Chapters 159-182

SECTION XVIII

TZADDI

The Betrayal and Arrest of Jesus

CHAPTER 159

The Christines attend a feast in Simon's house. Mary anoints the master with a
costly balm, and Judas and others rebuke her for profligacy.  Jesus defends her.
The rulers of the Jews employ Ananias to arrest Jesus.  Ananias bribes Judas to aid him.

BAR-SIMON, who was once a leper and was cleansed by Jesus by the sacred Word, abode in Bethany.
2) In honor of the Christine Lord he gave a feast, and Lazarus was among the guests, and Ruth and Martha served.
3) And as the guests reclined about the table, Mary took a cruse of rich perfume and poured it out on Jesus' head and feet.
4) And then she knelt and with her hair she wiped his feet; the odor of the rich perfume filled all the room.
5) Now, Judas, always looking at the selfish side of life, exclaimed,
For shame! why did you waste that costly perfume thus?
6) We might have sold it for three hundred pence, and had the money to supply our wants and feed the poor.
7) (Now, Judas was the treasurer, and carried all the money of the Christine band.)
8) And others said,
Why, Mary, what a profligate you are! You should not throw such wealth away.
9) But Jesus said,
You men, be still; let her alone; you know not what you say.
10) The poor are with you constantly; at any time you can administer to them; but I will not be with you long.
11) And Mary knows the sadness of the coming days; she has anointed me beforehand for my burial.
12) The gospel of the Christ will everywhere be preached, and he who tells the story of the Christ will tell about this day; and what was done by Mary at this hour will be a sweet memorial to her wherever men abide.
13) And when the feast was over Jesus went with Lazarus to his home.
14) Now, in Jerusalem the priests and Pharisees were busy with their plans to seize the Lord and take his life.
15) The high priest called in counsel all the wisest men and said,
This deed must be accomplished in a secret way.
16) He must be taken when the multitudes are not a-near, else we may cause a war; the common people may stand forth in his defense and thus pollute this sacred place with human blood.
17) And what we do, that we must do before the great day of the feast.
18) And Ananias said,
I have a plan that will succeed. The twelve with Jesus every day go forth alone to pray;
19) And we will find their trysting place; then we can seize the man and bring him here without the knowledge of the multitudes.
20) I know one of the twelve, a man who worships wealth, and for a sum I think that he will lead the way to where the man is wont to pray.
21) And then Caiaphas said,
If you will lead the way and bribe the man of whom you speak, to aid in seizing Jesus in a secret place, then we will give to you a hundred silver pieces for your hire.
22) And Ananias said,
'Tis well.
23) And then he went to Bethany and found the twelve at Simon's house and, calling Judas to the side he said,
24) If you would care to make a sum of money for yourself, hear me:
25) The high priest and other rulers in Jerusalem would like to talk with Jesus when alone, that they may know about his claims;
26) And if he proves himself to be the Christ, lo, they will stand in his defense.
27) Now, if you will but lead the way to where your master is tomorrow night that they may send a priest to talk with him alone, there is a sum of silver, thirty pieces, that the priests will give to you:
28) And Judas reasoned with himself; he said,
It surely may be well to give the Lord a chance to tell the priests about his claims when he is all alone.
29) And if the priests would do him harm he has the power to disappear and go his way as he has done before; and thirty pieces is a goodly sum.
30) And so he said to Ananias,
I will lead the way, and by a kiss make known which person is the Lord.

CHAPTER 160

Jesus and the twelve eat the Passover alone in Nicodemus' house.
Jesus washes the disciples' feet.  Judas leaves the table and goes forth to betray the Lord.
Jesus teaches the eleven.  He institutes the Lord's supper.

ON Thursday morning Jesus called to him the twelve disciples, and he said to them,
This is God's remembrance day, and we will eat the paschal supper all alone.
2) And then he said to Peter, James and John,
Go now into Jerusalem and there prepare the pasch.
3) And the disciples said,
Where would you have us go to find the place where we may have the feast prepared?
4) And Jesus said,
Go by the fountain gate and you will see a man who has a pitcher in his hand. Speak unto him and say: This is the first day of unleavened bread;
5) The Lord would have you set apart your banquet hall where he may eat his last Passover with the twelve,
6) Fear not to speak; the man whom you will see is Nicodemus, ruler of the Jews, and yet a man of God.
7) And the disciples went and found the man as Jesus said, and Nicodemus hastened to his home; the banquet hall, an upper room, was set apart, the supper was prepared.
8) Now, in the afternoon the Lord and his disciples went up to Jerusalem and found the feast in readiness.
9) And when the hour had come to eat the feast, the twelve began to strive among themselves, each anxious to secure the honored seats.
10) And Jesus said,
My friends, would you contend for self just as the shadow of this night of gloom comes on?
11) There is no honored seat at heaven's feast except for him who humbly takes the lowest seat.
12) And then the Lord arose and took a basin full of water and a towel, and bowing down, he washed the feet of all the twelve and dried them with the towel.
13) He breathed upon them and he said,
And may these feet walk in the ways of righteousness forevermore.
14) He came to Peter and was about to wash his feet, and Peter said,
Lord, would you wash my feet?
15) And Jesus said,
You do not comprehend the meaning of the thing I do, but you will comprehend.
16) And Peter said,
My master, no, you shall not stoop to wash my feet.
17) And Jesus said,
My friend, if I wash not your feet you have no part with me.
18) And Peter said,
Then, O my Lord, wash both my feet, my hands, my head.
19) And Jesus said to him,
He who has taken first his bath is clean, and has no need to wash, except his feet.
20) The feet are truly symbols of the understanding of the man, and he who would be clean must, in the living stream of life, wash well his understanding every day.
21) Then Jesus sat with his disciples at the table of the feast and said,
Behold the lesson of the hour:
22) You call me master; such I am. If, then, your Lord and master kneel and wash your feet, should you not wash each other's feet and thus show forth your willingness to serve?
23) You know these things, and if you do them, blessed thrice are you.
24) And then he said,
This is an hour when I can truly praise the name of God, for I have greatly wished to eat with you this feast before I pass the veil;
25) For I will eat it not again until anew I eat it with you in the kingdom of our Father-God.
26) And then they sung the Hebrew song of praise that Jews were wont to sing before the feast.
27) And then they ate the pasch and as they ate, the master said,
Behold, for one of you will turn away this night and will betray me into wicked hands.
28) And the disciples were amazed at what he said; they looked into each other's face in wonderment; they all exclaimed,
Lord, is it I?
29) And Peter said to John, who sat beside the Lord,
To whom does he refer?
30) And John put forth his hand and touched the master's hand and said,
Which one of us is so depraved as to betray his Lord?
31) And Judas said,
Lord, is it I?
32) And Jesus said,
He is the one who now has put his hand with mine into the dish.
They looked, and Judas' hand was with the hand of Jesus in the dish.
33) And Jesus said,
The Prophets cannot fail; the son of man must be betrayed, but woe to him who shall betray his Lord.
34) And from the table Judas rose at once; his hour had come.
35) And Jesus said to him,
Do quickly what you are to do.
And Judas went his way.
36) And when the pasch was done the Lord with the eleven sat a while in silent thought.
37) Then Jesus took a loaf of bread that had been broken not and said,
This loaf is symbol of my body, and the bread is symbol of the bread of life;
38) And as I break this loaf, so shall my flesh be broken as a pattern for the sons of men; for men must freely give their bodies up in willing sacrifice for other men.
39) And as you eat this bread, so shall you eat the bread of life, and never die.
And then he gave to each a piece of bread to eat.
40) And then he took a cup of wine and said,
Blood is the life, this is the life-blood of the grape; it is the symbol of the life of him who gives his life for men.
41) And as you drink this wine, if you shall drink in faith, you drink the life of Christ.
42) And then he supped and passed the cup, and the disciples supped; and Jesus said,
This is the feast of life, the great Passover of the son of man, the Supper of the Lord, and you shall often eat the bread and drink the wine.
43) From henceforth shall this bread be called Remembrance bread; this wine shall be Remembrance wine; and when you eat this bread and drink this wine remember me.

