Then things got so intense that Jesus’ habit of life was broken or changed.  He could no longer frequent Judea as He had done, but kept pretty much to the northern province of Galilee.  The settled plan to kill made His absence a matter of common prudence.  This makes most striking His great courage in going up to Jerusalem at the autumn Feast of Tabernacles.  He quietly arrived in the midst of much rumour and hot discussion about Himself, and begins teaching the crowds openly, to the great amazement of many.

At once begin the wordy critical attacks, egged on probably by the warmth with which many receive Jesus’ teachings.  There are three attempts to take Him by force, including an official attempt at arrest.  But, strangely enough, the very officers sent to arrest are so impressed by Jesus’ teaching that they return with their mission not done, to the intensest disgust and rage of their superiors.[80]

Early on the morning following there’s a cunning coarse attempt to entrap Him into saying something that can be used against Him.  A woman is brought accused of wrong-doing of the gravest sort, and His opinion is asked as to the proper punishment for so serious an offense.  There’s nothing more dramatic in Scripture than the withdrawal of these accusers, one by one, actually conscience-stricken in the presence of the few simple words of this wondrous Man.[81]

This is followed by the intensest give-and-take of discussion thus far, in which they give vent to their bitterest degree of vile language in calling Him “a Samaritan,” and accusing Him of being possessed with “a demon.”  And then the terrible climax is reached in the enraged passionate attempt of stoning.  It is the worst yet to which their fanatical rage has gone.[82]

Now they reach out to intimidate the multitude, by threatening to cut off from religious and civic privileges all who would confess belief in Jesus as Christ.  And their spleen vents its rage on the man born blind but now so wondrously given sight of two sorts.[83]

The winter Feast of the Dedication a few months later finds Jesus back again in Jerusalem teaching.  And again their enraged attempt at stoning, the second one, is restrained by a something in Him they can neither understand nor withstand.[84]

The Lazarus incident arouses their opposition to the highest pitch.[85] This is recognized as a crisis.  Such power had never been seen or known.  The inroads of belief are everywhere, in the upper social circles, among the old families, even in the Jewish Senate itself, notwithstanding the threatened excommunication.  On every hand men are believing.  Things are getting desperate for these leaders.  They determine to use all the authority at hand arbitrarily and with a high hand.  What strange blindness of stubborn self-will to such open evidence of power!

A special meeting of the Jewish Senate is held, not unlikely hastily summoned of those not infected with belief.  And there it is officially determined to put Jesus to death, and serve public notice that any one knowing of His whereabouts must report their information to the authorities.