atent. They perceived that in this
respect Jesus answered so perfectly to the popular conception of what
the Messiah was to be, that it was quite likely He would win the
multitude to belief in Him as the long-looked-for King of the Jews. But
if there were any such popular enthusiasm aroused, and loudly declared,
then the Romans would interfere, and, as they said, "come and take away
both our place and nation." They felt themselves in a great difficulty,
and looked upon Jesus as one of those fatal people who arise to thwart
the schemes of statesmen, and spoil well-laid plans, and introduce
disturbing elements into peaceful periods.

Caiaphas, astute and unscrupulous, takes a more practical view of
things, and laughs at their helplessness. "Why!" he says, "do you not
see that this Man, with His _eclat_ and popular following, instead of
endangering us and bringing suspicion on our loyalty to Rome, is the
very person we can use to exhibit our fidelity to the Empire. Sacrifice
Jesus, and by His execution you will not merely clear the nation of all
suspicion of a desire to revolt and found a kingdom under Him, but you
will show such a watchful zeal for the integrity of the Empire as will
merit applause and confidence from the jealous power of Rome." Caiaphas
is the type of the bold, hard politician, who fancies he sees more
clearly than all others, because he does not perplex himself by what
lies below the surface, nor suffer the claims of justice to interfere
with his own advantage. He looks at everything from the point of view of
his own idea and plan, and makes everything bend to that. He had no idea
that in making Jesus a scapegoat he was tampering with the Divine
purposes.

John, however, in looking back upon this council, sees that this bold,
unflinching diplomatist, who supposed he was moving Jesus and the
council and the Romans as so many pieces in his own game, was himself
used as God's mouthpiece to predict the event which brought to a close
his own and all other priesthood. In the strange irony of events he was
unconsciously using his high-priestly office to lead forward that one
Sacrifice which was for ever to take away sin, and so to make all
further priestly office superfluous. Caiaphas saw and said that it was
expedient that one man die for the nation; but, as in all prophetic
utterance, so in these words, says John, a very much deeper sense lay
than was revealed by their primary application. It is, says John,