CHAPTER 161

Jesus teaches the eleven.  Tells them that they will all be estranged from him, and that Peter will deny him thrice before the morning.  He speaks final words of encouragement.  Promises the Comforter

NOW, after Judas had gone forth to meet the emissaries of the priests and to betray his Lord,
2) The master said,
The hour has come, the son of man will now be glorified.
3) My little children, I am with you yet a little while; soon you will seek me and will find me not, for where I go you cannot come.
4) I give to you a new command: As I love you and give my life for you, so shall you love the world, and give your life to save the world.
5) Love one another as you love yourselves, and then the world will know that you are sons of God, disciples of the son of man whom God has glorified.
6) And Peter said,
Lord, where you go there I will go, for I would lay my life down for my Lord.
7) And Jesus said,
Boast not of bravery, my friend; you are not strong enough tonight to follow me.
8) Now, Peter, hear! you will deny me thrice before the cock shall crow tomorrow morn.
9) And then he looked upon the eleven and said,
You all will be estranged from me this night.
10) The prophet said, Lo, he will smite the shepherd of the sheep; the sheep will flee and hide away.
11) But after I am risen from the dead, lo, you will come again, and I will go before you into Galilee.
12) And Peter said,
My Lord, though every other man forsake you I will not.
13) And Jesus said,
O Simon Peter, lo, your zeal is greater than your fortitude!
Behold, for Satan cometh up to sift you as a pan of wheat, but I have prayed that in your faith you shall not fail; that after trial you may stand a tower of strength.
14) And the disciples all exclaimed,
There is no power on earth that can estrange, or cause us to deny our Lord.
15) And Jesus said,
Let not your hearts be sad; you all believe in God; believe in me.
16) Behold, for there are many mansions in my Fatherland. If there were not I would not have told you so.
17) I will go unto my Fatherland, and I will prepare a place for you that where I am there you may be. But now you do not know the way unto my Fatherland.
18) And Thomas said,
We do not know where you intend to go; how could we know the way?
19) And Jesus said,
I am the way, the truth, the life; I manifest the Christ of God. No man can reach my Fatherland except he comes with me through Christ.
20) If you had known and comprehended me, then you would know my Father-God.
21) And Philip said,
Show us the Father and we will be satisfied.
22) And Jesus said,
Have I been with you all these years and still you know me not?
23) He who has seen the son has seen the Father, for in the son the Father has revealed himself.
24) Lo, I have told you many times that what I speak and what I do are not the words and works of man;
25) They are the words of God, who lives in me and I in him.
26) Hear me, you faithful men: He who believes in me and in my Father-God shall say and do what I have said and done.
27) Yea, more, he shall do greater works than I have ever done, because I go to him whose works we do, and then I can reach forth my hand in helpfulness.
28) And in my name, through Christ, you may petition God and he will grant you your request.
29) Do you believe what I have said? Yes, you believe, and if you love the Christ and follow me then you will keep my words.
30) I am the vine; you are the branches of the vine; my Father is the husbandmen.
31) The branches that are worthless, bearing naught but leaves, the husbandmen will cut away and cast into the fire to be burned.
32) And he will prune the branches that bear fruit that they may yield abundantly.
33) The branch cannot bear fruit if separated from the vine; and you cannot bear fruit when separate from me.
34) Abide in me, and do the works that God, through me, has taught you how to do, and you will bear much fruit, and God will honor you as he has honored me.
35) And now I go my way, but I will pray my Father-God and he will send another Comforter to you, who will abide with you.
36) Behold, this Comforter of God, the Holy Breath, is one with God, but she is one the world cannot receive because it sees her not; it knows her not.
37) But you know her, and will know her, because she will abide within your soul.
38) I will not leave you desolate, but in the Christ, which is the love of God made manifest to men, I will be with you all the way.

CHAPTER 162

Jesus reveals more fully the mission of the Holy Breath.  Tells his disciples plainly that he is about to die,
and they are sad.  He prays for them and all the world of believers.
They leave the banquet hall.

NOW, John was deeply grieved because the master said,
I go away, and where I go you cannot come.
2) He wept and said,
Lord, I would go with you through every trial and to death.
3) And Jesus said,
And you shall follow me through trials and through death; but now you cannot go where I will go; but you shall come.
4) And Jesus spoke again unto the eleven and said,
Grieve not because I go away, for it is best that I should go away. If I go not the Comforter will not come to you.
5) These things I speak while with you in the flesh, but when the Holy Breath shall come in power, lo, she will teach you more and more, and bring to your remembrance all the words that I have said to you.
6) There are a multitude of things yet to be said; things that this age cannot receive, because it cannot comprehend.
7) But, lo, I say, Before the great day of the Lord shall come, the Holy Breath will make all mysteries known -
8) The mysteries of the soul, of life, of death, of immortality; the oneness of a man with every other man and with his God.
9) Then will the world be led to truth, and man will be the truth.
10) When she has come, the Comforter, she will convince the world of sin, and of the truth of what I speak, and of the judgement of the just; and then the prince of carnal life will be cast out.
11) And when the Comforter shall come I need not intercede for you; for you will stand approved, and God will know you then as he knows me.
12) The hour has come when you will weep; the wicked will rejoice, because I go away; but I will come again, and all your sorrows shall be turned to joy;
13) Yea, verily, you will rejoice as one who welcomes back a brother from the dead.
14) And the disciples said,
Our Lord, speak not in proverbs any more; speak plainly unto us; we know that you are wise and know all things.
15) What is the meaning of your words, I go away, but I will come again?
16) And Jesus said,
The hour is come when you will all be scattered forth, and every man will be afraid;
17) Will flee to save his life and leave me alone; yet I will not be all alone; my Father-God is with me all the way.
18) And wicked men will take me to the judgment seat of wicked men and in the presence of the multitudes I will give up my life, a pattern for the sons of men.
19) But I will rise again and come to you.
20) These things I speak that you may be established in the faith when they shall come to pass.
21) And you shall bear the buffetings of men, and follow in the thorny path I tread.
22) Be not dismayed; be of good cheer, Lo, I have overcome the world, and you shall overcome the world.
23) Then Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said,
My Father-God, the hour has come;
24) The son of man must now be lifted from the earth, and may he falter not, that all the world may know the power of sacrifice;
25) For as I give my life for men, lo, men must give their lives for other men.
26) I came to do thy will, O God, and in the sacred name, the Christ is glorified, that men may see the Christ as life, as light, as love, as truth.
27) And through the Christ become themselves the life, the light, the love, the truth.
28) I praise thy name because of these whom thou hast given me, for they have honored thee and they will honor thee;
29) And none of them are lost, and none are gone away, except the blinded son of carnal life, who hath gone forth to sell his Lord.
30) O God, forgive this man because he knows not what he does.
31) And now, O God, I come to thee, and am no more in mortal life; keep thou these men to whom I have made known thy wisdom and thy love.
32) As they believe in me, and in the words I speak, may all the world believe in them and in the words they speak.
33) As thou hast sent me forth into the world, so I have sent them forth. I pray that thou wouldst honor them as thou hast honored me.
34) I do not pray that thou wouldst take them from the world, but that they may be guarded from the evil of the world, and not be subject to temptations that are too great for them to bear.
35) They once were of the world, but now are of the world no more, as I am of the world no more.
36) Thy word is truth, O God, and by thy word let them be sanctified.
37) I do not pray for these alone, O God; I also pray for all who will believe on me, and will accept the Christ because of what they do and say, that they may all be one.
38) As I am one with thee, and thou art one with me, may they be one with us,
39) That all the world may know that thou hast sent me forth to do thy will, and that thou lovest them as thou hast ever loved me.
40) When Jesus had thus said, they sung the Jewish song of praise, and then arose and went their way.

CHAPTER 163

Jesus visits Pilate, who urges him to flee from the country to save his life.
Jesus refuses to do so.  He meets his disciples in Massalian's orchard.
The scene in Gethsemane.
The Jewish mob led by Judas is near.

