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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conflict - The Clash of Belief and Unbelief, The Raising of Lazarus, Part XCIX, John 11:45-47 - Lesson 96
Read Verses John 11:43,44, for review: And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
John 11:45,46, Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
Luke 12:51-53, Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
They all see the glory of God.
They witnessed the glories of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
And yet there was division.
Some refuse to believe regardless of the evidence.
It is a matter of the will of man.
Those that refuse to believe would rather obey man than obey God.
The most stupendous miracles are useless where the heart is opposed to truth.
They run and tell the Pharisees what Jesus had done.
No doubt the facts were distorted and misrepresented. Unbelief does that.
But John tells us that many believed on him.
Whatever doubts they had before it was now plain that Jesus was the Christ, the Sent One of God.
John 11:47, Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
The chief priests were probably Sadducees.
Acts 5:17 tells us that the High Priest was a Sadducee.
And the Pharisees were their theological opponents.
But these two rival sects joined in the evil work of opposing the Lord Jesus Christ.
Pilate and Herod who beforetime were at enmity with each other became friends when they joined together to crucify Christ.
Psa 2:2, The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed,
What do we? for this man doeth many miracles, they say?
The evidence was clear.
This man doeth many miracles, no denying that.
What do we?
Excitement filled all of Jerusalem.
Things were coming to a head.
Something must be done before our position and power over the people is taken away.
This man shows no respect for our system, our religion, our establishment.
They knew that if this Jesus were to come to power they would not survive their positions.
And this Jesus also, in their minds, threatened the status quo as far as the Romans were concerned.
He must not be let go to disturb the way things are done now! |