Just a few brief comments on this episode we watched last week:

The characters around Jesus continue to be absolutely sure they know what they’re doing – and that they are correct.

Caiaphas, the high priest, is sure that he’s motivated by love for God. He thinks the answer to the “Jesus problem” is prayer. He leads the assembly in prayer that they can thwart Jesus. Similarly his brother in law Ananus is confident he and his group are agents of God.

Judas is sure that the Messiah is a conquering king like David. He thinks all Jesus needs is the right kind of prodding for him to step up and fulfill that role. Judas is going to work in the background and ensure that that happens.

Barnaby makes for a bit of needed comic relief.