A CORRUPT HIGH PRIEST AS A PROPHET?
By: Frank Tunstall, D. Min.
Caiaphas was Israel’s high priest during Jesus’ ministry. He led the temple system that sacrificed perhaps thousands of lambs during his administration. He was also a Sadducee who rejected the very idea of a resurrection.
Caiaphas cunningly schemed how he could appeal successfully to Pilate to order Jesus’ crucifixion, and a totally satanic “solution” popped into his mind. “It’s to our advantage” he told the Sanhedrin, “That one man dies for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed” (John 11:50 msg). In this way he could show his loyalty to Rome and at the same time get rid of Jesus. Caiaphas used exactly this reasoning when He led the mob at Jesus’ trial in shouting, “Crucify him,” and “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15).
Caiaphas announced at his meeting of the Sanhedrin after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead that he was ready to use his ultimate weapon; his “nuclear” option. The high priest, who did not believe in a resurrection was convinced killing Jesus would stop him and his followers. But Caiaphas did not realize how he, in his own freedom of choice, would be helping to fulfill John the Baptist’s prophecy, making Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29; Genesis 22:8).
The Apostle John offered an additional meaning. He said Caiaphas gave an unintentional prophecy that day; Israel’s Messiah, whom they had rejected, would become the sacrifice for “the Jewish nation” and all the “scattered children of God,” bringing them into one family, the family of God (John 11:52).
Could the Holy Spirit use the lips of a corrupt high priest to give such a momentous prophecy? Of all people, could Caiaphas give a prophecy?
Yes!
During the exodus, the Holy Spirit used a donkey to speak the truth to Balaam (Numbers 22:21–34). Isaiah prophesied in the name of God that a pagan Persian king would emerge named Cyrus. He would reign in the role of the Lord’s “shepherd,” with orders from God to launch rebuilding the temple. Isaiah also said Cyrus would be the Lord’s “anointed,” and the Lord would take hold of his right hand in his conquests (Isaiah 44:28–45:1). Isaiah foretold all of this more than a hundred years before the events occurred.
After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, Caiaphas also kept trying to silence the Lord’s followers. He presided at a trial of Peter and John after Pentecost. At the tribunal against Stephen, Caiaphas sentenced Stephen to death by stoning (Acts 4:5; 6:6–7:60). Before he faded from the scene, Caiaphas had the blood of God’s Son on his hands and had made Stephen the first Christian martyr. Caiaphas fought Jesus with everything in him. Interestingly, Caiaphas’ undoing was the resurrection of Jesus that Sadducees did not believe could happen.
In the end Caiaphas lost everything (see Mark 8:36).
Even the name, Caiaphas, was lost to church history for almost 2,000 years, until November 1990. Archeologists discovered an ossuary (bone box) with the name, Caiaphas, engraved on it while a street was being paved in Israel. The ossuary could have belonged to Caiaphas the high priest. It is now on display in the Israel Museum.
Mickie Mantle Talked About What He Lost.
Jane Leavy in her biography of the pro baseball great Mickey Mantle, wrote comments from Mantle’s last press conference on July 11, 1995. Mantle had become alcoholic:
“It was a standing-room-only conference. His comic timing was still acute, but the robust physique, the Popeye muscles, and the untroubled face of American plenty were gone. His track suit hung on his dried out and withered frame… He looked like death.
‘God gave me a great body and an ability to play baseball,’ he said. ‘God gave me everything, and I just… pffft!’“What would be remembered most was his anguished plea to children: ‘I’d like to say to the kids out there, if you’re looking for a role model…, Don’t be like me.’
“A reporter asked Mantle if he had signed a donor card. ‘Everything I’ve got is worn out,’ he said. ‘Although I’ve heard people say they’d like to have my heart…it’s never been used.’” ( Cited from PreachingToday.com).
At least Mickey Mantle had deep regrets. The Biblical record does not indicate Caiaphas ever looked back with sorrow for his very wicked choices.
Early on the morning of the Passover at which Jesus was crucified, Caiaphas took Jesus to Pilate for His trial according to Roman law and was successful in getting Pilate to sentence Jesus to crucifixion. Then the High Priest went to the temple to lead the Passover ritual that dated back to Moses. He did it oblivious to having rejected his own Messiah. It is reasonable to believe Caiaphas had never personally experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit. When he did come into the Presence that flowed from Jesus, he misinterpreted Jesus as being an evil threat to Israel’s national survival, and that included protecting his own job as high priest.
Yes, in repeating the ancient Passover ritual, Caiaphas played a key role in Jesus’ last Passover and the birth of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Hebrews 9:15; 12:24).
How, you ask?
Caiaphas participated in two sacrifices that historic morning. The first, Caiaphas was the architect of Jesus’ death on the cross, and second, Caiaphas carried out the ancient Passover ritual in the Most Holy place of the temple by offering to God a lamb without blemish.
Caiaphas condemned to death the Lamb of God who was the final sacrifice for sin. He literally led in making Jesus the sacrifice to “take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 22:8). He did not do it for that purpose, but it certainly had that unintended consequence.
Caiaphas’ prophecy was fulfilled right before their eyes.
Jesus died so that people like Caiaphas can be saved too if they will only repent and accept Jesus as the Son of God. We have no evidence that Caiaphas ever did.
THINK ABOUT IT: Our awesome Lord can make the wrath of men praise Him and do it without ever violating their free will (Psalm 76:10).
Down from the portals of glory,
A king in His majesty came.
Humbled Himself as a servant,
To bear our transgressions and shame.
He was despised and rejected,
Hated by those He would save.
Yet He so loved guilty sinners,
That freely His life blood He gave.
By: Charles W. Naylor
January 13, 2022 3:43 pm|
VERY GOOD