Whatever we might say about Caiphas, Annas and the leading classes, they were not stupid. They knew Jesus had popular appeal and had been unable to turn the crowd against him in public debate. They also knew however they represented the highest and most respected religious court in the eyes of all Jews, and their position of respect and authority surely played a part in ensuring that Jesus lost credibility in the eyes of the masses.
The narrative presents the religious leaders as being hesitant of "arresting" Jesus in public not necessarily about being unable to manipulate the masses once in their custody. People might get out of bed and start rioting at the news but the religious leaders were evidently willing to bet this wouldn't be the case.
TIMING
- And they were clever, very clever. The religious leaders knew enough to keep the masses ignorant of a night trial (which was illegal) and to hold a (repeat) morning "mock trial" the next day to give the whole affair an air of legality. Maybe the timing turned out to their advantage after all, yes it was risky with so many people in the city (not least the hot headed highlanders from Galilee) but reading the bible narrative, I often think of the modern day tactic of passing controversial Parliamentary bills at midnight before a national holiday. It was the day before the Passover, maybe people were less inclined to make trouble and ruin their holiday, not least for some rumoured "Messiah" that preached about some nebulous far off kingdom and that had supposedly been discredited by "experts".
- I don't think crowds act that much different today than they did thousands of years ago, crowds can be manipulated. The majority were not familiar with Jesus personally, they had heard rumours about him as a miracle working teacher and were divided as his authenticity. Only his disciples and perhaps some Galileans were convinced of the stories and even they had many false expectations about what he was going to do. They all expected or at least hoped for a powerful fighting Messiah that would rise up against their Roman oppressors and as events turned out Jesus didn't fit the bill.
So let us imagine hearing rumors that this winsome teacher had in fact been arrested during the night, and tried on blasphemy charges at the Sanhedrin. This would be like a case coming before the United States Supreme Court. It would be almost inconceivable that a gross injustice would be committed such men. How could an ordinary person on the street think such highly esteemed men would violate dozens of legal checks and balances that existed to ensure the justice was done and all scheme to put an innocent man to death. How many today are ready to question the official narratives put out by government authorities? In a world governed by "if its on Wikipedia it must be true" do we really have to ask?
- Wouldn't it be more likely that the masses would simply be disappointed that their hopes were once more dashed and this "Galiean" was in fact revealed as another charletan and hoaxster by those set up by God to protect the nation against such men? If they say he was found guilty of blasphemy (even if they hadn't heard it themselves) why would the crowds not conclude that a thorough investigation had not been held and that Jesus was in fact guilty?
After this second trail the bible narrative speak of Jesus being bound and "led off" to Pilate. The is no indication of secrecy of the previous nights dealings, for this second transit, a bound and visibly beated Jesus bound and lead like a common criminal through the streets of Jerusalem. If people were shocked, their shock no doubt turned to dissapointment, and their disappointment ripe to be prodded into anger, not at the authorities but at the "criminal". Nobody likes to be duped, and many no doubt believed they had been.
“Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, one by one. - Charles Mackay
To learn more please go to other posts related to
THE RANSOM SACRIFICE , THE EXECUTION OF CHRIST and ... MEMORIAL OF CHRIST'S DEATH
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