chosen from among the Gauls, came in and said,
44. I pray you, Pilate, hearken unto me: Beware of what you do this hour. Touch not this man from Galilee; he is a holy man.
45. If you should scourge this man you scourge the son of God. Last night I saw it all in vision far too vivid to be set aside as idle dream.
46. I saw this man walk on the waters of the sea; I heard him speak and calm an angry storm; I saw him flying with the wings of light;
47. I saw Jerusalem in blood; I saw the statues of the Caesars fall; I aw a veil before the sun, and day was dark as night.
48. The earth on which I stood was shaken like a reed before the wind. I tell you, Pilate, if you bathe your hands in this man's blood then you may dread the frowns of great Tiberius, and the curses of the senators of Rome.
49. And then she left, and Pilate wept.
Chapter 168
Pilate's final effort to release Jesus fails. He washes his hands in feigned innocence. Delivers Jesus to the Jews for execution. The Jewish soldiers drive him to Calvary.
1. A Superstitious people are the Jews. They have a faith that they have borrowed from the idol worshippers of other lands, that at the end of every year,
2. They may heap all their sins upon the head of some man set apart to bear their sins.
3. The man becomes a scrpegoat for the multitudes; and they believe that when they drive him forth into the wilds, or into foreign lands, they are released from sin.
4. So every spring before the feast they chose a prisoner from the prisons of the land, and by a form their own, they fain would make him bear their sins away.
5. Among the Jewish prisoners in Jerusalem were three who were the leaders of a vile, seditious band, who had engages in thefts and murders and rapine, and had been sentenced to be crucified.
6. Barabbas bar Jezia was among the men who were to die; but he was rich and he had bought of priests the boon to be scapegoat for the people at the coming feast, and he was anxiously in waiting for his hour to come.
7. Now, Pilate thought to turn this superstition to account to save the Lord, and so he went again before the Jews and said,
8. You men of Israel, according to my custom I will release to you to-day a prisoner who shall bear you sins away.
9. This man you drive into the wilds or into foreign lands, and you have asked me to release Barabbas, who has been proven guilty of the murder of a score of men.
10. Now, hear me men, Let Jesus be released and let Barabbas pay his debt upon the cross; then you can send this Jesus to the wilds and hear no more of him.
11. At what the ruler said the people were enraged, and they began to plot to tear the Roman palace down and drive in exile Pilate, and his household and his guards.
12. When Pilate was assured that civil war would follow if he heeded not the wishes of the mob, he took a bowl of water and in the presence of the multitude he washed hid hands and said,
13. This man whom you accuse is son of the most holy Gods, and I proclaim my innocence.
14. If you would shed his blood, his blood is on your hands and not on mine.
15. And then the Jews exclaimed, And let his blood be on our hands and on our children's hands.
16. And Pilate trembled like a leaf, in fear. Barabbas he released and as the Lord stood forth before the mob the ruler said, Behold your king! And would you put to death your king?
17. The Jews replied, He is no king; we have no king but great Tiberius.
18. Now, Pilate would not give consent that Roman soldiers should imbue their hands in blood of innocence, and so the chief priests and the Pharisees took counsel what to do with Jesus, who was called the Christ.
19. Caiaphas said, We cannot crucify this man; he must be stoned to death and nothing more.
20. And then the rabble said, Make haste! let him be stoned. And then they led him forth toward the hill beyond the city's gates, where criminals were put to death.
21. The rabble could not wait until they reached the place of skulls. As soon as they had passed the city's gate, they rushed upon him, smote him with their hands, they spit upon him, stoned and he fell upon the ground.
22. And one, a man of God, stood forth and said, Isaiah said, He shall be bruised for our transgressions and by his stripes we shall be healed.
23. As Jesus lay all bruised and mangled on the ground a Pharisee called out, Stay, stay you men! behold, the guards of Herod come and they will crucify this man.
24. And there beside the city's gate they found Barabbas's cross; and then the frenzied mob cried out, Let him be crucified.
25. Caiaphas and the other ruling Jews came forth and gave consent.
26. And then they lifted Jesus from the ground, and at the point of swords they drove him on.
27. A man named Simon, a friend of Jesus, was a-near the scene and since the bruised and wounded Jesus could not bear his cross, they laid it on the shoulders of this man and made him bear it on to Calvary.
Chapter 169
Judas is filled with remorse. Hurries to the temple and throws the thirty pieces of silver at the feet of the priests who take it and buy a potter's field. Judas hangs himself. His body is buried in the potter's field.
1. Now, Judas who betrayed his Lord, was with the mob; but all the time he thought that Jesus would assert his power and demonstrate the strength of God that he possessed, and strike to earth the fiendish multitudes and free himself;
2. But when he saw his master on the ground and bleeding from a score of wounds, he said,
3. O God, what have I done? I have betrayed the son of God; the curse of God will rest upon my soul.
4. And then he turned and ran with haste until he reached the temple door; he found the priests, who gave to him the thirty silver pieces to betray the Lord, and said,
5. Take back your bribe; it is the cost price of my soul; I have betrayed the son of God.
6. The priests replied, That matters not to us.
7. Then Judas threw the silver on the floor, and, bowed with grief, he went away, and on a ledge beyond the city's walls he hanged himself and died.
8. In time the fastenings gave way, his body fell into the Hinnon vale and after many days they found it there a shapeless mass.
9. The rulers could not put the price of blood into the treasury, and so they took the thirty silver pieces with which they bought a potter's field,
10. Where they might bury those who had no rights to lie within their sacred grounds.
11. And there they put the body of the man who sold his Lord.
Chapter 170
The crucifixion. Jesus prays for his murderers. Pilate puts an inscription above the cross. Jesus speaks words of encouragement to the penitent thief. Commits to John the care of his mother and Miriam. The soldiers divide his garments among themselves.
1. The Jewish mob pushed on toward Calvary and as they went the Marys, Miriam, and other women not a few, were close beside the Lord.
2. They wept aloud. When Jesus saw them weeping and lamenting thus he said,
3. Weep not for me, for though I go away, go through the gateway of the cross, yet on the next day of the sun, lift up your hearts, for I will meet you at the sepulchre.
