July 21, 2023

Plans Don’t Last Forever

“But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.’ Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.”

 John 11:49-53 (NASB)

            In leadership, every leader should understand their responsibility of their job. It is easy to accept, but harder to maintain. Many times in a good job promotion, the person is excited, until reality sets in of the environment they just stepped into. This is why many times I ask folks when they are about to be promoted, to ask “What happened to the person I am replacing?” This might tell you a lot about what to expect, if you can get a straight answer. Caiaphas was in survival mode.

              “But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Caiaphas, a Sadducee, was high priest during the life and ministry of Jesus. “He functioned as the high priest from about AD 18 to 36.”[1] “Next to the Roman governor he was the most powerful man in Judea and was responsible to the Romans for the conduct of the nation … A huge stir among the people caused by the raising of Lazarus (John 11) brought matters to a head. Alarmed lest the activities of those seeking a political messiah should lead the Romans to intervene with armed force, Caiaphas advised that Jesus should be put to death (John 11:48–50).[2]” When Caiaphas said the words “that one man die for the people,” is strangely reminiscent of the Old Testament substitutionary or replacement view of the atonement. In the Old Testament, those who wished purging from sin would place their hands on the sacrificial animals or scapegoat identified, and thus the animal would carry the weight of sin and guilt on behalf of those involved. “The Gospel writer John pointed out that in so doing, Caiaphas unwittingly prophesied concerning the atoning nature of Jesus’ death (11:51, 52). Caiaphas played a chief role in Jesus’ arrest and trial. The leaders laid their plans in his palace (Mt 26:3–5); it was there also that part of Jesus’ preliminary trial took place with Caiaphas presiding (Mt 26:57–68).”[3] When Caiaphas took on the role of high priest, he obviously was a sharp and intelligent man. Otherwise he wouldn’t have made the cut. In fact, Caiaphas survived to preside over the trial of Peter and John when they were told to stop preaching in Acts 4:5-6. But Caiaphas didn’t last forever. History records “Caiaphas was removed from his position by the proconsul Vitellus, and nothing more is known of him.”[4]

             People may move up, but it doesn’t last forever. Jesus does, and He is there forever!

[1] Kennedy, T. M. (2016). Caiaphas. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, L. Wentz, E. Ritzema, & W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Lexham Press.

[2] Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Caiaphas. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 398). Baker Book House.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.