AS Jesus and the eleven went out, a Roman guard approached and said,
All hail! Is one of you the man from Galilee?
2) And Peter said,
We all are men from Galilee; whom do you seek?
3) The guard replied,
I seek for Jesus, who is called the Christ.
4) And Jesus answered,
Here am I.
5) The guard spoke out and said,
I do not come in an official way; I bear to you a message from the governor.
6) Jerusalem is all alive with vengeful Jews who swear that they will take your life, and Pilate would confer with you, and he would have you come to him without delay.
7) And Jesus said to Peter and the rest,
Go to the vale, and by the Kidron wait for me, and I will go alone and see the governor.
8) And Jesus went up with the guard, and when he reached the palace, Pilate met him at the gate and said,
9) Young man, I have a word to say that may be well for you. I have observed your works and words three years and more;
10) And I have often stood in your defense when your own countrymen would fain have stoned you as a criminal.
11) But now the priests, the scribes and Pharisees have stirred the common people to a stage of frenzied wantonness and cruelty, and they intend to take your life.
12) Because, they say, that you have sworn to tear their temple down; to chage the laws that Moses gave; to exile Pharisee and priest and seat yourself upon a throne.
13) And they aver that you are fully in league with Rome.
14) The streets of all Jerusalem are filled this moment with a horde of madmen all intent to shed your blood.
15) There is no safety for you but in flight; wait not until the morning sun. You know the way to reach the border of this cursed land.
16) I have a little band of guards, well horsed and armed, and they will take you out beyond the reach of harm.
17) You must not tarry here, young man, you must arise and go.
18) And Jesus said,
A noble prince has Caesar in his Pilate Pontius, and from the point of carnal man your words are seasoned with the wise man's salt; but from the point of Christ your words are foolishness.
19) The coward flees when danger comes; but he who comes to seek and save the lost must give his life in willing sacrifice for those he comes to seek and save.
20) Before the pasch has been consumed, lo, all this nation will be cursed by shedding blood of innocence; and even now the murderers are at the door.
21) And Pilate said,
It shall not be; the sword of Rome will be unsheathed to save your life.
22) And Jesus said,
Nay, Pilate, nay; there are no armies large enough in all the world to save my life.
23) And Jesus bade the governor farewell, and went his way; but Pilate sent a double guard with him lest he should fall into the hands of those who were alert to take his life.
24) But in a moment Jesus disappeared; the guards saw him no more, and in a little while he reached the brook of Kidron where the eleven were.
25) Now, just beyond the brook there was an orchard and a home where one, Massalian, lived, where Jesus oft had been.
26) Massalian was his friend, and he believed that Jesus was the Christ that Jewish prophets long ago had said would come.
27) Now, in the orchard was a sacred knoll; Massalian called the place Gethsemane.
28) The night was dark, but in the orchard it was doubly dark and Jesus bade the eight disciples tarry by the brook,
29) While he, with Peter, James and John went to Gethsemane to pray.
30) They sat beneath an olive tree, and Jesus opened up the mysteries of life to Peter, James and John. He said,
31) The Spirit of eternity is One unmanifest; and this is God the Father, God the Mother, God the Son in One.
32) In life of manifests the One became the Three, and God the Father is the God of might; and God the Mother is omniscient God, and God the Son is love.
33) And God the Father is the power of heaven and earth; and God the Mother is the Holy Breath, the thought of heaven and earth; and God the Son, the only son, is Christ, and Christ is love.
34) I came as man to manifest this love to men,
35) As man I have been subject unto all the trials and temptations of the human race; but I have overcome the flesh, with all its passions and its appetites.
36) What I have done all men can do.
37) And I am now about to demonstrate the power of man to conquer death; for every man is God made flesh.
38) I will lay down my life, and I will take it up again, that you may know the mysteries of life, of death, and of the resurrection of the dead.
39) I lay me down in flesh, but I will rise in spirit form with power to manifest myself so mortal eyes can see.
40) So in a trinity of days I will show forth the all of life, the all of death, the meaning of the resurrection of the dead.
41) And what I do all men can do.
42) And you, my three, who constitute the inner circle of the Church of Christ, will show to men the attributes of all the Gods.
43) And Peter shall make known the Power of God; and James shall show the Thought of God; and John shall demonstrate the Love of God.
44) Be not afraid of men, for you have been sent forth to do the mighty works of God the Father, God the Mother, God the Son.
45) And all the powers of carnal life cannot destroy your life until your work is done.
46) I leave you now, and I will go out in the darkness all alone and talk with God.
47) By sorrow I am overwhelmed, I leave you here to watch with me.
48) Then Jesus went three hundred cubits toward the east, and fell upon his face and prayed; he said,
49) My God! my God! is there a way by which I may escape the horrors of the coming hours? My human flesh shrinks back; my soul is firm; so not my will, but thine, O God, be done.
50) In agony he prayed; the strain upon the human form was great; his veins were burst asunder, and his brow was bathed in blood.
51) And then he went back to the three, and found them all asleep; he said,
52) O Simon, Simon, do you sleep! Could you not watch with me a single hour? Be vigilant, and watch and pray that your temptations be not too great for you to bear.
53) I know the spirit is alert and willing; but the flesh is weak.
54) And then he went again and prayed,
O Father, God! if I must drink this bitter cup, give me the strength of soul; for not my will, but thine be done.
55) And then he went again to his disciples; lo, he found them still asleep. He wakened them and said to James,
56) Have you been sleeping while your master has been wrestling with the greatest foe of men? Could you not watch with me a single hour?
57) And then he went again and prayed.
O God, I yield to thee; thy will be done.
58) And then again he went back to the three, and still they slept. He said to John,
59) With all the love you have for me, could you not watch with me a single hour?
60) And then he said,
It is enough; the hour has come, and my betrayer is at hand; arise and let us go.
61) And when they came again to Kidron, lo, the eight disciples were asleep, and Jesus said,
You men, awake; behold, for the betrayer of the son of man is come.

CHAPTER 164

Judas betrays his Lord with a kiss.  Jesus is seized by the mob and the disciples flee to
save their lives.  Jesus is taken unto Jerusalem.  Peter and John follow the mob.

THE Lord with the eleven were in the orchard of Massalian, and as they talked they saw a band of men with lanterns and with swords and clubs approaching them.
2) And Jesus said,
Behold the emissaries of the evil one! and Judas leads the way.
3) And the disciples said,
Lord, let us flee to save our lives.
4) But Jesus said,
Why should we flee to save our lives when this is the fulfillment of the words of prophets and of seers?
5) And Jesus went alone to meet the men; and as they came he said,
Why are you here, you men? whom do you seek?
6) And they replied,
We seek the man from Galilee. We seek for Jesus, one who calls himself the Christ.
7) And Jesus answered,
Here am I.
8) And then he raised his hands and with a mighty thought he brought the ethers to the state of light; and all the orchard was aglow with light.
9) The frenzied men were driven back and many fled and tarried not until they reached Jerusalem; and others fell upon their faces on the ground.
10) The bravest men, and they with hardest hearts, remained, and when the light had paled, the Lord again inquired,
Whom do you seek?
11) And Ananias said,
We seek the man from Galilee; we seek for Jesus, he who calls himself the Christ.
12) And Jesus answered him and said,
I told you once before; but now I tell you once again that I am he.
13) By Ananias, Judas stood; but in a moment he had gone and coming up behind the Lord he said,
My Lord;
and then he kissed him as a sign that he was Jesus whom they sought.
14) And Jesus said,
Do you, Iscariot, come and thus betray your master with a kiss?
15) This thing must need be done; but woe to him who does betray his Lord.
16) Your carnal greed has seared your conscience and you know not what you do; but in a little time your conscience will assert itself, and in remorse, lo, you will close your span and take your life.
17) Then the eleven came, laid hold of Judas and would have done him harm; but Jesus said,
18) You must not harm this man; you have no right to judge this man; his conscience is his judge, will sentence him and he will execute himself.
19) And then the mob led on by Malchus, servant of Caiaphas, laid hold of Jesus, and was binding him with chains.
20) And Jesus said,
Why do you come in dead of night with swords and clubs to take me in this sacred place?
21) Have I not spoken in the public places of Jerusalem? Have I not healed your sick, and opened up your blinded eyes, and made your lame to walk, your deaf to hear? You could have found me any day.
22) And now you try to bind me down with chains, what are these chains but links of reeds? And then he raised his hands; the chains were broken and they fell to earth.
23) And Malchus thought the Lord would flee to save his life, and with a club he fain would smite him in the face.
24) But Peter had a sword, and rushing up he smote the man and wounded him.
25) But Jesus said,
Stay, Peter, stay; put up your sword; you are not called to fight with swords and clubs. Whoever wields the sword shall perish by the sword.
26) I do not need protection by the sons of men, for I could call this moment and a legion, yea, twelve legions of the messengers of God, would come and stand in my defense; but then it is not well.
27) And then he said to Malchus,
Man, I would not have you harmed.
And then he laid his hand upon the wound that Peter made, and it was healed.
28) Then Jesus said,
Be not concerned lest I should tear myself away from you and flee to save my life. I have no wish to save my life; do with me as you wish.
29) And then the mob rushed up to seize the eleven to take them back to stand for trial as the aids of Jesus in his crimes.
30) But the disciples, every one of them, deserted Jesus, and they fled to save their lives.
31) Now, John was last to flee; the mob laid hold of him and tore his garments all to shreds; but he escaped in nakedness.
32) Massalian saw the man, and took him to his home and gave him other clothes; and then he followed after them who led the Lord away.
33) And Peter was ashamed because of his weak cowardice, and when he was himself again he joined with John and followed close behind the mob, and came into Jerusalem.

SECTION XIX

KOPH

The Trial and Execution of Jesus

CHAPTER 165

Jesus before Caiaphas.  Peter denies his Lord thrice.
The indictment, signed by seven ruling Jews.
A hundred perjured witnesses testify to the truth of the charges.

