Tuesday/Wednesday His verbal threats get more explicit. The crowds get bigger. He says the very stones of the temple will be destroyed. For Pilate, this is a serious offence, not only to the Jewish authorities, but to the Romans who had conquered the temple: any man who would make it is subject to immediate arrest. For Caiaphas, there is a double bind: he wants to minimise a possible crowd reaction in favour of Jesus, and he wants to minimise Jewish bloodshed as a result of an intemperate move from Pilate. He takes a decision to use his own temple police and bring Jesus in. He lets Pilate know: he hopes to keep Pilate from quick action against the crowds. He is saying to Pilate: there is no need for intervention, I can handle it. . . . |
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