Caiaphas

From We Were There

By Sarah A. O'Malley and Robert D. Elmer

CAlAPHAS:     Annas, my father-in-law, sent Jesus to me with clear instructions: "Caiaphas, you know what you must do. He is a dangerous man."  That crafty old fox, Annas, had spies watching Jesus for months. Finally they gathered enough evidence to arrest him and to send him to me for a trial. What caught the attention of Annas and myself, of course, was his arrogance. The arrogance to drive the money-changers out of the temple; the arrogance to allow the people to shout "Son of David" when he entered Jerusalem. Then finally came the rumors that he claimed to be The Messiah. After questioning his disciple, Judas, we decided to arrest Jesus secretly at night, away from the crowds. If we didn't act soon this so-called Messiah could incite a revolution and bring the Roman Army crashing down upon us. No, no, it is better, far better that one man die than the nation be destroyed.

Then came the trial. The witnesses were confused and unconvincing. If there was ever a slim hope of convicting him, I had to confront him with the key question: "Are you the Messiah?" Had he said "no," he could have walked away. But the simple-minded Galilean openly stated, for all to hear, that he was the "Glorious Son of Man." He blasphemed! And for that, he signed his own death warrant.

What else could I do? Had you been high priest, would you have done differently?