The Betraying High Priest

The rulers of Israel had no charges to lay against the Lord Jesus, but they murdered Him anyway, because He is the Messiah, and they would not tolerate His rule over them.

Particularly evil was the betrayal by the High Priest, Caiaphas, of his people, his nation, and Messiah.

The High Priest was supposed to present offerings to God for the sin of the people. When the animal was sacrificed, the guilty hands were placed upon its head, signifying the plea to God, to judge and punish the people's sin in the animal.

The Scriptures declare that the priest was to make an atonement with the blood of the sacrifice, and God would forgive their sin.

There is an urgent example portrayed in Numbers, where God began to judge the people for their siding against God and with certain lawbreakers. Like a wave crossing through the throng, people fell dead as God's wrath passed over them.

Aaron as the High Priest ran into the midst of the crowd with a censer of fire from the altar, to make an atonement for the people. Rather than flee from the danger of God's judgment, Aaron showed himself faithful to represent the people before God, and to intercede for them with God. The judgment was cut short, and the people were forgiven and rescued from wrath.

But Caiaphas and the other priests did no such brave thing when they murdered Jesus. As Sadducees, they denied a physical resurrection, and took offence when Messiah started raising people from the dead!

Rather than correct their false doctrine, they decided to kill Jesus so that, they thought, they could stop Him from raising any more dead people from the grave.

Pilate saw immediately that they hated Jesus out of envy.