Voices suddenly rise and men head for their seats as High Priest Yosef Kaiaphas enters the chamber and strides across the floor toward the altar. While he has not worn the sacred breastplate adorned with the twelve precious stones inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes, he is wearing part of the traditional ritual garb of the high priest—a clear sign of the seriousness of this meeting. The ephod is a long garment with shoulder straps composed of fine linen and gold leaf, woven with woolen threads dyed in brilliant shades of blue, purple, and scarlet. Each strap bears an onyx stone inscribed with six of the twelve tribes’ names. Under the ephod he wears a blue woolen robe sewn with red linen pomegranates. Golden bells jingle on the fringe. His indigo himation is pulled over his head. For a tall, powerfully built man, he moves gracefully, with dignity. His hair and beard are still coal black. Rumor has it that he is betrothed to the beautiful daughter of Hanan, the former high priest, but no official announcement has been made.
Kaiaphas steps onto the altar and his voice rings out. “Hear, O Lord our God, the voice of our prayers, and have compassion upon us, for you are a gracious and compassionate God. Blessed are you, O Lord, who hears prayers.”
Yeshua does not move, but appears to be praying along with the high priest.
When Kaiaphas turns, the chamber goes quiet. He searches each face with his gaze, before saying, “Guards, bring forward Yehoshua ben Pantera.”
The guards grip Yeshua’s arms, lift him to his feet, and walk him to stand before Kaiaphas. Yeshua’s expression is fierce.
Kaiaphas meets his gaze squarely. “Yehoshua ben Pantera, I have received news from Praefectus Pilatos that you stand accused of treason and there will be a trial in the morning.” He pauses to let the charge sink in. “Are you guilty of this crime?”
Yeshua doesn’t answer.
It is an ancient Jewish rule of ethics that when a man is insulted or demeaned, he should not reply, and that even while being abused, he should keep silent.83
Kaiaphas gives him several more moments. When Yeshua still does not respond, Kaiaphas addresses the Council. “I realize that this meeting is an imposition, but I fear that the outcome of ben Pantera’s appearance before Pilatos may be fatal, and that could be disastrous for our nation. Therefore, we are here tonight for one reason: to determine on what possible grounds this man could be charged with treason and to find a way to counter those charges.”
“Why?” Yohanan ben Yakob shouts in surprise. A bald-headed old man with a deeply wrinkled face, he rises across the chamber. Speaking without first being recognized by the high priest is a breach of protocol. A few men grumble. Yohanan pays them no attention. “Ben Pantera has been insulting us for many years: he neglects fasts, violates Shabbat, and scorns our purity rules. He caused the riot in the Temple precinct just a few days ago that resulted in the arrest of several Zealots, all good men. This morning, two of those men were convicted of treason by Pilatos and condemned to die! Why should we trouble ourselves to save a man who flaunts our authority and spends his time with sinners?”
“Whom he chooses to dine with is not at issue, Councilor,” Kaiaphas sternly says. “We must put our personal squabbles with him aside. Ben Pantera has been accused of treason against Rome. That is the issue. We must discover why.”
Shimon whispers to me, “Why is Kaiaphas being so generous? He has been one of ben Pantera’s most vocal opponents.”
“Perhaps he is wiser than you know,” I reply.
Hanan, the former high priest who sits beside Yohanan ben Yakob, glowers at Yeshua. Everyone here knows that Hanan’s family business is selling lambs and doves for sacrifices,84 and it was Hanan’s five sons who set up their booths on the Temple porches. When Yeshua overturned the tables and occupied the Temple it significantly diminished Hanan’s profits. Hanan has been pushing for Yeshua’s arrest ever since, but the Council has refused.
Despite his shriveled features, Hanan is a stately man, tall, with thin white hair and a long white beard. His purple robe is belted with a bright blood-red sash.
Shimon leans sideways and says, “Look at Hanan’s face. He’s such a greedy serpent. He must be biding his time for the best moment to strike.”