4. The great procession came to Calvary. The Roman soldiers had already bound the two state prisoners to the cross.
5. (They were not nailed, but simply bound.)
6. Four soldiers of the Roman guard that Herod brought from Galilee were called to execute the orders of the court.
7. These were the men who had been set apart to torture Jesus and secure from him confession of his guilt.
8. These were the men who scourged him, put a crown of thorns upon his head, a broken reed into his hands, and wrapped him in a royal robe, and bowed in mockery, before him as a king.
9. These soldiers took the Lord and stripped him, laid him on the cross and would have bound him there with cords; but this would not suffice.
10. The cruel Jews were near with hammer and with nails; they cried, Not cords, but nails; drive fast the nails and hold him to the cross.
11. And then the soldiers took the nails and drove them through his feet and hands.
12. They offered him a sedative to drink, a draught of vinegar and myrrh; but he refused to drink the draught.
13. The souldiers had prepared a place inwhich to plant Barabbas' cross between the other criminals; and here they raised the cross of Jesus, who was called the Christ;
14. And then the soldiers and the mob sat down to watch him die.
15. And Jesus said, My Father-God, forgive these men; they know not what they do.
16. Now, Pilate had prepared a tablet to be placed upon the cross on which was written in the tongues of Hebrew, Latin and Greek these words of truth: JESUS THE CHRIST, KING OF THE JEWS.
17. And this was placed upon the cross. The priests were angered when they read these words upon the tablet of the cross.
18. And then they prayed that Pilate would not say, He is the Christ, king of the Jews; but say, He claims to be the Christ, king of the Jews.
19. But Pilate said, What I have written, I have written; let it stand.
20. The Jewish multitudes who saw the LOrd upon the cross were wild with joy; they said, All hail, fake king!
21. You who would tear the temple down and in three days would build it up again, why don't you save yourself?
22. If you are Christ, the son of God, come from the cross; then all men will believe.
23. The priests and scribes and Pharisees looked on the scene and scoffed; they said, He rescued others from the grave; why doesn't he save himself?
24. The Jewish soldiers and the Roman guards who came from Galilee were loud in mocking and deriding him.
25. One of the other men upon the cross joined in the mockery; he said, If you are Christ, you have the power; just speak the Word, and save yourself and me.
26. The other man upon the cross rebuked the man; he said, You wretch! have you no fear of God?
27. This man is innocent of any crime while you and I are guilty and are paying up the debts we owe.
28. And then he said to Jesus, Lord, I know thy kingdom comes, the kingdom that the world can never comprehend;
29. And when thou comest on the clouds of heaven, remember me.
30. And Jesus said, Behold, for I will meet you in the realm of souls this day.
31. Now, standing near unto the cross were many women from Judea and from Galilee. Among them were the mother of the Lord and Miriam,
32. And Mary, mother of the two apostles, James and John, and Mary Magdalene, and Martha, Ruth and Mary, and Salome.
33. When Jesus saw his mother and the singer Miriam standing close beside the cross and John a-near, he said to John,
34. In your most tender care I leave my mother and my sister Miriam.
35. And John replied, While they shall live my home shall be the home of your thrice blessed mother and your sister Miriam.
36. According to a custom of the Jews, to those who were the executioners of law and took the lives of criminals, belonged the garments of the criminals.
37. So when the Lord was crucified, the Roman guards divided up among themselves the garments of the Lord.
38. But when they found his coat it was a seamless coat and highly prized.
39. For it the guards cast lots, and thus determined who should have the prize.
40. And thus the scripture was fulfilled, which said, And they divided all my robes among themselves, and for my vesture they cast lots.
Chapter 171
Concluding scenes of the crucifixion. Joseph and Nicodemus, by consent of Pilate, take the body of Jesus from the cross and lay it in Joseph's tomb. A guard of one hundred Jewish soldiers are placed about the sepulchre.
1. Now, at the sixth hour of the day, although the sun was at its height, the day became as dark as night;
2. And men sought lanterns and they builded fires upon the hills that they might see.
3. And when the sun refused to shine and darkness came, the Lord exclaimed, Heloi! Heloi! lama sabachthani (Thou sun! thou sun! why hast thou forsaken me?)
4. The people did not understand the words he spoke; they thought he spoke the name Elijah and they said,
5. He calls upon Elijah in his hour of need; now we will see if he will come.
6. And Jesus said, I thirst. A Roman soldier dipped a sponge in vinegar and myrrh, and placed it to his lips.
7. Now, at the ninth hour of the day the earth began to quake, and in the darkness of that sunless day, a flood of golden light appeared above the cross;
8. And from the light a voice was heard which said, Lo, it is done.
9. And Jesus said, My Father-God, into thy hands I give my soul.
10. A Roman soldier in compassion said, This agony is all too great; relief shall come. And with a spear he pierced his heart and it was done; the son of man was dead.
11. And then the earth was shocked again; the city of Jerusalem rocked to and fro; the hills were rent and tombs were opened up;
12. And people thought they saw the dead arise and walk the streets.
13. The temple quivered and the veil between the santuary and the Holy Place was rent in twain, and consternation reigned through all the place.
14. The Roman guard who watched the body on the cross exclaimed, This surely was the son of God who died.
15. And then the people hurried down from Calvary. The priests, the Pharisees and scribes were filled with fear.
16. They sought the cover of their synagogues and homes and said, Behold, the wrath of God!
17. The great day of the Jewish pasch was near, and Jews could not by law permit a criminal to hang upon the cross upon the Sabbath day.
18. And so they prayed that Pilate would remove the bodies of the men that had been crucified.
19. And Pilate sent his guards to Calvary to note if all the men were dead.
20. And when the guards were gone, two aged Jews came to the palace door to see the governor, and they were members of the highest council of the Jews;
21. Yet they believed that Jesus was a prophet sent from God.
22. The one was Rabbi Joseph, the Arimathean counsellor, and he was just and loved the law of God.
23. And Nicodemus was the other one who came.
24. These men fell down at Pilate's feet and prayed that they might take the body of the Nazarene and lay it in a tomb.
25. And Pilate gave consent.
26. Now, Joseph had prepared a costly mixture to embalm the body of the Lord, about a hundred pounds of aloes and of myrrh, and this they took and hastened out to Calvary.
