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amination should reveal the character of His work。 If His miracles of healing were brought to light； the very object of the priests would be defeated。
False witnesses had been bribed to accuse Jesus of inciting rebellion and seeking to establish a separate government。 But their testimony proved to be vague and contradictory。 Under examination they falsified their own statements。
Early in His ministry Christ had said； 〃Destroy this temple； and in three days I will raise it up。〃 In the figurative language of prophecy； He had thus foretold His own death and resurrection。 〃He spake of the temple of His body。〃 John 2：19； 21。 These words the Jews had understood in a literal sense； as referring to the temple at Jerusalem。 Of all that Christ had said； the priests could find nothing to use against Him
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save this。 By misstating these words they hoped to gain an advantage。 The Romans had engaged in rebuilding and embellishing the temple； and they took great pride in it； any contempt shown to it would be sure to excite their indignation。 Here Romans and Jews； Pharisees and Sadducees； could meet； for all held the temple in great veneration。 On this point two witnesses were found whose testimony was not so contradictory as that of the others had been。 One of them； who had been bribed to accuse Jesus； declared； 〃This fellow said； I am able to destroy the temple of God； and to build it in three days。〃 Thus Christ's words were misstated。 If they had been reported exactly as He spoke them； they would not have secured His condemnation even by the Sanhedrin。 Had Jesus been a mere man； as the Jews claimed； His declaration would only have indicated an unreasonable； boastful spirit； but could not have been construed into blasphemy。 Even as misrepresented by the false witnesses； His words contained nothing which would be regarded by the Romans as a crime worthy of death。
Patiently Jesus listened to the conflicting testimonies。 No word did He utter in self…defense。 At last His accusers were entangled； confused； and maddened。 The trial was making no headway； it seemed that their plottings were to fail。 Caiaphas was desperate。 One last resort remained； Christ must be forced to condemn Himself。 The high priest started from the judgment seat； his face contorted with passion； his voice and demeanor plainly indicating that were it in his power he would strike down the prisoner before him。 〃Answerest Thou nothing？〃 he exclaimed； 〃what is it which these witness against Thee？〃
Jesus held His peace。 〃He was oppressed； and He was afflicted； yet He opened not His mouth： He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter； and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb； so He openeth not His mouth。〃 Isaiah 53：7。
At last； Caiaphas； raising his right hand toward heaven； addressed Jesus in the form of a solemn oath： 〃I adjure Thee by the living God； that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ； the Son of God。〃
To this appeal Christ could not remain silent。 There was a time to be silent； and a time to speak。 He had not spoken until directly questioned。 He knew that to answer now would make His death certain。 But the appeal was made by the highest acknowledged authority of the nation； and in the name of the Most High。 Christ would not fail to show proper respect for the law。 More than this； His own relation to the Father was called in question。 He must plainly declare His character and mission。
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Jesus had said to His disciples； 〃Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men； him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven。〃 Matt。 10：32。 Now by His own example He repeated the lesson。
Every ear was bent to listen； and every eye was fixed on His face as He answered； 〃Thou hast said。〃 A heavenly light seemed to illuminate His pale countenance as He added； 〃Nevertheless I say unto you； Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power； and coming in the clouds of heaven。〃
For a moment the divinity of Christ flashed through His guise of humanity。 The high priest quailed before the penetrating eyes of the Saviour。 That look seemed to read his hidden thoughts； and burn into his heart。 Never in afterlife did he forget that searching glance of the persecuted Son of God。
〃Hereafter；〃 said Jesus； 〃shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the
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right hand of power； and coming in the clouds of heaven。〃 In these words Christ presented the reverse of the scene then taking place。 He； the Lord of life and glory； would be seated at God's right hand。 He would be the judge of all the earth； and from His decision there could be no appeal。 Then every secret thing would be set in the light of God's countenance； and judgment be passed upon every man according to his deeds。
The words of Christ startled the high priest。 The thought that there was to be a resurrection of the dead； when all would stand at the bar of God； to be rewarded according to their works； was a thought of terror to Caiaphas。 He did not wish to believe that in future he would receive sentence according to his works。 There rushed before his mind as a panorama the scenes of the final judgment。 For a moment he saw the fearful spectacle of the graves giving up their dead； with the secrets he had hoped were forever hidden。 For a moment he felt as if standing before the eternal Judge； whose eye； which sees all things； was reading his soul； bringing to light mysteries supposed to be hidden with the dead。
The scene passed from the priest's vision。 Christ's words cut him； the Sadducee； to the quick。 Caiaphas had denied the doctrine of the resurrection； the judgment； and a future life。 Now he was maddened by satanic fury。 Was this man； a prisoner before him； to assail his most cherished theories？ Rending his robe； that the people might see his pretended horror； he demanded that without further preliminaries the prisoner be condemned for blasphemy。 〃What further need have we of witnesses？〃 he said； 〃behold； now ye have heard His blasphemy。 What think ye？〃 And they all condemned Him。
Conviction mingled with passion led Caiaphas to do as he did。 He was furious with himself for believing Christ's words； and instead of rending his heart under a deep sense of truth； and confessing that Jesus was the Messiah； he rent his priestly robes in determined resistance。 This act was deeply significant。 Little did Caiaphas realize its meaning。 In this act； done to influence the judges and secure Christ's condemnation； the high priest had condemned himself。 By the law of God he was disqualified for the priesthood。 He had pronounced upon himself the death sentence。
A high priest was not to rend his garments。 By the Levitical law； this was prohibited under sentence of death。 Under no circumstances； on no occasion； was the priest to rend his robe。 It was the custom among the Jews for the garments to be rent at the death of friends； but this
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custom the priests were not to observe。 Express command had been given by Christ to Moses concerning this。 Lev。 10：6。
Everything worn by the priest was to be whole and without blemish。 By those beautiful official garments was represented the character of the great antitype； Jesus Christ。 Nothing but perfection； in dress and attitude； in word and spirit； could be acceptable to God。 He is holy； and His glory and perfection must be represented by the earthly service。 Nothing but perfection could properly represent the sacredness of the heavenly service。 Finite man might rend his own heart by showing a contrite and humble spirit。 This God would discern。 But no rent must be made in the priestly robes； for this would mar the representation of heavenly things。 The high priest who dared to appear in holy office； and engage in the service of the sanctuary； with a rent robe； was looked upon as having severed himself from God。 By rending his garment he cut himself off from being a representative character。 He was no longer accepted by God as an officiating priest。 This course of action； as exhibited by Caiaphas； showed human passion； human imperfection。
By rending his garments； Caiaphas made of no effect the law of God； to follow the tradition of men。 A man…made law provided that in case of blasphemy a priest might rend his garments in horror at the sin； and be guiltless。 Thus the law of God was made void by the laws of men。
Each action of the high priest was watched with interest by the people； and Caiaphas thought for effect to display his piety。 But in this act； designed as an accusation against Christ； he was reviling the One of whom God had said； 〃My name is in Him。〃 Ex。 23：21。 He himself was committing blasphemy。 Standing under the condemnation of God； he pronounced sentence upon Christ as a blasphemer。
When Caiaphas rent his garment； his act was significant of the place that the Jewish nation as a nation would thereafter occupy toward God。 The once favored people of God were separating themselves from Him； and were fast becoming a people disowned by Jehovah。 When Christ upon the cross cried out； 〃It is finished〃 （John 19：30）； and the veil of the temple was rent in twain； the Holy Watcher decl