CHAPTER I._King of the Jews: A story of Christ's last days on Earth

Produced by Al Haines

[Illustration: Cover art]

THE KING

OF THE JEWS

A STORY

OF CHRIST'S LAST DAYS

ON EARTH

_ADAPTED FROM THE OBERAMMERGAU PASSION PLAY_

WILLIAM T. STEAD

CHICAGO:

The Church Press

104 LaSALLE AVENUE

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 came

pouring down the narrow street that runs past Pilate's house, chanting

as they came, "Hail to thee, O Son of David!" Little children, old men

and maidens ran forward, some raising palm branches, but all ever

looking backward to one who should come. More and ever more streamed

down the street into the open space in front of the temple, but still

the Hosanna song went on.

[Illustration: The entry into Jerusalem.]

At last, in the midst of the jubilant throng, Jesus appeared, clad in a

long garment of gray, over which was cast a flowing robe. His face was

composed and pensive. His long black hair and beard surrounded

features somewhat swarthy from the rays of the hot sun, and he rode on

the side of the ass's colt that seemed almost too small to support his

weight.

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 mob

pressed tumultuously around, singing and crying: "Hosanna to the Son of

David!" Jesus blessed them as he rode through their midst. After

passing the house of Pilate he suddenly dismounted. Then Jesus

advanced to the front of the temple. The hosannas died away as he

contemplated the busy scene. There were the priests busily engaged

with the money-changers. Nathanael, chief orator of the Sanhedrin,

stood conspicuous among the chattering throng. There were baskets with

pigeons for sale as sacrifices. There were the tables of the dealers.

Buying and selling, haggling and bargaining were in full swing in the

market-place.

For a moment Jesus, who was above the average height, and whose mien

was dignified and commanding, stood as if amazed and indignant, then

suddenly burst out upon the astonished throng of priests and merchants,

with the following protest: "What see I here? Shall my Father's house

be 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 worship

God perform their devotions in this tumult of usury? And you," he

continued, advancing a step toward the priests, who stared at him in

amazement, "You priests, guardians of the temple, can you see this

abomination and permit it to continue? Woe be unto you! He who

searches the heart knows why you encourage such disorder."

The crowd, silent now, watched with eager interest the money-changers

and priests, who but imperfectly understanding what had been said to

them, stared at the intruder.

"Who can this man be?" they asked.

And then from the lips of all the multitude there went up the

simultaneous response, as if the whole throng had but one voice: "It is

the great prophet from Nazareth, in Galilee!"

Jesus, then moving forward into the midst of the astonished merchants

in the temple, exclaimed, in words of imperious authority: "Away with

you from here, servants to Mammon! I command it. Take what belongs to

you and quit the holy place!"

One of the traders exclaimed in terror: "Come, let us go, that his

wrath destroy us not."

Then the priests, recovering somewhat their self-possession, stepped

forward to remonstrate. "Why troublest thou this people?" they asked.

"Everything here is for sacrifice. How canst thou forbid that which

the 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 enough

outside the temple for your business. 'My house,' says the Lord,

'shall be called a house of prayer for all nations;' you have made it a

den of thieves."

And then crying, "Away with all this!" with one vigorous movement he

overturned the tables of the money-changers.

A rabbi exclaimed: "This must not be--thou darest not do this!" but his

voice passed unheeded in the tumult. The earthenware vessels fell

crashing to the ground, the money was scattered over the floor. Some

of the dismayed merchants crying, "My money, oh! my money," scrambled

for the glittering coins. Others stared in fury at the unceremonious

intruder. Half a dozen doves, released from their wicker baskets, took

to flight amid the despairing lamentation of their owners: "Oh, my

doves; who will compensate me for this loss?"

Their lamentations were rudely cut short. A small rope was hanging

near by. Seizing it in the middle and twisting it once or twice round

his hand, Jesus converted it into a whip of cords, with which he drove

out the traders. "Away! get you hence. I will that this desecrated

place be restored to the worship of the Father!"

The traders fled, but the priests remained, and, after muttering

together, they asked in angry tones: "By what miraculous sign dost thou

prove that thou hast the power to act in this wise?"

Jesus answered them: "You seek after a sign; yea, a sign shall be given

unto you. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will have built it

up again."

The priests replied, contempt mingling with indignation in their tones:

"What a boastful declaration! Six and forty years was this temple in

building, and thou wilt build it up again in three days!"

At this point the children who had been standing around watching the

altercation 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, and

appealed 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 were

silent 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 the

temple: "Hosanna to the Son of David!"

Then the Pharisees, who stood by the overthrown tables of the

money-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 mouths

of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.' That which is

hidden from the proud is revealed unto babes?" And as the priests and

Pharisees muttered in indignation among themselves, he continued: "For

the Scripture must be fulfilled. The stone which the builders rejected

is become the headstone of the corner. The Kingdom of God shall be

taken from you and it shall be given to a people which shall bring

forth the fruits thereof. But that stone, whosoever shall fall upon it

shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall it shall grind him to

powder. Come, my disciples, I have done what the Father has commanded

me, I have vindicated the honor of his house. The darkness remains

darkness, but in many hearts it will soon be day. Let us go into the

inner court of the temple that we may there pray unto the Father."