CAIAPHAS was the high priest of the Jews; the mob led Jesus to his palace hall.
2) The court had been convened, and all the galleries were packed with scribes and Pharisees already sworn as witnesses against the Lord.
3) The maid who kept the palace door knew John and this disciple asked that he and Peter be admitted to the hall.
4) The maid permitted them to enter in, and John went in; but Peter was afraid and tarried in the outer court.
5) The woman said to Peter, as he stood beside the door,
Are you a follower of this man from Galilee?
6) And Peter said,
No, I am not.
7) The men who had brought Jesus to the hall sat by a fire in the outer court, because the night was cool, and Peter sat with them.
8) Another maid who waited in the place saw Peter and she said to him,
You surely are from Galilee; your speech is that of Galilee; you are a follower of this man.
9) And Peter said,
I know not what you mean; I do not even know this man.
10) And then a servant of Caiaphas, one of those who seized the Lord and brought him to the court, saw Peter and he said to him,
11) Did I not see you in the orchard of Massalian with this seditious Nazarene? I'm sure I did, and you are one of those who followed him.
12) Then Peter rose and stamped upon the floor, and swore by every sacred thing, that he knew not the criminal.
13) Now, John was standing near and when he heard the words and knew that Peter had denied his Lord, he looked at him in sheer astonishment.
14) Just then a cock crew loud beneath the court, and Peter called to mind the words the Lord had said,
15) Before the cock shall crow tomorrow morn you will deny me thrice.
16) And Peter's conscience smote him heavily, and he went out into the night and wept.
17) Caiaphas sat in state; before him stood the man from Galilee.
18) Caiaphas said,
You people of Jerusalem, who is the man that you accuse?
19) They answered:
In the name of every loyal Jew we do accuse this man from Galilee, this Jesus, who assumes to be our king, as enemy of God and man.
20) Caiaphas said to Jesus,
Man, you are permitted now to speak and tell about your doctrines and your claims.
21) And Jesus said,
You priest of carnal man, why do you ask about my words and works?
22) Lo, I have taught the multitudes in every public place; I have restored your sick to health; have caused your deaf to hear, your lame to walk, and I have brought your dead to life again.
23) My works have not been done in secret place but in your public halls and thoroughfares.
24) Go ask the people, who have not been bought with gold or glittering promises, to tell about my words and works.
25) When Jesus had thus said a Jewish guard came up and smote him in the face and said,
How dare you speak thus unto him, the high priest of the Jews?
26) And Jesus said,
If I have spoken falsely bear witness unto what I say; If I have told the truth why did you smite me thus?
27) And then Caiaphas said,
What'er you do, do in a legal way, for we must answer to a higher court for everything we do or say.
28) Let the accusers of this man present their charges in a legal form.
29) And then Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and said,
I have the accusations here in legal form; the charges made and signed by scribes and priests and Pharisees.
30) Caiaphas said,
Be still, you men, and hear the charges read.
The scribe took up a roll and read:

31) To the Sanhedrin of the Jews and to Caiaphas the high priest, most honored men:
32) The highest duty man can render is to his nation and his own is to protect them from their foes.
33) The people of Jerusalem are conscious that a mighty foe is in their very midst.
34) A man named Jesus has come forth and claims to be heir to David's throne.
35) As an imposter he is foe, and in the name of every loyal Jew we here submit these charges which we are competent to prove;
36) At first, he blasphemes God; he says he is son of God; that he and God are one;
37) And he profanes our holy days by healing, and doing other work upon the Sabbath days;
38) And he proclaims himself the king, successor of our David and our Solomon;
39) And he declares that he will tear our temple down and build it up again in form more glorious in three days;
40) And he declares that he will drive the people from Jerusalem, as he drove out the merchants from the temple court; and bring to occupy our sacred hills a tribe of men that know not God;
41) And he avers that every doctor, scribe and Pharisee and Sadducee, shall go in exile, and shall never more return;
42) And to these charges we do set our hands and seals.
                               Annas.        Simon.
                               Abinadab.  Annanias.
                               Joash.        Azaniah.
                                    Hezekiah.

43) Now, when the scribe had read the charges, all the people called for blood; they said,
Let such a wretch be stoned; let him be crucified.
44) Caiaphas said,
You men of Israel, do you sustain the charges of these men?
45) A hundred men who had been bribed, stood forth to testify; they swore that every charge was true.
46) Caiaphas said to Jesus,
Man, have you a word to say? are you the son of God?
47) And Jesus said,
So you have said;
and then he said no more.

CHAPTER 166

Jesus before the Sanhedrin.  Nicodemus pleads for justice;
he shows the incompetency of the witnesses.
The council fails to declare Jesus guilty, but Caiaphas,
the presiding judge, declares him guilty.
The mob maltreats Jesus.  He is taken to Pilate's court.

WHEN Jesus would not speak, Caiaphas stood before the Jewish mob and said,
2) Bind fast the prisoner, for he must go before the great Sanhedrin of the Jews to answer for his life.
3) We cannot execute a criminal until our findings have been verified by this, the highest council of the Jews.
4) As soon as it was day the highest council of the people met; the Lord and his accusers stood before the bar.
5) Caiaphas was the chief; he rose and said,
Let the accusers of this man from Galilee bring forth their charges and their evidence.
6) Caiaphas' scribe stood forth and read the charges and the names of those who had accused the man from Galilee.
7) And all the witnesses were made to stand and testify before the council of the Jews.
8) And then the lawyers weighed the evidence, and Nicodemus stood among the men who plead.
9) He raised his hands and said,
Let justice now be done, though every scribe and Pharisee and priest and Sadducee, as well as Jesus, the accused, be judged a liar.
10) If we can prove this Jesus to be foe and traitor to our laws and land, let him be judged a criminal and suffer for his crimes.
11) If it be proved that these who testify are perjurers in the sight of God and man, then let the man from Galilee go free.
12) And then he brought the testimonies of the witnesses before the judges of the law; no two of them agreed. In heat of passion, or for gain, the men had testified.
13) The council would have gladly judged that Jesus was a criminal and sentenced him to death; but in the face of all the evidence they were afraid.
14) And then Caiaphas said,
You man from Galilee, Before the living God, I now command that you shall answer me, Are you the Christ, the son of God?
15) And Jesus said,
If I would answer, Yes, you would not hear, nor yet believe,
16) If I would answer, No, I would be like your witnesses, and stand a liar in the sight of man and God. But this I say,
17) The time will come when you will see the son of man upon the throne of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.
18) And then Caiaphas rent his clothes and said,
Have you not heard enough? Did you not hear his vile blasphemous words? What further need have we of witnesses? What shall we do with him?
19) The people said,
Put him to death.
And then the mob rushed up and spit into his face, and struck him with their hands.
20) And then they bound a cloth about his eyes and smote him in the face and said,
You are a prophet; tell us who it was who smote you in the face.
21) And Jesus answered not and like a lamb before his shearer he, the man from Galilee, resisted not.
22) Caiaphas said,
We cannot put a man to death until the Roman ruler shall confirm the sentence of this court;
23) So take this criminal away and Pilate will endorse what we have done.
24) And then was Jesus dragged along the way up to the palace of the Roman governor.

CHAPTER 167

Jesus before Pilate.  Is pronounced not guilty.  Jesus before Herod and is tortured and
returned to Pilate, who again declares him innocent.  The Jews demand his death.
Pilate's wife urges her husband to have nothing to do with the punishment of Jesus.  Pilate weeps.

