were dead, yet shall he live again; and whosoever liveth and believeth
on me shall never die. Believeth thou this?"
After these words Jesus came forward as to give himself up, and no man
laid hands on him, but the mob returned to the chief priests, saying,
"No man ever spake like this man," which brought his adversaries to a
standstill, not knowing what step to take next.
CONSPIRACY TO MURDER JESUS
The next day Jesus and his followers again entered the temple, and
after the noon hour retired across the brook up in to the renowned
Olive Orchard, which overlooks Jerusalem. Among the throng which
followed them was Caiaphas, who the previous day had convened the chief
rulers into his palace, when he advocated decoying Jesus from his
friends and murdering him, which was opposed by the more conservative,
who said it would cause an uproar among the people.
Again in the evening Caiaphas assembled his co-conspirators and, after
setting forth what Jesus had said on the mountain and how the people
were all turning to him, said, "Some means must be devised to destroy
this man, as I fear if the case comes before Pilate he will require
more evidence than is at hand, before he will consent to his death."
Nicodemus, still a member of good standing among them, arose and asked,
"Does our law judge any man before it hear him and know what he doeth?"
which created so strong an opposition that it broke up the council and
Caiaphas ordered each man to his own home.
Caiaphas, nervous and weary from the perplexity of the day, reclines on
an elaborate divan in an alcove off from his spacious court, where the
Sanhedrim of seventy elders were wont to convene and discuss important
matters. As he sips wine to drown his troubles, trouble seems to arise,
when he is startled from his phlegmatic vision by an intruder in the
form of a huge lizzard, creeping over a cactus urn. Then the great high
priest murmured, "I wonder if there is a God, as that which I daily
proclaim; if I knew there were not it might eliminate this fear of the
devil."
As he thus soliloquized at the dead of night, a trusted servant
intrudes upon his forced quietude, by announcing that the gatekeeper
informs him that one of the disciples of Jesus of Nazareth is at the
gate, craving audience with the high priest personally.
Caiaphas, frowning, orders the servant to bring his message, "but
first," says he, "send two officers of the court to detain him."
Servant returns: "He must commune with the high priest personally."
Caiaphas hesitates, then to the servant growls: "Summon my guard." To
the guard he says, "Search him that he bears no arms and bring him to
my inner court chamber."
The arch conspirators now meet. Caiaphas thin and pale, with his three
score years and ten all past, while the broad burly frame of Judas
Iscariot indicated not more than forty years.
"Art thou a Galilean?"
"I am not."
"Are not the disciples of Jesus Galileans?"
"All but me. I am an Edomite."
"What? Edom at the south?"
"Yes."
"Did you join the Galilean band as a spy?"
"No."
"Then why comest thou hither?"
"It hath been rumored that you would have Jesus delivered and that none
volunteer."
"Can you deliver him?"
"I can."
"Alive or dead?"
"Dead? Why dead?"
"Alive then. How can it be done?"
"One hundred pieces of silver, one hundred brigands and ten officers
from your court, but it must be done in the dark."
"You are shrewd. Retire and await my summons."
Caiaphas immediately summons his kin to the Sanhedrim; wealthy priests,
scribes and Pharisees, among them, tottering under the weight of years,
came Annas, his father-in-law, who inquired, "Sanhedrim at dead of
night?"
"Exactly so, august father," and bowing low, the conspirator whispered,
"this is an important, private affair to which Joseph, Nicodemus and
like traitors must not be admitted. See?"
Stealthily, one by one, the rulers arrive and while the watchmen on the
tower and outside the gates of Jerusalem cry, "All is well," the most
loathsome, dogmatic group known in the annals of history draw near in
the dim light of a lantern to listen to Caiaphas, who, after glancing
nervously about, said:
"The Lord, God of Israel, who gave to the seed of Abraham, Canaan for
their inheritance, also, through one Moses, gave them laws with priests
and Scribes to execute over the unsanctified. The mouth of our high
priest is the chosen oracle through which God speaks to his chosen
people. Through slavery in Egypt, insurrection among the ten tribes
and captivity in Babylon, we have suffered under the promise of God
that through the prophet he would send a redeemer that should bring
the world to our feet for mercy. As you know, some three years since,
one Jesus of Nazareth began preaching and assuming himself to be that
redeemer. At first we gave him credence that he would restore Israel
from the Roman yoke, but soon discovered that he criticised the priests
as well as the heathens, claiming for himself direct communication with
our God. His fame went abroad and the world assembled in Galilee to
hear him. Now he comes to Zion, in the city of David, and what will we
do? for this man doeth miracles! If we let him alone the Romans will
come and take away our place and nation."
