"As Comely"

 "Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people." (John 18:14 KJV)

  "But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15 NLT)

 Just in case you might be wondering about the title, "As Comely," it is the meaning of the name, Caiaphas. Oddly enough, it's a description that suites him fine, as he disguises himself as comely, which basically means that he has the appearance as someone pleasant and of beauty, but within, he is nasty and dark! 

 This mention by John of the counsel he gave, in the original quote, John mentions that he did not say that on his own, but because he was High Priest at the time, he was led to say it; John 11:46-52. However, if you want to get technical and true, Jesus was not just a man! Not just any man could die to save the entire world! 

 Which leads me to wonder how he was led to say what he said, whether it was by the Holy Spirit, or if it was by another spirit? This goes back to Isaiah 53, as anyone who knows that chapter and has been able to study it, as Caiaphas should have done, would have known that only the One who had no sin could take the place of all sinners! 

 So, in that regard, Caiaphas was not speaking of people being saved, as in forgiven for sins, but he was speaking of the disruptions caused by what Jesus was doing to the people, and how His death would be able to prevent the Roman's from doing something to maintain order in the region. As if that was going to happen! 

 Again, I must remind anyone who might still doubt: Only God is Holy and Righteous, and only God is worthy enough to give Himself for the entire sins of this world! There was no other way for our sins to be forgiven; there is always punishment for sin, and He took that punishment upon Himself...

"Who has believed our message? To whom has the LORD revealed his powerful arm? My servant grew up in the LORD'S presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected - a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, and punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all." (Isaiah 53:1-6 NLT)