INTO the palace of the Roman governor the Jews would enter not lest they become defiled and be unworthy to attend the feast; but they led Jesus to the palace court, and Pilate met them there.
2) And Pilate said,
Why this commotion in the early day? What is your prayer?
3) The Jews replied,
We bring before you one, an evil and seditious man.
4) He has been tried before the highest council of the Jews and has been proven traitor to our laws, our state and to the government of Rome.
5) We pray that you will sentence him to death upon the cross.
6) And Pilate said,
Why do you bring him unto me? Go to, and judge him yourselves.
7) You have a law, and by the sanction of the Roman law, you have a right to judge and right to execute.
8) The Jews replied,
We have no right to execute a man upon the cross, and since this man is traitor to Tiberius, our counsellors believe that he should meet the most humiliating death - the death upon the cross.
9) But Pilate said,
No man can be found guilty of a crime by Roman law until the testimony all is in, and the accused has been permitted to defend himself;
10) So I will take your bill of charges, with the evidence you have, and judge by Roman law.
11) The Jews had made a copy of the accusations in the language of the Roman court, and they had added to the bill:
12) We charge that Jesus is an enemy of Rome; that he demands that men shall pay no tribute to Tiberius.
13) And Pilate took the bill; his guards led Jesus up the steps into the palace hall.
14) And Jesus stood before the Roman governor, and Pilate read to him the charges of the Jews, and said,
15) What is your answer to this bill? These charges, are they true or false?
16) And Jesus said,
Why should I plead before an earthly court? The charges have been verified by perjured men; what need I say?
17) Yes, I am king; but carnal men cannot behold the king, nor see the kingdom of the God; it is within.
18) If I had been king as carnal man is king, my servants would have stood in my defense, and I would not have willingly surrendered to the minions of the Jewish law.
19) I have no testimony from the sons of men. God is my witness, and my words and deeds bear witness to the truth;
20) And every man who comprehends the truth will hearken to my words, and in his soul give witness unto me.
21) And Pilate said,
What is the truth?
22) And Jesus said,
Truth is the God who knows. It is the changeless one. The Holy Breath is truth; she changes not and cannot pass away.
23) And Pilate went again unto the Jews and said,
This man is guilty of no crime; I cannot sentence him to death.
24) And then the Jews grew boisterous; they cried aloud and said,
Our council surely knows. The wisest men of all the land have found him guilty of a score of crimes.
25) He would pervert the nation of the Jews; would overthrow the Roman rule and make himself the king. He is a culprit come from Galilee; he must be crucified.
26) And Pilate said,
If Jesus is from Galilee he is a subject of the governor of Galilee, who should be judge.
27) Now, Herod had come down from Galilee and with his suite was in Jerusalem.
28) And Pilate sent to him the Lord in chains; he also sent a copy of the charges, and of the testimonies of the Jews and asked that he would pass in judgment on the case.
29) And Herod said,
I have heard much about this man and I am pleased to see him in my court.
30) And then he asked the Lord about his claims, about his doctrines and his aims.
31) And Jesus answered not a word; and Herod was enraged; he said,
Do you insult the ruler of the land by answering not?
32) And then he called his guards and said,
Take you this man and torture him until he answers me.
33) The guards took Jesus and they smote him; mocked him; wrapped him in a royal robe; they made a crown of thorns and put it on his head; they put a broken reed into his hands;
34) And then they said deridingly,
All hail, thou royal king! Where are your subjects and your friends?
35) But Jesus answered not a word. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate with this note of courtesy:
36) Most worthy counsellor of Rome, I have examined all the charges and the testimonies that you sent to me regarding this seditious man from Galilee, and while I might adjudge him guilty of the crimes as charged,
37) I yield to you my rights as judge, because you are superior to me in power. I will approve of any judgment you may render in this case.
38) Now, Pilate and the tetrarch had been foes, but the experience of this hour destroyed their enmity and they were friends in after days.
39) When Jesus had been brought again to Pilate's court, the Roman Governor stood forth before the accusers of the Lord and said,
40) I cannot find this Nazarene to be a criminal as charged; there is no evidence that he should suffer death; so I will scourge him well and let him go.
41) The Jews cried angrily,
It is not meet that such a dangerous man should live; he must be crucified.
42) Then Pilate said,
I bid you wait a little time.
And then he went into an inner room and sat in silent thought.
43) And as he mused his wife, a godly woman, chosen from among the Gauls, came in and said,
44) I pray you, Pilate, hearken unto me: Beware of what you do this hour. Touch not this man from Galilee; he is a holy man.
45) If you should scourge this man you scourge the son of God. Last night I saw it all in vision far too vivid to be set aside as idle dream.
46) I saw this man walk on the waters of the sea; I heard him speak and calm an angry storm; I saw him flying with the wings of light;
47) I saw Jerusalem in blood; I saw the statues of the Caesars fall; I saw a veil before the sun, and day was dark as night.
48) The earth on which I stood was shaken like a reed before the wind. I tell you, Pilate, if you bathe your hands in this man's blood then you may dread the frowns of great Tiberius, and the curses of the senators of Rome.
49) And then she left, and Pilate wept.

CHAPTER 168

Pilate's final effort to release Jesus fails.  He washes his hands in feigned innocence.
Delivers Jesus to the Jews for execution. The Jewish soldiers drive him to Calvary.

A SUPERSTITIOUS people are the Jews. They have a faith that they have borrowed from the idol worshippers of other lands, that at the end of every year,
2) They may heap all their sins upon the head of some man set apart to bear their sins.
3) The man becomes a scrpegoat for the multitudes; and they believe that when they drive him forth into the wilds, or into foreign lands, they are released from sin.
4) So every Spring before the feast they chose a prisoner from the prisons of the land, and by a form their own, they fain would make him bear their sins away.
5) Among the Jewish prisoners in Jerusalem were three who were the leaders of a vile, seditious band, who had engaged in thefts and murders and rapine, and had been sentenced to be crucified.
6) Barabbas bar Jezia was among the men who were to die; but he was rich and he had bought of priests the boon to be the scapegoat for the people at the coming feast, and he was anxiously in waiting for his hour to come.
7) Now, Pilate thought to turn this superstition to account to save the Lord, and so he went again before the Jews and said,
8) You men of Israel, according to my custom I will release to you today a prisoner who shall bear your sins away.
9) This man you drive into the wilds or into foreign lands, and you have asked me to release Barabbas, who has been proven guilty of the murder of a score of men.
10) Now, hear me men, Let Jesus be released and let Barabbas pay his debt upon the cross; then you can send this Jesus to the wilds and hear no more of him.
11) At what the ruler said the people were enraged, and they began to plot to tear the Roman palace down and drive in exile Pilate, and his household and his guards.
12) When Pilate was assured that civil war would follow if he heeded not the wishes of the mob, he took a bowl of water, and in the presence of the multitude, he washed his hands and said,
13) This man whom you accuse is son of the most holy Gods, and I proclaim my innocence.
14) If you would shed his blood, his blood is on your hands and not on mine.
15) And then the Jews exclaimed,
And let his blood be on our hands and on our children's hands.
16) And Pilate trembled like a leaf, in fear. Barabbas, he released, and as the Lord stood forth before the mob, the ruler said,
Behold your king! And would you put to death your king?
17) The Jews replied,
He is no king; we have no king but great Tiberius.
18) Now, Pilate would not give consent that Roman soldiers should imbue their hands in blood of innocence, and so the chief priests and the Pharisees took counsel what to do with Jesus, who was called the Christ.
19) Caiaphas said,
We cannot crucify this man; he must be stoned to death and nothing more.
20) And then the rabble said,
Make haste! let him be stoned.
And then they led him forth toward the hill beyond the city's gates, where criminals were put to death.
21) The rabble could not wait until they reached the place of skulls. As soon as they had passed the city's gate, they rushed upon him, smote him with their hands, they spit upon him, stoned him, and he fell upon the ground.
22) And one, a man of God, stood forth and said,
Isaiah said, He shall be bruised for our transgressions and by his stripes we shall be healed.
23) As Jesus lay all bruised and mangled on the ground a Pharisee called out,
Stay, stay you men! behold, the guards of Herod come and they will crucify this man.
24) And there beside the city's gate they found Barabbas's cross; and then the frenzied mob cried out,
Let him be crucified.
25) Caiaphas and the other ruling Jews came forth and gave consent.
26) And then they lifted Jesus from the ground, and at the point of swords they drove him on.
27) A man named Simon, a friend of Jesus, was a-near the scene, and since the bruised and wounded Jesus could not bear his cross, they laid it on the shoulders of this man, and made him bear it on to Calvary.

CHAPTER 169

Judas is filled with remorse.
 Hurries to the temple and throws the thirty pieces of silver at the feet of the priests,
 who take it and buy a potter's field.  Judas hangs himself.
His body is buried in the potter's field.

NOW, Judas who betrayed his Lord, was with the mob; but all the time he thought that Jesus would assert his power and demonstrate the strength of God that he possessed, and strike to earth the fiendish multitudes and free himself;
2) But when he saw his master on the ground and bleeding from a score of wounds, he said,
3) O God, what have I done? I have betrayed the son of God; the curse of God will rest upon my soul.
4) And then he turned and ran with haste until he reached the temple door; he found the priests, who gave to him the thirty silver pieces to betray the Lord, and said,
5) Take back your bribe; it is the cost price of my soul; I have betrayed the son of God.
6) The priests replied,
That matters not to us.
7) Then Judas threw the silver on the floor, and, bowed with grief, he went away, and on a ledge beyond the city's walls he hanged himself and died.
8) In time the fastenings gave way, his body fell into the Hinnon vale and after many days they found it there a shapeless mass.
9) The rulers could not put the price of blood into the treasury, and so they took the thirty silver pieces with which they bought a potter's field,
10) Where they might bury those who had no rights to lie within their sacred grounds.
11) And there they put the body of the man who sold his Lord.

CHAPTER 170

The crucifixion.  Jesus prays for his murderers.  Pilate puts an inscription
above the cross.  Jesus speaks words of encouragement to the penitent thief.
Commits to John the care of his mother and Miriam.
The soldiers divide his garments among themselves.