27. And when the guards returned they said, The Nazarene is dead; the malefactors are alive.
28. And Pilate told the guards to go and smite the living men so they would die, and then to give their bodies to the flames; but give the body of the Nazarene to rabbis who would call for it.
29. The soldiers did as Pilate said.
30. The rabbis came and took away the body of the Lord and when they had prepared it with the spices they had bought,
31. They laid it in the new-made tomb that had been made for Joseph in a solid rock.
32. And then they rolled a stone up to the sepulchre.
33. The priests were fearful lest the friends of Jesus would go forth at night and take away the body of the Nazarene, and then report that he had risen from the dead, as he had said;
34. And they requested that the governor would send his soldiers to the tomb to guard the body of the dead.
35. But Pilate said, I will not send a Roman guard; but you have Jewish soldiers and may send a hundred men with a centurion to guard the tomb.
36. And then they sent a hundred soldiers out to guard the tomb.
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SECTION XX
RESH
The Resurrection of Jesus
Chapter 172
Pilate places the Roman seal upon the stone door of the tomb. At mid-night a company of the silent brothers march about the tomb. The soldiers are alarmed. Jesus preaches to the spirits in prison. Early Sunday morning he rises from the tomb. The soldiers are bribed by the priests to say that the disciples had stolen the body.
1. The tomb in which they laid the body of the Lord was in a garden, rich with flowers, the garden of Siloam, and Joseph's home was near.
2. Before the watch began Caiaphas sent a company of priests out to the garden of Siloam that they might be assured that Jesus' body was within the tomb.
3. They rolled away the stone; they saw the body there, and then they placed the stone again before the door.
4. And Pilate sent his scribe who placed upon the stone the seal of Rome, in such a way that he who moved the stone would break the seal.
5. To break this Roman seal meant death to him who broke the seal.
6. The Jewish soldiers all were sworn to faithfulness; and then the watch began.
7. At midnight all was well, but suddenly the tomb became a blaze of light, and down the garden walk a troupe of white-clad soldiers marched in single file.
8. They came up to the tomb and marched and countermarched before the door.
9. The Jewish soldiers were alert; they thought the friends had come to steal the body of the Nazarene. The captain of the guard cried out to charge.
10. They charged; but not a white-clad soldier fell. They did not even stop; they marched and countermarched among the frightened men.
11. They stood upon the Roman seal; they did not speak ; they unsheathed not their swords; it was the Silent Brotherhood.
12. The Jewish soldiers fled in fear; they fell upon the ground.
13. THey stood apart until the white-clad soldiers marched away, and then the light about the tomb grew dim.
14. Then they returned; the stone was in its place; the seal was not disturbed, and they resumed their watch.
15. Now,Jesus did not sleep within the tomb. The body is the manifest of soul; but soul is soul without its manifest.
16. And in the realm of souls, unmanifest, the Lord went forth and taught.
17. He opened up the prison doors and set the prisoners free;
18. He broke the chains of captive souls, and led the captives to the light;
19. He sat in council with the patriarchs and prophets of the olden times;
20. The masters of all times and climes he met, and in the great assemblies he stood forth and told the story of his life on earth, and of his death in sacrifice for man,
21. And of his promises to clothe himself again in garb of flesh and walk with his disciples, just to prove the possibilities of man;
22. To give to them the key of life, of death, and of the resurrection of the dead.
23. In council all the masters sat and talked about the revelations of the coming age,
24. When she, the Holy Breath, shall fill the earth and air with holy breath, and open up the way of man to perfectness and endless life.
25. The garden of Siloam was silent on the Sabbath day; the Jewish soldiers watched and no one else approached the tomb; but on the following night the scene was changed.
26. At midnight every Jewish soldier heard a voice which said, Adon Mashich Cumi, which meant, Lord Christ arise.
27. And they supposed again that friends of Jesus were alert, were coming up to take the body of their Lord away.
28. The soldiers were alert with swords unsheathed and drawn, and then they heard the words again.
29. It seemed as though the voice was everywhere, and yet they saw no man.
30. The soldiers blanched with fear, and still to flee meant death for cowardice, and so they stood and watched.
31. Again, and this was just before the sun arose, the heavens blazed with light, a distant thunder seemed to herald forth a coming storm;
32. and then the earth began to quake and in the rays of light they saw a form descend from heaven. They said, Behold an angel comes.
33. And then they heard again, Adon Mashich Cumi.
34. And then the white-robed form tramped on the Roman seal and then he tore it into shreds; he took the mighty stone in hand as though it were a pebble from the brook, and cast it to the side.
35. And Jesus opened up his eyes and said, All hail the rising sun; the coming of the day of righteousness!
36. And then he folded up his burial gown, his head bands and his coverings and laid them all aside.
37. He rose, and for a moment stood beside the white-robed form.
38. The weaker soldiers fell upon the ground, and hid their faces in their hands; the stronger stood and watched.
39. They saw the body of the Nazarene transmute; they saw it chage from mortal to immortal form, and then it disappeared.
40. The soldiers heard a voice from somewhere; yea, from everywhere, it said,
41. Peace, peace on earth; good will to men.
42. They looked, the tomb was empty and the Lord had risen as he said.
43. The soldiers hastened to Jerusalem, and to the priests, and said,
44. Behold, the Nazarene has risen as he said; the tomb is empty and the body of the man is gone; we know not where it is. And then they told about the wonders of the night.