"The assassin's blade often executes the will of God," ejaculated the
venerable Annas.
"True! True!" continued Caiaphas in an undertone, as the conspirators
drew themselves nearer. "But should it be known, priesthood would
suffer the condemnation of the world, for all the common people, both
Jews and Gentiles, believe him to be the Christ, an error which we
must correct at once or our power will wane. I have a scheme which if
carefully executed will exclude us, God's chosen, from all blame.
"You know Pilate refuses to interfere with our dogmatic religious
troubles, but if we clamor before him he will favor the voice of the
people. For several days I have been unable to detain the intruder,
either with officer or mob violence, but at last I have, through
patience and perseverance, sought out an agent, even Judas Iscariot,
his most confidential disciple, who is now in waiting at the gate, to
lead a band of our most vicious brigands to bring him before me, when
through previously instructed witnesses I will condemn him and turn
him over to Pilate. Now listen,--my scheme is that the same assassins,
led by Judas Iscariot, will crowd every available space of standing
room in Pilate's court, and clamor for his conviction. These assassins
Pilate will suppose to be the common people and of course will yield to
their demand and permit his execution, while we, his countrymen, will
shed a tear that the Romans have crucified a Jew."
"Our captains tomorrow will summon the squad of ruffians, who will
exact one piece of silver each, except Judas, who is wrangling for 100
pieces, but will accept much less."
"The plan I would suggest is that tomorrow evening our gate-keepers be
instructed to retain the squad inside the city walls until our common
people are asleep, then when the Galileans are crossing the Cedron,
fall upon them and bring him in for examination, and I, after a mock
trial, will turn him over to Pilate."
THE MOB FALL UPON JESUS
The following evening Joseph and Nicodemus, together with the Galileans
and Bethany friends, having become anxious that Jesus and his disciples
remained so late in the city, began a search. Finding all the gates
closed for the night, they stopped before the gate beautiful and
clamoured for admittance, but received no response.
Nicodemus, realizing the move as unusual, becomes alarmed and communed
in low tones with the group thus: "I fear Caiaphas has assembled his
family at the Sanhedrim and condemned Jesus and his disciples and put
them all to death, for, the second time he assembled us, concerning
Jesus, he advocated such a course. Let us now go to the Damascus gate
on the north and if we are not admitted I know a watchman who has the
key to the quarry dungeon, from which I can gain entrance through a
secret chamber to the abandoned court of Bell, near to the home of
Annas."
"What quarry dungeon?" inquired Magdalene, as she faced him, opening
wide her large eyes in wonder.
"There is such a place," he replied. "Jerusalem is honeycombed by high,
dark, shapeless vaults, from which Solomon quarried his foundation. It
is beneath the city and the public have not been permitted to enter
there for many years."
During these moments, Jesus and his disciples had passed out of the
South Gate and were now in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Galileans,
at the Damascus gate, did not know this until Lazarus came running
to say that Jesus was in the garden below. Just at this instant they
heard loud voices inside and while they listened the gate swung open
and a mob of nearly one hundred men, armed with rusty swords, clubs and
rocks, led by Judas Iscariot, came rushing out.
Immediately Magdalene sprang into the way before them and cried, "Oh,
Judas, traitor--traitor,--stand--turn back," at which they all stopped,
Judas trembling and casting his eyes on the ground. "Now," she cried,
"that Rome has disdained to interfere, you--you traitor, with a band of
hired bloodthirsty assassins"----
At this moment one from the rear threw a heavy bludgeon, striking her
full in the face and as she fell the band surged forward, stumbling
over her form, but she did not faint, and rising quickly tried to
follow, but was restrained by those around her, who began wiping the
blood from her face.
Thinking their object was to assassinate Jesus, the Galileans ran into
the garden, where they found Jesus endeavoring to arouse his sleepy
disciples, who became frightened when they saw the assassins and fell
back, all except poor old Peter, who bristled for the affray.
