The Traders: "He goes daily to the temple; there he can easily be arrested and carried off."
Caiaphas: "That will not do. You know that as he has a mult.i.tude of excited followers such a course might lead to a dangerous uproar. The thing 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 would soon be without tumult in our hands. Then would you not only have the delight of seeing him chastised, but also a considerable reward would fall to your lot."
Nathanael: "And you would also have rendered good service to the law of Moses if you a.s.sist in this."
Then all the traders cried out together: "You can depend upon us, we will spare no trouble."
And all the priests and Pharisees congratulated themselves that the business was going well. Dathan, conspicuous by his apparel, then volunteered a statement. He said: "I know one of his followers from whom I could easily gain some information if I could offer him a sufficient reward."
Caiaphas at once authorized him, "If thou findest such a one make all necessary promises in our name. Only don"t loiter; we must attain our end before the feast."
Annas enjoined the strictest silence, to which with one voice the traders responded, "We swear it," and then Caiaphas proceeded to urge upon 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 for revenge, then take care and use every means to kindle in others the same holy zeal which glows in you."
They answered that they had not waited for his prompting, but had already brought several others over to their side. "We will not rest until the whole populace is roused against him."
Annas and Caiaphas applauded their zeal. "You will thereby merit the greatest grat.i.tude from the council," said Annas, and Caiaphas chimed in, "Openly will ye then be honored before all the people as you have been today put to shame before them by this presumptuous man."
"Our life for the law of Moses and the holy Sanhedrin," then cried the traders. "The G.o.d of Abraham guide you," said Caiaphas dismissing them, and they left the hall crying aloud, "Long live Moses! long live the high priests and the Sanhedrin! Even today may the role of the Galilean be played out!"
Then Caiaphas addressed these parting words to the council: "As though refreshed by sweet slumbers, I live once more. With such men as these we can put everything through. Now we shall see who will triumph,--he with his followers to whom he is always preaching love,--a love which is to include publicans and sinners and even the Gentiles also,--or we with this troop inspired by hate and revenge which we are sending against him. There can be no doubt to which side the victory will incline."
"The G.o.d of our fathers give us the victory!" said Annas; "joy in my old age will renew my youth!"
Then said Caiaphas, "Let us now break up, looking forward with confidence to the joy of victory. Praised be our fathers!"
And all the a.s.sembly with a deep, sonorous voice exclaimed, "Praised be the G.o.d of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob!"
CHAPTER II.
JESUS" LAST JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM.
People of G.o.d 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 visit to Bethany. Peter, with his staff in hand, walked with John beside the master. Judas was present, with disheveled locks and haggard look, James the Greater and James the Less, and Andrew and Thomas, and the rest of the disciples.
Then Jesus spoke unto them and said: "You know, dear disciples, that after two days is the feast of the Pa.s.sover. So now let us make one last visit to our friends in Bethany, and then go to Jerusalem, where in these days all will be fulfilled which has been written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man."
The disciples understood not his saying, and after some questioning among themselves Philip ventured to address Jesus, saying unto him, "Has the day then really come at last when thou wilt restore the kingdom to Israel?"
Jesus looked upon Philip with tender compa.s.sion, and said unto him, "Then shall the Son of Man be delivered up to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked and spat upon and they will crucify him; but on the third day he will rise again."
Then said John in a voice that trembled with emotion, as the other disciples gazed at each other in horror, "Dear master, what dark and terrible words thou speakest. What are we to understand by them? Make it clear unto us."
Then Jesus answered and said unto him, "The hour is now come when the Son of Man shall be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if a corn 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 the world. Now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."
Then were the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of the disciples troubled, for they could not understand what these things meant. Thaddeus said to Simon, "What does he mean by this speech?"
Simon replied with a puzzled air, "Why does he compare himself to a grain of corn?"
Then said Andrew unto him, "Lord, thou speakest at once of shame and of victory. 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 as clear as the day. I have told you before that you may not lose courage whatever may happen. Believe and hope. When the tribulation is pa.s.sed, then you will see and understand."
Thomas answered and said unto him, "What I cannot understand is that thou shouldst speak of suffering and of death. Have we not heard from the prophets that the Messiah shall live forever? What can thine enemies do unto thee? One single word from thee would annihilate them all."
Jesus said unto him, "Thomas, reverence the secret counsels of G.o.d which thou canst not fathom."
Then, turning to the others, he said, "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you."
By this time they had approached near the village of Bethany, and there met them one Simon, after whom there came Lazarus, who was raised from the 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 my house 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 Bethany afford thee brief repose."
By this time Lazarus drew near; he was of less than middle stature and silent, as if his sojourn in the other world left him little to speak of 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 that called 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, "G.o.d"s blessing be upon you!"
Then Martha asked, "Wilt thou Lord, grant me the happiness of serving thee?" while the Magdalene timidly inquired, "Wilt thou despise a token of love and grat.i.tude from me?"
And Jesus replied with tenderness, "Do, good souls, that which you purpose to do."
Then said Simon, "Best of masters, come under my roof and refresh thyself and thy disciples."
So Jesus entered into Simon"s house, exclaiming, "Peace be upon this house," to which the disciples added, speaking together, "And to all that dwell therein." Then said Simon, "Lord, all is ready, set thee down 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 us through Simon, his servant. O Jerusalem, would that my coming were as dear to thee as it is to these, my friends! But thou are stricken with blindness."
"Yes, Lord," remarked Lazarus; "O best of masters, dangers threaten thee. The Pharisees are anxiously wondering whether thou wilt come up to the Pa.s.sover. They are eagerly watching for thy destruction."