45. Caiaphas called a council of the Jews; he said, the news must not go forth that Jesus has arisen from the dead;
46. For if it does all men will say, He is the son of God, and all our testimonies will be proven false.
47. And then they called the hundred soldiers in and said to them,
48. You know not where the body of the Nazarene is resting now, so if you will go forth and say that his disciples came and stole the body while you slept,
49. Each one of you shall have a silver piece, and we will make it right with Pilate for breaking of the Roman seal.
50. The soldiers did as they were paid to do.
KOPH
The Trial and Execution of Jesus
Chapter 165
Jesus before Caiaphas. Peter denies his Lord thrice. The indictment, signed by seven ruling Jews. A hundred perjured witnesses testify to the truth of the charges.
1. Caiaphas was the high priest of the Jews; the mob led Jesus to his palace hall.
2. The court had been convened, and all the galleries were packed with scribes and Pharisees already sworn as witnesses against the Lord.
3. The maid who kept the palace door knew John and this disciple asked that he and Peter be admitted to the hall.
4. The maid permitted them to enter in, and John went in; but Peter was afraid and tarried in the outer court.
5. The woman said to Peter, as he stood beside the door, Are you a follower of this man from Galilee?
6. And Peter said, No, I am not.
7. The men who had brought Jesus to the hall sat by a fire in the outer court, because the night was cool, and Peter sat with them.
8. Another maid who waited in the place saw Peter and she said to him, You surely are from Galilee; your speech is that of Galilee; you are a follower of this man.
9. And Peter said, I know not what you mean; I do not even know this man.
10. And then a servant of Caiaphas, one of those who seized the Lord and brought him to the court, saw Peter and he said to him,
11. Did I not see you in the orchard of Massalian with this seditious Nazarene? I'm sure I did, and you are one of those who followed him.
12. Then Peter rose and stamped upon the floor, and swore by every sacred thing, that he knew not the criminal.
13. Now, John was standing near and when he heard the words and knew that Peter had denied his Lord, he looked at him in sheer astonishment.
14. Just then a cock crew loud beneath the court, and Peter called to mind the words the Lord had said,
15. Before the cock shall crow to-morrow morn you will deny me thrice.
16. And Peter's conscience smote him heavily, and he went out into the night and wept.
17. Caiaphas sat in state; before him stood the man from Galilee.
18. Caiaphas said, You people of Jerusalem, who is the man that you accuse?
19. They answered: In the name of every loyal Jew we do accuse this man from Galilee, this Jesus, who assumes to be our king, as enemy of God and man.
20. Caiaphas said to Jesus, Man, you are permitted now to speak and tell about your doctrines and your claims.
21. And Jesus said, You priest of carnal man, why do you ask about my words and works?
22. Lo, I have taught the multitudes in every public place; I have restored your sick to health; have caused your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and I have brought your dead to life again.
23. My works have not been done in secret place but in your public halls and thoroughfares.
24. Go ask the people, who have not been bought with gold or glittering promises, to tell about my words and works.
25. When Jesus had thus said a Jewish guard came up and smote him in the face and said, How dare you speak thus unto him, the high priest of the Jews?
26. And Jesus said, If I have spoken falsely bear witness unto what I say; If I have told the truth why did you smite me thus?
27. And then Caiaphas said, What'er you, do in a legal way, for we must answer to a higher court for everything we do or say.
28. Let the accusers of this man present their charges in a legal form.
29. And then Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and said, I have the accusations here in legal form; the charges made and signed by scribes and priests and Pharisees.
30. Caiaphas said, Be still, you men, and hear the charges read. The scribe took up a roll and read:
31. To the Sanhedrim of the Jews and to Caiaphas the high priest, most honoured men:
32. The highest duty man can render is to his nation and his own is to protect them from their foes.
33. The people of Jerusalem are conscious that a mighty foe is in their very midst.
34. A man named Jesus has come forth and claims to be heir to David's throne.
35. As an imposter he is foe, and in the name of every loyal Jew we here submit these charges which we are competent to prove;
36. At first, he blasphemes God; he says he is son of God; that he and God are one;
37. And he profanes our holy days by healing, and doing other work upon the Sabbath days;
38. And he proclaims himself the king, successor of our David and our Solomon;
39. And he declares that he will tear our temple down and build it up again in form more glorious in three days;
40. And he declares that he will drive the people from Jerusalem, as he drove out the merchants from the temple court; and bring to occupy our sacred hills a tribe of men that know not God;
41. And he aver that every doctor, scribe and Pharisee and Sadducee, shall go in exile, and shall never more return;
42. And to these charges we do set our hands and seals. Annas. Simon. Abinadab. Annanias. Joash. Azaniah. Hezekiah.
43. Now, when the scibe had read the charges, all the people called for blood; they said, Let such a wretch be stoned; let him be crucified.
44. Caiaphas said, You men of Israel, do you sustain the charges of these men?
45. A hundred men who had been bribed, stood forth to testify; they swore that every charge was true.
46. Caiaphas said to Jesus, Man, have you a word to say? are you the son of God?
47. And Jesus said, So you have said; and then he said no more.
Chapter 166
Jesus before the Sanhedrim. Nicodemus pleads for justice; he shows the incompetency of the witnesses. The council fail to declare Jesus guilty, but Caiaphas, the presiding judge, declares him guilty. The mob maltreat Jesus. He is taken to Pilate's court.
1. When Jesus would not speak, Caiaphas stood before the Jewish mob and said,
2. Bind fast the prisoner, for he must go before the great Sanhedrim of the Jews to answer for his life.
3. We cannot execute a criminal until our findings have been verified by this, the highest council of the Jews.
4. As soon as it was day the highest council of the people met; the Lord and his accusers stood before the bar.
5. Caiaphas was the chief; he rose and said, Let the accusers of this man from Galilee bring forth their charges and their evidence.
6. Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and read the charges and the names of those who had accused the man from Galilee.
7. And all the witnesses were made to stand and testify before the council of the Jews.
8. And then the lawyers weighed the evidence, and Nicodemus stood among the men who plead.
9. He raised his hands and said, Let justice now be done, though every scribe and Pharisee and priest and Sadducee, as well as Jesus, the accused, be judged a liar.
10. If we can prove this Jesus to be foe and traitor to our laws and lnad, let him be judged acriminal and suffer for his crimes.
11. If it be proved that these who testify are perjurers in the sight of God and man, then let the man from Galilee go free.
