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remembered the scene in the temple； when Jesus； then a child of twelve； stood before the learned doctors of the law； asking them questions at which they wondered。 The miracle just performed bore witness that Jesus was none other than the Son of God。 In their true significance； the Old Testament Scriptures regarding Christ flashed before their minds。 Perplexed and troubled； the rulers asked； 〃What do we？〃 There was a division in the council。 Under the impression of the Holy Spirit； the priests and rulers could not banish the conviction that they were fighting against God。
While the council was at the height of its perplexity； Caiaphas the high priest arose。 Caiaphas was a proud and cruel man； overbearing and intolerant。 Among his family connections were Sadducees； proud； bold； reckless； full of ambition and cruelty； which they hid under a cloak of pretended righteousness。 Caiaphas had studied the prophecies； and although ignorant of their true meaning； he spoke with great authority and assurance： 〃Ye know nothing at all； nor consider that it is expedient for us； that one man should die for the people； and that the whole nation
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perish not。〃 Even if Jesus were innocent； urged the high priest； He must be put out of the way。 He was troublesome； drawing the people to Himself； and lessening the authority of the rulers。 He was only one； it was better that He should die than that the authority of the rulers should be weakened。 If the people were to lose confidence in their rulers； the national power would be destroyed。 Caiaphas urged that after this miracle the followers of Jesus would likely rise in revolt。 The Romans will then come； he said； and will close our temple； and abolish our laws； destroying us as a nation。 What is the life of this Galilean worth in comparison with the life of the nation？ If He stands in the way of Israel's well…being； is it not doing God a service to remove Him？ Better that one man perish than that the whole nation be destroyed。
In declaring that one man should die for the nation； Caiaphas indicated that he had some knowledge of the prophecies； although it was very limited。 But John； in his account of this scene； takes up the prophecy； and shows its broad and deep significance。 He says； 〃And not for that nation only； but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad。〃 How blindly did the haughty Caiaphas acknowledge the Saviour's mission！
On the lips of Caiaphas this most precious truth was turned into a lie。 The policy he advocated was based on a principle borrowed from heathenism。 Among the heathen； the dim consciousness that one was to die for the human race had led to the offering of human sacrifices。 So Caiaphas proposed by the sacrifice of Jesus to save the guilty nation； not from transgression； but in transgression； that they might continue in sin。 And by his reasoning he thought to silence the remonstrances of those who might dare to say that as yet nothing worthy of death had been found in Jesus。
At this council Christ's enemies had been deeply convicted。 The Holy Spirit had impressed their minds。 But Satan strove to gain control of them。 He urged upon their notice the grievances they had suffered on account of Christ。 How little He had honored their righteousness。 He presented a righteousness far greater； which all who would be children of God must possess。 Taking no notice of their forms and ceremonies； He had encouraged sinners to go directly to God as a merciful Father； and make known their wants。 Thus； in their opinion； He had set aside the priesthood。 He had refused to acknowledge the theology of the rabbinical schools。 He had exposed the evil practices of the priests；
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and had irreparably hurt their influence。 He had injured the effect of their maxims and traditions； declaring that though they strictly enforced the ritual law； they made void the law of God。 All this Satan now brought to their minds。
Satan told them that in order to maintain their authority； they must put Jesus to death。 This counsel they followed。 The fact that they might lose the power they then exercised； was； they thought； sufficient reason for coming to some decision。 With the exception of a few who dared not speak their minds； the Sanhedrin received the words of Caiaphas as the words of God。 Relief came to the council； the discord ceased。 They resolved to put Christ to death at the first favorable opportunity。 In rejecting the proof of the divinity of Jesus； these priests and rulers had locked themselves in impenetrable darkness。 They had come wholly under the sway of Satan； to be hurried by him over the brink of eternal ruin。 Yet such was their deception that they were well pleased with themselves。 They regarded themselves as patriots； who were seeking the nation's salvation。
The Sanhedrin feared； however； to take rash measures against Jesus； lest the people should become incensed； and the violence meditated toward Him should fall upon themselves。 On this account the council delayed to execute the sentence they had pronounced。 The Saviour understood the plotting of the priests。 He knew that they longed to remove Him； and that their purpose would soon be accomplished。 But it was not His place to hasten the crisis； and He withdrew from that region； taking the disciples with Him。 Thus by His own example Jesus again enforced the instruction He had given to the disciples； 〃When they persecute you in this city； flee ye into another。〃 Matt。 10：23。 There was a wide field in which to work for the salvation of souls； and unless loyalty to Him required it； the Lord's servants were not to imperil their lives。
Jesus had now given three years of public labor to the world。 His example of self…denial and disinterested benevolence was before them。 His life of purity； of suffering and devotion； was known to all。 Yet this short period of three years was as long as the world could endure the presence of its Redeemer。
His life had been one of persecution and insult。 Driven from Bethlehem by a jealous king； rejected by His own people at Nazareth； condemned to death without a cause at Jerusalem； Jesus； with His few faithful followers； found a temporary asylum in a strange city。 He who
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was ever touched by human woe； who healed the sick； restored sight to the blind； hearing to the deaf； and speech to the dumb； who fed the hungry and comforted the sorrowful； was driven from the people He had labored to save。 He who walked upon the heaving billows； and by a word silenced their angry roaring； who cast out devils that in departing acknowledged Him to be the Son of God； who broke the slumbers of the dead； who held thousands entranced by His words of wisdom； was unable to reach the hearts of those who were blinded by prejudice and hatred； and who stubbornly rejected the light。
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Chapter 60
The Law of the New Kingdom
The time of the Passover was drawing near； and again Jesus turned toward Jerusalem。 In His heart was the peace of perfect oneness with the Father's will； and with eager steps He pressed on toward the place of sacrifice。 But a sense of mystery； of doubt and fear； fell upon the disciples。 The Saviour 〃went before them： and they were amazed； and as they followed； they were afraid。〃
Again Christ called the twelve about Him； and with greater definiteness than ever before； He opened to them His betrayal and sufferings。 〃Behold；〃 He said； 〃we go up to Jerusalem； and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished。 For He shall be delivered unto the Gentiles； and shall be mocked； and spitefully entreated； and spitted on： and they shall scourge Him； and put Him to death： and the third day He shall rise again。 And they understood none of these things： and this saying was hid from them； neither knew they the things which were spoken。〃
Had they not just before proclaimed everywhere； 〃The kingdom of heaven is at hand〃？ Had not Christ Himself promised that many should sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God？ Had He not promised to all who had left aught for His sake a hundredfold in this life； and a part in His kingdom？ And had He not given to the twelve the special promise of positions of high honor in His kingdom；to sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel？ Even
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now He had said that all things written in the prophets concerning Him should be fulfilled。 And had not the prophets foretold the glory of the Messiah's reign？ In the light of these thoughts； His words in regard to betrayal； persecution； and death seemed vague and shadowy。 Whatever difficulties might intervene； they believed that the kingdom was soon to be established。
John； the son of Zebedee； had been one of the first two disciples who had followed Jesus。 He and his brother James had been among the first group who had left all for His service。 Gladly they had forsaken home and friends that they might be with Him； they had walked and talked with Him； they had been with Him in the privacy of