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peace and a creator of insurrection。
Christ read the priest's purpose as an open book。 As if reading the inmost soul of His questioner； He denied that there was between Him and His followers any secret bond of union； or that He gathered them secretly and in the darkness to conceal His designs。 He had no secrets in regard to His purposes or doctrines。 〃I spake openly to the world；〃 He answered； 〃I ever taught in the synagogue； and in the temple； whither the Jews always resort； and in secret have I said nothing。〃
The Saviour contrasted His own manner of work with the methods of His accusers。 For months they had hunted Him； striving to entrap Him and bring Him before a secret tribunal； where they might obtain by perjury what it was impossible to gain by fair means。 Now they were carrying out their purpose。 The midnight seizure by a mob； the mockery and abuse before He was condemned； or even accused； was their manner of work； not His。 Their action was in violation of the law。 Their own rules declared that every man should be treated as innocent until proved guilty。 By their own rules the priests stood condemned。
Turning upon His questioner； Jesus said； 〃Why askest thou Me？〃 Had not the priests and rulers sent spies to watch His movements； and report His every word？ Had not these been present at every gathering
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of the people； and carried to the priests information of all His sayings and doings？ 〃Ask them which heard Me； what I have said unto them；〃 replied Jesus； 〃behold； they know what I said。〃
Annas was silenced by the decision of the answer。 Fearing that Christ would say something regarding his course of action that he would prefer to keep covered up； he said nothing more to Him at this time。 One of his officers； filled with wrath as he saw Annas silenced； struck Jesus on the face； saying； 〃Answerest Thou the high priest so？〃
Christ calmly replied； 〃If I have spoken evil； bear witness of the evil： but if well； why smitest thou Me？〃 He spoke no burning words of retaliation。 His calm answer came from a heart sinless； patient； and gentle； that would not be provoked。
Christ suffered keenly under abuse and insult。 At the hands of the beings whom He had created； and for whom He was making an infinite sacrifice； He received every indignity。 And He suffered in proportion to the perfection of His holiness and His hatred of sin。 His trial by men who acted as fiends was to Him a perpetual sacrifice。 To be surrounded by human beings under the control of Satan was revolting to Him。 And He knew that in a moment； by the flashing forth of His divine power； He could lay His cruel tormentors in the dust。 This made the trial the harder to bear。
The Jews were looking for a Messiah to be revealed in outward show。 They expected Him； by one flash of overmastering will； to change the current of men's thoughts； and force from them an acknowledgment of His supremacy。 Thus； they believed； He was to secure His own exaltation； and gratify their ambitious hopes。 Thus when Christ was treated with contempt； there came to Him a strong temptation to manifest His divine character。 By a word； by a look； He could compel His persecutors to confess that He was Lord above kings and rulers； priests and temple。 But it was His difficult task to keep to the position He had chosen as one with humanity。
The angels of heaven witnessed every movement made against their loved Commander。 They longed to deliver Christ。 Under God the angels are all…powerful。 On one occasion； in obedience to the command of Christ； they slew of the Assyrian army in one night one hundred and eighty…five thousand men。 How easily could the angels； beholding the shameful scene of the trial of Christ； have testified their indignation by consuming the adversaries of God！ But they were not commanded to do this。 He who could have doomed His enemies to death bore with
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their cruelty。 His love for His Father； and His pledge； made from the foundation of the world； to become the Sin Bearer； led Him to endure uncomplainingly the coarse treatment of those He came to save。 It was a part of His mission to bear； in His humanity； all the taunts and abuse that men could heap upon Him。 The only hope of humanity was in this submission of Christ to all that He could endure from the hands and hearts of men。
Christ had said nothing that could give His accusers an advantage； yet He was bound； to signify that He was condemned。 There must； however； be a pretense of justice。 It was necessary that there should be the form of a legal trial。 This the authorities were determined to hasten。 They knew the regard in which Jesus was held by the people； and feared that if the arrest were noised abroad； a rescue would be attempted。 Again； if the trial and execution were not brought about at once； there would be a week's delay on account of the celebration of the Passover。 This might defeat their plans。 In securing the condemnation of Jesus they depended largely upon the clamor of the mob； many of them the rabble of Jerusalem。 Should there be a week's delay； the excitement would abate； and a reaction would be likely to set in。 The better part of the people would be aroused in Christ's favor； many would come forward with testimony in His vindication； bringing to light the mighty works He had done。 This would excite popular indignation against the Sanhedrin。 Their proceedings would be condemned； and Jesus would be set free； to receive new homage from the multitudes。 The priests and rulers therefore determined that before their purpose could become known； Jesus should be delivered into the hands of the Romans。
But first of all； an accusation was to be found。 They had gained nothing as yet。 Annas ordered Jesus to be taken to Caiaphas。 Caiaphas belonged to the Sadducees； some of whom were now the most desperate enemies of Jesus。 He himself； though wanting in force of character； was fully as severe； heartless； and unscrupulous as was Annas。 He would leave no means untried to destroy Jesus。 It was now early morning； and very dark； by the light of torches and lanterns the armed band with their prisoner proceeded to the high priest's palace。 Here； while the members of the Sanhedrin were coming together； Annas and Caiaphas again questioned Jesus； but without success。
When the council had assembled in the judgment hall； Caiaphas took his seat as presiding officer。 On either side were the judges； and those specially interested in the trial。 The Roman soldiers were stationed on
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the platform below the throne。 At the foot of the throne stood Jesus。 Upon Him the gaze of the whole multitude was fixed。 The excitement was intense。 Of all the throng He alone was calm and serene。 The very atmosphere surrounding Him seemed pervaded by a holy influence。
Caiaphas had regarded Jesus as his rival。 The eagerness of the people to hear the Saviour； and their apparent readiness to accept His teachings； had aroused the bitter jealousy of the high priest。 But as Caiaphas now looked upon the prisoner； he was struck with admiration for His noble and dignified bearing。 A conviction came over him that this Man was akin to God。 The next instant he scornfully banished the thought。 Immediately
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his voice was heard in sneering； haughty tones demanding that Jesus work one of His mighty miracles before them。 But his words fell upon the Saviour's ears as though He heard them not。 The people compared the excited and malignant deportment of Annas and Caiaphas with the calm； majestic bearing of Jesus。 Even in the minds of that hardened multitude arose the question； Is this man of godlike presence to be condemned as a criminal？
Caiaphas； perceiving the influence that was obtaining； hastened the trial。 The enemies of Jesus were in great perplexity。 They were bent on securing His condemnation； but how to accomplish this they knew not。 The members of the council were divided between the Pharisees and the Sadducees。 There was bitter animosity and controversy between them； certain disputed points they dared not approach for fear of a quarrel。 With a few words Jesus could have excited their prejudices against each other； and thus have averted their wrath from Himself。 Caiaphas knew this； and he wished to avoid stirring up a contention。 There were plenty of witnesses to prove that Christ had denounced the priests and scribes； that He had called them hypocrites and murderers； but this testimony it was not expedient to bring forward。 The Sadducees in their sharp contentions with the Pharisees had used to them similar language。 And such testimony would have no weight with the Romans； who were themselves disgusted with the pretensions of the Pharisees。 There was abundant evidence that Jesus had disregarded the traditions of the Jews； and had spoken irreverently of many of their ordinances； but in regard to tradition the Pharisees and Sadducees were at swords' points； and this evidence also would have no weight with the Romans。 Christ's enemies dared not accuse Him of Sabbathbreaking； lest an examination should reveal the character of His work。 If His miracles of healing were brought to light；