HOST: Ron House
SPONSOR: Start2Finish
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
“So from that day on, they made plans to put Him to death.” The raising of Lazarus was the final straw. Up until this point, the Jews’ attempts to take Jesus had been reactionary and spontaneous. It was this event that sparked the Jewish leaders’ organized plan to kill Him. It is interesting to me that, despite the goodness and power of Jesus, there were some who were always skeptical and suspicious of Him. While many believed in Him because of the raising of Lazarus, the text says that some went and told the Pharisees. They were looking to stir up trouble. They saw Jesus as a threat that had to be dealt with. Interestingly, as you look through the pages of history, there have always been people, governments, groups, and even religions that have followed in the steps of the Pharisees. Despite Jesus’ goodness and power as displayed in God’s Word, they have seen Him as a threat to their power, authority, or “freedom” and have plotted to destroy Jesus and His authority within their own time and realm of influence. It continues to happen today in our own world. May we all be willing to see and believe in Jesus.
Why do you think so many see Jesus as a threat?
Don’t forget to pray and have a great day!