As Peter rushed forward a servant of Caiaphas dealt him a heavy blow
with his dull sword, which Peter returned, nearly severing his ear, but
at the command of Jesus, all the assassins fell back except Judas, who
attempted to kiss him. Jesus staid him, saying, "Judas, betrayest thou
the son of man with a kiss?" Then to the mob he continued, "When I was
daily in the temple you stretched forth no hand against me, but this is
your hour, in the cover of darkness."
The assassins then bound the hands of Jesus in front and pinioned
his elbows at the back in such a way as to cause great pain, after
which two stalwart ruffians seized him by either arm and hastened him
forward, amid the jeers and yells of the entire band, except Judas,
who, witnessing the cruelty and pitiful state of Magdalene, turned
away and wept convulsively, and then with Peter followed the assassins
to Annas. Judas entered the hall, but Peter, when accused of being a
disciple of Jesus, denied it and disappeared into the darkness.
MAGDALENE BEFORE CAIAPHAS
While Jesus, still bound, was held in the dim hall of the court of
Annas, the priests, elders and captains of the mob, blindfolded him,
then spit upon and beat him, which so grieved Magdalene that Judas
persuaded Nicodemus to take Magdalene before Caiaphas, where the
Sanhedrim was stealthily convening.
Kneeling before the astounded assembly, Magdalene craved an audience,
which was reluctantly granted by Caiaphas, saying as he did so, that
his act was through courtesy for Nicodemus.
Nicodemus now retired to his accustomed seat in the Sanhedrim, leaving
Magdalene, deathly pale, standing alone, when she cautiously meandered
forward. Then, as though inspired, quickly tossing her head erect, said
in a firm tone:
"Learned men of Judea, angry are the elements and fierce the gale, now
hovering over old Jerusalem, but dark as the night and wild as the
storm, it is sunshine and peace compared with the gloom and terror now
raging in my poor soul. I stand before your august body making my last
plea for suffering innocence. Not only for the guiltless Jesus, but for
fair Canaan's sons and daughters, who are this night slumbering, all
unconscious of the fact that in the City of David, blind bigotry has
marshalled its unscrupulous forces against the welfare of humanity, all
unconscious, that in secret session, surrounded by fanatical apirants,
this Sanhedrim has convened to consider an act which, if accomplished,
will defame for ages the name of our people, the Jews.
"Judas Iscariot now confesses to me that he bargained with the priests
and elders for silver to pilot their hirelings to the arrest of Jesus,
in the dark, and bring him before Annas, which he did. Now he has
repented, returned the silver and is about to destroy himself.
"Why all this haste, what has Jesus said, what has he done, that he
should be apprehended in the night and destroyed before the people can
gather?"
"Has he not criticized the law of God, through Moses?" inquired
Caiaphas.
"Never! Never!" she said, as she faced the high priest. "He has
eulogized Abraham, Moses and the prophets, but the law, 'An eye for an
eye, and a tooth for a tooth,' what is it?
"Abraham, face to face with the angels, Moses at the burning bush, the
pillar of fire, the quails and the manna were all involved in mystery,
but the law, the law, 'Ye shall be a peculiar treasure to me above all
people, ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests,' that was consummated
in the foothills of Mount Sinai, at the home of Jethro, the priest
of Midian, after Moses had virtually been dethroned and doomed to a
hermit's cave on Mount Pisgah, there to die alone.
"From the dawn of human observation, deep meditators have faintly
observed that which appears to be the hand of providence. The islanders
of the South Seas see God in the soft silent moon. The Greek highland
philosophers see God in the groups of the heavenly hosts. The friends
of Job observe God in the awakening of the dawn, while our people, the
Hebrews, picture God in human form. Thus all mankind, each in their
own way, bow to the strange unknown, whom Jesus terms a spirit.
"Oh, priests of Israel, oh, fathers of this strange session, listen to
my child-like plea. Beautiful, inspiring to the human soul, is nature's
sweet repose; beautiful are the noiseless flowers strewn in the dells;
beautiful are the silent, heavenly hosts, if wandering or at rest,
in starlight's strange unknown, but far more beautiful than nature's
wondrous realm is a community of human souls traveling on life's
unknown journey, encouraged and advised by a fatherly priest, pastor or
shepard, who goes before and warns them not to stray or venture on the
wilds. Contrast such a scene of love and sympathy with selfish codes
and frivolous laws, of which violation is punishable by death.
