Questioning from the High Priest

The Scene

Good Morning

Today we have a scene where

earthly lead people of power

seek to manipulate the law

through lies and deceit to protect their power and status

There are interesting facts that we need to explore to capture the message today

I ask you to seek the contrast of our earthly ways

and the model of Jesus that we will see today.

Man Manipulates and Jesus Mandates

Lets remember the series of events so that we can embrace the tone of the evening

Jesus was walking with His disciples from the Upper Room

Jesus had just given them the example of COMMUNION

Please don’t miss the work CO ---- Union ----- the Unity of US United in CHRIST

Jesus has given them Words of comfort

John 14:1–4 (ESV)

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

4 And you know the way to where I am going.”

They have walked to Gethsemane

They were confronted by the Officers and Soldiers from the chief priests and Pharisees

start to get interesting

They took him to see ANNAS --- the father in law of Caiaphas, who was the High Priest

This is an interesting situation

which will show the turmoil that was likely involved in this situation.

If you know your Book of Acts, then you will remember the story of Peter and John also taken before the Sanhedrin

John’s Connection to Christ

BY the Way ---- last week we mentioned that Peter and “one of the other disciples” that disciple was know to the high priest

----- that disciple was John

John the author of this very Book was known to the High Priest

and there is much research that connects the Apostle John to be a cousin of Jesus.

If this is indeed true, then Jesus would have know John as a child

it would explain a deep love of John by Jesus

it would explain his mother coming to Jesus

and asking for them to be elevated by Jesus above the other disciples

If john was a cousin, then John the Baptist would also be a cousin

and since John the Baptist Dad was Zacharias

Zacharias was the priest in Jerusalem

who offered incense in the Holy of Holies before John the Baptist’s birth.

Caiaphas was the high priest during this time

so it is possible that John had visited his uncle Zacharias on occasion in his youth

and been introduced to Caiaphas in the Temple where he worked.

John would have been known by Caiaphas.

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Caisphas was the High Priest but they “first led him to Annas”

Study on the Matt 26 which has the corresponding information

on the Arrest and Trial of Christ

we need to learn more about

Annas

Had been deposed from the High Priesthood by the Romans in AD 15

Annas served officially as High Priest for ten years (AD 6–15),

when at the age of 36 he was deposed by the procurator Valerius Gratus.

The Office of High Priest was originally to be for life

--- but the Roman Rule and man’s manipulation changed it

Yet while having been officially removed from office,

he remained as one of the nation's most influential political and social individuals,

It is likely that with the tension between the Jews and the Romans

that many would have still regarded Annas as High Priest

— unjustly removed by the Romans

It would then also be likely that Annas, being older and the Father in law of Caiaphas

that Annas held power behind the scenes

and Caiaphas is recorded as saying that Jesus should be Killed

Lets make a note here that in Verse 18:14 it identifies Caiaphas as the statement about Killing Jesus

look back at John 11:47-49

When Jesus had raised Lazarus --- the people had told the Pharisees about the Raising of Lazarus and they were afraid of losing their positions --- they were scared of the Romans

John 11:49–55 ESV

49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.

John 18:14 (ESV)

14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

It is my conjecture that Annas was pulling the strings of Jewish power,

and Caiaphas was a weak willed man

who was puppeted by this father in law

and likely envious of power, there fore likely to make bold statements

but being weak willed sought to pass the buck to others

If you are following along you can see my argument in verses 19-24

verse 19 says that Jesus was questioned by the high priest

Jesus answers him and responds

Jesus is slapped “for answering the high priest”

but then in verse 24 ---”annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas, the high priest”

The Jews wanted BLOOD not Justice

They wanted THEIR WAY --- not God’s WAY

They wanted THEIR POWER and NOT GOD’s

Next week we will see that all this power maneuvering

happens again

because neither Annas or Caiaphas has the power to accomplish what THEY desire

and they will send Jesus to a third location that morning to the Romans — Pontius Pilate

This Roman connect is honestly fully expected and gives another in sight to the

posturing of the Priesthood.

You see Annas was in the office for almost 10 years —disposed by Gratus the predecessor to Pontius Pilate

We know in the Old Testament that the High Priest would have been appointed by the Jews

But history tells us that Gratus the Roman removes and appoints the HIGH PRIEST

There is families vying for the power of that office.

Annas had five sons and daughters and likely sought to maintain his influence

even after being disposed through one of his family.

Gratus appoints a man named Ishmael, but quickly removes him from office and

installs another named Eleazar

Eleazar is removed and another is installed by Gratus a man named Simon

all this turmoil in 1-2 years

Simon is removed and Caisaphus is put into office —very likely in great joy to Annas.

so not to justify by you see the TURMOIL

Caiaphas was a man of Roman ---

i suggest his motivation was to stay in the power seat

and

he had little care for God or the Jewish Law

This would strengthen the argument that Caiaphas was a weak willed man

who sought only longevity in the power seat.

he must have been good at his ways for after all that turmoil he served for 18 years,

and when

Gratus left Jerusalem

and Pilate came to power he was retained.

Caiaphas was a man driven to please Pilate to maintain his power

Sentence

So Jesus in a span of hours faces Annas, Caiaphas and Pilate

The power of a Manipulator

The power of a Puppet

and the Power of a Prefect of Roman

How Jesus did this is key

Annas questions Jesus about his teachings

likely seeking to trap him into admitting that he taught contrary to the Torah

Annas wanted two things

to win for the Jewish Power Source — to have Jesus admit He said He was God and that he would be guilty of Blasphemy, or a death sentence offence

To be the Pretrial, unofficial trial so that Caiaphas would be protected and remain in power

Jesus is found guilty of:

Violating the Sabbath Law

by healing on the Sabbath

Threatening to destroy the Temple - one of the false witnesses tell the Sanhedrin that Jesus said He would tear down the temple and rebuild in three days

John 2:19–22 ESV

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Exorcising people by the power of demons

Blasphemy

and Claiming to be the Messiah

Interesting that the Jewish power elite never take Jesus to the actual Jewish court,

called the

Chamber of Hewn Stone,

but all is conducted in the night at the private residences with leadership gathered there.

The desire of Caiaphas to have one man die for the people

is being worked and maneuvered.

It is my suggestion that all that is happening to Jesus

was thought out and planned in advance.

Silver to Judas

Strategy with Judas

knowing of the upper room

Jesus travels to meet in the Garden

The Jewish leaders have been thwarted and delayed by God’s Timing for years.

the hatred and anger of the Jews for Jesus

was about the lead to exactly what GOD had Planned.

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You see they grabbed Jesus in the middle of the night

they take him to the real power, but behind the scenes,

to evaluate the status and situation concerning convicting Jesus.

The Sanhedrin sought to operate with a combination of civil and religious law to achieve there goals

To achieve their desired result the Jews knew that according to Roman Law

the accusation must be brought by the High Priest to Pilate

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Well friends

Annas, Caiaphas and the Jewish Leaders engineered and executed their plan

and we can rest assured, we can rest in Truth, we can have peace today.

Because the Real Truth

the WHOLE TRUTH

is Jesus perfectly achieves His Plan and Purpose

to obey God to bring Salvation to

all those who Call on the name of Jesus.

you remember my opening statement

Man Manipulates and Jesus Mandates

Jesus YES our JESUS fulfills it all so that we can have

Relationship

Restoration

and the Reward of Heaven

Lets Pray