Thursday | 12 November 2026
Christ’s journey as an offering for sin took Him from the garden of Gethsemane to the court of Caiaphas, who was the high priest that year. About a month earlier, in response to the resurrection of Lazarus, the chief priests and the Pharisees had gathered a council. They were concerned that if Jesus was left alone, everyone would believe in Him on account of the many signs that He had done. They were afraid that the Romans would come and take away their place and their nation. Joh 11:47‑48.
At that time, Caiaphas responded to them, saying, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’ Joh 11:49‑50. The apostle John noted that Caiaphas did not say this on his own authority. Rather, enabled by the Holy Spirit, and according to his mandate as the high priest, Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation and that, through this offering, He would gather in one body the children of God who were scattered abroad. Joh 11:51‑52.
It is amazing to consider that, by the Holy Spirit, Caiaphas prophesied what was true. However, his motive for this expression was self‑centred and self‑preserving; it was motivated by sin. When Jesus appeared before him, Caiaphas said, ‘I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ Caiaphas was inquiring as to whether Jesus was ‘the Man whose name is the BRANCH’, who would ‘build the temple of the LORD’, spoken of by the prophet Zechariah. Zec 6:12. Jesus responded to Caiaphas, saying, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Mat 26:64.
Further Study:
John 11
References:
Joh 11:47-52
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.’ And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’ Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
Zec 6:12
Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the LORD.”’
Mat 26:64
Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’