ISSUE: Whether or not it was
the priest and the scribes that killed Jesus
Undoubtedly, it was stated categorically
clear and beyond every reasonable doubt that the priests and the scribes or
elders killed Jesus. Who are these priest and scribes?
According to the Chambers
Dictionary 21stCentury, it defined the “scribes” as the “Jewish lawyers”. They are the ones who are servants in the
temple of justice just like our today’s Barristers and judges.
The above
was made clear in the Bible Book of Matthew
Section 26 (3) and (4)
which states respectively that “then the chief priest and the elders met
together in the palace of the high priest
“Caiaphas” and made plans to arrest
Jesus secretly and put him to death”.
Also the book of Mark Section 14
(1) states “after two days to the feast of Passover, the
chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him (Jesus) by craft
and put him to death” (KJV).
This was
equally emphasized by the book of Luke
Section 22 (1) and (2) (page 944 Good News Bible) and I quote “The time was new for the festival of
unleaved bread which is called Passover, the
chief priest and teachers of the law (scribes) were afraid of the people
and so they were trying to find a way of putting Jesus to death secretly”.
It is
clear from the above mentioned authorities of the Bible, that the
priest and the scribes has always
been on the verge of Jesus death and the most prominent amongst
them is Caiaphas. The question here is WHO IS THIS CAIAPHAS? (John section 11 (49).
According to the above book of the Bible Caiaphas is the “HIGH PRIEST” caiaphas had a privileged position. He is a supreme political operator and one of
the most influential men in Jerusalem. He had already survived 18 years as the
High Priest of the temple while other high priests only lasted for four (4)
years.
He had
built a strong alliance with the people by occupying Roman power. Caiaphas knew everybody that mattered. He was
the de-facto ruler of the whole Jewish community. The case against him is that
he collaborated with the scribes and the elders to the arrest Jesus, tried Him
(Jesus) in a kangaroo court and sentenced him to death on a false religious
charge that carried death penalty.
WHAT
WERE CAIAPHAS MOTIVES?
Caiaphas had hidden motives and
agendas. Jesus threatened his authority and Caiaphas could not allow any
preacher to get away with challenging his authority, especially not during the
feast of Passover. This Passover was the
biggest feast of the Jewish people and so many people including scholars
estimated to be over two and half million would have been in Jerusalem to take
part in the feast. Caiaphas did not want to be embarrassed.