Why Annas and Caiaphas?

“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 Jews that it would be good if one man died for the people.” John 18:12-14

When Jesus was arrested the soldiers first took Him to Annas even though he was not the high priest. Annas was the father-in-law to Caiaphas who was the high priest. The Soldiers first brought Jesus to Annas because he was the one that controlled the priest hood. He had been the high priest and after his term was completed each of his sons served as the high priest. When their terms were completed then the office was passed on to his daughter’s husband, Caiaphas.

If Jesus had been a common criminal they would have taken Him immediately to Pilate and not bothered with the high priest. However, Jesus was not a common criminal and the accusations that were brought against Him were religious in nature. The Jewish law said that He should be tried before the Sanhedrin. Annas not only controlled the priesthood but he also controlled the Sanhedrin. He was the one that ordered Jesus arrest; he would be the one that would see that charges were brought against Him. Annas was the real authority behind the arrest of Jesus.

Annas and Caiaphas wanted Jesus arrested because He was bringing to light the corruption in the priesthood. Caiaphas had even gone so far as to make the prophecy that it would be better for one person to die rather than have the whole nation be destroyed. What he didn’t know was that what he had said was very prophetic. Jesus would die for the nation of Israel but He also would die for the entire world. Caiaphas did not know the truth of his statement.

Why were the religious leaders so intent on destroying Jesus? He not only challenged their authority but He challenged their practices. They had turned serving God into a business and they were profiting by their position.

Jesus told us that if we are going to be a ruler of all then we must be a servant. Jesus’ teaching went against everything that the world was teaching. The world said that rulers have servants but Jesus said that a ruler is a servant. Jesus’ taught that the way to greatness was through humility and service. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day could not accept that. They loved their position and they loved the honour that went with that position. For them to become a servant went against everything that they thought important.

Are we prepared to take on the role of a servant leader?