Kaiaphas quiets the room with one uplifted hand. “Councilors, it is absolutely indispensable that we do everything possible to prevent his execution. Yehoshua ben Pantera is a very popular figure. If he is executed it may well spark the revolt we have feared for many years. If that happens, you can be certain that Rome will respond with catastrophic force. Do you begin to understand? Yerushalaim is filled with festival attendees. Many innocent people will die.”
Fabric rustles as men shift positions or hiss to those nearby.
Yeshua has still not raised his head.
Gamliel stands and every eye moves to watch him. “I would ask a question, High Priest.”
Kaiaphas nods. “I recognize the esteemed scholar Gamliel.”
“There are many rumors flying. Let us clarify our goals here tonight. I assume, from what you have said, that we are here to conduct the preliminary inquiry necessary for establishing the facts of the case for ben Pantera’s defense. Is that correct?”
“It is.”
Gamliel exhales. “Very well, I’m sure we all have households filled with family who have come from great distances to celebrate the holy days and want to get home. Let us hear the witnesses.”
Kaiaphas turns to the guards. “Bring forward Hanoch ben Bani.”
The guards lead forward a grisly little man with rotted teeth. His brown robe is filthy, as is the brown himation that covers his greasy black hair. They must have picked him up off the streets. He kneels before Kaiaphas. “I didn’t do nothing, High Priest. I swear!”
Kaiaphas says, “You are not here to defend yourself, ben Bani. You are here to give testimony regarding Yehoshua ben Pantera. You told the Temple police that you had spent the past few days listening to ben Pantera preach in the Temple. Did you ever hear him say he wished to overthrow Rome?”
The little man turns wide eyes upon Yeshua. “No, High Priest. He never said nothing of the kind. He said he would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, and there were those who sat with me that thought he meant to use force to do it—the Zealots especially—but that’s not what he said.”
Old Yohanan lifts his hand and stands again.
Kaiaphas nod. “I recognize Yohanan ben Yakob.”
Yohanan says, “Did you ever hear him say he had kingly blood, that he was descended from the House of David?”
Hanoch shakes his head nervously. “No, he never said that. I did hear him arguing with the Pharisees about the mashiah, though.”
Kaiaphas asks, “What did he say?”
“He asked the Pharisees if they supposed that the mashiah was the son of David, and when they told him yes, he said that didn’t make no sense because David calls the mashiah ‘Lord’ in the holy books, which meant the mashiah couldn’t be his son.”85
A hushed discussion rises in the chamber.
Above the noise, Yohanan calls out, “Did he ever preach violence? Especially on the day he caused the riot? Was he preaching Zealot doctrines in the Temple?”
In a trembling voice, Hanoch answers, “He told us that a man must love his enemies, and bless them that curse him. I didn’t hear nothing about violence.”
“Did you see him meeting with any Zealots?”
Ben Bani blinks. “He talked to anyone who came to him. Some were Zealots. But half of everybody here this week is either a Zealot or has sympathies for the Zealots.”
While the Councilmen quietly discuss what he’d said, Kaiaphas calls, “Who else has a question for this witness?”
“I do,” Shimon says, and stands. His blue eyes narrow. “Did ben Pantera ever say he was the chosen of God prophesied in the holy books?”
Hanoch turns glowing eyes on Yeshua. His voice grows soft and reverent. “No, but I believe it. I was a follower of Yohanan Baptistoi. When they killed him, I knew t
hat Yeshua ben Pantera was the Annointed One of Yisrael that we’ve been waiting for.”
“The one who will overthrow our enemies and reign forever as king?” Shimon asks.
“Yes.”
Shimon’s mouth curls into an unpleasant smile. “That, I believe, is the source of the treason charge. He does not have to claim to be from the kingly line of David. He only has to say he is the Annointed One and the rest follows. Pilatos will assume he plans to overthrow Rome and set himself up as our king.”
My heart flutters, because I know Shimon is right. Treason against Rome is a slippery charge. It can mean many things, from insulting a centurion to rallying an army to charge Rome itself … and setting oneself up as a king challenges the divine rule of Tiberias Caesar.
