Well, here I was, all set to post about Peter's denial and then I listened to MacArthur's sermon on that passage ~ because, as I mentioned in the comments on Friday's post, I've come to love all the history and cultural stuff that he always presents in his messages ~ and I got side-tracked by some more fascinating stuff I never knew before. (Man, this guy just feeds the geek in me like you would not believe!!) ** Good thing I didn't post about Peter's denial ~ that's tomorrow's reading!! **
He goes through a lot of detail explaining how there can be two "high priests" when Mosaic Law only allows one. Evidently, Rome wanted to control that office so they could better control the people, so they hand-picked who they wanted serving in that office, but that didn't really remove power from the official Aaronic high priest. So that's why we have both Annas and Caiaphas being referred to as holding this office. Caiaphas was appointed by Rome, and therefore Annas was most likely the true high priest of Israel.
What's interesting about Annas is the career choice he made after Rome removed him from his official position:
Now when Annas got bounced around 15 A.D., he took over running the concessions in the temple and Annas was an operator.
[These] were concessions having to do with the sale of animals for sacrifices. When people came to make their sacrifices, they came into the outer court called "The Court of the Gentiles," and there were all these concession booths set up for the exchange of money because they would have to pay a temple tax. And if they brought in foreign currency, of course, they had to exchange it. Also, they came in there to make sacrifices. Well, Annas had a monopoly going. Because the Old Testament law required that any sacrifice be without spot and blemish, and all the details. Annas has stationed in there certain guys who are inspectors of sacrifices. And the sacrifice must pass the inspection before it can be legitimized.
Naturally, nobody's sacrifice ever passes. And so what happens is the suggestion is made that if you want a sacrifice that's already been approved, they're for sale over at the certain booth in the Court of the Gentiles. And you go over there and you buy it at five times the price it's worth. And then, of course, when you come in and you attempt to change your money to give your money to the temple, you find that you are cheated about five to one. And so, Annas has got a real good thing going.
Now, as history indicated to us... at least one Passover time had a quarter of a million sacrificial lambs. That's a lot of money. That's quite a business. And Annas had made his money on extortion.
Now... guess who had twice messed up his operation? None other than Jesus who when He began His ministry went in there and chased everybody out and evidently did it again at the close of His ministry. This did not make Him very popular with Annas.Interesting little tidbits, no? I also find the fact that Caiaphas prophesies regarding the saving death of Christ to be so satisfying! Just like Balaam blessing Israel in the book of Numbers when he'd been paid to curse them, God again uses a wicked man to prophesy to His glory. Boy, if he'd only known!!
Maybe this doesn't grip you the way it does me, but I dunno ~ when I heard this section of MacArthur's message, I got GOOSEBUMPS!!!! I mean, we can already see God's hand working in and through these events, but it is absolutely mind-blowing (for my little mind, anyway!) how much deeper it goes than what we actually read.
But the one detail that MacArthur highlights that REALLY took my breath away is found only in John's account. In each of the other gospels, the story of Jesus' betrayal and arrest follows the same pattern: the angry mob, the kiss, the ear, the arrest. John's narrative begins with the angry mob, sort of skims over the traitorous kiss, and then there's a little verbal exchange between Jesus and the mob before Peter hacks off the guard's ear.
Check this out:
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, "Who is it you want?"
"Jesus of Nazareth" they replied.
"I am he," Jesus said, (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.)
When Jesus said, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:4-6)
WOW. Jesus opens His mouth and THEY ARE LITERALLY SWEPT OFF THEIR FEET!! All He did was say three little words, and they drop to the ground. This is nothing less than the awesome, unfathomable power of God!! He displays it again moments later when He creates an ear for the unfortunate Malchus, who loses it when Peter attempts to take his life. John does such a great job of making sure we see God's absolute power and sovereignty here!
But this, in turn, highlights the absolute blindness of hatred and unbelief. How does the mob react after they've been thrown to the ground by the power of Jesus' voice, and then witnessed him creating a new ear? They continue with the arrest as if nothing has happened. It's like they didn't even notice. But before we come down too hard on this unbelieving, hateful group of men, I wonder how many times we ~ we, who claim we DO believe and love Him ~ actually act like what Christ did for us was incredible, extra-ordinary, and unfathomable?
I don't know about you, but I find these little details extremely convicting at times. But not only that, I think they're fascinating and so very reassuring at the same time. To see the extent to which God orchestrates events and details in the lives of believers and unbelievers alike to ultimately display His glory is just mind-blowing! The Psalmist indeed has good cause to say,
"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom."
(Ps. 145:3)
Tomorrow's passages: Mark 14:53-15:1; Matthew 26:57-27:10; Luke 22:54-71; John 18:25-27
1 comment:
Very cool insights!
I had heard about the dual high priests and the extortion gig, but I had never noticed the falling down reaction before!
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