"Act, act, men, save him, oh, save him. Will you not aid the birth of
universal grace to all mankind? Oh, brave men, come to my aid in this
dark earthly night, and when you, so soon, shall awake in eternity's
glad morning, Mary Magdalene will be among those to welcome you home.
"Oh, men of Abraham's clan, come to my aid. Come now in this wild storm
of fate, bear me in your arms that when your strength, like mine, shall
fail, when the sun of life grows dim and the stars of love hie away,
that then, oh, then, the angels of light may draw near and guide you
safely home. Embrace this opportunity to record your name where angels
scan the page.
"Look, men of Judea, look before you leap. Midnight hours like these
you may endure, but, oh, the morning; oh, the judgment morning, when
this strange dream of life is o'er. I plead not to you for mercy,
justice is my plea and justice is the limit of your jurisdiction.
My plea for the accused is not alone for him, this awful night will
plead for him whom God has sent. But listen, oh, listen, when present
scenes have become records of the past, when the names and works of
mighty monarchs have grown dim, yes, faded and forgotten, this strange
midnight drama will stand out as though written by Job's pen of iron in
the Rock of Ages, to plead for him who knows no guile.
"Oh, men of destiny, opportunities still await, but the past has no
recall. God will forgive, Jesus will forgive, but you can never forgive
yourselves. Hell hath no flame to consume the remorse of a guilty
conscience. You may deceive the Jews, you may deceive the Gentiles, but
you will not deceive God."
After Magdalene, between two burly soldiers, had been tenderly escorted
from the court, silence seemed to reign while the lights burned low,
until Nicodemus arose, when Caiaphas cried, "Await your proper time."
Then rising to his full height, he exclaimed, "Is there another
Galilean sympathizer among us? If so, with Nicodemus, let him rise." At
which all arose except three, Annas being one. Caiaphas, turning pale,
cried, "Let each man standing go immediately to his own home."
After the Galilean sympathizers had all passed out, the priests,
scribes and elders, who made up the inner life of the high priest, came
in, and Jesus was called and questioned, but answered nothing. This
angered them and after more abuse they sent him out, when the high
priest and his abetters grouped and conversed in low tones. It was
then determined to increase the mob and surround the judgment hall of
Pilate, and allow no one, not even a counsellor, to gain entrance, save
those who would clamor for the crucifixion of Jesus.
JESUS BEFORE PILATE
Early Pilate entered the judgment hall and with a dark scowl said,
"What accusation have you against this man?" and the mob cried, "He is
a malefactor, or we would not have brought him here."
"What crime hath he committed?"
"He stirreth up the people, causing insurrection."
"How?"
"He says he is the Christ which was to come."
"Is he?"
"He is a carpenter from Galilee."
"Carpenter from Galilee, so I have heard. Loose the shackles at once;
why so cruel."
"He deceiveth the people. He is not the Christ."
"Was Christ to come to the Gentiles?"
"So he preaches, but he blasphemes, saying, 'I came forth from God.'"
"Can a man so arouse the world unless God be with him?"
As Pilate was speaking, he was interrupted by a servant, who announced
that Pilate's wife awaited him in the hall.
The old Roman scowled, murmured "unusual," then said, "Admit the fair
lady."
"Pilate, oh, Pilate, thou art on the edge of an eternal brink."
"My fair one"----
"Listen, oh, listen," she continued, kneeling at his feet. "When first
the morning sun hied past the tower and through the latticed vines, I
turned to smile, as a vision caught and held me in a spell. Before me
lay a winding vale through which a crystal stream did wend to silver
islands, whose golden shores faded away into one glorious star-lit
eternity.
"As I gazed, the scene seemed to be changing. First the stars became
worlds, then the worlds became kingdoms, then the kingdoms became
priests, and lastly the priests became nothing. Then again the stars
appeared all singing, 'Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord.'
"Pilate, oh, Pilate, my loving husband, I implore you to stand firm,
having nothing to do with the murder of this just person. The angels
are now recording not only every word but every thought to carry home,
where you and I must soon appear." Then, kissing Pilate's hand, she
looked pitifully at Jesus and turned away.
