45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.
47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. 48 If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” 51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.
Message: An Unwitting Prophet
Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)."
What the Lord is Saying: After Jesus brings forth Lazarus from the dead, many of the Jews who had come to this area, believed in Jesus. Jesus had shown them His relationship to the Father and that the Father is in Him and the Jews believed. Thus, there were Jews believing in Jesus. Not all, but there were Jews believing (v. 45). I think this is significant because Jews are being impacted for the gospel. And they still are today.
But some of them responded by going to the Pharisees (v. 46). These were individuals that were basically snitching on Jesus and going to the Pharisees with the purpose of inciting some sort of controversy about Jesus, with the idea that people will come together and figure out a way to stop Jesus from saying these things about Himself and His relationship with the Father. For these, it did not matter the evidence that was being presented by Jesus, they were intent on disregarding Him and this is the condition of many a person. The Spirit needs to awaken in man that desire for Him.
But the Pharisees intent first convene a council. They are taking this seriously. What Jesus is doing is serious to them. They believe that if Jesus continues to speak and do these things that many will believe in Him. They see Him as a threat. Their concern: losing "our place and our nation (v. 48)." Losing our place could mean they fear losing the temple but also their fear losing their purpose and vocation. One of the chief issues by man is this fear - the though that who they are will be lost and I think we all struggle with this to some degree. We have a difficulty conforming to the rules because we are individuals, proud of our individuality and fear we will lose that in surrendering our lives to Him. If allegiance shifts from their ways to Jesus, the Romans could then dissolve the Sanhedrin and destroy the temple.
And Caiaphas makes a statement that is most revealing. In verse 50 he states and agrees that better for one man to die that the entire nation period. And then in verse 51-53 is his prophecy that Jesus will not only die for the nation but for all of those children of God all over. And so his fear and Jesus' reality the same - all will be saved.
Summary: After seeing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, many Jews believed, but many others did not and these went to the Pharisees to plot Jesus' death.
Promise: God works through intentions of fallen people to bring about His good will.
Prayer: O God, I submit myself and surrender Myself to You and that desire I have You have given me and I am thankful that I can see that You are greater than I. That this world does not surround itself around Me, but around You and Your purposes for us individually and globally. You show me God your purposes will get carried out no matter what, even through those who are against You. It is because of those that are against You that you have died for my sins. They end up carrying out God's mission. Yes, Lord, you use those acts to carry out your eternal favor on all of Your children. How Great You are God. How Great You are. And yet God you don't want to see anyone fall from you and spend eternity outside of your Presence. Your love is great and great for all mankind.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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