Empathy for the Wicked - Caiaphas

Empathy for the Wicked - Caiaphas

Understanding Biblical Villains Through Daniel 7

In this insightful Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els guides listeners through a deeper understanding of biblical narratives, specifically focusing on the character of Caiaphas, the high priest during the time of Yeshua's (Jesus) arrest and execution. The approach taken is unique, as it first establishes a crucial theological framework rooted in the Old Testament book of Daniel, chapter 7. The speaker emphasizes that Daniel 7 served as Yeshua's core "vision statement" for his ministry on Earth, outlining his plan to confront and defeat evil, death, and the powers of darkness.

The teaching begins by setting the historical scene for Daniel chapter 7. The Judeans had been conquered and exiled to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar, their city and temple destroyed. Amidst this challenging context, the book of Daniel follows Daniel and other Jewish leaders as they strive to maintain their faithfulness to God in a foreign, pagan land. Interestingly, these individuals did not isolate themselves but rather integrated into Babylonian society, learning the language, wearing the clothes, and even working for the government, all while prioritizing their loyalty to God. This reflects God's instructions through Jeremiah to plant roots, flourish, and pray for the welfare of their pagan cities, being a light in those places.

Daniel chapter 7 recounts a significant and disturbing dream that Daniel had, a vision concerning corrupt world powers driven by selfishness, leading to the oppression and persecution of God's people. This chapter is presented as God's divine plan to address the problem of sin and violence in the world, ultimately promising the establishment of an everlasting kingdom ruled by a king with supreme authority. This king, identified later as the "Son of Man," would defeat the "beasts" representing worldly sin and evil.

The Vision of Daniel 7: Beasts and the Son of Man

Daniel's vision depicted four monstrous beasts emerging from the sea, each different and increasingly terrifying. These beasts are later interpreted as four earthly kings or kingdoms. The fourth beast is particularly dreadful, possessing iron teeth, bronze claws, and ten horns, signifying immense power and destructiveness. A "little horn" arises among the others, speaking great things and waging war against the saints. However, the vision then shifts to a celestial scene where "thrones were set up" and the "Ancient of Days" (God) takes his seat in judgment. The fourth beast is ultimately killed and its dominion destroyed.

Crucially, Daniel's vision includes the appearance of "one like the Son of Man," who comes on the clouds of heaven and is presented before the Ancient of Days. To this figure is given dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom that all nations will serve. The speaker emphasizes that Yeshua identified himself with this "Son of Man" from Daniel 7. While others called him the Messiah or Christ, Yeshua frequently used the title "Son of Man," referring back to this pivotal chapter. The significance lies in the fact that through the suffering and death of the Son of Man at the hands of the "beast," the power of the beast itself would be broken, leading to his exaltation and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.

Caiaphas and the Beast

The teaching then turns to Caiaphas, the high priest who presided over Yeshua's trial. The narrative from Matthew 26 is recounted, depicting a late-night, irregular trial filled with biased witnesses and accusations. When Yeshua is directly asked under oath if he is the Messiah, the King of Israel, and the Son of God, he responds, "You have said so." He further declares that from that moment on, they would see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.

This declaration is the key to understanding Caiaphas's reaction. The speaker uses an analogy of movie quotes to illustrate that when Yeshua referred to himself as the Son of Man about to be exalted, he implicitly positioned Caiaphas and the forces opposing him as the "Beast" from Daniel's vision. Yeshua was stating that through his impending suffering and death at their hands, the prophecy of Daniel 7 would be fulfilled, leading to the defeat of the beastly powers of sin and evil. Caiaphas, upon hearing this, understood the implication: Yeshua was claiming to be the one who would ultimately conquer the forces of darkness, effectively labeling those who opposed him as part of that darkness.

Caiaphas's dramatic reaction – tearing his tunic and accusing Yeshua of blasphemy – signifies his inability to comprehend or accept Yeshua's claim. He perceived Yeshua's words as a direct challenge to his authority and the established religious order. The crowd, fueled by the accusations, unanimously called for Yeshua's death.

Defeating the Beast by Not Becoming the Beast

The teaching emphasizes that Yeshua's mission, as stated in Mark 1:14-15, was to proclaim the good news that the kingdom of God had come near, calling people to repent and believe. This kingdom is the one described in Daniel 7, which will ultimately overcome the "beast" that has ruled the world through violence and selfish pursuits. Yeshua's strategy to defeat the beast was not through worldly power or violence but by allowing the beast to exert its full wrath upon him on the cross. By absorbing the beast's power, he conquered it through his resurrection, demonstrating that God is a God of life and resurrection.

Empathizing with Caiaphas involves recognizing the human tendency to resist God's authority and grace, becoming angry at not being able to rule the world according to one's own selfish desires. It's about understanding the temptation to trade our calling as image-bearers of God for the identity of a "beast" driven by self-interest, gossip, lust, violence, and judgment. The path to defeating this "beast within" is to follow Yeshua, allowing him to transform us into individuals with hearts of flesh for God's kingdom, not hearts of stone focused on selfish gain.

Application for Everyday Life

• Recognize the "Beast" Within: Be aware of the tendencies towards selfishness, pride, anger, lust, gossip, and the desire to exert power over others for personal gain.
• Choose to Be an Image-Bearer: Consciously strive to reflect God's love, justice, and compassion in your interactions and decisions, rather than yielding to base instincts.
• Resist Selfish Pursuits: Be mindful of whether your actions are motivated by genuine love for God and others or by selfish desires and the need to "get one up" on everyone else.
• Find Hope in God's Victory: Remember that Yeshua has already defeated the ultimate "Beast" through his death and resurrection. Lean on this hope in the face of personal struggles and worldly evil.
• Follow Yeshua's Example: Just as Yeshua faced the "beast" with boldness and love, we are called to confront the darkness in the world and within ourselves with the same spirit.
• Invest in God's Kingdom: Focus on living according to the values of God's kingdom – love, justice, forgiveness, and service – rather than the fleeting power structures of the world.
• Be Ambassadors of Christ: As followers of Yeshua, we are called to represent his kingdom in the world, reflecting his character and sharing the good news of his victory over the beast.
• Embrace Transformation: Allow God's love to transform your heart from stone to flesh, enabling you to love and serve others as He intended.

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References

• Daniel 7
• Mark 1:14
• Matthew 26

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