This sweeping assertion
of ignorance was most likely addressed to the Pharisees of the
Sanhedrin; Caiaphas was a Sadducee. His next utterance was of greater
significance than he realized: "Nor consider that it is expedient for
us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation
perish not." John solemnly avers that Caiaphas spake not of himself, but
by the spirit of prophecy, which, in spite of his implied unworthiness,
came upon him by virtue of his office, and that thus: "He prophesied
that Jesus should die for that nation; and not for that nation only, but
that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were
scattered abroad." But a few years after Christ had been put to death,
for the salvation of the Jews and of all other nations, the very
calamities which Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin had hoped to avert befell in
full measure; the hierarchy was overthrown, the temple destroyed,
Jerusalem demolished and the nation disrupted. From the day of that
memorable session of the Sanhedrin, the rulers increased their efforts
to bring about the death of Jesus, by whatever means they might find
available. They issued a mandate that whosoever knew of His whereabouts
should give the information to the officials, that they might promptly
take Him into custody.[1036]

JESUS IN RETIREMENT AT EPHRAIM.[1037]

The hostility of the ecclesiastical rulers became so great that Jesus
once more sought retirement in a region sufficiently far from Jerusalem
to afford Him security from the watchful and malignant eyes of His
powerful and openly avowed enemies. But a few weeks of mortal life
remained to Him, and the greater part of this brief period had to be
devoted to the further instruction of the apostles. He prudently
withdrew from the vicinity of Bethany and "went thence unto a country
near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued
with his disciples." Thus did our Lord spend the rest of the winter and
probably the early days of the succeeding spring. That His retreat was
private if not practically secret is suggested by John's statement that
"Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews"; and further
indication is found in the fact that although the chief priests and
Pharisees had virtually set a price upon His head, no man gave
information as to His whereabouts. The place of this last retirement is
not definitely known; it is generally thought to be the locality
else