Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Trial Before the High Priests

He was subjected to blasphemies and insults for speaking the truth. But he knew that they weren’t able to understand the truth. To look at whom they see as a shameful individual and see the glory of God in him? They could not. Now, Jesus asks us, His followers, to see the glory of God in people and situations that are shameful around us. Can we open our eyes and see the work of God?

Bonaventure correctly acknowledges that the trial before Annas is the facedown between two High Priests—one worthy, one corrupted. One who speaks the truth, one who cannot hear the truth spoken. One of the old world that is passing away, one of the new world that is coming.

It is interesting to note that Bonaventure mixes together Jesus’ confrontation before Annas and his meeting with Caiaphas and the council. Annas was the high priest before Caiaphas, before the Romans forced him to step down. John has a confrontation before both high priests, giving a complete rejection of Jesus by all the rulers of the Jewish people. But still, the two trials should be kept separately. Annas’ is unofficial, but significant for the future of the temple (as he gained the high priesthood back again), but Caiaphas’ is official and the ultimate rejection of Jesus.

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