This month as we approach Easter, we are looking at Encounters with Jesus by some of his enemies – Herod Antipas, Pilate, and today – high priest Caiaphas.
This man was a master politician who kept a number of balls in the air. His father-in-law was Annas, the former high priest who it appears lived in the same house and was a bully if ever there was one.
“Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish!” John 11:49, 50.
This month as we approach Easter, we are looking at Encounters with Jesus by some of his enemies – Herod Antipas, Pilate, and today – high priest Caiaphas.
This man was a master politician who kept a number of balls in the air. His father-in-law was Annas, the former high priest who it appears lived in the same house and was a bully if ever there was one. He had to work with the Sanhedrin – a mix of competing interests, and particularly complex as he had to consort with the ruling Roman prefect, who at that time was Pontius Pilate. He also ruled the trade in sacrifices at the temple. I took the photo above on the level in Jerusalem where the Temple stood in Caiaphas’ day. This was his stomping ground – here he ruled supreme, and he was getting rich while doing so. Recent archaeological work across from the Western Wall has uncovered the ruins of palatial priestly homes (destroyed by Titus in 70AD) complete with ritual baths, ornate mosaic floors and beautifully painted wall designs.
Caiaphas would go on to be deposed. In 1990 his family tomb was discovered just south of ancient Jerusalem. It contained the bone box with the name ‘Caiaphas’ on it. But for now, life was complex, but the power was great!
Think about the role of the high priest. We go right back to Aaron, brother of Moses. Along with the priests, the high priest was to offer sacrifices to God on behalf of the people. Once a year Caiaphas would enter the Holy of Holies to intercede for the people and then he would place his hand on the Azazel – the scapegoat, so that goat would carry away the sins of the people. Caiaphas didn’t mean any of it, but it came with the lucrative job, so he did the religious thing.
Then along came Jesus of Nazareth who spoke from God with authority and accompanied His claims with divine healings. A direct threat to the spiritually bankrupt Caiaphas! This could not continue! So, spies were sent to trip Jesus up – read about these traps through the gospels. As things reached the boiling point, Caiaphas seduced Judas with 30 pieces of silver to select an appropriate time and place to deliver Jesus up. As we know, it was all for naught, for despite Caiaphas’ best efforts, Jesus rose from the dead. It’s almost pitiful to see him have Peter and John arrested for preaching and demand they no longer speak of Jesus (Acts 4). The cat was out of the bag – Jesus was alive!
What’s our takeaway? Somewhere along the line, Caiaphas forgot his calling. To be a lover of God and the people. To lead the people to godliness. Competing interests took his heart far from God, and when he Encountered the Son of God, he schemed to have him executed.
What things are crowding the Saviour from your heart’s throne? Is His purity now a threat to you? Let this be a call to reinstate your calling – to encounter Jesus afresh as Lord!
Pastor Leon Throness