Shimon sits back down and Kaiaphas says, “Yehoshua ben Pantera, would you like to rebut or cross-examine the witness?”
Yeshua remains silent.
“Guards, you may take this witness back and bring forward the Sidonian, Delos,” Kaiaphas orders.
The man walks forward without waiting for the guards, which they do not seem happy about as they follow closely on his heels. Delos is perhaps twenty-five, with a long, slender face and pale golden hair. He wears a tan Roman tunic and a white himation over his head.
“I am Delos,” he announces when he stands before Kaiaphas. “Ask me your questions.”
Kaiaphas gestures for the guards to back away slightly. “You told the police that you came here from Sidon with your sick daughter. Is that—”
“I did,” he says. “My daughter had three demons. I came to beg Yeshua ben Pantera to cast them out.”
Yohanan lifts his hand, and Kaiaphas nods to recognize him. Yohanan says, “Did you ever see him speaking with Zealots?”
“No.”
Kaiaphas continues this line of questioning. “Did he cast the demons from your daughter?”
“Yes, High Priest. My six-year-old daughter is well for the first time in her life.”
“Have you ever heard him preach that Rome, or Roman officials, should be overthrown through violent means?”
The Sidonian opens his mouth to respond, but stops. He seems to be thinking about the question.
“I urge you to answer the question truthfully,” Kaiaphas instructs.
Clearly uncomfortable, Delos says, “I heard him say that he had come not to bring peace but a sword, but I took that to mean—”
From across the room, Hanan quietly interrupts, “I think we all know what that means.”
Delos desperately turns to Yeshua. “This man works miracles through the power of God! He is one of the sacred ‘sons of oil’ promised to us by our ancient prophets. If you were wise, you would release him and sneak him out of the city before the Romans can get their filthy hands upon him!”
Hanan says, “High Priest, may I comment?”
Kaiaphas nods.
Hanan stands. “There are those who say he heals through the power of Beelzebub, that he casts out demons by demons. How does Pantera respond to these charges?”
“Ben Pantera,” Kaiaphas says, “do you do your magic through the power of evil or good?”
Yeshua stands quietly with his head down.
One of the Temple policemen strikes him with the palm of his hand. “Answer the high priest.”
Yeshua clenches his jaw for a long moment. Finally, he says, “If I have done things through evil, show me the evidence of the evil. If you have no evidence, why do you let him strike me?”
“Look at his manner!” Hanan calls in a loud voice. “He believes he is the Annointed One and expects us to bow down to his authority. In the eyes of the people, as well as the praefectus, such an act will confirm the very charges of which he may stand accused: that he claims to be a king!”
Conversations break out across the room.
Kaiaphas holds up a hand to bring silence, and says, “What sword were you speaking of, ben Pantera? The forces of the Zealots?”
This question is more critical than perhaps Yeshua realizes. Tomorrow he will be questioned by a Roman praefectus whose authority to execute a man is said to flow from the ius gladii, the “right of the sword.” If Yeshua is seen as claiming this same right, it could very well be seen as a challenge to the authority of the praefectus.
Yeshua inhales a breath and lets it out slowly. “I have said nothing in secret. I speak openly to the world, and daily in the Temple. Why do you ask me of my teachings? Ask those who heard me. They know what I have said.”
Impatiently Kaiaphas urges, “I ask you again to explain your teaching.”
As though to point out their error, Yeshua gently says, “I teach that a man should do good to them that hate him, and pray for them who use and persecute him. I teach that—”
“Enough,” Hanan says. “He is avoiding the question.”
Gamliel stands and when Kaiaphas nods to him, he says, “Perhaps the question should be avoided.”
I swivel on the bench to stare up at Gamliel.
“What do you mean?” Hanan says gruffly. “We are here to decide the fate—”
“Regardless of the nature of this man’s teachings, if they are the work of a man, they will come to naught, but if they are of God, neither we nor Rome can overthrow them. God’s way is unfathomable to men, therefore Yehoshua ben Pantera’s teachings may indeed be divinely inspired by the one living God.86 What is at issue here, as our high priest has aptly pointed out, is how we may help him avoid execution. I believe we have lost sight of that.”
