The Ministry of Caiphas

[berkeley]

[SDG]

What Caiaphas did
You don't get to stay High Priest without being able to take the tough decisions and follow them through.
Caiaphas decided Jesus had to be stopped and he called a meeting of the chief priests. Matthew's Gospel tells us that Caiaphas told them that Jesus had to be killed.

The priests weren't at all sure about this. If Jesus was killed, there might be riots. But Caiaphas got his decision and put it into effect at once.
The Temple guards arrested Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane that night and he was put on trial before the High Court.

We might disapprove of some of the self-interested motives behind Caiaphas' actions: protecting his income and his power-base; but it doesn't amount to a crime of any sort.

Jesus was causing trouble in Jerusalem. He was a known rebel and he was endangering public peace at a time when large and volatile crowds were thronging the city. It was entirely reasonable to arrest him.


The rigged trial
At this point Caiaphas crossed to the wrong side of the law. He rigged the trial.

Caiaphas took on the usually incompatible roles of chief judge and prosecuting lawyer.

Scholars know the rules that applied to Jewish trials at that period and the trial of Jesus broke many of those rules:

- It was at night - Jewish trials had to take place during the day

- It took place on a feast day - this was not allowed
- It took place in Caiaphas's house - it should have been conducted in the council chamber

The trial went wrong for Caiaphas. He needed to prove that Jesus had threatened to destroy the Temple, which would have been both treason and an offense against God. But the witnesses couldn't agree on what Jesus had said. So that charge failed.
Caiaphas decided to see if he could induce Jesus to utter blasphemy.

He asked Jesus, point blank, "Are you the Son of God, the Son of the Blessed? Are you The Messiah?"

The Gospels vary a little, and only in Mark's account does Jesus answer that he is.

It's enough. Caiaphas announces that Jesus has spoken blasphemy. The rest of the Court agree. Jesus deserves the death sentence.

Just one problem; the court didn't have the power to execute people. And that's where the Romans come into the story.

Actually, there are two problems: blasphemy against the God of Jews was not a crime under Roman Law, and unless Caiaphas could think of something better, it might not be enough to persuade the Romans to execute Jesus.

Caiaphas's fate
Caiaphas was removed from office soon after the death of Jesus and lived quietly on his farm near Galilee

[Jekyll]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

So ... let's see if I got this ... as patronizing as it is ...

if someone who disagrees w/ your worldview is vocal ...

they must be antagonistic to THE STRUCTURE ... and cant obviously be taken SERIOUSLY ...

and if anyone does agree with this pariah it will just amount to some GHETTO 'feel good' session ....

Does that about sum it up, JEK?

No, someone starts a thread admonishing ethics, morals, and using Godly wisdom and character...

YOU start a thread in the total opposite direction...it's not even from an original motive...

The reason it can't be taken seriously is because of the tired old voice equating boundaries with cultism

Tell me you don't ever have a feel good session when everyone is slapping you on the back, "way to give it the old goats..."


Please tell me you've had em slap you on the back at LEAST once...

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

You should enjoy it like they do at the ole ball park

He serves em up and I knock em out of the park...easy as pie...

GO GET 'EM TIGER ....

[Jekyll]

Originally Posted by Berkeley

Exactly...

Sox pitching staff serves em, Yankee lineup eats em

[Jekyll]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

GO GET 'EM TIGER ....

Well, yeah, it's even easier than that...

[berkeley]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

Exactly...

Sox pitching staff serves em, Yankee lineup eats em

I resent that!!

[Jekyll]

Okay, gents, had enough batting practice for the day, get to join the real world for awhile...

DA, go rest that tired arm.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

Tell me you don't ever have a feel good session when everyone is slapping you on the back, "way to give it the old goats..."


Please tell me you've had em slap you on the back at LEAST once...

Why the INSISTENCE????

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Jekyll

Okay, gents, had enough batting practice for the day, get to join the real world for awhile...

DA, go rest that tired arm.

Sure ... GRANDPA. Go take your afternoon nap ...