Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/223

* JESUS CHRIST. 197 JESUS CHBIST. His disciples to the semi-Gentile regions to the north of Galilee, spending there some six months (April to October, a.d. 28; John vi. 4 and vii. 2). His motive in thus going to a newer field was not apparently to begin there another popu- lar ministry, though miracles were wrought and instruction was given. It was rather, by absence from the excited crowds of Galilee, to prepare His disciples for the final outcome of His mis- sion, which was to issue in Jerusalem. This is gathered from the chief event recorded for us in this period — the confession of His Messiah- ship by the twelve, made in the neighborhood of Cfpsarea Philippi. This evidently formed a turning-point in the development of His work, since He immediately followed it with His first distinct announcement to the disciples of the divine necessity of His death, which He foresaw would ultimately result from the hostility toward Him on the part of the authorities at Jerusalem. This announcement naturally His disciples could not comprehend. The falling away from Him which had been occasioned by His recent dis- course in Capernaum had depressed them, espe- cially as they came to realize its positive and permanent character. On the other hand, they themselves shared the popular conceptions of the promised Messianic age as an age which would be national as well as religious (see Acts i. 6), so that to their mind the ultimate issue of their Master's mission could not possibly in- volve His death. They were thus disposed to resent such an outlook on His part. But Jesus was clearly conscious of the issue, and equally conscious that it must be finally met in Jeru- salem. His final return to Galilee from the north consequently was not to resume there His work among the people, but to pass through that re- gion on His last journey to Jerusalem. D. JuDEAN Period. This journey brought Him to the city at the Feast of Tabernacles (a.d. 28) (John vii. 1-10). Whatever hopes He may have had of finally winning the city were doomed to disappointment. He found the people full of discussion about Him, and largely divided in their opinions regarding Him. This situation He met with a discourse, bold in its criticism of the people's unbelief and assertive in its claims of His own divine authority, the result of which was such embitterment of feeling against Him that His life was endangered and He with- drew from the city. Shortly before the Feast of Dedication, however. He returned, throwing the people anew into discussion and division by a notable miracle upon a man born blind, and by further discourses. The result was another threatening of His life, which again compelled Him to leave the city. This withdrawal was of longer duration, and for the greater part spent at a distance from the city. It was mostly oc- cupied with an instruction of the disciples and the multitudes, having in view the approaching crisis of His work and life. Miracles, however, were performed, among them the remarkable one at the grave of Lazarus, the result of which, in its impression upon the people, was so sig- nificant as to crystallize the enmity against Him among the authorities into a definite determina- tion to put Him to death. E. Closing Period. On the approach of the Passover (a.d. 29). .Tesus returned for the last time toward the city, reaching Bethany six days before the event. On the Sunday of Passover week, in the midst of a large concourse of people, attracted to Him from among the pilgrims to the feast, He entered the city with a publicity of popular enthusiasm superficial as that in Galilee had been, and yet impressive enough to arouse to renewed bitterness the enmity of both Sadducees and Pharisees. During the rest of that day, as well as on Monday and Tuesday, He remained in the city, withdrawing to Bethany for the night, where He also spent in retirement tlie whole of Wednesday and most of Thursday. These days in the city were given to an unre- strained presentation of His Messianic claims by miracle, parable, discourse, and discussion that brought Him into open conflict with Phari- sees, Sadducees, and Herodians together. The effect of this was to bring to final issue the hos- tile purpose of His enemies. This issue was reached on the night of Thursday. On that night .lesus had eaten with His disciples the Passover meal. In connection with this meal He had instituted the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the purpose of which apparently was not so much to make a last announcement of His approaching death as to present it clearly before His disciples in its character as a sacrifice for sin. ( See Lord's Supper in the article Gospels.) After this supper, while Jesus, in company with cer- tain of His disciples, was in the Garden of Geth- semane. He was apprehended by a band from the chief priests and Pharisees. This band was under the lead of Judas I.scariot, who was one of the Twelve, and who had betrayed Him to the authorities. Upon His apprehension He was taken before Annas, and then Caiaphas, the high priest, by whom He was examined. Later, when the morning came. He was led before a hastily gathered meeting of the Sanhedrin. where such process of trial as might be called by that name was gone through with. Tliis resulted at last in the taking of Jesus, bound as a prisoner, to the Governor, Pontius Pilate, with charges whicii provoked discussion between Pilate and the lead- ers, and induced Pilate to question Jesus as to Himself and the charges brouglit against Him. From this questioning Pilate was convinced of .Jesus' innocence, and resorted to various ex- pedients to save Him from the hatred of the rulers. This, however, was a difficult task; for the rulers bad gathered to their aid and support the populace, who, disappointed at .Jesus' fail- ure to realize their political hopes, had turned revengefully against Him, and, with the chief priests and elders, were insistent on His death. Finally, through a shrewd presentation of the case as one involving His political attitude to the Emperor, Pilate was induced to yield and give Jesus over for crucifixion. This was carried out on that same day, Friday, at the usual place of crucifixion outside the city, .Jesus being cruci- fied between two condemned insurrectionists, .Around the crosses were gathered a riotous mob of people and religious officials from the city, a few of the more loyal disciples, and the Eoman guard, who watched the agony of the hours till the death of .Tesus came. Upon them all the event evidently wrought a deep impression, though it is doubtful whether those whose en- mity to Jesus had brought the event about had conscience enough to suffer remorse, while it is certain that to .Jesus' disciples it marked the end of all their hopes. On the evening of the day the body was taken by Jesus' friends from