Caiaphas was high priest when he made this statement in John 11:50, “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.” Although Caiaphas was high priest at the time and prophesied that Jesus would die for the people, he had no idea what he was saying.
This happened at the time when the Jewish leaders were making plans to kill Jesus because His fame and popularity were becoming a nuisance and they were jealous of Him; they also rejected the truth about Him. These things took place after Jesus raised Lazarus from the tomb resulting in many Jews believing on Jesus. I wonder if Jesus thought about His own crucifixion at the time He raised Lazarus from the tomb.
The Word says this in verses 46-48 of that same chapter, “But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, ‘What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.’” The Romans gave the Jews some freedom as long as they were obedient and quiet. The leaders feared that the Romans would discipline them and their nation if they didn’t do something about Jesus. They were so hard-hearted that they would not accept the truth and admit that they were wrong in their way of thinking.
Today is what Christians relate to as Good Friday remembering the day when Jesus was crucified, fulfilling Caiaphas’ prophecy. Jesus suffered many, many terrible things along with so much pain on our behalf as well as His enemies that were responsible for His death, as they hollered, “Crucify Him, Crucify Him.”
I want to mention some of the events that happened that led up to His crucifixion:
Judas, His close friend, sold Him out for thirty pieces of silver betraying Jesus with a kiss which would represent an intimate relationship.
Peter, another close friend, denied Him three times instead of standing with Him in His time of need.
While He was in the garden praying in agony as He sweat drops of blood knowing the cup that was before Him that He would have to drink, His three closest friends Peter, James and John, whom He had taken there, couldn’t even stay awake and pray with Him.
Between the temple guards and the Roman soldiers there were between 300 and 600 men that came to arrest Him. All of them spit on Him until the water ran down His cloths, they all took turns hitting Him with a rod. They stripped Him and lashed Him with a whip until the blood flowed, they laughed at Him and mocked Him, shoving a crown of thorns on His head and bowing down to Him like He was a king, in mocking fashion.
They also made Him carry His own cross until He couldn’t any longer and then they made Simon of Cyrene help carry it for Him.
Then they laid Him on the cross and pounded spikes into His hands and feet and left Him to hang there and die, still mocking Him.
As if that wasn’t enough, He even felt rejected by His Father saying, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.”
But never forget this, even in all His suffering, pain and rejection from the people He came to save, Jesus looked down on all of them and said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Then Jesus said, “It is finished.” Jesus accomplished all that He had come to do, but the story doesn’t end there, please read my next blog for the end of the story, which is really the beginning, praise the Lord! God bless you and have a great day!! And don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord.
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