johnonemanshoulddie

45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.

46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation."

49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all,

50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish."

51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,

52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, "What do you think — that He will not come to the feast?"

57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

There are four movements or parts in Chapter 11.

1. The report of Lazarus being sick {1-16}.

2. The arrival of Jesus in Bethany {17-37}

3. The miracle itself {38-44}.

4 The reaction to the miracle {45-57}.

This message: 4 The reaction to the miracle {45-57}.

How do you explain the response of the Jewish leaders to Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead? This is one of Jesus’ greatest miracles and irrefutable proof of His deity; that He is the Christ.

There is no other explanation for the rejection of Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ than the hardness of heart of every son of Adam. These Jewish leaders had seen the signs [miracles] that Jesus did. Jesus worked the works of God the Father and thereby established that He was the One sent by God as prophesied in the OT Scriptures.

Jesus speaks and there is life! “Lazarus, come forth!”

“I AM the resurrection and the life!”

Before we think that the chief priests and Pharisees were exceptions recall what Paul wrote in Romans.

Romans 1:18-23

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,

23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

How then does anyone ever come to the knowledge of the truth?

2 Corinthians 4:6

6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The reason that I went to Romans and 2 Corinthians is not to provide an excuse for the unbelief of the chief priests and Pharisees but to show that they are simply lost men who have not experienced the grace of God.

Jesus said that they did not know God. They were religious and lost.

Do not ever confuse religion for salvation.

But it was not that all of the Jews rejected Him. Many had seen the things that Jesus did and believed in Him. [45]

As encouraging as the belief of many is, it is not all good. Some did not believe, and even worse they go and tell the Pharisees what Jesus did. [46]

We can only imagine what they said to the Pharisees. What could they say?

We saw Jesus come to the graveyard and we saw Him weeping over His friend Lazarus. There was a stone over the mouth of the cave where Lazarus had been buried four days before. Lazarus was dead! Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Jesus talked with God. Then Jesus called Lazarus by name. He said with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And then Lazarus walked out still wrapped in the graveclothes. And Jesus told them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

After they told the Pharisees what they had witnessed, instead of rejoicing that the Christ had come, the leaders of the Jews call a council. The council is the Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin was made up of the most important men of Israel. The council included the chief priests in their impressive robes. The chief priests were all of the sect of the Sadducees. There were the Pharisees who liked to stand on the street corners to be seen praying long prayers. The Pharisees and the Sadducees mostly fought with over doctrine. There were also scribes and elders. To be a member of the Sanhedrin, except to be high priest, was the highest honor that a Jewish man could aspire to at this time.

But their purpose for this session was purely evil.

The psalmist had long before prophesied of this council.

Psalm 2:1-3

1 Why do the nations rage,

And the people plot a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,

And the rulers take counsel together,

Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,

3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces

And cast away Their cords from us."

“What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.” [47]

“Many signs”, indeed. John said, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book.” [20:30]

Jesus had healed a man who had been lame for 38 years. He had fed the multitudes with five loaves and two fish. He had walked on the sea. He had given sight to a man who was born blind. He raised the dead.

How amazing is this? They do not deny the miracles but refuse to accept what the signs proved.

“If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away our place and nation.” [48] They supposed that the people would make Jesus a king and cause an insurrection and the Romans would crush them.

It is beyond comprehension that these men thought that they were in control of Jesus. Whatever they will do to Him is in the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God.

Their “place” is the temple. These evil men take the same action against Steven in Acts 6. They are afraid they will lose their national identity. They know the truth and the force of the signs but reject it.

These men were allowed by the Roman government to parade and strut about and enjoy high privileges. They were allowed to exercise their religious ceremonies. But they feared that if Jesus were allowed to continue that He would be made a king and then the Romans would end their privileges.

The irony of this is that the very thing they feared and for which they murdered Jesus happened in A.D. 70 when the Romans destroyed the temple and Jerusalem and with it OT Judaism.

Is it not true of people today that they reject the Gospel and genuine commitment to follow Jesus because of what they believe it will cost them?

In my own case and salvation experience I resisted the righteous and just claims of Jesus because I did not want to quit living like an idiot.

But when God the Holy Spirit begins to convict one of God’s chosen of sin He will not stop short of repentance and faith. Amen?