Thereupon Jesus, followed by his disciples, disappeared in the interior

of the temple, while the people cried aloud as with one voice: "Praise

be to the anointed one!" and the priests said angrily: "Silence,

rabble!" The Pharisees adding: "Ye shall all be overthrown with your

leader." 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, stood

forth, and seeing Jesus had departed and that there was now no one to

withstand him in the hearing of the people, lifted up his voice and

cried: "Whosoever holds with our fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, let

him stand by us! The curse of Moses upon all the rest!"

Then a rabbi in blue velvet apparel, sprang forward and declared with a

loud voice: "He is a deceiver of the people, an enemy of Moses, an

enemy 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 rest

remained 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 of

the multitude: "Oh, thou blinded people, wilt thou run after the

innovator, and forsake Moses, the prophets, and thy priests? Fearest

thou not that the curse which the law denounces against the apostate

will crush thee? Would you cease to be the chosen people?"

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

not."

Nathanael pressed his advantage. "Who," he asked, "has to watch over

the purity of the law? Is it not the holy Sanhedrin of the people of

Israel? To whom will you listen; to us or to him? To us or to him who

has 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 and

error!"

The people replied: "Yes, we stand side by side with you! Yes, we are

Moses' 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 the

narrow street that led to the house of Annas, the high priest. The

priests and Pharisees listened eagerly. As they caught the word

"revenge" they turned to each other with exultant looks. Meanwhile

Dathan, a merchant, the chief of the traders who had been driven from

the temple, was seen to be leading on his fellow merchants, who were

lifting 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 experience

our 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 discontent

of the merchants, arrested their pursuit. "Stay friends," he said;

"the faction that follows this man is at present too large. If you

attacked them it might cause a dangerous fight, which the Roman sword

would 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 exclaimed

triumphantly: "Our victory is near."

Nathanael assured of the control of the multitude, continued: "We are

now going to inform the council of the Sanhedrin of today's events."

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

satisfaction."

But Nathanael dissuaded them, saying: "Come in an hour's time to the

forecourt 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, the

traders and the people cheered them, crying aloud: "We have Moses!

Down with every other! We are for Moses' law to the death! Praise be

to our fathers! Praise to our father's God!"

* * * * * *

Then the high priests and the rulers and the elders gathered together

late in the night in the council of the Sanhedrin. In the highest

place sat Caiaphas with his jewelled breast-plate, in robes of white

embroidered with gold. A vestment of green and gold covered his

shoulders, and on his head he wore a white-horned mitre adorned with

golden bells, which added to the majesty of his aspect. Annas, the

aged high priest, sat on his left. Nathanael, also on the raised dais,

was on the right. Below him sat the rabbis in blue velvet, while

seated around were Pharisees, scribes and doctors of the law.

Caiaphas, whose white hair and beard showed that he was well stricken

in years, was still in the full vigor of life. As president of the

Sanhedrin, he briefly opened the session:

"Honored brothers, fathers and teachers of the people, an extraordinary

occurrence 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 called

together at so late an hour for the transaction of business. It must

be only too well known to you what we have with shame been compelled to

see today with our own eyes. You have seen the triumphal progress of

the Galilean through the Holy City. You have heard the Hosannas of the

befooled populace. You have perceived how this ambitious man arrogates

to himself the office of the high priest. What now lacks for the

destruction of all civil and ecclesiastical order? Only a few steps

further, and the law of Moses is upset by the innovations of this

misleader. The sayings of our forefathers are despised, the fasts and

purifications abolished, the Sabbath desecrated, the priests of God

deprived of their office, and the holy sacrifices are at an end."

As Nathanael concluded, all the fathers of the council exclaimed with

one voice: "True--most true." As he had been speaking they had been

interchanging notes of appreciative and sympathetic comment. But it

was not until Caiaphas spoke that the Sanhedrin was roused to the

highest pitch of excitement. Caiaphas, who spoke with great fire and

fervor, thus addressed the rulers of Israel: "And more than all this.

Encouraged by the success of his efforts, he will proclaim himself King

of Israel (murmurs of alarm and indignation), then the land will be

distracted with civil war and revolt, and the Romans will come with

their armies and bring destruction upon our land and our people. Woe

is me for the children of Israel, for the Holy City, and for the temple

of the Lord, if no barrier is opposed to the evil while there is yet

time! It is indeed high time. We must be the saviors of Israel.

Today must a resolution be passed, and whatever is resolved upon must

be carried out without regard to any other consideration. Do we all

agree 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 what

should be done."

And then a rabbi arose and said: "If I may be permitted to declare my

opinion unreservedly, I must assert that we ourselves are to blame that

things have come to such a pass. Against this onrushing ruin much too

mild measures have been employed. Of what avail have been our

disputations with him, or what has it profited that we have by our

questionings, put him in a dilemma; that we have pointed, out the

errors in his teaching and his violations of the law? Nay, of what use

has been even the excommunication pronounced on all who acknowledged

him as the Messiah? All this was labor in vain. Men turn their backs

on 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 must

arrest him and throw him into prison. That is the only way to put an

end to his evil influence."

