"Good for the People"

 

"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 Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people."

 

            Who was Caiaphas? He was the high priest for 18 years, and for 10 of those years Pilate was the Roman in charge. That was a long time to be high priest, because the Romans had a habit of removing high priests from office, often after only a year. As soon as Pilate was deposed as governor, Caiaphas was removed as well. Caiaphas seems to be a weak and compromised person. Both Jewish and Roman writing at the time indicated that neither Pilate nor the Jewish priests of the house of Annas were admirable people. Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, and he had been high priest and then removed, but it seems the real power was still in his hands. After all, they took Jesus first to Annas, and then to Caiaphas. And Annas had five sons, all of whom were high priests at some time.

 Caiaphas is the one who decided that it would be good if one man died for the people. By that he meant that if Jesus were removed, then the people would quiet down and Pilate would not be so nervous or stressed and Rome would allow them to continue an uneasy peace for the time under its watchful eye. At a deeper level, he did not know what he was saying: "It is good for the people if Jesus dies." For if Jesus dies, then the people who believed in him would be forgiven of sin, and Jesus would be lifted up and return to the Father.

            John brings a unique perspective to his telling of the events of the cross of Jesus. He omits some of the things the other Gospels have, and he adds a few details they do not tell. For one thing, John is careful to name names . . . Annas, Caiaphas, Judas, Peter, Malchus, and it will continue. Those who bear responsibility for the death of Jesus will be named and remembered. When there is injustice done, it is important to be specific, to tell the names and the deeds.

            But John omits some of the events that the others include, because John wants us to keep our focus on Jesus, and he wants us to trust in Jesus, even in the midst of this chaos and violence. Jesus is in control, even though it might appear quite the opposite. Those who seem to be powerful actually have very little power at all. The world is not in charge of our salvation. So John omits some details to help us see clearly.

            After the long discourse and prayer in chapters 14-17, Jesus and the disciples cross the valley and go to the garden, where they were staying. During Passover, there were so many people in the city that there was not room for everyone. Yet the Law stated that you must stay in Jerusalem throughout the Passover celebration. So they enlarged the boundaries of Jerusalem during Passover, and many people simply slept outside. That is what Jesus and the disciples did; they were camped out in the garden of Gethsemane.

            Judas knew that, so it was easy for him to lead some soldiers, officials and Pharisees there. They came with lanterns and torches in case Jesus was hiding and they would have to hunt for him. That was not necessary. John omits the kiss from Judas. He diminishes Judas' role, because Jesus is not tricked here. Jesus knows what is to happen, and he controls the events.

            Jesus meets the soldiers and asks them who they want. When they ask for Jesus of Nazareth, he responds "I am he," which can be read simply "I am." It is the divine name. I am the bread of life. I am the living water. I am the good shepherd. I am the vine. All of those refer to the name of God, the great I Am, revealed to Moses in the desert. Now Jesus uses the power of the Name of God, and the soldiers fall back. In doing this Jesus protects the disciples from arrest.

            Although the soldiers come armed, expecting trouble, only one of the followers of Jesus fights back. Peter almost gets himself killed by using a sword, by trying to protect Jesus. But Jesus does not want to fight his way to freedom. He does not want his disciples to be slaughtered or arrested in the garden. The hour has come. Peter, trying to help Jesus, is in the way of God's will. He is not listening. He goes from swordfighting to denial in the next few hours. Jesus does not need the power of Peter. Jesus tells Peter to put the sword away. It is time to drink the cup given by the Father.

            So they arrested him. They bound him. That was not necessary. The soldiers and officials took on the appearance of power, but they were not powerful. Jesus gave his life, it was not taken from him.

            You can read these events leading to the cross in different ways. It is easy to lose focus. Peter wants to meet power with his power, to save Jesus. Judas wants to control events. It may look like the Romans are fully in charge, making a victim of Jesus, bringing a good man to an unjust death. It may seem like the conspiracy of religious leaders has been successful, that another prophetic voice is stilled. But John wants us to keep our focus on Jesus. He shows us that the power belongs to Jesus, even in the hour. Jesus does not die a victim. God is not defeated at the cross. Jesus is lifted up.

            When life is shaking and out of control, you have a choice. You can focus on what seems random and live in fear of what might happen next. You can focus on the apparent power of evil and be sure of your defeat. You can focus on Jesus and place your trust in him. Jesus is not being defeated on the cross. Jesus is not a victim of injustice, rather he is bringing justice and righteousness to the world. Caiaphas and Pilate are not in control, winning a victory for Roman ends. Jesus is moving to victory, even in the midst of chaos and violence.

            When life is shaking and out of control, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace."

            I have been reading a popular book these days, a nonfiction book titled "Unbroken." It is a World War II story, about some pilots who crash at sea and drift for 46 days in a life raft, with sharks circling the whole time, without food supplies or water, and even fired upon by a Japanese plane, punching bullet holes in their raft. And through their ordeal, it is the strand of faith and the presence of God that pulls them through. They could have given in completely to fear. They could have given up and let the sea swallow them. It is not told as a Christian story, but it is clear that through it all they keep praying, they keep looking for God to save them. And God responds.

            So John brings us to the cross of Jesus, and in the midst of the terror of those days, he wants us to focus on Jesus. He wants us to see the savior, to understand the cross as the way to God, the way to our salvation, the way to resurrection. Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

            When you are afraid, don't trust in Judas, who runs for his own safety. When you are afraid, do not trust your own strength like Peter, who thinks his sword can defeat the army. Do not be fooled by the worldly power of Pilate and Caiaphas, who promise safety through compromise and conspiracy. When you are afraid, look to the Savior. Trust the one whose death was for the good of the people.

            Amen.