Maundy Thursday 10.30pm

Thursday
10:30pm  

Arrested

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered.  But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and gong inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward.  At last two came forward and said, ‘This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.”’  The high priest stood up and said, ‘Have you not an answer? What is it that they testify against you? But Jesus was silent.  Then the high priest said to him, I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.’ Jesus said to him ‘You have said so.  But I tell you,

From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right had of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’

Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy.  What is your verdict? They answered, ‘He deserves death.’ Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying ‘Prophesy to us you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?’ (Matthew 26: 57-69)

So, his words come back to him. At the beginning of the week he made this prophecy about the temple.  But, as we know, he was speaking of his body.  Others though had been listening, noting his words, biding their time until his words could be turned back on him.  And now it happened and the high priest is delighted.  Caiaphas needed a bit of evidence on which to hang the rest of the accusations, on which to hang the man.  And the verdict came quickly: ‘He deserves death.’