The suggestion was hailed with enthusiasm, and springing to their feet

they cried: "Yea, that must be done!"

Then a third priest stood up and said: "Once he is in prison, the

credulous people will no longer be attracted by the fascination of his

manner or the charm of his discourse. When they have no more miracles

to gape at; he will soon be forgotten."

And a fourth priest exulted as he added: "In the darkness of his

dungeon let him make his light shine and proclaim his Messiahship to

the walls of the jail."

Then it was the turn of the Pharisees. The first said: "He has been

allowed long enough to lead the people astray and to denounce as

hypocrisy the strict virtue of the Holy Order of the Pharisees. Let

him suffer in fetters for his contempt."

A second Pharisee added complacently: "The enthusiasm of his hangers-on

will soon cool down when he who has promised them freedom is himself in

chains."

By this time it was evident all the council was of one mind. Then

Annas, the venerable high priest, arose and addressed the Sanhedrin

with much emotion: "Now, venerable priests, a ray of confidence and joy

penetrates to my breast when I see your unanimous resolution. Alas! an

unspeakable grief has weighed down my soul at the sight of the onward

progress of the false teachings of this Galilean. It seemed as if I

had lived to old age but in order to have the misfortune of seeing the

downfall of our holy law. But now I will not despair. The God of our

fathers still lives, and he is with us. If you have the courage to act

boldly, and to stand firmly and faithfully together, there is safety at

hand. Take courage, steadfastly pursue the aim in view, and be the

deliverer of Israel, and undying fame will be your reward."

With one accord all answered and said: "We are of one mind," while the

priests added, shouting eagerly, "Israel must be saved!"

Then Caiaphas began: "All honor to your unanimous resolution, worthy

brethren, but now let me have the benefit of your wise counsels how we

can most safely bring this deceiver into our power."

"It might be dangerous," remarked the first Pharisee, "to seize him now

at the time of the feast. In the streets or in the temple he is

everywhere surrounded by a mob of infatuated followers. It could

easily lead to an uproar."

Then cried all the priests together with a loud voice, as if impatient

that 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 a

commotion, and then it might come to pass that we should be consigned

to 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 him

openly with the strong hand. We must carry out our scheme cunningly

and in secret. Let us find out where he usually spends the night; then

we could fall upon him unobserved and take him into custody."

Nathanael sprang to his feet, for the auspicious moment had come,--the

furious merchants from the temple were without in the courtyard. "To

track the fox to his lair will not be difficult. We could then soon

find someone to help, if it should please the high council to offer a

large reward."

Caiaphas at once put the resolution to the Sanhedrin. Rising from his

seat he said, "If you, assembled fathers, agree, then in the name of

the high council I will issue notice that whoever knows of his nightly

resort, 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, as

informers, of those men whom the Galilean today has injured so deeply

in the sight of all the people, driving them with a scourge out of the

temple. From of old they were zealous of the law, but now they are

thirsting for revenge against him who has made so unheard-of an attack

upon 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 holy

Sanhedrin, and they await our decision."

"Worthy priest," said Caiaphas, "inform them that the high council is

disposed to listen to their grievance, and bring them in."

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

to us."

When Nathanael left the hall, Caiaphas addressed the council with words

of cheer: "The God of our fathers has not withdrawn his hand from us.

Moses still watches over us. If only we can succeed in gathering

around us a nucleus of men out of the people then I no longer dread the

result. Friends and brethren, let us be of good courage, our fathers

look 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. He

introduced them thus: "High priests and chosen teachers! These men,

worthy of our blessing, appear before this assembly in order to lodge a

complaint against the notorious Jesus of Nazareth, who has today

insulted them in the temple in an unheard-of fashion and brought them

to grief."

Then with one voice the traders, led by Dathan, cried out, "We beseech

the council to procure us satisfaction. The council ought to support

our righteous demands."

The priests and Pharisees responded eagerly, "You shall have

satisfaction, we will answer for that."

Then ensued the following dialogue between the traders and the

Sanhedrin:

The Traders: "Has not the council authorized us to display openly in

the court of the temple all things useful for the sacrifice?"

A Priest: "Yes, that has been sanctioned. Woe be to those who disturb

you in the exercise of this right!"

The Traders: "And the Galilean has driven us out with a scourge. And

the tables of the money changers has he overturned, and released the

doves. We demand satisfaction."

Caiaphas: "That you should have satisfaction the law decrees. Your

losses will be made good in the meantime out of the temple treasury"

(joy among the traders). "But that the offender himself may be duly

punished it is necessary for us to have your help. What can we do so

long as he is not in our power?"

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 multitude 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 assist 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 gratitude 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 God 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 God 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 assembly with a deep, sonorous voice exclaimed, "Praised be

the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob!"