a Judas better than it did a Jesus, and this was another point through which to victimize his Teacher, and raise himself with the people. Judas had all the world's weapons, Jesus none of them; therefore he chose not to defend himself before those who understood not that defence, so “he opened not his mouth.” The great exponent of Truth and Love silent before error and hate! They to whom he had given the highest proofs of the science of being, misinterpreted them, and said deridingly, “He maketh himself as God.” Those “who turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most high,” esteemed him “stricken and smitten of God,” he was “brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep dumb before her shearers,” and “who should declare his generation,” who in future should say whence cometh Truth, and answer the question, what is Truth?
The Rabbis could not decide this momentous inquiry: they must wait on the centuries; but the women at the cross dared say he was right who had inspired their devotions, winged their faith with understanding, healed the sick, cast out error, and caused those he sent forth to say, “Even devils are subject to us through thy name.” But where were the seventy whom he had taught, were all conspirators, save eleven; had they forgotten his weary years of explanations and patient waiting, all his labors of Love as day by day he taught them the science of Life, and spake to them the Truth of man; could they not give him even a cup of cold water in its name, and satisfy for a moment his yearning for one proof of their fidelity to what he had taught? From early boyhood, he had been about his
