There is a repeat of some of the verses from yesterday at the beginning of the scripture.
John 11: 34 – 57 (NLT)
“Where have you put him?” he asked them.
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”
38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46 But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs. 48 If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”
49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”
51 He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.
53 So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.54 As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.
55 It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, “What do you think? He won’t come for Passover, will he?” 57 Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him.”
What an amazing event, and what an incredible result! Someone who has been dead for 4 days – no doubt about whether he was dead or not – comes stumbling out of a tomb all wrapped in burial linens. You would think everyone would fall on their knees in worship and acknowledge that Jesus is who he said he was.
I read a commentary by InterVarsity Press which said that Jewish custom was to declare someone dead after three days. Apparently, they thought the soul might linger trying to re-inhabit the body, but would definitely give up after 3 days. That is why Jesus waited for 4 days to come to Bethany so there would be no question about whether Lazarus had really died. Certainly, Martha was convinced that he was dead. She really didn’t want the tomb opened.
But how did some of the people react to this amazing event? Some believed in Jesus. But some rushed off to Jerusalem to report what happened to the Pharisees. Don’t you wonder what prompted them to do that? How do you see something so spectacular, and want to cause trouble over it?
We also get a good look at the Pharisees’ motivation. Their authority and important position in Israel is threatened. So, they had a meeting and decided that enough is enough. Jesus has to die. You would think that the leaders of the Temple would be excited over the possibility that God was present with them. Nope! But then, I think that is the normal reaction of people to the concept of God’s existence right from the beginning. Adam and Eve lived in a beautiful garden where God met them face to face every evening. And what did they do? They disobeyed the one rule God had given because they wanted to be as smart as God.
There is one more interesting detail in these verses. Caiaphas, the high priest, made a startling statement. “You don’t know what you’re talking about! You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation. And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.” (v. 49 – 52) I suspect, in Caiaphas’ own mind, he thought he was just discussing the possible ruin of Israel under Roman rule. But John certainly jumps on that statement as he writes/comments about Jesus’ mission on earth.
The end of chapter 11 reminds me just how warped the human mind can be. God can do amazing things, but we refuse to acknowledge Him. I guess we should not be surprised when we invite people to church or talk to them about our faith when their response is neutral or even hostile. Admitting who Jesus is turns the ownership of our lives away from us, and over to God – something we find too scary. Yet look what we give up when we turn away from God. “Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” (v. 25 – 26)
Our song for today is Good God Almighty by Crowder.