I Appeal To Caesar!

He chuckles as he mentally savors his casual “suggestion” that it would be better for Jesus alone to die than to have the entire nation disrupted or disbanded (“ a stellar acting performance, I must say !”). “Ah-h-h, they did not, would not, could not even perceive my true political objective—or, ahem! my need for self-preservation,” he snickers.

“But, now!” (Another explosion!)

“These followers of Jesus declare that MY wise insight was actually a prophecy sent by God, and Jesus died to save all the people!

“What an incredulous development,” he blurts aloud.

Fear rises again within him, like bubbles in boiling water. He stands again, pacing back and forth, ringing his hands, the long priestly robe again joining his agitation as it swirls about. “The battle is not over,” he declares out loud, raising his clenched fists against an invisible opponent: “I will ultimately win!” Finally, he settles down, nervously stroking his luxurious, grey-flecked beard . . . things are still somewhat shaky. . . but they will work out. . . Jesus will not win this bout! * * * * * The shrewd High Priest plans to circumvent Judah’s ruling body, the seventy-one-member Sanhedrin; he realizes