“So the soldiers, their commanding officer, and the Temple guards arrested Jesus and tied him up. First they took him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest at that time. Caiaphas was the one who had told the other Jewish leaders, “It’s better that one man should die for the people.””
John 18:12-14 NLT
The historical account of Jesus’ arrest was well documented in the Gospels, with each Gospel writer adding snippets of information to build an overall picture of the events that weekend. Over the years following the death and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples would have perhaps occasionally relaxed and chatted together, going over the events and sharing the details, much in the Jewish way, where fathers shared an important event with their children who in turn did the same with theirs. And then it was all written down under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit who would have brought to their remembrance what He wanted recorded. With the benefit of hindsight, John remembered what the High Priest, Caiaphas, had said in an earlier meeting of Jewish leaders. In John 11:49-52 we read, “Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world”. This would have been remarkable prophecy if it had been related to Jesus and His mission of salvation, but Caiaphas and the other Jewish leaders were more interested in their own cosy lives, and didn’t want anything to rock their boat and cause them personal loss and difficulties. So, they wanted Jesus out of the way, preferably dead, in case He was in the process of leading a rebellion to overthrow the Romans. Caiaphas probably never realised the significance of what he was saying, and the difficulties he was afraid of in fact materialised just a few years later in AD 70 when the Temple was destroyed by a besieging Roman army.
For us pilgrims, the death and resurrection of Jesus forms the bedrock of our faith. No other religion can claim that their god came to earth, where he took on the sins of his followers. No other religion has the power to grant eternal life to all those who believe in the One who created the entire Universe. We read again God’s mission statement, voiced by Jesus in a conversation with a Jewish leader called Nicodemus. “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). An all-inclusive statement that embraced all humanity regardless of skin colour, nationality, ethnic origin, sex and genetic makeup. The only criteria to be applied was the people’s belief in Jesus. A belief that went beyond a superficial acknowledgement of a God’s existence and instead placed Him firmly and unequivocally in a central position in our lives. Today, we pilgrims also believe in Jesus, with a faith that knows no doubts, with a faith that has transformed our very lives and with a faith that will carry us to our Heavenly home one day.
Dear Lord Jesus. You came to this world for the people, those who God loved so much. We are so grateful. Amen.
Being a Pilgrim 