I rise to be recognized, and when Kaiaphas nods, I say, “I agree. If our goal tonight is truly to prepare a defense for this man, let us get to it.”
Kaiaphas looks at Yeshua. “Ben Pantera, would you like to rebut or cross-examine Delos the Sidonian?”
Yeshua pulls his white himation down to cover more of his face.
Kaiaphas waits, then says, “Guards, you may take the Sidonian away.”
Delos gives Yeshua an aching look of apology as he is forced to walk by.
Gamliel says, “High Priest, I believe at this point that we must look carefully at what the witnesses have said.”
“Go on.”
“Their testimonies are clear. One claims he has seen ben Pantera speaking with Zealots, the other says he has not. One says ben Pantera preaches violence, the other says he does not. The witnesses do not agree.87 If testimony like this is the source of the treason charge, then we must heartily recommend to the praefectus that ben Pantera be released for lack of evidence.”
Hanan rises again. “Before we make such a recommendation, ben Pantera must recant his statements that he is the mashiah.”
Yeshua turns to frown at him.
I leap to my feet. “High Priest, I object! Yehoshua ben Pantera has never said he is the mashiah, nor did either of our witnesses claim he’d ever said such a thing.”
Hanan gives me a small smile. “Perhaps, but his followers preach it loudly. The one known as Kepha has been spreading the story everywhere he heals. Let us be under no illusions. No matter what these witnesses have said, if we cannot provide documentation that ben Pantera has solemnly and formally recanted his pretensions to be the Annointed One, he will be convicted of a capital crime under Roman law.”
Kaiaphas surveys the chamber, waiting for other comments, before he says, “Yehoshua ben Pantera, are you the mashiah? The Annointed One?”
Yeshua smiles sadly and whispers, “If I asked you the same question, you would not answer me, and no matter what I say, you will not believe me, or let me go.” He extends his hands helplessly. “From now on this Ben Adam will sit at the right hand of the power of God.”
“He refuses to deny it! He makes no attempt to recant!” Hanan cries, and waves his skinny elderly arms.
In a ringing voice, Gamliel says, “Calling himself the ‘son of Adam’ is a clear repudiation of any claims to being the Annointed One! In the holy books the term Ben Adam, literally ‘son of man,’ is the common way God addresses or
dinary human beings.”88
Hanan, upset, stutters, “He c-claims he is going to sit at the r-right hand of God! What else could he—”
“I assume he is merely making a reference to Psalms one hundred ten, verse one. He is saying that he will not fight; he will wait at God’s side until God makes his enemies his footstool.”
I lift my hand, and Kaiaphas says, “Yes?”
In a loud voice I call out, “Councilors, please! However mistaken this man’s teachings may be, he has broken no law and his persistent and unfailing dependence upon God attest to his piety and devotion. Surely we all see that. He has committed no crime … certainly not treason against Rome! When we are forced to send him to Pilatos in the morning, one of us must accompany him to relay the Council’s judgments.”
The timbre in the room changes. Many men agree with me. The few who do not, scowl in my direction.
Kaiaphas says, “I assume the Council may call upon you to carry out that duty if it so decides.”
“It can, High Priest.” My legs have started to shake. I sit down.
Yeshua turns and gives me a faint, grateful smile, and I long to weep.
“Then let us next discuss the arguments that have been put forth,” Kaiaphas calls. “Yosef and Gamliel, you are both, of course, correct, but so are Yohanan and Shimon. Yehoshua ben Pantera may be a holy man inspired by God, but if he does not openly proclaim that he is not the mashiah, Pilatos will assume he claims the title, even if covertly. If at all possible, we must bring ben Pantera to reason. He must recant.” Again, Kaiaphas asks, “Yehoshua ben Pantera, are you one of the ‘sons of oil,’ the promised Annointed One?”