The Jewish mob pushed on toward Calvary and as they went the Marys, Miriam, and other women not a few, were close beside the Lord.
2) They wept aloud. When Jesus saw them weeping and lamenting thus he said,
3) Weep not for me, for though I go away, go through the gateway of the cross, yet on the next day of the sun, lift up your hearts, for I will meet you at the sepulchre.
4) The great procession came to Calvary. The Roman soldiers had already bound the two state prisoners to the cross.
5) (They were not nailed, but simply bound.)
6) Four soldiers of the Roman guard that Herod brought from Galilee were called to execute the orders of the court.
7) These were the men who had been set apart to torture Jesus and secure from him confession of his guilt.
8) These were the men who scourged him, put a crown of thorns upon his head, a broken reed into his hands, and wrapped him in a royal robe, and bowed in mockery, before him as a king.
9) These soldiers took the Lord and stripped him, laid him on the cross and would have bound him there with cords; but this would not suffice.
10) The cruel Jews were near with hammer and with nails; they cried,
Not cords, but nails; drive fast the nails and hold him to the cross.
11) And then the soldiers took the nails and drove them through his feet and hands.
12) They offered him a sedative to drink, a draught of vinegar and myrrh; but he refused to drink the draught.
13) The soldiers had prepared a place in which to plant Barabbas' cross between the other criminals; and here they raised the cross of Jesus, who was called the Christ;
14) And then the soldiers and the mob sat down to watch him die.
15) And Jesus said,
My Father-God, forgive these men; they know not what they do.
16) Now, Pilate had prepared a tablet to be placed upon the cross on which was written in the tongues of Hebrew, Latin and Greek these words of truth:
JESUS THE CHRIST, KING OF THE JEWS.
17) And this was placed upon the cross. The priests were angered when they read these words upon the tablet of the cross.
18) And then they prayed that Pilate would not say,
He is the Christ, king of the Jews; but say, He claims to be the Christ, king of the Jews.
19) But Pilate said,
What I have written, I have written; let it stand.
20) The Jewish multitudes who saw the Lord upon the cross were wild with joy; they said,
All hail, fake king!
21) You who would tear the temple down and in three days would build it up again, why don't you save yourself?
22) If you are Christ, the son of God, come from the cross; then all men will believe.
23) The priests and scribes and Pharisees looked on the scene and scoffed; they said,
He rescued others from the grave; why doesn't he save himself?
24) The Jewish soldiers and the Roman guards who came from Galilee were loud in mocking and deriding him.
25) One of the other men upon the cross joined in the mockery; he said,
If you are Christ, you have the power; just speak the Word, and save yourself and me.
26) The other man upon the cross rebuked the man; he said,
You wretch! have you no fear of God?
27) This man is innocent of any crime while you and I are guilty and are paying up the debts we owe.
28) And then he said to Jesus,
Lord, I know thy kingdom comes, the kingdom that the world can never comprehend;
29) And when thou comest on the clouds of heaven, remember me.
30) And Jesus said,
Behold, for I will meet you in the realm of souls this day.
31) Now, standing near unto the cross were many women from Judea and from Galilee. Among them were the mother of the Lord and Miriam,
32) And Mary, mother of the two apostles, James and John, and Mary Magdalene, and Martha, Ruth and Mary, and Salome.
33) When Jesus saw his mother and the singer Miriam standing close beside the cross and John a-near, he said to John,
34) In your most tender care I leave my mother and my sister Miriam.
35) And John replied,
While they shall live my home shall be the home of your thrice blessed mother and your sister Miriam.
36) According to a custom of the Jews, to those who were the executioners of law and took the lives of criminals, belonged the garments of the criminals.
37) So when the Lord was crucified, the Roman guards divided up among themselves the garments of the Lord.
38) But when they found his coat it was a seamless coat and highly prized.
39) For it the guards cast lots, and thus determined who should have the prize.
40) And thus the scripture was fulfilled, which said,
And they divided all my robes among themselves, and for my vesture they cast lots.

CHAPTER 171

Concluding scenes of the crucifixion.  Joseph and Nicodemus, by consent of Pilate,
take the body of Jesus from the cross and lay it in Joseph's tomb.
A guard of one hundred Jewish soldiers are placed about the sepulchre.

NOW, at the sixth hour of the day, although the sun was at its height, the day became as dark as night;
2) And men sought lanterns and they built fires upon the hills that they might see.
3) And when the sun refused to shine and darkness came, the Lord exclaimed,
Heloi! Heloi! lama sabachthani (Thou sun! thou sun! why hast thou forsaken me?)
4) The people did not understand the words he spoke; they thought he spoke the name Elijah and they said,
5) He calls upon Elijah in his hour of need; now we will see if he will come.
6) And Jesus said,
I thirst.
A Roman soldier dipped a sponge in vinegar and myrrh, and placed it to his lips.
7) Now, at the ninth hour of the day the earth began to quake, and in the darkness of that sunless day, a flood of golden light appeared above the cross;
8) And from the light a voice was heard which said,
Lo, it is done.
9) And Jesus said,
My Father-God, into thy hands I give my soul.
10) A Roman soldier in compassion said,
This agony is all too great; relief shall come.
And with a spear he pierced his heart and it was done; the son of man was dead.
11) And then the earth was shocked again; the city of Jerusalem rocked to and fro; the hills were rent and tombs were opened up;
12) And people thought they saw the dead arise and walk the streets.
13) The temple quivered and the veil between the sanctuary and the Holy Place was rent in twain, and consternation reigned through all the place.
14) The Roman guard who watched the body on the cross exclaimed,
This surely was the son of God who died.
15) And then the people hurried down from Calvary. The priests, the Pharisees and scribes were filled with fear.
16) They sought the cover of their synagogues and homes and said,
Behold, the wrath of God!
17) The great day of the Jewish pasch was near, and Jews could not by law permit a criminal to hang upon the cross upon the Sabbath day.
18) And so they prayed that Pilate would remove the bodies of the men that had been crucified.
19) And Pilate sent his guards to Calvary to note if all the men were dead.
20) And when the guards were gone, two aged Jews came to the palace door to see the governor, and they were members of the highest council of the Jews;
21) Yet they believed that Jesus was a prophet sent from God.
22) The one was Rabbi Joseph, the Arimathean counsellor, and he was just and loved the law of God.
23) And Nicodemus was the other one who came.
24) These men fell down at Pilate's feet and prayed that they might take the body of the Nazarene and lay it in a tomb.
25) And Pilate gave consent.
26) Now, Joseph had prepared a costly mixture to embalm the body of the Lord, about a hundred pounds of aloes and of myrrh, and this they took and hastened out to Calvary.
27) And when the guards returned they said,
The Nazarene is dead; the malefactors are alive.
28) And Pilate told the guards to go and smite the living men so they would die, and then to give their bodies to the flames; but give the body of the Nazarene to rabbis who would call for it.
29) The soldiers did as Pilate said.
30) The rabbis came and took away the body of the Lord and when they had prepared it with the spices they had bought,
31) They laid it in the new-made tomb that had been made for Joseph in a solid rock.
32) And then they rolled a stone up to the sepulchre.
33) The priests were fearful lest the friends of Jesus would go forth at night and take away the body of the Nazarene, and then report that he had risen from the dead, as he had said;
34) And they requested that the governor would send his soldiers to the tomb to guard the body of the dead.
35) But Pilate said,
I will not send a Roman guard; but you have Jewish soldiers and may send a hundred men with a centurion to guard the tomb.
36) And then they sent a hundred soldiers out to guard the tomb.

SECTION XX

RESH

The Resurrection of Jesus

CHAPTER 172

Pilate places the Roman seal upon the stone door of the tomb.  At mid-night a company of the silent brothers march about the tomb.  The soldiers are alarmed.  Jesus preaches to the spirits in prison.
Early Sunday morning he rises from the tomb. The soldiers are bribed by the priest
to say that the disciples had stolen the body.

