We are now looking at the top ten characters in the New Testament ignoring Jesus and the disciples. At number 9 is Caiaphas, the high priest – one of the “baddies”.
Caiaphas in the bible
After Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead – Matthew 26:3-5
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.“But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.
After Jesus is arrested – Matthew 26:57, 59-66
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled.
The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
The story of Caiaphas is made famous in Jesus Christ Superstar.
This Jesus must die – Jesus Christ Superstar
I see bad things arising.
The crowd crown him king; which the Romans would ban.
I see blood and destruction,
Our elimination because of one man.
Blood and destruction because of one man.
Fools, you have no perception!
The stakes we are gambling are frighteningly high!
We must crush him completely,
So like John before him, this Jesus must die.
For the sake of the nation, this Jesus must die.
Are we and our religious leader sometimes more concerned about our own poser that we do not see what is in front of us?