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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conflict - The Clash of Belief and Unbelief, The Raising of Lazarus, Part C, John 11:48-57 - Lesson 97
Read Verses John 11:45-47, for review: 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. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
John 11:48, If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
Whose place and whose nation?
Chief Priests and Pharisees, whose place is this?
Whose nation is this.
He came unto his own and his own received him not.
The place was the temple and the nation was Israel.
None belonged to the Chief Priests and the Sadducees.
They were more concerned about their position with men than about their position with God.
They were determined not to believe.
The raising of Lazarus was prominent in their mind.
They were not persuaded even though one rose from the dead.
Why should they be?
They hear not Moses and the prophets.
John 11:49-52, And one of them, named Caiaphas, (kah‑ee‑af'‑as); being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
Now Caiaphas (kah‑ee‑af'‑as) was a Sadducee, the group that believed not in the resurrection.
This miracle of the raising of Lazarus was especially sensitive to him because it upset his doctrine.
This certainly cannot be because I don't believe in a resurrection and if I don't believe it it cannot be true.
So he tells the others, Ye know nothing at all!
You don't know what you are talking about. Lets cut to the quick!
We are not going to let anything happen to the stability that we have with the Romans.
He is just one man who, for the benefit of a whole nation should die.
Get rid of this troublemaker and save our temple and our economy and our positions.
We don't need more rigid rule by the Romans.
We do not need this upsetting of our comfortable system and relationships.
Just do the expedient thing!
Right, wrong, just do what is expedient, what will protect us and the nation.
There are no other options, He must die!
John 11:51,52, And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Psalm 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
Caiaphas, (kah‑ee‑af'‑as) your wrath is turned to praising.
John tells us you did not speak this of yourself.
You did not know that your words had a double meaning.
Your view was narrow and only concerned your present time.
But God overrules in the affairs of men and Jesus Christ died not for that nation only but that he would be the rallying point around which all the children of God would gather.
God used you Caiaphas, (kah‑ee‑af'‑as) to bring about his will when you thought in your pride that you had the perfect plan to deal with this trouble maker.
There are many devices in your heart Caiaphas (kah‑ee‑af'‑as) nevertheless the counsel of the Lord shall stand.
Little did he know that he was a prophet of the Lord.
Little did he know that he was a link in the chain that was to bring about the decree to crucify Christ.
His motive was evil but God uses the wrath of men to praise him.
From Caiaphas' viewpoint he saw the murder of Jesus Christ as a way to avoid confrontation with Rome, as a way to keep their positions.
But from God's side the death of Christ was the vicarious sacrifice for sinners.
One man has said that the greatest crime ever done in the world is the greatest blessing ever given to the world.
John 11:53, Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
Those who were formerly opposed to each other now take counsel together.
They join forces against the innocent one.
All in favor say Aye and the motion was cast.
No hearing, no trial, no justice.
The vote was taken and Jesus Christ was found guilty of not meeting the criteria for the Messiah as per the rulers of Israel.
He did not fit the mold that their religion had constructed.
Not the mold that God's word had provided but that was not important to them.
Now the plan was out in the open and the details were discussed as to the how.
But Jesus knew and he also knew that his hour had no yet come so he withdrew as we see in:
John 11:54, Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
He will not expose himself to the danger.
His hour had not yet come.
But he knew that his hour was soon approaching.
This was the time to withdraw and not to confront.
He knew all things that were being planned.
He knew the decree of the Jews.
So he retired with his disciples to a city called Ephraim.
John 11:55, And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
This is the third Passover mentioned in John's Gospel.
John notes that many came up to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves so they would be allowed to keep the passover one month later.
So dedicated to their religious ritual but so corrupt of heart.
Many of these same Jews would be participants in the murder of the Christ.
Careful about the outward, careful about the whiteness of the outside of the sepulcher but no thought about inward purity.
John 11:56,57, Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should show it, that they might take him.
It was now public knowledge in Jerusalem that Jesus was now a wanted man.
All of Jerusalem spoke of the commandment that had come forth from the religious authorities.
Wanted, he which calleth himself Jesus, blasphemer against God, false prophet, false Messiah.
The topic of conversation at that Passover was, would this miracle worker who claimed not only to be the Messiah but the Son of God, dare to show his face?
Satan has organized his forces and is prepared to exercise is full power, that of murdering the Son of God.
The Pharisees and the chief Priests are simply pawns in his hands.
Jesus Christ's hour had not yet come but the players are setting the stage and the actors are assembling. |