Having been denied justice at Gabatha, Barabbas, a condemned criminal was released in place of Jesus. Then our Savior was scourged by the soldiers of the governor Pilate. After scourging Him, Jesus was to be taken to Golgotha for crucifixion. Scourging was a part of the punishment which was a prelude to crucifixion. Even before He was brought to Gabatha for judgment by Pilate, the servants of the High Priest arraigned Jesus before Sanhedrin, an assembly of all the chief priests, the elders and the scribes began to spit on Him, and to cover His face, and to buffet Him, and to say unto Him, “Prophesy unto us” and the servants did strike Him with the palms of their hands (Mark 14:65). Before He could be judged, the punishment was meted out to Him.

From the palace of Pilate, the soldiers took him to a hall, called Praetorium where the whole band of soldiers was summoned and gathered unto Him (Math.27:27). In this hall, the soldiers stripped Him, and put on Him a scarlet robe. Then they put upon His head a crown of thorns, and gave a reed in His right hand, and mocked Him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews. They spit upon Him and bowed their knees worshipping Him. After they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him and put his own raiment on Him, and led Him away to Golgotha for crucifixion.

When Jesus had finished all these sayings, He said to His disciples that the Son of Man would be betrayed to be crucified. Then the chief priests, the scribes and the elders of the people assembled and conspired to kill Jesus (Matt.26: 1-5).

Satan entered Judas and he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Jesus to them. They were glad and agreed to give him money. When Satan entered Judas, he became greedy for money. Jesus had chosen Judas as His beloved disciple along with Peter, John, etc. Judas lived with Jesus and shared His joy and sorry. Judas became the son of perdition and was lost “that the scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). While praying for His disciples in the 17th chapter of Jesus, Jesus agonized in His heart because He had to lose one of His beloved disciples just to ensure that the prophecy was fulfilled. Judas had to play his role and became an instrument in the hands of the Devil to betray Jesus.

Are we better than Judas is? Today we may all point our accusing finger at Judas. Judas was the treasurer for the ministry of Jesus. The weakness of Judas was his greed for money. He loved money more than Jesus when he handled money. Satan knew his weakness and then entered Judas.

Similarly, these days, there are many ministers of God. They had a very humble beginning. As the Lord prospered them materially, they began to amass wealth and to live lavishly. They gave the Devil a place in their life and he entered them. They began to love money more than Jesus.

Judas could have resisted the Devil at that time because he had seen Jesus cast out the demons before his very eyes. Alas! Judas could not overcome his temptation towards money.

Let us not sell Jesus just for money or wealth. Christian organizations in some poor nations, just to get US Dollars or foreign aid, exaggerate their evangelical work with data and thus sell the Son of God. Are we faithful to God in money matters?

Prophecy of Caiphas, high priest

Caiphas, one of the conspirators, was the high priest, for that year. They deliberated the consequences of killing Jesus. They also feared invasion by Romans. Caiphas said, “Ye know nothing at all. Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” The Bible says that he spoke this not of himself but being the high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation, and that not for that nation also, but also that he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.” Then from that day, forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death (John 12:49-53).

A prophecy about the great salvation for the people came not through the mouth of a prophet but through the mouth of the high priest of Jews who was none but a conspirator. God chose the high priest to give this prophecy, and not any of the contemporary prophets because the unbelieving Jews had not believed the prophets of the Old Testament who had prophesied on the ministry of Messiah.

God uses any person to prophesy when the people have not believed His prophets. It is not the speaker but the word of his mouth that matters here. These days, we attach importance to the speaker and not to the message of that speaker.

- Job Anbalagan