THE tomb in which they laid the body of the Lord was in a garden, rich with flowers, the garden of Siloam, and Joseph's home was near.
2) Before the watch began Caiaphas sent a company of priests out to the garden of Siloam that they might be assured that Jesus' body was within the tomb.
3) They rolled away the stone; they saw the body there, and then they placed the stone again before the door.
4) And Pilate sent his scribe who placed upon the stone the seal of Rome, in such a way that he who moved the stone would break the seal.
5) To break this Roman seal meant death to him who broke the seal.
6) The Jewish soldiers all were sworn to faithfulness; and then the watch began.
7) At midnight all was well, but suddenly the tomb became a blaze of light, and down the garden walk a troupe of white-clad soldiers marched in single file.
8) They came up to the tomb and marched and countermarched before the door.
9) The Jewish soldiers were alert; they thought that friends had come to steal the body of the Nazarene. The captain of the guard cried out to charge.
10) They charged; but not a white-clad soldier fell. They did not even stop; they marched and countermarched among the frightened men.
11) They stood upon the Roman seal; they did not speak ; they unsheathed not their swords; it was the Silent Brotherhood.
12) The Jewish soldiers fled in fear; they fell upon the ground.
13) They stood apart until the white-clad soldiers marched away, and then the light about the tomb grew dim.
14) Then they returned; the stone was in its place; the seal was not disturbed, and they resumed their watch.
15) Now, Jesus did not sleep within the tomb. The body is the manifest of soul; but soul is soul without its manifest.
16) And in the realm of souls, unmanifest, the Lord went forth and taught.
17) He opened up the prison doors and set the prisoners free;
18) He broke the chains of captive souls, and led the captives to the light;
19) He sat in council with the patriarchs and prophets of the olden times;
20) The masters of all times and climes he met, and in the great assemblies he stood forth and told the story of his life on earth, and of his death in sacrifice for man,
21) And of his promises to clothe himself again in garb of flesh and walk with his disciples, just to prove the possibilities of man;
22) To give to them the key of life, of death, and of the resurrection of the dead.
23) In council all the masters sat and talked about the revelations of the coming age,
24) When she, the Holy Breath, shall fill the earth and air with holy breath, and open up the way of man to perfectness and endless life.
25) The garden of Siloam was silent on the Sabbath day; the Jewish soldiers watched and no one else approached the tomb; but on the following night the scene was changed.
26) At midnight every Jewish soldier heard a voice which said,
Adon Mashich Cumi, which meant, Lord Christ arise.
27) And they supposed again that friends of Jesus were alert, were coming up to take the body of their Lord away.
28) The soldiers were alert with swords unsheathed and drawn, and then they heard the words again.
29) It seemed as though the voice was everywhere, and yet they saw no man.
30) The soldiers blanched with fear, and still to flee meant death for cowardice, and so they stood and watched.
31) Again, and this was just before the sun arose, the heavens blazed with light, a distant thunder seemed to herald forth a coming storm;
32) And then the earth began to quake and in the rays of light they saw a form descend from heaven. They said, Behold an angel comes.
33) And then they heard again,
Adon Mashich Cumi.
34) And then the white-robed form tramped on the Roman seal and then he tore it into shreds; he took the mighty stone in hand as though it were a pebble from the brook, and cast it to the side.
35) And Jesus opened up his eyes and said,
All hail the rising sun; the coming of the day of righteousness!
36) And then he folded up his burial gown, his head bands and his coverings and laid them all aside.
37) He rose, and for a moment stood beside the white-robed form.
38) The weaker soldiers fell upon the ground, and hid their faces in their hands; the stronger stood and watched.
39) They saw the body of the Nazarene transmute; they saw it chage from mortal to immortal form, and then it disappeared.
40) The soldiers heard a voice from somewhere; yea, from everywhere, it said,
41) Peace, peace on earth; good will to men.
42) They looked, the tomb was empty and the Lord had risen as he said.
43) The soldiers hastened to Jerusalem, and to the priests, and said,
44) Behold, the Nazarene has risen as he said; the tomb is empty and the body of the man is gone; we know not where it is. And then they told about the wonders of the night.
45) Caiaphas called a council of the Jews; he said,
the news must not go forth that Jesus has arisen from the dead;
46) For if it does all men will say, He is the son of God, and all our testimonies will be proven false.
47) And then they called the hundred soldiers in and said to them,
48) You know not where the body of the Nazarene is resting now, so if you will go forth and say that his disciples came and stole the body while you slept,
49) Each one of you shall have a silver piece, and we will make it right with Pilate for the breaking of the Roman seal.
50 The soldiers did as they were paid to do.

SECTION XXI

SCHIN

Materialization of the Spiritual Body of Jesus

CHAPTER 173

Jesus appears, fully materialized, to his mother, Miriam, Mary of Magdala
and to Peter, James and John.

NOW, when the rabbis took the body of the Lord and laid it in the tomb. The mother of the Lord, and Mary Magdalene, and Miriam were there.
2) And when the body was entombed they went to Joseph's home and there abode.
3) They did not know that Jewish soldiers had been sent to guard the tomb, nor that the Roman seal was placed upon the stone;
4) So in the morning of the first day of the week they hastened to the tomb with spices to further embalm the Lord.
5) But when they reached the tomb they found the terror-stricken soldiers running frantically about.
6) The women did not know the cause; but when they found an empty tomb they were excited and aggrieved.
7) The soldiers did not know what had transpired; they could not tell who took the body of the Lord away.
8) And Mary Magdalene ran with haste toward Jerusalem to tell the news to Peter and the rest.
9) She met, just by the gateway, Peter, James and John; she said,
Some one has rolled away the stone and carried off the body of the Lord.
10) And then the three disciples ran toward the tomb; but John was fleet of foot and was the first to reach the tomb; he found it empty; the body of his Lord was gone.
11) When Peter came he went into the tomb, and found the grave clothes neatly folded up and laid aside.
12) Now, the disciples did not comprehend the scene. They did not know the meaning of their Lord when he informed them just before his death that he would rise from death upon the first day of the week.
13) The three disciples went back to Jerusalem; the mother of the Lord and Miriam went not away.
14) And Mary looked within the tomb, and saw two masters sitting there; they said,
Why do you weep?
15) And Mary said,
Because my Lord is gone; some one has carried off the body of my Lord; I know not where it is.
16) Then she arose and looked around; a man stood near and said,
Why do you weep? whom do you seek?
17) And Mary thought it was the gardener and said,
If you have borne away the body of my Lord, O tell me where it is that I may lay it in a sacred tomb.
18) And then the man came near and said,
My Mother!
and Mary said,
My Lord!
19) The eyes of Miriam were opened up and she beheld the Lord.
20) And Jesus said,
Behold, I told you as we walked along the way up to the cross that I would meet you at the sepulchre upon the first day of the week.
21) Now, Mary Magdalene was sitting not a great way off, and Jesus went to her and said,
22) Why seek the living 'mong the dead? Your Lord has risen as he said, Now, Mary, look! Behold my face!
23) Then Mary knew it was the Lord; that he had risen from the dead.
24) And then Salome, and Mary (mother of the two disciples, James and John), Joanna, and the other women who had come out to the tomb, saw Jesus, and they talked with him.
25) And Mary Magdalene was filled with joy. She sought again for Peter, James and John; she found them and she said,
26) Lo, I have seen the Lord; and Miriam has seen the Lord; the mother of the Lord has seen the Lord; and many more have seen his face; for he has risen from the dead.
27) But the disciples thought that she had simply seen a vision of the Lord. They did not think that he had risen from the dead.
28) Then Mary found the other members of the company and told them all about the risen Lord; but none of them believed.
29) Now, Peter, James and John were in the garden of Siloam; were talking with the gardener about the happenings of the day when John beheld a stranger coming up the walk.
30) The stranger lifted up his hands and said,
I am.
Then the disciples knew it was the Lord.
31) And Jesus said,
Behold, for human flesh can be transmuted into higher form, and then that higher form is master of things manifest, and can, at will, take any form.
32) And so I come to you in form familiar unto you.
33) Go speak to Thomas, and the other men whom I have called to be apostles unto men, and say to them,
34) That he whom Jews and Romans thought was dead is walking in the garden of Siloam;
35) Will stand again before the priests and Pharisees within the temple in Jerusalem;
36) And will appear unto the sages of the world.
37) Tell them that I will go before them into Galilee.
38) Then Peter, James and John went forth and found their brethren and said,
Behold, the Lord is risen from the dead, and we have seen him face to face.
39) The brethren were amazed at what the three disciples said; but still they looked upon their words as idle talk and they believed them not.

CHAPTER 174

Jesus appears, fully materialized, to Zachus and Cleophas as they journey to Emmaus,
but they know him not.  He tells them many things about Christ.
He eats the evening meal with them, and reveals himself to them.
They go to Jerusalem and tell the news.

TOWARDS the evening of the resurrection day, two friends of Jesus, Zachus and Cleophas of Emmaus, seven miles away, were going to their home.
2) And as they walked and talked about the things that had occurred a stranger joined their company.
3) He said,
My friends, you seem discouraged and are sad. Has some great grief upon you come?
4) Cleophas said,
Are you a stranger in Judea, and know not of the thrilling things that have transpired here?
5) The stranger said,
What things? To what do you refer?
6) Cleophas said,
Have you not heard about the man from Galilee who was a prophet mighty in both word and deed?
7) A man whom many thought had come to found again the kingdom of the Jews, and drive the Romans from the city of Jerusalem and be himself the king?
8) The stranger said,
Tell me about this man.
9) Cleophas said,
His name was Jesus; he was born in Bethlehem; his home was up in Galilee. He loved the people as he loved himself.
10) He was, in truth, a master sent from God, for he had matchless power. He healed the sick and made the deaf to hear, the blind to see, the lame to walk, and even raised the dead.
11) The Jewish scribes and Pharisees were jealous of his fame and power, and they arrested him; by perjured witnesses they proved him guilty of a score of crimes,
12) And on last Friday he was taken to the place of skulls and crucified.
13) He died and he was buried in a rich man's tomb, out in the garden of Siloam.
14) This very morning when his friends went to the tomb they found it empty; the body of the Lord was gone.
15) And now the news has spread abroad that he has risen from the dead.
16) The stranger said,
Yes, I have heard about this man; but it seems strange that after all the things that Jewish prophets long ago foretold concerning him that when he came men knew him not.
17) This man was born to demonstrate the Christ to men, and it is just to say that Jesus is the Christ.
18) According to the word, this Jesus came to suffer at the hands of men, to give his life as pattern for the sons of men;
19) To rise from death that men might know the way to rise from death.
20) And then the stranger told the two disciples all about the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms, and read to them a multitude of things that had been written of this man from Galilee.
21) And now the men had reached their home, and as the night was near they importuned the stranger to abide with them.
22) And he went in with them and as they sat about the table at the evening meal, he took a piece of bread, and blessed it in the name of Christ.
23) And instantly their eyes were opened up, and they perceived that he, the stranger, was the Lord, the man from Galilee; that he had risen from the dead; and then the form of Jesus disappeared.
24) When he had gone, the two disciples were amazed. They said,
Did not our hearts burn with delight while he was talking to us by the way and opening up the testimonies of the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms?
25) Then Zachus and Cleophas went back to Jerusalem, and everywhere they went they said,
Lo, we have seen the Lord;
26) He walked with us to Emmaus; he ate with us the evening meal, and broke for us the bread of life.

