One Man to Die For the Entire Nation Today’s passage: Matthew 26:1–5, Mark 14:1–2, and John 11:45–57 Focus verse: [The religious leaders] schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. (Matthew 26:4) Jesus has wrapped up a lengthy teaching about the end times and his later return to earth. He shared two parables about the […]
John Bible Study, Day 20 Today’s passage: John 11:45–57 Focus verse: “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” (John 11:50) When Jesus’s friend Lazarus dies, Jesus goes to his grave and, with a dramatic flair, raises him from the […]
While we look at Caiaphas as instrumental in bringing about the decision that Jesus must die, it’s Pilate—occasionally called Pontius Pilate—who has the authority to make it happen. Though Caiaphas gets things rolling, Pilate—although he tries to stop Jesus’s execution—allows the proceedings to gather momentum. After arresting Jesus and deciding he must die, the religious […]
Annas is a priest, the father-in-law of another priest, Caiaphas. At various points they both serve as the high priest. As we read the narrative in the Bible, sometimes Annas is the high priest and other times Caiaphas is. Luke implies that the pair form an era of high-priesthood rule. Together they work as a […]
We recognize Caiaphas as a central player in the unethical, corrupt, and self-seeking plot that results in the crucifixion of Jesus. Caiaphas’s name shows up in the writings of Matthew, Luke, and John. Though we don’t know much about him, here’s what we are aware of. First, he’s the high priest—the main man—when the religious […]