Caiaphas, the high priest that year, but the high priests were for life. But by this time the Romans appointed the high priest for one year and the position was bought! Caiaphas, the high priest that year speaks up. He is rude and harsh. Out of the same mouth comes blasphemy and prophecy!

“You do not know anything! Nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”

Follow Jesus and the nation will perish; put Jesus to death and the nation is saved. Therefore Jesus must be put to death. But the exact opposite was the truth; murder Jesus and they sealed their doom. [49-50]

Proverbs 17:15

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,

Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

Caiaphas did not realize the depth and extent of his words. He meant one thing; God intended another.

Recall when Balaam was hired by Balak to curse the Israelites that he could only speak what God put in his mouth. Balaam was willing to curse God’s people but God only allowed him to bless them. [Numbers 22]

Proverbs 19:21

There are many plans in a man's heart,

Nevertheless the LORD's counsel — that will stand.

Acts 4:23-30

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

'Why did the nations rage,

And the people plot vain things?

26 The kings of the earth took their stand,

And the rulers were gathered together

Against the LORD and against His Christ.'

27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together

28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."

Please see that God uses the wickedness of men to accomplish His eternal purpose. Caiaphas spoke freely and what he said was correct except he was completely wrong in his motive and understanding.

In passing I must say that the notion that we must understand prophecy exactly as the OT prophet understood it is simply wrongheaded.

Note that the scope of what Caiaphas prophesied is extremely instructive.

Jesus is going to die for a particular set of people. His death will not be a “shot in the dark” by God that would make it only possible for some to be saved. The death of Christ was purposed by God to actually save some.

The nations scattered abroad shows that the atonement was not only for the remnant of the Jews but also for the elect Gentiles. Surely Caiaphas did not believe that Gentiles were included in God’s chosen people. So the Holy Spirit tells us what Caiaphas’ prophecy meant even though Caiaphas himself did not understand the import of what he said. [51-52]

The death sentence is passed and Jesus knew of their plot to kill Him.

[53-54]

Jesus retires to a city called Ephraim. Ephraim was the second son of Joseph by Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera [Gen 46:20]. This town is identified with Taiyibeh, about five miles NE of Bethel and fifteen miles N of Jerusalem.

They come to Jerusalem in plenty of time to “purify” themselves while in a few days they will murder Jesus. [55]

Do you think that he will come to the feast?

Jesus had been to the feast the two previous years.

Notice how important ceremony and ritual can be when hearts are full of sin.

Purify themselves with ritual washings and then in a few days many will cry out, “Crucify Him!” [56-57]

We will close with a few practical lessons from this passage.

There is no greater proof in the Bible that seeing miracles will not necessarily convert souls. The Lord Jesus said in the parable of the Rich man who died and went to hell when he pleaded with Abraham to warn his brothers about this place of torment.

Luke 16:27-31

27 "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,

28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'

29 Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'

30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

31 But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"

God chooses some and others He passes by. If that upsets you it is because you have never bowed your proud soul to God as God.

In this story, and in other places, such as the two thieves who were crucified with Christ, same circumstances, they hear the same words and yet one repents and the other dies impenitent.

The same sun that melts the wax hardens the clay.

Another thing that you must not fail to see is the desperate wickedness of natural man. They make an admission of their guilt. Jesus has done many signs. They have seen the proof but they are determined to reject Him.

Please don’t let that be your story. Do you see the truth of the Gospel?

Do you know that you deserve to go to hell?

Then trust Jesus and Him alone.

Repent and believe in the Gospel!

A third observation that I make is how many crimes are committed for expedience. Caiaphas rationalized that it was better for an innocent Man to be murdered than for he and the others to lose their place of importance.

Is it too much of a reach to make this an application to abortion?

The vast majority of abortions are done for expedience or convenience.

How many young women have an abortion to avoid embarrassment or responsibility?

Back when I served on the Board of Sav-A-Life we had one girl who came for post-abortion counseling. Her story was that her father was a deacon and would not face the fact that his daughter was unmarried and pregnant. He forced her to have an abortion. She lost all respect for him and he lost his daughter and his grandchild for the sake of expedience.

May our merciful God bless these words to our encouragement and edification.

Amen