INTERNATIONAL SERIES

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 6, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 10.

INTERNATIONAL SERIES

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL

LESSON 10.—MARCH 10.—JESUS AND CAIAPHAS.

Lesson Scripture, Matt. 26:57-68, R.V.

57 “AND they that had taken Jesus led Him away to the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders 58 were gathered together. But Peter followed Him afar off, unto the court of the high priest, and entered in, and sat with the officers, to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they 60 might put Him to death; and they found it not, though many false 61 witnesses came. But afterward came two, and said, This 62 Man said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest stood up, and said unto him, Answerest Thou nothing? what is it which these 63 witness against Thee? But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest said unto Him, I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God. 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said; nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming on the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now we have heard the blasphemy; what think ye? 66 They answered and said, He is worthy of death. Then did 67 they spit in His face and buffet Him; and some smote Him 68 with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, Thou Christ; who is he that struck Thee?”

Golden Text: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matt. 16:16.

Read carefully Matt. 26:57-75; Mark 14:53-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:12-27. Commit to memory verses 62-64 of the lesson scripture; Isa. 53:7; Rev. 1:7; Rom. 14:11.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) Where did the soldiers take Jesus? V. 57. Note 1. (2) Who were there? Same verse. (3) Who followed, and how? V. 58. Note 2. (4) How did Peter act? (5) What did the council seek? and for what purpose? V. 59. Note 3. (6) What was the result of their seeking? V. 60. (7) What did the council seek to prove? V. 61. Note 4. (8) What questions did the high priest ask? V. 62. (9) How did Jesus treat his questioning? V. 63. Note 5. (10) How then did the high priest make his demand? Same verse. Note 6. (11) What reply did Jesus make? V. 64. (12) What did Caiaphas say of the reply of Jesus? Vs. 65, 66. Note 7. (13) What reply did the council make? V. 66. (14) What did the rabble then do? Vs. 67, 68. Note 8.

NOTES.

1. Led Him.—They first took Jesus to Annas, the former high priest, five of whose sons filled the high priest’s office. He was father-in-law to Caiaphas, and was now his deputy, or sagan, and for that reason called high priest. See Luke 3:2; Acts 4:6. Annas wielded great influence. Caiaphas, Joseph.—A vigorous, bold, politically shrewd priest, holding the office from A.D. 26 to 37; according to Schaff from A.D. 18 to 36. God used him, the last of the Levitical priesthood, to prophesy Christ’s death. John 11:49-52. Contrast his character with that of Christ. (See article in Editorial department.)

2. Afar off.—This was a secret of Peter’s denial of Christ. Had he followed with Jesus, as did John, he would not even have been questioned. Decided loyalty saves many temptations.

3. Sought false witness.—They knew no true witness which would condemn Jesus. They sought for men who would testify falsely, even as they did with Stephen. Acts 6:11, 13. This was but the logic of refusing to walk in the light. He who rejects one truth knows not the depth of the depravity to which he will inevitably come. The lesson is, “walk in the light.”

4. This Man said.—Mark tells us in the parallel passage that even in this the witnesses did not agree. Thus the Sanhedrin failed to carry out the law so emphasized all thru the Scriptures, that there must be at least two or three agreeing witnesses to put a man to death. The Sanhedrin was not seeking justice, but to condemn One whose life and teaching condemned them. So it has ever been with every court of religious persecution.

5. Held His peace.—Jesus at first spoke to the high priest, referring to His teaching and work (John 18:20), but seeing and knowing that His condemnation was determined, even by false witnesses, He knew it would be useless to say more; it would do them no good, and He committed His cause to God (1 Peter 2:23).

6. I adjure Thee.—The regular form of oath, which could not be refused, and to which Jesus replied, referring for His vindication to His coming again.

7. What further need?—Glad indeed was the wily priest to turn from his false witnesses, with their contradictory testimony, to the confession of Jesus. For their idea of blasphemy He was condemned; but for the trumped-up charge of treason against Cæsar He was executed. Their charge of blasphemy would not hold in a Roman court.

8. Then!—How easy it is for the mean, the low, the cowardly, to persecute the innocent, the inoffensive, the helpless, the friendless! Jesus stood there as the representative of the oppressed and persecuted of all ages. As they may and should do, He trusted God. He knew that there was another “then,” the great day when all should stand before the eternal judgment-seat. And, knowing this, He pitied His persecutors.