45Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47Then 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.48If 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.”
49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
54Therefore 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. (John 11:45-54)
Thoughts: It is amazing that some could be witnesses to the resurrection, yet still not only be skeptical but help stop the ministry of Jesus to help people. The Jews were nervous about a rebellion. There had been at least three rebellions before Jesus, and within a generation the Romans would come and destroy their land. But the Jews had it wrong. Jesus did not want to destroy Roman rule, but to bring in the heavenly Kingdom which goes beyond all human rule. In the end, Jesus would die for all, but in a different way. The infinite and righteous God died as the Passover Lamb for the sins of all. The priests meant it for evil or at the least as an escape for them. But Jesus died voluntarily for our good. Jesus said himself that He came as a ransom for many (Mk. 10:45).
Prayer: Lord, thank you that you came as a ransom, a substitutionary sacrifice for me. May I live a grateful life for you.
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