CHAPTER 175

Jesus appears, fully materialized to the ten apostles in Simon's house,
and to Lazarus and his sisters.

THE evening of the resurrection day had come; the ten apostles were in Simon's house in Bethany. The lawyer, Thomas, was not there.
2) The doors were closed and barred, because the Jews had said that they would drive the Galileans from the land.
3) And as they talked, lo, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said,
Peace! peace!
4) And the disciples shrank in fear; they thought it was a phantom that they saw.
5) And Jesus said,
Why are you troubled thus? Why do you fear? I am no phantom form. I am your Lord, and I have risen from the dead.
6) I often said, I will arise; but you believed me not; and now come here and see. A phantom has not flesh and bones and brawn, like I possess.
7) Come now, and clasp my hands, and touch my feet, and lay your hands upon my head.
8) And every one came up and clasped his hands, and touched his feet, and laid his hands upon his head.
9) And Jesus said,
Have you here anything to eat.
10) And they brought out a fragment of a fish; he ate it in the presence of them all and then the ten believed.
11) Nathaniel said,
And now we know that he has risen from the dead; he stands a surety of the resurrection of the dead.
And Jesus disappeared.
12) Now, Mary, Martha, Ruth and Lazarus were in their home, and they had heard the rumor that their Lord had risen from the dead, and Martha said,
13) It cannot be, for such a thing has never happened since the world began.
14) But Mary said,
Did not the Lord bring back our brother from the dead? and he could surely bring himself to life again.
15) And as they talked, the Lord stood in their midst and said,
16) All hail! For I am risen from the dead, first fruitage of the grave!
17) And Martha ran and brought the chair in which the Lord had ever loved to sit, and Jesus sat down on the chair.
18) And for a long, long time they talked about the trial, and the scenes of Calvary and of the garden of Siloam.
19) Then Jesus said,
Fear not, for I will be your boon companion all the way;
and then he disappeared.

CHAPTER 176

Jesus appears, fully materialized, to the eastern sages in the palace of
Prince Ravanna in India;  to the magian priests in Persia.  The three wise men speak
in praise of the personality of the Nazarene.

RAVANNA, prince of India, gave a feast. His palace in Orissa was the place where men of thought from all the farther East were wont to meet.
2) Ravanna was the prince with whom child Jesus went to India many years ago.
3) The feast was made in honor of the wise men of the East.
4) Among the guests were Meng-tse, Vidyapati and Lamaas.
5) The wise men sat about the table talking of the needs of India and the world.
6) The door unto the banquet hall was in the east; a vacant chair was at the table to the east.
7) And as the wise men talked a stranger entered, unannouced, and raising up his hands in benediction said,
All hail!
8) A halo rested on his head, and light, unlike the light of sun, filled all the room.
9 The wise men rose and bowed their heads and said,
All hail!
10) And Jesus sat down in the vacant chair; and then the wise men knew it was the Hebrew prophet who had come.
11) And Jesus said,
Behold, for I am risen from the dead. Look at my hands, my feet, my side.
12) The Roman soldiers pierced my hands and feet with nails; and then one pierced my heart.
13) They put me in a tomb, and then I wrestled with the conqueror of men. I conquered death, I stamped upon him and arose;
14) Brought immortality to light and painted on the walls of time a rainbow for the sons of men; and what I did all men shall do.
15) This gospel of the resurrection of the dead is not confined to Jew and Greek; it is the heritage of every man of every time and clime; and I am here a demonstration of the power of man.
16) Then he arose and pressed the hand of every man and of the royal host, and said,
17) Behold, I am not myth made of the fleeting winds, for I am flesh and bone and brawn; but I can cross the borderland at will.
18) And then they talked together there a long, long time. Then Jesus said,
19) I go my way, but you shall go to all the world and preach the gospel of the omnipotence of men, the power of truth, the resurrection of the dead;
20) He who believes this gospel of the son of man shall never die; the dead shall live again.
21) Then Jesus disappeared, but he had sown the seed. The words of life were spoken in Orissa, and all of India heard.
22) The magian priests were in the silence in Persepolis, and Kaspar, and the magian masters who were first to greet the child of promise in the shepherd's home in Bethlehem, were with the priests.
23) And Jesus came and sat with them; a crown of light was on his head.
24) And when the silence ended Kaspar said,
A master from the royal council of the Silent Brotherhood is here; let us give praise.
25) And all the priests and masters stood and said,
All hail! What message from the royal council do you bring?
26) And Jesus said,
My brothers of the Silent Brotherhood, peace, peace on earth; goodwill to men!
27) The problem of the ages has been solved; a son of man has risen from the dead; has shown that human flesh can be transmuted into flesh divine.
28) Before the eyes of men this flesh in which I come to you was changed with speed of light from human flesh. And so I am the message that I bring to you.
29) To you I come, the first of all the race to be transmuted to the image of the AM.
30) What I have done, all men will do; and what I am, all men will be.
31) But Jesus said no more. In one short breath he told the story of his mission to the sons of men, and then he disappeared.
32) The magi said,
Some time ago we read this promise, now fulfilled, upon the dial plate of heaven.
33) And then we saw this man who has just demonstrated unto us the power of man to rise from carnal flesh and blood to flesh of God, a babe in Bethlehem.
34) And after many years he came and sat with us in these same groves;
35) He told the story of his human life, of trials, sore temptations, buffetings and woes.
36) He pressed along the thorny way of life til he had risen and o’erthrown the strongest foes of God and man; and he is now the only master of the human race whose flesh has been transmuted into flesh divine.
37) He is the God-man of today; but every one of earth shall overcome and be like him, a son of God.

CHAPTER 177

Jesus appears, fully materialized, in the temple in Jerusalem.  Rebukes the rulers of the Jews for their hypocrisy. Reveals himself to them and they fall back in fear.
He appears to the apostles in Simon's house. Thomas is convinced.

IT was the Sabbath day and many priests and scribes and Pharisees were in the temple in Jerusalem. Caiaphas, Annas and some other ruling Jews were there.
2) A stranger came in garb of fisherman and asked,
What has become of Jesus who is called the Christ? Is he not teaching in the temple now?
3) The Jews replied,
That man from Galilee was crucified a week ago, because he was a dangerous man, a vile, seditious man.
4) The stranger asked,
Where did you put the body of this man from Galilee? Where is his tomb?
5) The Jews replied,
We do not know. His followers came at night and stole the body from the tomb in which it lay and carried it away, and then declared that he had risen from the dead.
6) The stranger asked,
How do you know that his disciples stole the body from the tomb? was any one a witness of the theft?
7) The Jews replied,
We had a hundred soldiers at the place, and every one of them declares that his disciples stole the body from the tomb.
8) The stranger asked,
Will any one of all your hundred men stand forth and say, I saw the body stolen from the tomb?
9) The Jews replied,
We do not know; these men are men of truth; we cannot doubt their word.
10) The stranger said,
You priests and scribes and Pharisees hear me: I was a witness of the facts, was in the garden of Siloam, and stood among your hundred men.
11) And this I know that not a man among your hundred men will say, I saw the body stolen from the tomb.
12) And I will testify before the God of heaven and earth, The body was not stolen from the tomb; the man from Galilee is risen from the dead.
13) And then the priests and scribes and Pharisees rushed up to seize the man and cast him out.
14) But instantly the fisherman became a radiant form of light, and priests and scribes and Pharisees fell back in deadly fear; they saw the man from Galilee.
15) And Jesus looked upon the frightened men and said,
This is the body that you stoned beyond the city's gates and crucified on Calvary.
16) Behold my hands, my feet, my side and see the wounds the soldiers made.
17) If you believe that I am phantom made of air, come forth and handle me; ghosts do not carry flesh and bones.
18) I came to earth to demonstrate the resurrection of the dead, the transmutation of the flesh of carnal man to flesh of man divine.
19) Then Jesus raised his hands and said,
Peace be to every one of you; goodwill to all mankind.
And then he disappeared.
20) Now, Thomas, had not seen the Lord since he had risen from the dead, and when the ten averred that they had seen and talked with him he said,
21) Until I see the nail prints in his hands and feet, the spear wound in his side, and talk with him as I have talked with him before, I cannot have a reason to believe that he is risen from the dead.
22) At Simon's house in Bethany the men from Galilee had met. It was the evening of the first day of the week, and on the morrow all would turn their faces toward their homes.
23) The eleven apostles all were there: the doors were closed and barred, and Jesus came and said,
Peace be to all!
24) And then he said to Thomas,
Friend, you do not know that I have risen from t