E. CLOSING PERIOD. On the approach of the Passover (a.n. 29). .Jesus returned for the last time toward the city, reaching Bethany six days before the event. On the Sunday of Passover week, in the midst of a large concourse of people, attracted to Him from among the pilgrims to the feast, lie entered the city with a publicity of popular enthusiasm superficial as that in Galilee had been, and yet impressive enough to arouse to renewed bitterness the enmity of both Sadducees and Pharisees. During the rest of that day, as well as on Monday and Tuesday, He remained in the city, withdrawing to Bethany for the night, where He also spent in retirement the whole of Wednesday and most of Thursday. These days in the city were given to an unre strained presentation of His Messianic claims by miracle, parable, discourse, and discussion that brought Him into open conflict with Phari sees, Sadducees, and Herodians together. The effect of this was to bring to final issue the hos tile purpose of His enemies. This issue was reached on the night of Thursday. On that night Jesus had eaten with His disciples the Passover meal. In connection with this meal lle had instituted the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the purpose of which apparently was not so much to make a last announcement of His approaching death as to present it clearly before His disciples in its character as a sacrifice for sin. (See Lord's Supper in the article GOSPELS.) After this supper, while Jesus, in company with cer tain of His disciples, was in the Garden of Geth semane, lie was apprehended by a band from the chief priests and Pharisees. This band was under the lead of Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve, and who had betrayed Him to the authorities. Upon His apprehension He was taken before Annas, and then Caiaphas, the high priest, by whom He was examined. Later, when the morning came, He was led before a hastily gathered meeting of the Sanhedrin, where such process of trial as might be called by that. name was gone through with. This resulted at last in the taking of Jesus, bound as a prisoner, to the Governor, Pontius Pilate, with charges which provoked discussion between Pilate and the lead ers, and induced Pilate to question Jesus as to Himself and the charges brought against Him. From this questioning Pilate was convinced of Jesus' innocence. and resorted to various ex pedients to save Him from the hatred of the rulers. This, however, was a difficult task; for the rulers had gathered to their aid and support the populace, who, disappointed at ,Jesus' fail ure to realize their political hopes, had turned revengefully against. Him. and, with the chief priests and elders, were insistent on His death. Finally, through a shrewd presentation of the ease as one involving His political attitude to the Emperor. Pilate was induced to yield and give Jesus over for crucifixion. This was carried out on that same day, Friday, at the usual place of crucifixion outside the city, Jesus heing cruci fied between two condemned insurrectionists. Around the crosses were gathered a riotous mob of people and religious officials from the city, a few of the more loyal disciples, and the Roman guard, who watched the agony of the hours till the death of .Tesus came. Upon them all the
event evidently wrought a deep impression, though it is doubtful whether those whose en mity to Jesus had brought the event about had conscience enough to suffer remorse, while it is certain that to Jesus' disciples it marked the end of all their hopes. On the evening of the day the body was taken by Jesus' friends from the cross, through Pilate's permission, and hurled in a sepulchre near at hand. On the Sunday following, upon the visit of certain of the women disciples to the tomb for the purpose of embalm ing the body, it was found that the stone had been rolled away and the sepulchre itself was empty. Later Jesus Himself appeared to the women, and then to other of the disciples in various places and to varying numbers. These appearances were repeated at. intervals during forty days. Jesus seems to have given Himself in them. to interpreting to His disciples the mean ing of His death in the light of the Old Testa ment Scriptures, and to further instructing, them in "the things pertaining to the kingdom of God" (Acts i. 3). At some time within this period He laid upon theta the specific commission to go out into all the world as llis representatives and hring men into His discipleship (Matt. xxviii. 18-20). Finally, in a company of the disciples whom He had led out from the city to Bethany, He was taken from them into heaven. (See Ilesurrectimi, in the article GOSPEL.) Front Bethany the disciples returned to Jerusa lem, where they waited until the day of Pente cost, at which time, under manifestations of spe cial inspiration from heaven, they began their work of the proclamation of Jesus' religion to the world.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Consult, among the more reBibliography. Consult, among the more re- cent hooks: (1) For General Survey of Narra tive: Kelm, Gesehich(te Jesu non Navin( (Eng. trans., Edinburgh, 1876-81) ; Stalker, The Life of Jesus Christ (Edinburgh, 1880) ; B. Weiss, D aR Leben Jesu (Eng. trans., Edinburgh, 1883) ; Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus tire Mess/nit (London, 1883) : Andrews, The Life of Our Lord (New York, 1892) • Beyschlag, Das Leben Jests (Halle, 1893) : Gilbert, The Student's Life of Jesus (New York, 1896) ; J(csus de Ya zarellt (Paris, 1897) ; Rheas, The Life of Jesus of Nazareth (New York, 1901) ; O. Boltzmann, Lehen. •lose ( Leipzig, 1901) ; Didon, Jesus Christ (trans., New York, 1901) ; Foulard, The Christ the Son of Cod (trans., London, 1890). (2) For Jewish background: Sehiirer, Gesehichte des jiidischen Volkes int Zeitalter Jest( Christi (Eng. trans., New York, 1896) ; Baldensperger, Dos Selbstbewusstsein Jesu inn Lichte der mes sianischen Hoffnungon seiner Zcit (Strasshurg, 1892). (3) For 'history of the land: G. A. Smith, The Histariral Geography of the Holy Land (New York, 1896). (4) For teachings of Jesus: Wendt. Die Lehr(' Jesu (Eng. trans. of vol. only, Edinburgh. 1892) Dalman. Die Worte Jest( (Eng. trans., Edinburgh, 1902).