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John 18:12-27 "JESUS BEFORE CAIAPHAS"

Day 282 – John 18

JESUS BEFORE CAIAPHAS

The second trial of Jesus took place before Caiaphas. John wrote,

“Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiphas the
high priest.”
John 18:24

John did not give a whole lot of attention to the trial before Caiaphas, for he had already written about how Caiaphas felt about Jesus in an earlier text. Let us recall what John wrote then. The occasion of the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead triggered off this very negative reaction from the Jews.

“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered
a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man
works many signs. If we let Him alone like this,
everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will
come and take away both our place and nation.'”
John 11:47-48

Of course, this statement was an exaggeration. Their fears of the Romans appeared to be more of an excuse to persecute Jesus than real.

CAIAPHAS AND HIS COUNSEL

In this Sanhedrin Council meeting, Caiaphas gave his opinion as to how they could tackle the problem of Jesus. John wrote,

“And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest
that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all,
nor do you consider that it is expedient for us
that one man should die for the people, and not
that the whole nation should perish.'”
John 11:49-50

Caiaphas had already made up his mind as to what he was going to do, if Jesus were to fall into his hands. He had made up his mind that Jesus would die!

A PROPHETIC WORD

Despite the fact that Caiaphas was anything but a prophet, nevertheless he uttered words that were prophetic. John noted the prophetic value of the words that Caiaphas uttered, though the latter would not have realized that.

“Now this he did not say on his own authority;
But being high priest that year he prophesied that
Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation
only, but also that He would gather together in one
the children of God who were scattered abroad.”
John 11:51-52

MORE ABOUT CAIAPHAS

It would be interesting to have some more information concerning Caiaphas. Let us take a look at what the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia has to say about Caiaphas.

“The name of Joseph, a son-in-law of Annas (John 18:13),
who filled the post of high priest ca. AD 18-36. Caiaphas
took a leading part in the trial and condemnation of
Jesus.

The regal claims of the new Messiah and the growing fame
of His Works had made them dread both the vengeance
of imperial Rome upon their nation, and the loss
of their own personal authority and prestige (John 11:48).

But Caiaphas pointed a way out of their dilemma:
let them bide their time till the momentary enthusiasm
of the populace was spent (Matthew 26:5), and then
by the single sacrifice of Jesus they could at once get rid of a
dangerous rival and propitiate the frowns of Rome.”
ISBE Vol. 1, Pg. 570

A THEOLOGICAL VIEWPOINT

John’s theological viewpoint must be noted. While Caiaphas did not see the prophetic element of his word of advice, others did.

1. Jesus would indeed die for the Nation

However, His death would not be to “propitiate the frowns of Rome”. He would die as a propitiation for the sins of Israel. Caiaphas’ condemnation of Jesus to death would bring about what John the Baptizer had proclaimed concerning Jesus.

“Behold! The Lamb of God, who takes away the
sin of the world!”
John 1:29

2. Jesus would gather the Diaspora

In the Messianic prophecies, there was always the proclamation of the day that God would bring all His children back into one fold (Isaiah 49:5; Ezekiel 34:23-31). This hope was once again proclaimed.

3. Jesus would also die for the sins of the world (Gentiles in view)

Isaiah proclaimed a powerful Messianic message when he said,

“Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing
that You (Jesus) should be My Servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore
the preserved ones of Israel. I will also give
You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should
be My salvation to the ends of the earth.'”
Isaiah 49:6