February 23rd
PEOPLE JESUS MET
Profile: Caiaphas, a Sadducee, was the high priest for 18 years, as well as a member of the Sanhedrin Council, the central ‘governing body’ of the Jewish nation. He gained great wealth through Temple trading. To maintain the status quo in cooperation with Rome, he became a ringleader in the plot to do away with Jesus - even prophesying his death for the sake of the nation. John adds a comment in his Gospel that unknowingly, the illegal and evil plot that Caiaphas proposed would become prophetically true - Jesus would die to gather the children of God! (John 11:49-53; 18:12-14). He was there presiding over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus, where he ripped his garments and said: “He has blasphemed!”; he was there asking for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus; he was there shouting: “We have no king but Caesar”; he was also there protesting the sign over Jesus’ head: “The King of the Jews”. Caiaphas’ role as a chief persecutor of Christians continued after Jesus death, including the killing of Stephen and the arming of Saul with letters for his murderous campaign (Acts 4:5-7; 5:17-42).
PEOPLE JESUS MET
CAIAPHAS – A Religious Mis-leader
CAIAPHAS – A Religious Mis-leader
You have no idea what you are talking about; what you don’t understand is that it’s better
for you that one man should die for the people so the whole nation won’t perish.
John 11:49-50, The Voice
for you that one man should die for the people so the whole nation won’t perish.
John 11:49-50, The Voice
Profile: Caiaphas, a Sadducee, was the high priest for 18 years, as well as a member of the Sanhedrin Council, the central ‘governing body’ of the Jewish nation. He gained great wealth through Temple trading. To maintain the status quo in cooperation with Rome, he became a ringleader in the plot to do away with Jesus - even prophesying his death for the sake of the nation. John adds a comment in his Gospel that unknowingly, the illegal and evil plot that Caiaphas proposed would become prophetically true - Jesus would die to gather the children of God! (John 11:49-53; 18:12-14). He was there presiding over the Sanhedrin trial of Jesus, where he ripped his garments and said: “He has blasphemed!”; he was there asking for the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus; he was there shouting: “We have no king but Caesar”; he was also there protesting the sign over Jesus’ head: “The King of the Jews”. Caiaphas’ role as a chief persecutor of Christians continued after Jesus death, including the killing of Stephen and the arming of Saul with letters for his murderous campaign (Acts 4:5-7; 5:17-42).
Lessons:
- He came from a strongly religious family and invested his life fully into his religion and its responsibilities. Sadly, he closed his mind to the real Christ and the clear evidence of the resurrection.
- God can use even the twisted motives and actions of enemies to bring about His will.
- We cannot cover over selfish motives with a religious veneer of spirituality before God. Be open before Him.
______________________________
The High Priest and Prophet who missed “the forest for the trees” - John 5:39-40 MSG
The High Priest and Prophet who missed “the forest for the trees” - John 5:39-40 MSG
