If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place [“Temple” in other translations] and our nation.” 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.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. John 11: 48-52
Being in positional authority, Caiaphas prophesies accurately, but he is a wolf nonetheless. The leaders know they are violating God’s law (or there would not be stealth, plotting and suborning perjury), but they tell themselves their motive is the “need” to protect their Temple, their place in the religious system, and the survival of their nation. And they are pragmatic men.
It is still a temptation today for leaders choose to sacrifice the well-being of a victim or a whistleblower for the sake of protecting their particular church system. This is not walking in the light. Why would leaders be tempted in this way?