12. And then he brought the testimonies of the witnesses before the judges of the law; no two of them agreed; In heat of passion, or for gain, the men had testified.
13. The council would have gladly judged that Jesus was a criminal and sentence him to death; but in the face of all the evidence they were afraid.
14. And then Caiaphas said, You man from Galilee, Before the living God, I now command that you shall answer me, Are you the Christ, the son of God?
15. And Jesus said, If I would answer, Yes, you would not hear, nor yet believe,
16. If I would answer, No, I would be like your witnesses, and stand a liar in the sight of man and God. But this I say,
17. The time will come when you will see the son of man upon the throne of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.
18. And then Caiaphas rent his clothes and said, Have you not heard enough? Did you not hear his vile blasphemous words? What further need have we of witnesses? What shall we do with him?
19. The people said, Put him to death. And then the mob rushed up and spit into his face, and struck him with their hands.
20. And then they bound a cloth about his eyes and smote him in the face and said, You are a prophet; tell us who it was who smote you in the face.
21. And Jesus answered not and like a lamb before his shearer he, the man from Galilee, resisted not.
22. Caiaphas said, We cannot put a man to death until the Roman ruler shall confirm the sentence of this court;
23. So take this criminal away and Pilate will endorse what we have done.
24. And then was Jesus dragged along the way up to the palace of the Roman governor.
Chapter 167
Jesus before Pilate. Is pronounced not guilty. Jesus before Herod and is tortured and returned to Pilate, who again declares him innocent. The Jews demand his death. Pilate's wife urges her husband to have nothing to do with the punishment of Jesus. Pilate weeps.
1. Into the palace of the Roman governor the Jews would enter not lest they become defiled and be unworthy to attend the feast; but they led Jesus to the palace court, abd Pilate met them there.
2. And Pilate said, Why this commotion in the early day? What is your prayer?
3. The Jews replied, We bring before you one, an evil and seditious man.
4. He has been tried before the highest council of the Jews and has been proven traitor to our laws, our state and to the government of Rome.
5. We pray that you will sentence him to death upon the cross.
6. And Pilate said, Why do you bring him unto ? Go to, and judge him yourselves.
7. You have a law, and by the sanction of the Roman law, you have a right to judge and right to execute.
8. The Jews replied, We have no right to execute a man upon the cross, and since this man is traitor to Tiberius, our counsellors believe that he should meet the most humiliating death--the death upon the cross.
9. But Pilate said, No man can be found guilty of a crime by Roman law until the testimony all is in, and the accused has been permitted to defend himself;
10. So I will take your bill of charges, with the evidence you have, and judge by Roman law.
11. The Jews had made a copy of the accusations in the language of the Roman court, and they had added to the bill:
12. We charge that Jesus is an enemy of Rome; that he demands that men shall pay no tribute to Tiberius.
13. And Pilate took the bill; his guards led Jesus up the steps into the palace hall.
14. And Jesus stood before the Roman governor, and Pilate read to him the charges of the Jews, and said,
15. What is your answer to this bill? These charges, are they true or false?
16. And Jesus said, Why should I plead before an earthly court? The charges have been verified by perjured men; what need I say?
17. Yes, I am king; but carnal men cannot behold the king, nor see the kingdom of the God; it is within.
18. If I had been king as carnal man is king, my servants would have stood in my defence, and I would not have willingly surrendered to the minions of the Jewish law.
19. I have no testimony from the sons of men. God is my witness, and my words and deeds bear witness to the truth;
20. And every man who comprehends the truth will hearken to my words, and in his soul give witness unto me.
21. And Pilate said, What is the truth?
22. And Jesus said, Truth is the God who knows. It is the changeless one. The Holy Breath is truth; she changes not and cannot pass away.
23. And Pilate went again unto the Jews and said, This man is guilty of no crime; I cannot sentence him to death. 24 And then the Jews grew boisterous; they cried aloud and said, Our council surely knows. The wisest men of all the land have found him guilty of a score of crimes.
25. He would pervert the nation of the Jews; would overthrow the Roman rule and make himself the king. He is a culprit come from Galilee; he must be crucified.
26. And Pilate said, If Jesus is from Galilee he is a subject of the governor of Galilee, who should be judge.
27. Now, Herod had come down from Galilee and with his suite was in Jerusalem.
28. And Pilate sent to him the Lord in chains; he also sent a copy of the charges, and of the testimonies of the Jews and asked that he would pass in judgment on the case.
29. And Herod said, I have heard much about this man and I am pleased to see him in my court.
30. And then he asked the Lord about his claims, about his doctrines and his aims.
31. And Jesus answered not a word; and Herod was enraged; he said, Do you insult the ruler of the land by answering not?
32. and then he called his guards and said, Take you this man and torture him until he answers me.
33. The guards took Jesus and they smote him; mocked him; wrapped him in a royal robe; they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head; they put a broken reed into his hands;
34. And then they said deridingly, All hail, thou royal king! Where are your subjects and your friends?
35. But Jesus answered not a word. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate with this note of courtesy:
36. Most worthy counsellor of Rome, I have examined all the charges and the testimonies that you sent to me regarding this seditious man from Galilee, and while I might adjudge him guilty of the crimes as charged, 37 I yield to you my rights as judge, because you are superior to me in power. I will approve of any judgment you may render in this case.
38. Now, Pilate and the tetrarch had been foes, but the experience of this hour destroyed their enmity and they were friends in after days.
39. When Jesus had been brought again to Pilate's court, the Roman Governor stood forth before the accusers of the Lord and said,
40. I cannot find this Nazarene to be a criminal as charged; there is no evidence that he should suffer death; so I will scourge him well and let him go.
41. The Jews cried angrily, It is not meet that such a dangerous man should live; he must be crucified.
42. Then Pilate said, I bid you wait a little time. And then he went into an inner room and sat in silent thought.
43. And as he mused his wife, a godly woman, chosen from among the Gauls, came in and said,
44. I pray you, Pilate, hearken unto me: Beware of what you do this hour. Touch not this man from Galilee; he is a holy man.
