Thoughts for the Day

* Picture showing Caiaphas, High Priest

Many of the Jews therefore, who had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, ‘What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.’ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.’ He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death.

Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples.

Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple, ‘What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?’ Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus spends some time with his disciples in Perea on the other side of the river Jordan, safe from those who hate him. It gave him time to be with God and time to continue teaching the disciples. However, as Passover draws near he moves to Ephraim. This village was located in the wild, uncultivated hill-country thirteen miles to the northeast of Jerusalem, with extensive views over the surrounding countryside. It was also nearer to Jerusalem, and would give them a base until Jesus chose his time to enter the city.

During this week long festival Jerusalem would have been overwhelmed with visitors from around the world, all of whom wanted to worship in the Temple. Exodus 12 says of this festival: 'And when your children ask you, “What do you mean by this observance?” you shall say, “It is the passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt, when he struck down the Egyptians but spared our houses.”’

Into this maelstrom of a situation we see Jesus waiting his moment. He has has just brought Lazarus back to life (John 11.17-44), and when the news reaches the Pharisees and the Chief Priests their overwhelming fear is that the appearance of Jesus among the many thousands in the city will generate a disturbance that will force the Romans to intervene. In which case all will be lost. At the Sanhedrin council meeting Caiaphas makes the decision that to kill Jesus is better than that the whole nation should be destroyed. Since the Romans have not given the Jews the power to decree death sentences though this is going to cause a problem!

Father-God,
as we see the fears and machinations
of the pharisees and chief priests
and the way they seek to overturn Your plans.
May we not be complacent when we look back!
Often we too decide we know best
and ignore Your wishes,
choosing to go down a wrong path.
Guide us into Your truth,
ever asking for Your assistance
and abiding by Your loving support.
Amen.