A Very Simple Compromise

[Christ4Ever]

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. 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." John 11:49-50 ESV

Insulting the intelligence of the high council, Caiaphas made a simple argument based on math. By killing one man, Jesus, the religious leaders could prevent Him from arousing suspicion from the Roman authorities. It was the simplest compromise to make, especially when he framed any alternatives as foolishness. The fear of appearing foolish and of risking the fate of their nation weighed heavily on these religious leaders, who reasoned that framing Jesus was in fact a way to preserve the greater good.

One little compromise can lead men to terrible places, as one deception builds on the other. Such retreats from truth and honesty rarely make things better or yield results even close to the original aims of those who make such calculations.

It is better to come clean today with your areas of compromise or deception than to allow them to fester and grow. Even if the math seems simple and the end result is a net good, beware of the ways that living in a falsehood can undermine even your best intentions.

Prayer: Jesus, You experienced the painful results of compromise. Guide me in the path of integrity in my decisions today.

 

[complete]

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. 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." John 11:49-50 ESV

Insulting the intelligence of the high council, Caiaphas made a simple argument based on math. By killing one man, Jesus, the religious leaders could prevent Him from arousing suspicion from the Roman authorities. It was the simplest compromise to make, especially when he framed any alternatives as foolishness. The fear of appearing foolish and of risking the fate of their nation weighed heavily on these religious leaders, who reasoned that framing Jesus was in fact a way to preserve the greater good.

One little compromise can lead men to terrible places, as one deception builds on the other. Such retreats from truth and honesty rarely make things better or yield results even close to the original aims of those who make such calculations.

It is better to come clean today with your areas of compromise or deception than to allow them to fester and grow. Even if the math seems simple and the end result is a net good, beware of the ways that living in a falsehood can undermine even your best intentions.

Prayer: Jesus, You experienced the painful results of compromise. Guide me in the path of integrity in my decisions today.

John 11:14-53 -The prophesy of Caiaphas.

Hello @Christ4Ever,

I appreciate the point you are making about the danger of 'compromise', by using the illustration of Caiaphas in this way, but I hope you will not mind my coming in with a slightly different perspective.

* The words of Caiaphas, so far as he personally was concerned, were the expression of expediency and policy, but were nevertheless prophetic utterances that reach to the heart of Christian doctrine. 'That one man should die for the people'.

* The words used:- 'being high Priest THAT YEAR', is used again in John 18:13-14. 'THAT YEAR' was the crisis of human history, the most critical hour of Israel's testing, and the very crux of the Ages. 'That year' saw the death, resurrection, ascension and present session of the Son of God, as a 'Priest for ever': since when no man has or can hold that sacred office.

* The high priesthood of Israel expired in prophesying of the 'one sacrifice for sins for ever' (Hebrews 10:12): offered by Him Who 'sat down' at the right hand of God.

'Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council,
and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him:
and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
(Joh 11:47-48)

* Strangely enough, what the Sanhedrin dreaded came to pass, in spite of all their treachery and desire to avoid it. Their 'place' and 'nation' were lost to the Romans. In speaking in terms of 'their' place and 'their' nation, they claimed for themselves what belonged to God.

*The betrayal of Christ but hastened that dread day, nevertheless, by wicked hands, they that crucified the Lord of glory, were the unconscious and unwilling instruments in bringing to pass that 'offering' which was, 'Not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad' (11:52): a passage that should be read with 10:15-16.

'As the Father knoweth Me,
even so know I the Father:
and I lay down My life for the sheep.
And other sheep I have,
which are not of this fold:
them also I must bring,
and they shall hear My voice;
and there shall be one fold,
and one shepherd.'
(Joh 10:15)

* Caiaphas, like Balaam in Numbers 22:38, found that, ' the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak' . Both were unwittingly doing what God wanted them to do, though personally bent on quite a different objective.

Thank you, @Christ4Ever,
With love in Christ Jesus
Chris

Ref: 'Life Through His Name' by Charles H Welch. ( not a direct quotation from but reference to)