Tue, 28 March, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.

John 18:12-14

¹² So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³ First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

Jesus is about to stand trial before the Jewish religious leaders who have arrested Him. They take Him to the home of the high priest’s father-in-law. John reminds us of the high priest’s statement, “It is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish“.

What do we learn from this?

John tells us that even though the high priest was not a believer, in his position as high priest, God used him to prophesy about Jesus’ death.

God can, and does use those who are not His people to accomplish His purposes. He does not limit Himself to only working through His own people, but He uses all people and events to accomplish His ends.

We see this not only in the words of the unbelieving high priest, but also in the actions here in this chapter. The high priest is consenting to the execution of Jesus Christ, an evil act that accomplishes God’s intended purpose of the salvation of His people. God uses the sins of this unbelieving religious leader to do exactly what He wants to have happen in the world.

Where is Christ in this passage?

The high priest prophesied that Jesus died for the whole nation. John tells us that Jesus’ atoning work is not limited to ethnic Israel: … not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. Jesus death is to save His people from all time, and from all nations.