Read John 11:46-57. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.
Digging Deeper
When we hear of good news from family and friends, we rejoice with them. We are so happy for them. It would be mean and cruel if someone wished that something bad were to happen to another person rather than something good.
The response of the Pharisees to the testimonies of the mourners is one which we wouldn’t expect. Were they joyful that a dead man came back to life? Were they grateful to God that He has given such authority and power to Jesus? One would think so, but the Pharisees had opposite reaction than the joyful mourners. They wanted Jesus silenced.
The Pharisees couldn’t question the burial of Lazarus and his coming forth from the tomb by the voice of Jesus. That was practically indisputable. Since they couldn’t refute that Lazarus was dead, they had to silence Jesus.
The attention and respect that the people had for the Pharisees were being lost. The loyalty that the people had shifted from them to Jesus. The crowds were becoming ever larger and His fame spread even further beyond Israel. The Pharisees couldn’t let an outsider jeopardize their authority and control over their community. He had to be “put in His place.”
You may have a younger brother or sister who is smarter than you and getting all of your parent’s attention. There may be a new employee who outshined you or out produced you. You didn’t win the approval of your parents nor the recognition of your employer. We don’t want to admit it, but we’re envious.
It happens in church more often than we want to admit when someone comes and joins the church. That person knows the Bible better than you do or can teach it better than you! What’s your response to that person? Is it to trip him up with a Bible question or is to commend him for his study of the Word and his skills? Or is it trying harder to out do that person?
Unfortunately, there is seemingly always someone watching you and hoping that you will trip up somewhere along the way. They want the spotlight. They want to silence you. They don’t want to hear about our God or see the glory of God through our lives. Be aware that there are some individuals who would desire to darken the glory of God and that means silencing all those who follow Him. If they opposed Jesus, they will also oppose His followers.
-Kingston