AN ACCOUNT OF THE TRIAL OF TUPAC HA-NOZRI BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN
Late in the day on the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Caiphas sat, black-bearded and clad in the green cloth marking him president of the Sanhedrin. Having removed his hood because of the unusually hot summer weather, the high priest had to resist the temptation to stand and shake out his robes. A parade of witnesses had already testified before the council:
"This fellow said, I will destroy the temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands"
And another testified, "No, we heard him say, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in *seven* days."
And yet another, "In the market he spoke, I'm contemplating plots wondering which door to go/Brothers getting shot, coming back resurrected”
All in all, the trial was a mess - the witnesses themselves laughing and embellishing the outrageous claims whispered to them by the scribes.
Exasperated, Caiphas cut short the current witness with a gesture and addressed the prisoner,
"Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? "
But the man held his peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked the man about his teaching and his thoughts on the authority of the chief priests and the elders.
"I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God!"
At this, the man replied.
"ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME!"
And Caiphas smiled.
"He hath spoken blasphemy; what need we any further witnesses?"
And so they spit in the man's face, and buffeted him, and others smote him with the palm of their hands...
TO BE CONTINUED
Late in the day on the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Caiphas sat, black-bearded and clad in the green cloth marking him president of the Sanhedrin. Having removed his hood because of the unusually hot summer weather, the high priest had to resist the temptation to stand and shake out his robes. A parade of witnesses had already testified before the council:
"This fellow said, I will destroy the temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands"
And another testified, "No, we heard him say, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in *seven* days."
And yet another, "In the market he spoke, I'm contemplating plots wondering which door to go/Brothers getting shot, coming back resurrected”
All in all, the trial was a mess - the witnesses themselves laughing and embellishing the outrageous claims whispered to them by the scribes.
Exasperated, Caiphas cut short the current witness with a gesture and addressed the prisoner,
"Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? "
But the man held his peace and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked the man about his teaching and his thoughts on the authority of the chief priests and the elders.
"I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God!"
At this, the man replied.
"ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE ME!"
And Caiphas smiled.
"He hath spoken blasphemy; what need we any further witnesses?"
And so they spit in the man's face, and buffeted him, and others smote him with the palm of their hands...
TO BE CONTINUED