45. If you should scourge this man you scourge the son of God. Last night I saw it all in vision far too vivid to be set aside as idle dream.
46. I saw this man walk on the waters of the sea; I heard him speak and calm an angry storm; I saw him flying with the wings of light;
47. I saw Jerusalem in blood; I saw the statues of the Caesars fall; I aw a veil before the sun, and day was dark as night.
48. The earth on which I stood was shaken like a reed before the wind. I tell you, Pilate, if you bathe your hands in this man's blood then you may dread the frowns of great Tiberius, and the curses of the senators of Rome.
49. And then she left, and Pilate wept.
Chapter 168
Pilate's final effort to release Jesus fails. He washes his hands in feigned innocence. Delivers Jesus to the Jews for execution. The Jewish soldiers drive him to Calvary.
1. A Superstitious people are the Jews. They have a faith that they have borrowed from the idol worshippers of other lands, that at the end of every year,
2. They may heap all their sins upon the head of some man set apart to bear their sins.
3. The man becomes a scrpegoat for the multitudes; and they believe that when they drive him forth into the wilds, or into foreign lands, they are released from sin.
4. So every spring before the feast they chose a prisoner from the prisons of the land, and by a form their own, they fain would make him bear their sins away.
5. Among the Jewish prisoners in Jerusalem were three who were the leaders of a vile, seditious band, who had engages in thefts and murders and rapine, and had been sentenced to be crucified.
6. Barabbas bar Jezia was among the men who were to die; but he was rich and he had bought of priests the boon to be scapegoat for the people at the coming feast, and he was anxiously in waiting for his hour to come.
7. Now, Pilate thought to turn this superstition to account to save the Lord, and so he went again before the Jews and said,
8. You men of Israel, according to my custom I will release to you to-day a prisoner who shall bear you sins away.
9. This man you drive into the wilds or into foreign lands, and you have asked me to release Barabbas, who has been proven guilty of the murder of a score of men.
10. Now, hear me men, Let Jesus be released and let Barabbas pay his debt upon the cross; then you can send this Jesus to the wilds and hear no more of him.
11. At what the ruler said the people were enraged, and they began to plot to tear the Roman palace down and drive in exile Pilate, and his household and his guards.
12. When Pilate was assured that civil war would follow if he heeded not the wishes of the mob, he took a bowl of water and in the presence of the multitude he washed hid hands and said,
13. This man whom you accuse is son of the most holy Gods, and I proclaim my innocence.
14. If you would shed his blood, his blood is on your hands and not on mine.
15. And then the Jews exclaimed, And let his blood be on our hands and on our children's hands.
16. And Pilate trembled like a leaf, in fear. Barabbas he released and as the Lord stood forth before the mob the ruler said, Behold your king! And would you put to death your king?
17. The Jews replied, He is no king; we have no king but great Tiberius.
18. Now, Pilate would not give consent that Roman soldiers should imbue their hands in blood of innocence, and so the chief priests and the Pharisees took counsel what to do with Jesus, who was called the Christ.
19. Caiaphas said, We cannot crucify this man; he must be stoned to death and nothing more.
20. And then the rabble said, Make haste! let him be stoned. And then they led him forth toward the hill beyond the city's gates, where criminals were put to death.
21. The rabble could not wait until they reached the place of skulls. As soon as they had passed the city's gate, they rushed upon him, smote him with their hands, they spit upon him, stoned and he fell upon the ground.
22. And one, a man of God, stood forth and said, Isaiah said, He shall be bruised for our transgressions and by his stripes we shall be healed.
23. As Jesus lay all bruised and mangled on the ground a Pharisee called out, Stay, stay you men! behold, the guards of Herod come and they will crucify this man.
24. And there beside the city's gate they found Barabbas's cross; and then the frenzied mob cried out, Let him be crucified.
25. Caiaphas and the other ruling Jews came forth and gave consent.
26. And then they lifted Jesus from the ground, and at the point of swords they drove him on.
27. A man named Simon, a friend of Jesus, was a-near the scene and since the bruised and wounded Jesus could not bear his cross, they laid it on the shoulders of this man and made him bear it on to Calvary.
Chapter 169
Judas is filled with remorse. Hurries to the temple and throws the thirty pieces of silver at the feet of the priests who take it and buy a potter's field. Judas hangs himself. His body is buried in the potter's field.
1. Now, Judas who betrayed his Lord, was with the mob; but all the time he thought that Jesus would assert his power and demonstrate the strength of God that he possessed, and strike to earth the fiendish multitudes and free himself;
2. But when he saw his master on the ground and bleeding from a score of wounds, he said,
3. O God, what have I done? I have betrayed the son of God; the curse of God will rest upon my soul.
4. And then he turned and ran with haste until he reached the temple door; he found the priests, who gave to him the thirty silver pieces to betray the Lord, and said,
5. Take back your bribe; it is the cost price of my soul; I have betrayed the son of God.
6. The priests replied, That matters not to us.
7. Then Judas threw the silver on the floor, and, bowed with grief, he went away, and on a ledge beyond the city's walls he hanged himself and died.
8. In time the fastenings gave way, his body fell into the Hinnon vale and after many days they found it there a shapeless mass.
9. The rulers could not put the price of blood into the treasury, and so they took the thirty silver pieces with which they bought a potter's field,
10. Where they might bury those who had no rights to lie within their sacred grounds.
11. And there they put the body of the man who sold his Lord.
Chapter 170
The crucifixion. Jesus prays for his murderers. Pilate puts an inscription above the cross. Jesus speaks words of encouragement to the penitent thief. Commits to John the care of his mother and Miriam. The soldiers divide his garments among themselves.
1. The Jewish mob pushed on toward Calvary and as they went the Marys, Miriam, and other women not a few, were close beside the Lord.
2. They wept aloud. When Jesus saw them weeping and lamenting thus he said,
3. Weep not for me, for though I go away, go through the gateway of the cross, yet on the next day of the sun, lift up your hearts, for I will meet you at the sepulchre.
