Blind eyewitness

Today’s Reading: John 11:49-50 (NIV)

49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than the whole nation perish.”

Good morning!

For Joseph Caiaphas, being the Chief Priest and bottle washer at the temple had its advantages. I would imagine he grew up surrounded by affluence and wealth. Placed in charge of the temple treasury, many of the Jewish Sadducees looked to Caiaphas for the protection of their personal interests. They must have liked the job he was doing, for he served in office almost nineteen years. Caiaphas knew about Jesus of Nazareth. One could not help but listen to His amazing teaching. Caiaphas observed the growing number of faithful groupies who had left their livelihoods and families to follow this man all around Galilee. The brotherhood was becoming quite a bitter bunch; gossip and harsh words were echoing in the hallways of the temple courts. They looked to Caiaphas for a solution to this problem. Have you ever resented someone so much that you wished He were dead?

Ironically, there were many who truly believe they are keeping the letter of the law as handed down through their forefather Moses. God-fearing Jews didn’t like it one bit when Jesus suggested that if a person had lustful thoughts for another, they had already committed adultery in their hearts. Ouch! Does this mean that if you were plotting to find a way to rid yourself of a man you didn’t like, under Jesus’ teaching, would you be guilty of murder, for simply having thought about it?

Caiaphas was an eyewitness to God made man but he was blinded to the truth. When Caiaphas spoke a word of prophecy over Jesus’ life, he didn’t even realize who had given him the word. Caiaphas said, “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than the whole nation perish.” He had absolutely no idea what the implications of this statement would mean for the world, and how one man’s death and resurrection would forever change the course of human history.

Hanging out in the city of spiritual blindness is a dangerous place to live. Like Joseph Caiaphas, we are all eyewitnesses to the Truth. How is your vision today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

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