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Humble Hero
To stir up the Romans against Him, the Pharisees had claimed
that He was trying to undermine Roman authority. They had tried
every false accusation to cut Him off from influencing the people.
But their attempts had failed. The crowds who witnessed His works
and heard His pure teachings knew that these were not the deeds and
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words of a Sabbath breaker or blasphemer. In desperation, the Jews
had finally passed a decree that anyone who professed faith in Jesus
would be expelled from the synagogue.
So Pharisees and Sadducees were more nearly united than ever
before. They became one in their opposition to Christ.
At this time the Sanhedrin was not a legal assembly. It existed
only by tolerance. Some of its members questioned the wisdom of
putting Christ to death. They feared that this would stir up a revolt.
The Sadducees, united with the priests in hating Christ, wanted to
be cautious, fearing that the Romans would take away their high
standing.
How the Holy Spirit Tried to Help Them
In this council, assembled to plan the death of Christ, the Witness
who had heard the boastful words of Nebuchadnezzar and witnessed
the idolworshiping feast of Belshazzar was now impressing the
rulers with the work they were doing. Events in the life of Christ
rose up before their minds so distinctly that they were alarmed.
They remembered when Jesus, as a child of twelve, stood before
the educated doctors of the law, asking questions that amazed them.
The miracle Jesus had just performed bore witness that He was none
other than the Son of God. Perplexed and troubled, the rulers asked,
“What shall we do?” There was a division in the council.
While the council was in its greatest perplexity, Caiaphas, the
high priest, arose. Proud and cruel, arrogant and intolerant, he spoke
with great authority and assurance: “You know nothing at all, nor
do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die
for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Even
if Jesus were innocent, He must be put out of the way. He was
lessening the authority of the rulers, and if the people were to lose
confidence in their rulers, the national power would be destroyed.
After this miracle, the followers of Jesus would likely rise in revolt.