4. The great procession came to Calvary. The Roman soldiers had already bound the two state prisoners to the cross.
5. (They were not nailed, but simply bound.)
6. Four soldiers of the Roman guard that Herod brought from Galilee were called to execute the orders of the court.
7. These were the men who had been set apart to torture Jesus and secure from him confession of his guilt.
8. These were the men who scourged him, put a crown of thorns upon his head, a broken reed into his hands, and wrapped him in a royal robe, and bowed in mockery, before him as a king.
9. These soldiers took the Lord and stripped him, laid him on the cross and would have bound him there with cords; but this would not suffice.
10. The cruel Jews were near with hammer and with nails; they cried, Not cords, but nails; drive fast the nails and hold him to the cross.
11. And then the soldiers took the nails and drove them through his feet and hands.
12. They offered him a sedative to drink, a draught of vinegar and myrrh; but he refused to drink the draught.
13. The souldiers had prepared a place inwhich to plant Barabbas' cross between the other criminals; and here they raised the cross of Jesus, who was called the Christ;
14. And then the soldiers and the mob sat down to watch him die.
15. And Jesus said, My Father-God, forgive these men; they know not what they do.
16. Now, Pilate had prepared a tablet to be placed upon the cross on which was written in the tongues of Hebrew, Latin and Greek these words of truth: JESUS THE CHRIST, KING OF THE JEWS.
17. And this was placed upon the cross. The priests were angered when they read these words upon the tablet of the cross.
18. And then they prayed that Pilate would not say, He is the Christ, king of the Jews; but say, He claims to be the Christ, king of the Jews.
19. But Pilate said, What I have written, I have written; let it stand.
20. The Jewish multitudes who saw the LOrd upon the cross were wild with joy; they said, All hail, fake king!
21. You who would tear the temple down and in three days would build it up again, why don't you save yourself?
22. If you are Christ, the son of God, come from the cross; then all men will believe.
23. The priests and scribes and Pharisees looked on the scene and scoffed; they said, He rescued others from the grave; why doesn't he save himself?
24. The Jewish soldiers and the Roman guards who came from Galilee were loud in mocking and deriding him.
25. One of the other men upon the cross joined in the mockery; he said, If you are Christ, you have the power; just speak the Word, and save yourself and me.
26. The other man upon the cross rebuked the man; he said, You wretch! have you no fear of God?
27. This man is innocent of any crime while you and I are guilty and are paying up the debts we owe.
28. And then he said to Jesus, Lord, I know thy kingdom comes, the kingdom that the world can never comprehend;
29. And when thou comest on the clouds of heaven, remember me.
30. And Jesus said, Behold, for I will meet you in the realm of souls this day.
31. Now, standing near unto the cross were many women from Judea and from Galilee. Among them were the mother of the Lord and Miriam,
32. And Mary, mother of the two apostles, James and John, and Mary Magdalene, and Martha, Ruth and Mary, and Salome.
33. When Jesus saw his mother and the singer Miriam standing close beside the cross and John a-near, he said to John,
34. In your most tender care I leave my mother and my sister Miriam.
35. And John replied, While they shall live my home shall be the home of your thrice blessed mother and your sister Miriam.
36. According to a custom of the Jews, to those who were the executioners of law and took the lives of criminals, belonged the garments of the criminals.
37. So when the Lord was crucified, the Roman guards divided up among themselves the garments of the Lord.
38. But when they found his coat it was a seamless coat and highly prized.
39. For it the guards cast lots, and thus determined who should have the prize.
40. And thus the scripture was fulfilled, which said, And they divided all my robes among themselves, and for my vesture they cast lots.
Chapter 171
Concluding scenes of the crucifixion. Joseph and Nicodemus, by consent of Pilate, take the body of Jesus from the cross and lay it in Joseph's tomb. A guard of one hundred Jewish soldiers are placed about the sepulchre.
1. Now, at the sixth hour of the day, although the sun was at its height, the day became as dark as night;
2. And men sought lanterns and they builded fires upon the hills that they might see.
3. And when the sun refused to shine and darkness came, the Lord exclaimed, Heloi! Heloi! lama sabachthani (Thou sun! thou sun! why hast thou forsaken me?)
4. The people did not understand the words he spoke; they thought he spoke the name Elijah and they said,
5. He calls upon Elijah in his hour of need; now we will see if he will come.
6. And Jesus said, I thirst. A Roman soldier dipped a sponge in vinegar and myrrh, and placed it to his lips.
7. Now, at the ninth hour of the day the earth began to quake, and in the darkness of that sunless day, a flood of golden light appeared above the cross;
8. And from the light a voice was heard which said, Lo, it is done.
9. And Jesus said, My Father-God, into thy hands I give my soul.
10. A Roman soldier in compassion said, This agony is all too great; relief shall come. And with a spear he pierced his heart and it was done; the son of man was dead.
11. And then the earth was shocked again; the city of Jerusalem rocked to and fro; the hills were rent and tombs were opened up;
12. And people thought they saw the dead arise and walk the streets.
13. The temple quivered and the veil between the santuary and the Holy Place was rent in twain, and consternation reigned through all the place.
14. The Roman guard who watched the body on the cross exclaimed, This surely was the son of God who died.
15. And then the people hurried down from Calvary. The priests, the Pharisees and scribes were filled with fear.
16. They sought the cover of their synagogues and homes and said, Behold, the wrath of God!
17. The great day of the Jewish pasch was near, and Jews could not by law permit a criminal to hang upon the cross upon the Sabbath day.
18. And so they prayed that Pilate would remove the bodies of the men that had been crucified.
19. And Pilate sent his guards to Calvary to note if all the men were dead.
20. And when the guards were gone, two aged Jews came to the palace door to see the governor, and they were members of the highest council of the Jews;
21. Yet they believed that Jesus was a prophet sent from God.
22. The one was Rabbi Joseph, the Arimathean counsellor, and he was just and loved the law of God.
23. And Nicodemus was the other one who came.
24. These men fell down at Pilate's feet and prayed that they might take the body of the Nazarene and lay it in a tomb.
25. And Pilate gave consent.
26. Now, Joseph had prepared a costly mixture to embalm the body of the Lord, about a hundred pounds of aloes and of myrrh, and this they took and hastened out to Calvary.
