John 18:12-14--Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas

John 18:12-14
English Standard Version

Jesus Faces Annas and Caiaphas​
12 So the band of soldiers and their captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound him. 13 First they led him to Annas, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it would be expedient that one man should die for the people.

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Just a couple verses today as I get ready for Sunday School and Sunday morning worship service.  These verses indicate some of the politics that were at play in the arrest of Jesus where, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."  We see a band of presumably Roman soldiers and officers from the Temple guard and officials of the Jews (probably meaning representatives of the Sanhedrin) together to arrest Jesus.  The immediately bind him and take Him to the the father-in-law of the high priest for trial.

Why take Him to Annas when Annas has no biblical authority to hold the trial?  Because this is about politics more than it is about law and justice, and Annas, the former high priest, is the one who still is politically connected.  His son-in-law Caiaphas who is supposed to serving as high priest that year doesn't seem to be trusted with the important duties and responsibilities by his father-in-law.  Because this is a trial not grounded in the Law, it is shown to be a setup from the beginning.

We then see an interesting reminder from John about the fact that Caiaphas had unwittingly made a prophecy by the power of the Holy Spirt regarding the reason and purpose for the death of Jesus.  Recall that after raising Lazarus from the dead, some of the people went and told the Pharisees about it and this was the conversation that followed:

John 11:47-52
English Standard Version
​47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

So, John wants to remind us of this before the trial and the execution that these men who seem to be working against God are accomplishing God's good purposes anyways and that something bigger and more important is going on here--the salvation of not just the Jews, but of all the Elect--past, present and future.