Bone Box of the Rich and Famous

The contrast between the two men could not have been more striking. Caiaphas, the high priest, was among the rich and famous, arguably the most powerful Jew alive in A.D. 30. He had married into the high priest's family and now was himself high priest for a year by Roman appointment. With a PhD-level rabbinic education, Caiaphas was urbane and sophisticated.

His counterpart was said to be a craftsman from a hick town in the Galilee who some three years before had quit his job to take up preaching. He had no powerful connections; his popularity might be as fleeting as that of any of the other messianic pretenders succeeding each other year by year. Yet his miracles did arrest one's attention, and this latest one was outstanding. He had raised a dead man back to life in a suburb of Jerusalem where it could be witnessed by many from the Holy City--respected men whose testimony could not easily be set aside.

Caiaphas must have watched the hand-wringing of the council members with some amusement. It was perfectly clear to him what must be done. When he had enough of the unanswered questions and the shoulder-shrugging, he probably raised his hand demanding and receiving instant silence. "You know nothing at all!" he said. "You don't realize that it's better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish" (John 11:49-50).

Caiaphas's words ended all debate and set the course of official Jewry regarding the Nazarene. He must become the nation's sacrificial lamb. Caiaphas apparently never knew how prophetic his analysis was. Jesus truly was the sacrificial Lamb whose death benefited not only His nation, but all of humanity (1 John 2:2). Caiaphas's murder plot became the means by which God blessed the world.

In 1992 archaeologists announced they had discovered the ossuary (bone box) of the family of Caiaphas. This ornately carved, stone container is the only remaining memorial to the man most responsible for putting Jesus on the cross. His wealth is dissipated, his influence gone, his name all but forgotten. He could easily have been the model of the Nazarene's word-sculpture of a man who gained the whole world and lost his soul (Matt. 16:26).

Copyright ©2005 Steve Singleton, All rights reserved.

Steve Singleton has written and edited several books and numerous articles on subjects of interest to Bible students. He has taught Greek, Bible, and religious studies courses Bible college, university, and adult education programs. He has taught seminars and workshops in 11 states and the Caribbean.

Go to his DeeperStudy.org for Bible study resources, no matter what your level of expertise. Explore "The Shallows," plumb "The Depths," or use the well-organized "Study Links" for original sources in English translation. Sign up for Steve's free "DeeperStudy Newsletter."

---

How to Pray and Receive a New Car - Within 4 Weeks!

Last month, one of my readers needed a new car.... Read More

What to Expect From the Next Transformation

â??Now is the time for all good men to come... Read More

Anamchara - The Value of Ritual

Let me explain my approach to the practice of ritual.... Read More

Unfinished Business (Part 2)

We know that David did much to stabilize the Kingdom... Read More

By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them

Military personnel at a U.S. prison in Guantanamo, Bay, Cuba... Read More

The Pizza Parable

Behold, a certain young maiden did often times and at... Read More

Discovery of the Soul

Imagine yourself marooned on a vast deserted island. You have... Read More

Midnight Songs

In life, sooner or later, we come to the midnight... Read More

A Dozen Facts of Life

1. Life is a precious gift given to us by... Read More

What Is A Power Song and Where Do I Get One?

All Shamans have several power songs because the vibration of... Read More

Living by Faith

Five verses specify that we are to live by faith.... Read More

Anam Cara - Life as a Box of Paints

Lonely Song"a box of paints - lament for my da"It... Read More

Oh, God. What Do I Do Now?

Uh, oh. I'm in trouble now. I found God. Now... Read More

Is There More To This Life?

I often ask myself this question. Not in the times... Read More

Hold On!

Job was a spiritual man who loved and obeyed God... Read More

Spring Cleanup

The junk I'm talking about is the stuff that we... Read More

Choosing Peace, One Shift at a Time

It doesn't matter what magazine or newspaper you pick up... Read More

Path to Healing

It is within us to... Read More

Wings of a Dove

Perhaps one of the most wonderful assertions that can be... Read More

Love, Honor, and Obey

Let's take a look at all these aspects. The bible... Read More

A Mothers Journey to Spiritual Surrender

I have studied many of the great Religions, Quantum Physics,... Read More

The S Word

We all sin. To avoid using the "s" word, we... Read More

God Versus the Gods

Aristotle referred to happiness as the most we can achieve.... Read More

Life Coaching and Beyond

In Corrogue the air is chill and the frost is... Read More

Kundalini and Enlightenment

We all hear of the concept of the "Enlightened Master",... Read More

Will the Angels Abandon Us?

If we don't behave according to a specific church's doctrine,... Read More

All One; All Different -- Addressing Spiritual Reductionism

"We're one, but we are not the same."-Bono, U2Once I... Read More

Origin of Certain Thoughts (Part II)

Continued from "Origin of Certain Thoughts, Part I"If you haven't... Read More

Faerie Wisdom

Spirit DancerThe spirit dancer is the card of creative expression.... Read More

Will the World Really End on December 12, 2012?

I was recently asked how I interpreted the Mayan and... Read More

Your Artistic Talent as a Weapon

Your creative gift has power.God was the first and still... Read More

Understanding the Tarot Card Deck - Part 1

One of the first steps toward understanding the Tarot lies... Read More

Building the Bridge of LOVE - Dont You Think Its time?

One of the saddest times in any child's life is... Read More