Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows by Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 1, 1910

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 37, No. 43.

Shiloh: the Man of Sorrows

By Mrs. L. D. Avery-Stuttle

Chapter XXXV. In the Evil Council

"What meanest thou, Jazer?" demanded the quiet figure in the corner,—the ruler whom Shaphan had called Nicodemus.

The face of the speaker was pale, and his voice shook with suppressed excitement, while he fixed his fine, intelligent eyes full upon the scribe.

"How darest thou, Jazer, speak thus of that astonishing miracle whereof five thousand men bear witness? Besides, thou, thyself, didst eat of the bread and of the fishes. Thou didst go to Bethsaida that thou mightest catch the Miracle-Worker in His words; but instead, thou didst tarry to be fed of His bounty. Shame, shame upon thee, Jazer!"

The speech had been so sudden, so convincing, so pregnant with the eloquence of truth, that for the moment no man in the chamber seemed prepared to make reply. The fine face of the speaker was flushed with indignation, while the countenance of Jazer was white with rage. His deep eyes blazed with anger, and he was about to reply, when the door of the chamber suddenly opened, and the sentinel hastily admitted a man in the robes of a priest.

"I have news for the council, O Caiaphas!" he exclaimed, without pausing to be seated. "I heard of this assembly at thine house, and I knew these men were called together that it might be determined what should be done with the Nazarene; for behold, all the world goeth after Him, and every day He doeth more miracles than have been done by priest or prophet since the world began. Knowest thou, O Caiaphas, and thou, O Annas,"—excitedly pointing a trembling finger at the aged high priest,—"knowest thou that the man Simon the leper, of Bethany, hath to-day been healed of his leprosy by this Jesus of Nazareth?"

"What sayest thou, O Issachar!" panted Caiaphas. "Surely Simon the leper is a dead man from the crown of his head even unto the soles of his feet. Verily thou sayest falsely!"

"As the Lord liveth, I know whereof I speak; for I, even I, Issachar the priest, am he before whom many lepers from Jerusalem and the coast around about have come, that sentence may be pronounced, even as thou very well knowest, O Caiaphas. And also, I am he before whom this man, even Simon of Bethany, presented himself a long time ago for examination according to the law; and I it was who pronounced him unclean. Verily, I am accustomed to sights of horror; but in this man's body the plague was more loathsome, more fierce and rapid, than in many others. Yet when I pronounced him unclean, and said unto him, 'O Simon, the curse of the Almighty pursueth thee,' the man wept, and pleaded that he might be allowed yet a little longer time; for he was loath to believe the horrible thing had come upon him. Yea, O Caiaphas, I know the man, and I know the horrible extent of his malady. When but last week I saw him afar off, as I passed by the abode of these wretches, the man's face was so disfigured that I scarcely knew him,—and would not, save that his abba is always crimson; it is thus that his wife Prisca knoweth—"

"Why speakest thou not plainly, O Issachar?" said Annas. "Thou hast told us nothing. How knowest thou that this Jesus of Nazareth hath healed this man?"

"I will tell thee, O Annas. This morning there came into my presence a young man whose springing step and ruddy countenance spoke plainly of perfect health of body and of mind. It took but the second glance to convince me who it was that stood before me.

" 'Who art thou?' I cried in astonishment.

" 'Examine me, O Issachar, thou priest of Israel, and I will tell thee my name, even tho thou thyself already knowest.'"

"So I took the two birds which he had brought, and the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and did unto him according to the law of Moses, for his cleansing. Then he saith unto me, 'I am Simon of Bethany; and behold, Jesus of Nazareth hath healed me of my plague.'"

"Then I asked him, 'Dost thou believe that this Carpenter of Nazareth is the Messiah because He hath healed thee, O Simon?'"

" 'Nay, verily; I say not so,' he made answer, 'but of a truth I account the Man a great prophet.' Thus declared Simon of Bethany."

"Now verily we know that thou speakest not truth!" exclaimed Jazer, exultingly; "for this Nazarene healeth no man except he first acknowledge Him to be the Messiah; for thus have I heard many declare. And indeed," continued the scribe, "have I not one who longeth to be loosed from her infirmity, which hath bound her these twelve years, even mine own sister Huldah, whom I love? yet would I rather be pleased that she die in her infirmity, than that this Nazarene mock me, a scribe of the holy temple, by laying His hands upon her, even Huldah, mine own sister, that she might be loosed from her infirmity through the power of Beelzebub!" And the scribe rolled his sunken eyes impressively upward.

"Yet surely thou knowest, O Jazer," insisted Nicodemus, "that the Nazarene hath healed whole multitudes in one day; and I myself have seen many healed of diseases and infirmities, who knew Him not, nor yet acknowledged they Him to be the Messiah; for He hath healed many demoniacs, even they who were in no wise able to believe upon Him,—being madmen!"

"Verily, Nicodemus, thou also art a follower of this Impostor, and thy words betray thee!" shouted Caiaphas, waving his arms furiously.

"And thou a member of the Sanhedrin!" bellowed many angry voices.

Nicodemus arose and quietly left the chamber, and the council broke up in confusion. (To be continued)