258
The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
who did such marvelous works that all men wondered. Nicodemus
and Joseph had, in former councils, prevented the condemnation of
Jesus, and for this reason they were not summoned on this occasion.
Caiaphas, who acted as high priest that year, was a proud and cruel
man; he was by nature overbearing and intolerant; he had studied the
prophecies, and, although his mind was shrouded in darkness as to their
true meaning, he spoke with great authority and apparent knowledge.
As the priests and Pharisees were consulting together, some of
them said, “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him; and
the Romans shall come, and take away both our place and nation.”
Then Caiaphas spoke out loftily: “Ye know nothing at all, nor consider
that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and
that the whole nation perish not.” The voice of the high priest decided
the matter; even if Jesus was innocent, let him die; he was troublesome,
drawing the people to himself, and lessening the authority of the rulers.
He was only one, it was better that he should die, even though he was
guiltless, than that the power of the rulers should diminish. Caiaphas,
in declaring that one man should die for the nation, indicated that he
had some knowledge of the prophecies, although it was very limited;
but John in his account of this scene takes up the prophecy, and shows
its broad and deep significance in these words: “And not for that nation
[370]
only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God
that were scattered abroad.” How blindly did the haughty Caiaphas
acknowledge the mission of Jesus as a Redeemer!
Nearly all the council agreed with the high priest that it was the
wisest policy to Jesus to death. This decision having been made,
the question was still to be determined how it should be carried out.
They feared to take rash measures lest the people should become
incensed and the violence meditated toward Jesus should be visited
upon themselves. The Saviour was continually benefiting and teaching
the people, they knew him to be one without blame, and his influence
over them was very strong; it was on this account that the Pharisees
delayed to execute the sentence which they had pronounced against
him.
The Saviour understood the plottings of the priests against him; he
knew that they longed to remove him from their midst, and that their
wishes would soon be accomplished; but it was not his place to hasten
the culminating event, and he withdrew from that region, taking his