The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. - documenta ...

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.Anne Catherine Emmerichobtain admittance into the tribunal where their Master was to be tried. These servants acted asmessengers, and had just been ordered to go to the houses of the ancients, and other members ofthe Council, to summon them to attend the meeting which was convoked. As they were anxious tooblige the Apostles, but foresaw much difficulty in obtaining their admittance into the tribunal,they gave them cloaks similar to those they themselves wore, and made them assist in carryingmessages to the members in order that afterwards they might enter the tribunal of Caiphas, andmingle, without being recognised, among the soldiers and false witnesses, as all other persons wereto be expelled. As Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and other well-intentioned persons weremembers of this Council, the Apostles undertook to let them know what was going to be done inthe Council, thus securing the presence of those friends of Jesus whom the Pharisees had purposelyomitted to invite. In the mean time Judas wandered up and down the steep and wild precipices atthe south of Jerusalem, despair marked on his every feature, and the devil pursuing him to and fro,filling his imagination with still darker visions, and not allowing him a moment’s respite.138CHAPTER IV.Means employed by the enemies of Jesus for carrying out their designs against him.No sooner was Jesus arrested than Annas and Caiphas were informed, and instantly began to arrangetheir plans with regard to the course to be pursued. Confusion speedily reigned everywhere—therooms were lighted up in haste, guards placed at the entrances, and messengers dispatched todifferent parts of the town to convoke the members of the Council, the Scribes, and all who wereto take a part in the trial. Many among them had, however, assembled at the house of Caiphas assoon as the treacherous compact with Judas was completed, and had remained there to await thecourse of events. The different classes of ancients were likewise assembled, and as the Pharisees,Sadducces, and Herodians were congregated in Jerusalem from all parts of the country for thecelebration of the festival, and had long been concerting measures with the Council for the arrestof our Lord, the High Priests now sent for those whom they knew to be the most bitterly opposedto Jesus, and desired them to assemble the witnesses, gather together every possible proof, andbring all before the Council. The proud Sadducces of Nazareth, of Capharnaum, of Thirza, ofGabara, of Jotapata, and of Silo, whom Jesus had so often reproved before the people, were actuallydying for revenge. They hastened to all the inns to seek out those persons whom they knew to beenemies of our Lord, and offered them bribes in order to secure their appearance. But, with theexception of a few ridiculous calumnies, which were certain to be disproved as soon as investigated,nothing tangible could be brought forward against Jesus, excepting, indeed, those foolish accusationswhich he had so often refuted in the synagogue.The enemies of Jesus hastened, however, to the tribunal of Caiphas, escorted by the Scribes andPharisees of Jerusalem, and accompanied by many of those merchants whom our Lord drove out78