John 18:12
“So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him.”
If I had been one of the soldiers that came to arrest Jesus, and my first experience with him was that something so powerful happened that me and my buddies all fell to the ground, I too might think it necessary to bind the man—who knows what he might do next and who knows what he’s capable of.
“First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.’” (v13-14)
The dynamics of what happens when Jesus is first arrested is intriguing. Jesus is first led to Annas. Annas had formerly been the high priest but was unseated by Rome. For some reason Rome didn’t like Annas being the high priest; perhaps he was too influential in the Jewish culture, an influence that did not promote Roman rule. Within the Jewish religious structure the high priest was appointed for life (sort of like a Supreme Court Judge in America).
Annas still had a loyal following in which many considered him the legitimate high priest, and that seems to be the reason that Jesus is brought to him first. The intrigue goes deeper when we realize that Caiaphas was Annas’ son-in-law. Without a little studying we wouldn’t know that Caiaphas was a Sadducee. And, that’s huge when it comes to who Jesus is and what his claims were.
Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection; in any kind of resurrection, and the resurrection was all that faith in Jesus hinged upon. Jesus’ promise of eternal life to his followers could only happen IF there WAS a resurrection coming. Consequently, it wouldn’t have been a big deal to Caiaphas that Jesus was proclaiming the resurrection.
Both Annas and Caiaphas were only interested in maintaining their standing and power in the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day. They would do anything to keep their influence, their power, their position, and the prestige associated with it. Great power and influence came with the office of high priest, and that is evidenced by the fact that even though Annas isn’t the Roman appointed high priest, many in the Jewish community still believe him to be the rightful high priest.
Sadducees were primarily a political party; they were wealthy, educated and had as much, if not more, influence than the Pharisees. The Sadducees looked at the Pharisees as a Democrat would look at a Republican.
I can’t help but think that some “Christians” in America, both Democrat and Republican, have become modern-day Sadducees. There are numerous people in politics that will play the religion card when it is beneficial to them to do it—depending upon what group of people they happen to be courting at the moment (i.e. hockey moms or black preachers). They refer to themselves as stout people of faith, Christians, and even born again Christians, but there agenda is political, not spiritual.
Let’s face it, there’s great power in holding a political office (at least a perception of power). Politicians hold sway over people and control the movement of huge amounts of citizens’ tax dollars; millions and even billions of dollars, as we’ve seen in recent months. What modern-day Annas or Caiaphas wouldn’t want that kind of influence? And, deep spirituality and holiness is traded for influence and power. Does the Church learn NOTHING from history? Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat history.
As politicians, the Sadducees understood that if they didn’t quiet and eliminate Jesus, it was highly probably that Rome would crack down on them and the whole country, thus they would lose their influence and fall completely under Roman rule. Annas was evidence of the great possibility of this happening.
Caiaphas, and to a lesser degree Annas, were representative of people who choose not to believe in Jesus because it will cost them too much; they choose power, position, prestige, pleasure and all things tangible over the One who calls us to die to self, and who promises eternal life through the resurrection.
If we will study the teachings of Jesus from the New Testament we cannot help but conclude that Jesus called his followers to die to how they wanted to live and what they wanted to pursue, IF they wanted to be his disciple. Jesus made this very clear. I guess it’s understandable why some politicians identify themselves as people of faith, Christians and even born again Christians, but I’ve never heard one yet identify themselves as a disciple of Jesus!
Throughout much of Israel’s history God brought judgment upon the entire country because its spiritual leaders had turned away from God, were leading the country away from God, and had implemented evil practices in place of worshiping the One True God. Annas and Caiaphas hadn’t really learned anything from the great dispersion of Israel’s history. Of all the people who should have been clued into the arrival of the Messiah, it should have been Annas and Caiaphas.
When I see people of faith today get all giddy about either of the major presidential candidates, I can’t help but think that they’re simply doing what the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day did when they chose to follow Annas and Caiaphas. They are following men, who give the aura that they too are people of deep faith, yet their intention is to maintain their power and influence, rather than die to it as Jesus demanded of his disciples.
