nesty, and malice. They did not
seek to learn the truth that justice might be done; they sought to find
some evidence on which Jesus might be condemned.

When every attempt to convict Jesus had failed, they finally charged him
in the words: "If thou art the Christ, tell us." Jesus' reply shows how
fully he appreciated their blind hatred and their unwillingness to be
just; he told them that no statement he might make would be believed, and
that no explanation or defense he might offer would be accepted;
nevertheless, he would answer their question, with the statement that his
exaltation to the place of divine power was about to take place. Then they
asked him directly, "Art thou then the Son of God?" He answered with all
distinctness, "Ye say that I am." Then they at once decreed that he was
worthy of death. They had prejudged the case. They were unwilling to
consider whether his claim to be the Son of God was true; they only wished
to be sure that he made the claim. When they had made sure of this, they
agreed that he must die as a blasphemer. Their logic was so far true.
There is no other alternative. In the presence of Christ there can be no
neutrality. Either he was an impostor who deserves our contempt, or else
he is the divine Son of God whom we must worship and obey. Every soul must
choose between the sanhedrin and the Church.

G. Jesus Before Pilate. Ch. 23:1-25

1 And the whole company of them rose up, and brought him before
Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man
perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar,
and saying that he himself is Christ a king. 3 And Pilate asked
him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him
and said, Thou sayest. 4 And Pilate said unto the chief priests
and the multitudes, I find no fault in this man. 5 But they were
the more urgent, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching
throughout all Judaea, and beginning from Galilee even unto this
place. 6 But when Pilate heard it, he asked whether the man were a
Galilaean. 7 And when he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction,
he sent him unto Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in these
days.

8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was of a
long time desirous to see him, because he had heard concerning
him; and he hoped to see some miracle done by him. 9 And he
questioned h