Pilate knit his brow in brown study for a moment and then said to the
accusers of Jesus, "I will chastise this man and then let him go," to
which the mob from Caiaphas shouted, "Crucify him, he stirreth up the
people against Caesar."
Turning back to Jesus, Pilate asked, "From whence art thou?" To which
Jesus gave no answer; but when he repeated the question, Jesus said,
"To this end was I born and for this cause came I into the world."
When the rabble continued clamoring for the death of Jesus, Pilate
washed his hands before the accusers, saying, "I am innocent of the
blood of this just person; his blood is on you." Then he turned him
over to the Roman guard to be crucified.
THE CRUCIFIXION
When the soldiers arrived at Calvary with Jesus, thousands had
gathered on the hill, hoping, still, to witness some further miracle.
Following Jesus, on the way, were his friends, weeping bitterly, which
wailing was taken up by the throng on the hill. Near the brow, his
strength failed and he fell on his hands and knees, when one of the
executioners struck him a heavy blow, but he could not rise until the
cross was removed. When able to stand, he turned to the crowd and said,
"Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and
for your children." Then he sank to the ground and was seized by the
executioners, carried and thrown heavily upon the cross, and held while
his garments were removed and his hands and feet nailed.
Martha groaned and cried, "Oh, the cruel Romans," to which Magdalene
voiced in, "Why blame the Romans? These are Pilate's executioners
doing their duty; they must be wicked or they would faint. Why blame
the brigands who haled him to Pilate; their hearts are hardened, their
conscience is seared. These fiends are but the tools in the hands of
Caiaphas. The doom of the assassin awaits them, the doom of a coward
awaits Pilate, but the doom of a murderer awaits the High Priest of
Jerusalem. I go, call me not," as with a startled look, the insane
creature smiled and ran away.
Kneeling beside the rippling stream she closed her eyes in silent
prayer, and then as though awakening from a dream she continued, "But
why this darkness in my soul, it cannot be he dies, it cannot be that
he comes no more." Then shuddering cold she murmurs, "True, true, he
dies and death ends all,--yes, all." Wildly springing across the stream
she turns quickly, again gazes on Calvary and smiles a demon's smile,
murmuring, "Yes, Jesus is dead, I am dead. Death ends all."
As darkness spreads its mantle over the face of nature, a deep gloom
invaded the hearts of the people in and around the once beautiful City
of Zion. Those who had been instrumental in sending Jesus to the cross,
feared that the end had not yet come, while those who had listened to
his teachings feared that the end had come. His disciples and immediate
friends had no leader, they were entirely at sea and everything
indicated that all was a failure and that they must disband and return
home.
The next day, the Sabbath, was quietly spent by the Galileans,
discussing how they might take the body of Jesus to Nazareth. Magdalene
all the while contended against every proposition introduced, she did
not want to have the body removed, she did not want to go home, neither
did she eat or drink, was on her feet all day, often visiting the tomb
and kneeling before it.
ALONE ON OLIVET
The storm is past--the scene ended. As stranded wrecks along the
shore, evidence of the awful night on the tempest tossed sea, so the
Galileans, with broken hearts, lie restless near old Zion's walls,
while the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth becomes simply a page of
record in the history of our strange world.
Magdalene lingers in the twilight at Joseph's tomb until the mother of
Jesus brings her away, and pleadingly tries to convince her that it may
be a part of God's wise plan to awaken the world and lead wanderers
home.
At last she seemingly becomes quiet, and as the mother smooths her
silken hair she feigns rest, in sleep, but when all is still she
silently steals away in the shadows to the Mount of Olives. At the top
she hesitates, shudders, scowls and then laughs hysterically, as she
draws her sleeping frock closer around her unprotected form.
Standing alone, her scant attire fluttering in the cold north breeze,
she suddenly awakens; with outstretched arms breaths softly, "Yes, I'll
come," then, bowing low, whispers, "I thought I heard him call," then,
strangely wild, proclaims, "No--no--I am not mad, I know he is dead,
he'll call me Mary nevermore."
Turning back, she shrugged her shoulders, seeming herself again, and
while gazing over the Jordan to the far away Moabite hills she murmurs,
"Somewhere in those vine-clad hills the childhood home of pretty Ruth
once lay, and here so near, on Bethlehem's plain, she gleaned and
gleaned until she won his heart; but now she is dead, they are all
dead. They come again no more.