Unearthly interest in Jesus

Luke 23:6-17

The high priest Joseph Caiaphas, known simply as Caiaphas has an unearthly interest in Jesus, he and his cronies are in Jesus’ face often, and one must understand it’s a social and financial interest.  They are the big dogs, they live in nice homes, they have power, and they keep a good relationship with their enemies the Romans.  It’s a do not rock the boat mentality and as you know Truth or Jesus, often rocks the boat.  In fact, Caiaphas was given the job of high priest according to Josephus, Caiaphas was appointed in AD 18 by the Roman prefect who preceded Pilate, Valerius Gratus.

The name Truth and Jesus is interchangeable, in that Jesus witnessed to the following about Himself; “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6b)  This statement alone troubles a culture like the one we live in, and yet we find ourselves in good company, for it also has bothered many since the day Jesus spoke those words.  If you are honest and a thinker you must ask why, and the only answer is that they have come up with their own plan.  O foolish one, the God who is, has spoken these words; “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are you ways my ways, declares the Lord.”  It not your job to understand how God is going to save the one who has not heard the gospel, it is your duty to act on the knowledge you have been given.

It is clear that Pilate is a politician and my definition of a politician is double-minded.  A double-minded person is someone who will not act on core values or has none, and is someone who is constantly living in a state of compromise.  That is Pilate in a nutshell and it describes most of our congress and senators.  So what does a Pilate do, he passes the buck, Jesus is a Galilean so Pilate who detest Herod, sends him to Herod who was in Jerusalem that day.

Now this is the same Herod who chopped off the head of John the Baptist, so the Jewish leaders have no problem with Pilate’s order, and they now are standing with a friend outwardly, but like Pilate they despise Herod.  For Herod it is a great honor that Pilate would think of him and he has heard so much about Jesus and is hoping to see Jesus do a miracle. 

But Jesus fulfilled the Scriptures as stated in Isaiah 53:7, “He was oppressed, and he was 

afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a 

sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”  I’m sure this was a 

big bummer for Herod, no show, no begging, just silence on Jesus’ part.  But doctor Luke 

tells us the following, “The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 

And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying 

him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends 

with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other.”   

(Luke 23:10-12 ESV)

Now Jesus is being sent back to that worm Pilate, and this is Luke’s account, 

“Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.”  (Luke 23:13-16 ESV)

Tomorrow we will look at more of the story.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice