Thurs.'s Devo - As a lamb to the slaughter

Read John 18:19-24
The High Priest asks Jesus about his disciples and his doctrine. Jesus explains that he has done nothing in secret and everyday in the temple and in the synagogue he taught his doctrine so if they have any questions they should ask the people who heard him. Apparently he must have been a little too sarcastic because he got a slap in the face for speaking to the high priest that way. Jesus had an answer to that too: "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smite me?" It is illegal to strike a prisoner who has not yet been proven guilty and they have no witness that he has done evil. Also, under Jewish law no trial is to begin and end on the same day, or to start at night and end at night.
Annas sends Jesus bound to Caiphas, the high priest. History tells us that Annas was one of the most brilliant, one of the most clever, and one of the most satanic of all the high priests. Caiaphas was the one whom the Roman government accepted, but the real leader of the religious group was Annas. He was probably the one who plotted the arrest, the trial, and the crucifixion of Jesus. The entire trial was a mockery.
Is. 53:7 says that he was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; his brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Every time I read about the crusifixion I get some new feeling or revelation. Here is THE High Priest being questioned and harassed by mere mortal high priests. The very ones who were suppose to be representing him, instead are trying to usurp his position. Lord, we are here on this earth as your representatives, may we never use our position to usurp yours.