27. And when the guards returned they said, The Nazarene is dead; the malefactors are alive.
28. And Pilate told the guards to go and smite the living men so they would die, and then to give their bodies to the flames; but give the body of the Nazarene to rabbis who would call for it.
29. The soldiers did as Pilate said.
30. The rabbis came and took away the body of the Lord and when they had prepared it with the spices they had bought,
31. They laid it in the new-made tomb that had been made for Joseph in a solid rock.
32. And then they rolled a stone up to the sepulchre.
33. The priests were fearful lest the friends of Jesus would go forth at night and take away the body of the Nazarene, and then report that he had risen from the dead, as he had said;
34. And they requested that the governor would send his soldiers to the tomb to guard the body of the dead.
35. But Pilate said, I will not send a Roman guard; but you have Jewish soldiers and may send a hundred men with a centurion to guard the tomb.
36. And then they sent a hundred soldiers out to guard the tomb.
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SECTION XX
RESH
The Resurrection of Jesus
Chapter 172
Pilate places the Roman seal upon the stone door of the tomb. At mid-night a company of the silent brothers march about the tomb. The soldiers are alarmed. Jesus preaches to the spirits in prison. Early Sunday morning he rises from the tomb. The soldiers are bribed by the priests to say that the disciples had stolen the body.
1. The tomb in which they laid the body of the Lord was in a garden, rich with flowers, the garden of Siloam, and Joseph's home was near.
2. Before the watch began Caiaphas sent a company of priests out to the garden of Siloam that they might be assured that Jesus' body was within the tomb.
3. They rolled away the stone; they saw the body there, and then they placed the stone again before the door.
4. And Pilate sent his scribe who placed upon the stone the seal of Rome, in such a way that he who moved the stone would break the seal.
5. To break this Roman seal meant death to him who broke the seal.
6. The Jewish soldiers all were sworn to faithfulness; and then the watch began.
7. At midnight all was well, but suddenly the tomb became a blaze of light, and down the garden walk a troupe of white-clad soldiers marched in single file.
8. They came up to the tomb and marched and countermarched before the door.
9. The Jewish soldiers were alert; they thought the friends had come to steal the body of the Nazarene. The captain of the guard cried out to charge.
10. They charged; but not a white-clad soldier fell. They did not even stop; they marched and countermarched among the frightened men.
11. They stood upon the Roman seal; they did not speak ; they unsheathed not their swords; it was the Silent Brotherhood.
12. The Jewish soldiers fled in fear; they fell upon the ground.
13. THey stood apart until the white-clad soldiers marched away, and then the light about the tomb grew dim.
14. Then they returned; the stone was in its place; the seal was not disturbed, and they resumed their watch.
15. Now,Jesus did not sleep within the tomb. The body is the manifest of soul; but soul is soul without its manifest.
16. And in the realm of souls, unmanifest, the Lord went forth and taught.
17. He opened up the prison doors and set the prisoners free;
18. He broke the chains of captive souls, and led the captives to the light;
19. He sat in council with the patriarchs and prophets of the olden times;
20. The masters of all times and climes he met, and in the great assemblies he stood forth and told the story of his life on earth, and of his death in sacrifice for man,
21. And of his promises to clothe himself again in garb of flesh and walk with his disciples, just to prove the possibilities of man;
22. To give to them the key of life, of death, and of the resurrection of the dead.
23. In council all the masters sat and talked about the revelations of the coming age,
24. When she, the Holy Breath, shall fill the earth and air with holy breath, and open up the way of man to perfectness and endless life.
25. The garden of Siloam was silent on the Sabbath day; the Jewish soldiers watched and no one else approached the tomb; but on the following night the scene was changed.
26. At midnight every Jewish soldier heard a voice which said, Adon Mashich Cumi, which meant, Lord Christ arise.
27. And they supposed again that friends of Jesus were alert, were coming up to take the body of their Lord away.
28. The soldiers were alert with swords unsheathed and drawn, and then they heard the words again.
29. It seemed as though the voice was everywhere, and yet they saw no man.
30. The soldiers blanched with fear, and still to flee meant death for cowardice, and so they stood and watched.
31. Again, and this was just before the sun arose, the heavens blazed with light, a distant thunder seemed to herald forth a coming storm;
32. and then the earth began to quake and in the rays of light they saw a form descend from heaven. They said, Behold an angel comes.
33. And then they heard again, Adon Mashich Cumi.
34. And then the white-robed form tramped on the Roman seal and then he tore it into shreds; he took the mighty stone in hand as though it were a pebble from the brook, and cast it to the side.
35. And Jesus opened up his eyes and said, All hail the rising sun; the coming of the day of righteousness!
36. And then he folded up his burial gown, his head bands and his coverings and laid them all aside.
37. He rose, and for a moment stood beside the white-robed form.
38. The weaker soldiers fell upon the ground, and hid their faces in their hands; the stronger stood and watched.
39. They saw the body of the Nazarene transmute; they saw it chage from mortal to immortal form, and then it disappeared.
40. The soldiers heard a voice from somewhere; yea, from everywhere, it said,
41. Peace, peace on earth; good will to men.
42. They looked, the tomb was empty and the Lord had risen as he said.
43. The soldiers hastened to Jerusalem, and to the priests, and said,
44. Behold, the Nazarene has risen as he said; the tomb is empty and the body of the man is gone; we know not where it is. And then they told about the wonders of the night.
45. Caiaphas called a council of the Jews; he said, the news must not go forth that Jesus has arisen from the dead;
46. For if it does all men will say, He is the son of God, and all our testimonies will be proven false.
47. And then they called the hundred soldiers in and said to them,
48. You know not where the body of the Nazarene is resting now, so if you will go forth and say that his disciples came and stole the body while you slept,
49. Each one of you shall have a silver piece, and we will make it right with Pilate for breaking of the Roman seal.
50. The soldiers did as they were paid to do.