John 11:45-54
45 -->
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. 47So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, ‘What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place* and our nation.’ 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all! 50You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.’ 51He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, 52and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53So from that day on they planned to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I like the fact that Jesus goes away once he knows that the Pharisees are plotting his death. The hiding somehow makes him more human.
In fact, in many ways this passage really highlights Jesus humanity and divinity for me. If Jesus knew enough to go and hide, if that is his first instinct then when he walks willing to his crucifixion he seems that much more divine.
I think there are different times in our life when we need to relate back to Jesus the one who understand human emotion who weeps for Lazarus death and we just read and who is scared, needs a time out etc. etc. and the Jesus who saves, heals, redeems, etc.
God seems to understand we need both the reality of the human condition and the mystery of the divine.
This may be stating the obvious but I feel curious about the role of Caiaphas. The fact that he prophesised Jesus' death is special. I admit I need to read the bible more so is there more to his story in another passage? Or is this his contribution to the mystery of faith given to him from God for us to know?
welcome! That's not stating the obvious at all. I think it was not as strange to them to attribute to the gift of prophesy to someone. it is in fact named as one of the spiritual gifts by Paul later in the New Testament. So, while there is not a great way to explain why Caiphas was granted this gift for them it was an easier thing to swallow.
The other thing is that John is probably using Caiphas prophesy to prove Jesus is Lord and Savior of all. Caiphas is the high priest of the Jews so his prophecy of Jesus would be especially effective. Some might say it proves Jesus did not just die for the believers that already exist but for also for those who will come to believe.
Hope that helps.
I think it is also a good illustration of the fact that God can and will sometimes use the unbelieving ones in our lives and even those that seem to be our "enemies" to speak truth that we need to hear.
Post a Comment