Scripture
Then those who had seized Jesus led him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered. And Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and going inside he sat with the guards to see the end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” (Matthew 26:57-66 ESV)
Devotional
Caiphas was the Jewish High Priest from AD18-36. Being the high priest was a full time calling. For 2,000 years, the high priest had been responsible for overseeing the worship of God by His people. He was the only one allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies (the presence of God) and offer sacrifices for his sins and the sins of the people. The high priest was the mediator between people and God.
Caiphas served in his role through much of Jesus’ life. He was the highest-ranking of the Sadducees. He had the favor of both the Jews and Rome.
So when Jesus enters the scene, claiming to be the Son of God who can save the people of God, Caiphas is immediately threatened. Up until the arrival of Jesus, Caiphas was the only one who could provide this kind of access to God.
To Caiphas, Jesus was a disruption to the status quo. He was a challenger to Caiphas’ vocation. He wasn’t there trying to invite people into a new religion or sect. Jesus was there to invite people into a true relationship with the God of the universe.
What kind of disruption did Jesus bring to the religious order?
Jesus disrupts power and influence.
Religious leaders at the time (e.g. Caiphas) had position amongst the people. They had official titles and specific roles. They were the ones the Jewish people turned to in order to follow God. But Jesus came in and invited people to something new. He went beyond the surface level behavior modification of religion and healed deeper through relationship. Where religion wants to clean us up, Jesus wants to make us new.
Jesus disrupts our access to God.
For at least 2,000 years, communion and connection with God happened only through the work of the high priest. There was literally a giant curtain in the temple separating the Holy of Holies (where God resided) and everyone else. The high priest was the only one with access. Until Jesus steps in and makes a way for us to God. Jesus has become our High Priest. He has given us access to God.
Jesus disrupts the separation of sin. He is the final sacrifice.
In almost all religions, the only way to get to God is through ceremony and ritual. That was way the whole Old Testament sacrificial system worked. When you sinned, you had to make sacrifices based on the level of your sin. When you sinned again, you had to do it again. The Jewish system was incomplete. But Jesus paid our sin once and for all. When he hangs his head and says “It is finished,” (John 19:30), the atonement for our sin is complete.
To know Jesus as our Great High Priest is to have true access to God that is always immediately available to us.
Caiphas served in his role through much of Jesus’ life. He was the highest-ranking of the Sadducees. He had the favor of both the Jews and Rome.
So when Jesus enters the scene, claiming to be the Son of God who can save the people of God, Caiphas is immediately threatened. Up until the arrival of Jesus, Caiphas was the only one who could provide this kind of access to God.
To Caiphas, Jesus was a disruption to the status quo. He was a challenger to Caiphas’ vocation. He wasn’t there trying to invite people into a new religion or sect. Jesus was there to invite people into a true relationship with the God of the universe.
What kind of disruption did Jesus bring to the religious order?
Jesus disrupts power and influence.
Religious leaders at the time (e.g. Caiphas) had position amongst the people. They had official titles and specific roles. They were the ones the Jewish people turned to in order to follow God. But Jesus came in and invited people to something new. He went beyond the surface level behavior modification of religion and healed deeper through relationship. Where religion wants to clean us up, Jesus wants to make us new.
Jesus disrupts our access to God.
For at least 2,000 years, communion and connection with God happened only through the work of the high priest. There was literally a giant curtain in the temple separating the Holy of Holies (where God resided) and everyone else. The high priest was the only one with access. Until Jesus steps in and makes a way for us to God. Jesus has become our High Priest. He has given us access to God.
Jesus disrupts the separation of sin. He is the final sacrifice.
In almost all religions, the only way to get to God is through ceremony and ritual. That was way the whole Old Testament sacrificial system worked. When you sinned, you had to make sacrifices based on the level of your sin. When you sinned again, you had to do it again. The Jewish system was incomplete. But Jesus paid our sin once and for all. When he hangs his head and says “It is finished,” (John 19:30), the atonement for our sin is complete.
To know Jesus as our Great High Priest is to have true access to God that is always immediately available to us.
"Religion wants to clean us up.
Jesus wants to make us new."
Pastor Mike
Go Deeper
As a church, we've been walking through the Last 24 Hours of Jesus' life for the past several weeks. Watch the full message below.