In the Judgment Hall
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of God, the supreme Judge of Heaven and earth, from whose decision
there could be no appeal. He brought before them a view of that
day, when, instead of being surrounded and abused by a riotous mob,
headed by the priests and judges of the land, he would come in the
clouds of heaven, with power and great glory, escorted by legions of
angels, to pronounce the sentence of his enemies.
Jesus knew what would be the result of this announcement; that it
would secure his condemnation. The object of the designing priests
was now gained. Jesus had declared himself to be the Christ. The high
priest, in order to give those present the impression that he was jealous
for the insulted majesty of Heaven, rent his garments, and, lifting his
hands toward heaven as if in holy horror, said, in a voice calculated
to rouse the excited people to violence, “He hath spoken blasphemy;
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what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard
his blasphemy. What think ye?” The answer of the judges was, “He is
guilty of death.”
The priests and judges, exulting in the advantage they had gained
through the words of Jesus, but anxious to hide their malicious sat-
isfaction, now pressed close to him, and, as if they could not believe
that they had heard aright, simultaneously inquired, “Art thou the
Christ? tell us.” Jesus looked calmly at his hypocritical questioners,
and answered, “If I tell you, ye will not believe. And if I ask you, ye
will not answer me, nor let me go.” Jesus could have traced down the
prophecies, and given his accusers evidence that the very things were
then taking place which had been predicted in regard to Messiah. He
could have silenced them thus; but they would not then have believed.
He could have pointed them to his mighty miracles; but they had set
their hearts against the light of Heaven, and no power could change
them.
There were some in that assembly who heeded the words of Jesus
and noted his Godlike bearing as he stood serenely before the infuriated
judges. The gospel seed found lodgment that day in hearts where
it was eventually to spring up and yield an abundant harvest. The
reverence and awe which his words inspired in the hearts of many who
heard them were to increase and develop into perfect faith in Jesus
as the world’s Redeemer. Some of the witnesses of that scene were
themselves afterward placed in a similar position to that of Jesus in