Father-in-Law 04/07/2021

Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people. [John 18:12‭-‬14 NIV]

Again it is only John who provides us with this detail. There is something strange going on. Why is Jesus taken to the father-in-law first before he is taken to the high priest?

John the writer was, in some way, connected with the priesthood at that time. He seems to have insider knowledge.

Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest’s courtyard, [John 18:15 NIV]

This has led some scholars to suggest that the writer of the fourth Gospel was not the brother of James and the son of Zebedee. This apparently trivial remark might give us a clue that John is from Judea not Galilee where the 12 apostles came from.

Again, I am indebted to Richard Bauckham for giving me some insight into the historical background to this incident. There is a powerful family dynasty in control of the Jewish religious life. Caiaphas owes his position as high priest to his wife. He had made a shrewd move in marrying the daughter of Annas. He is now enjoying the status and power of high priest. But Annas has still considerable authority. This family continued to dominate the religious political scene in Jerusalem in the first century AD. Bauckham claims that it was this family who were responsible for persecuting the Jerusalem Christian community. James, the brother of Jesus was executed in AD 62 and the high priest was a son of this same man Annas (Ananus II).

Again, this might explain why John is able to provide more detail and to name Annas and Caiaphas as the religious leaders responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. Again, when Mark followed by Matthew and Luke were writing their accounts, it was not safe to mention these men by name. It was OK to blame Pontius Pilate who lost office in 37 AD and his reputation was in tatters not long after the death of Jesus.

To move from history to spiritual matters, it is worth reflecting that God used shrewd political operators to fulfil his plan. These men were self-seeking and ruthless but God permitted them to carry out their schemes. Our God is in control of human history and even the despots are allowed to operate within his plan. However, my reading of the Old Testament prophets would lead me to the firm belief that God will hold them to account for their actions. They may deceive themselves into thinking that they are not answerable to God but Psalm 2 reminds us that God is sovereign and derides their puny efforts. The real throne-sitter laughs, scoffs at them, rebukes them and terrifies them (Psalm 2:4-5).

God even gives Caiaphas an understanding that Jesus death was necessary. Caiaphas is not a Godly man nor is he even remotely aware of the deep spiritual significance of his statement that it was necessary for one person to lose his life on behalf of the nation. He is trying to appease the ruthless oppressive Roman rulers and sees that it is expedient or necessary for Jesus to die. Little did he know that in the divine plan of salvation devised in eternity, the death of Jesus, God's own Son was ordained as an absolute necessity. Apart from this sacrifice, the human race was doomed to eternal banishment from God's presence.

Christ before Caiaphas by Matthias Storm - Public Domain. From Wikipedia.