JOHN 11:45-57 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

John 11:45 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. (NKJV)

 In this section of Scripture we see the result of the Pharisee’s hatred for Jesus.  He has raised Lazarus from the dead and instead of them being happy for Lazarus and excited about what Jesus had done, they decide that this is the last straw and they want to kill him for all His miracles.  It is amazing how people will react when their authority, prestige and power are threatened.  These Pharisees cannot let Jesus take these away from them.  They have to be the great and mighty Pharisees.  We see some believe, but they are like those in Chapter 6 who after being fed with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread go looking for Jesus again the next day and Jesus says to them you are not looking for me for the right reason, you just want more food.  They like Jesus as long as He heals them, or feeds them, or satisfies some need they have, just like most of us today.  We like that Jesus, but we don’t like the Jesus of the Bible, Him you can keep.  We like His miracles; we just don’t like His message.  Just like they decide to kill Him, many today want to wipe out all remnants of Jesus in our society.  They don’t want to hear that name or even the name of God which is who Jesus is.

 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.

Again Jesus' words and works divided the Jews (cf. 6:14-15; 7:10-13, 45-52; 10:19-21

All men are dead

All need a spiritual birth that only comes from god

Men are born again by the Word of God – Lazarus come forth

When God gives life, He gives eternal life

When God gives life, He wants to give freedom – unbind him and let him go

We are to call forth the dead and unwrap the saints, take off the old man, clothes, put on the new man

Celebration at beginning – wedding

Sorrow at the end – a funeral

Martha has incredible faith, she just cannot see how it will work out

We are being trained to do that which God wants us to do, will we stand on the sidelines and watch others do great things for God or will we be a participant. 22 football players in need of a rest and 22,000 fans on the sideline in need of something to do.

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

It is interesting that they admitted privately that Jesus had performed many signs, though publicly they had earlier asked Him to produce some to prove His claims (2:18; 6:30).

"It has always been the case that those whose minds are made up to oppose what Christ stands for will not be

convinced by any amount of evidence.

 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."

The reference to "our place" was probably to the position of authority they occupied. A popular uprising resulting from the Jews' belief that Israel's political deliverer had appeared might bring the Romans down hard on Israel's leaders and strip them of their power. These rulers viewed Israel as their nation rather than God's nation, and they did not want to lose control of it or their prestige as its leaders. No one mentioned the welfare of the people in such an event (cf. 10:8).

 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."

Caiaphas viewed Jesus as a scapegoat whose sacrifice would guarantee the life of Israel's leaders. God viewed Jesus as a lamb who would die to guarantee the life of believers. Ironically Jesus' death would condemn these unbelieving leaders, not save them.

 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.

Caiaphas unconsciously prophesied that Jesus would die as a substitute for the Israelite nation (cf. Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.). The outcome of His death would be the uniting of God's children scattered abroad, non-members of Israel as well as Jews, into one body, namely, the church (cf. 4:42; 10:16; Eph. 2:14-18;

Eph 3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,;

 1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;). Ultimately it would unite Jewish and Gentile believers in the messianic kingdom.

 Isa 43:5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west;

Eze 34:12 "As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.

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

John did not record Jesus' trial before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, as the Synoptic writers did. This may have been the meeting of the Sanhedrin that he viewed as the real trial of Jesus.

The best way to be rid of one who can raise the dead is 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. (NKJV)

There was a warrant out for Jesus' arrest. The reader can hardly miss the point that Israel's leaders had deliberately rejected their Messiah.

Mary and Martha cannot comprehend why Jesus did not come to them—and to Lazarus—immediately, so that his death could be prevented. The further away we get from this miracle, the more we can see how much it accomplishes. (1) It demonstrates our Lord’s great power. (2) It strengthens the faith of those who believe in Jesus, especially the disciples, Martha and Mary. (3) It brings many to faith in Jesus as the Messiah. (4) It provokes greater and more intense opposition to Jesus, and a unified Sanhedrin, intent now on bringing about the death of Jesus.

The last verse (57) of chapter 11 may be parenthetical, and thus it may seem somewhat incidental, but it is very significant indeed: “(Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should report it, so that they could arrest him.)” Up till now, the Jewish leaders have kept their intention to kill Jesus secret. They fear the masses and know Jesus has great popularity. The people know that the Jews oppose Jesus, and that they want to know His whereabouts so they can arrest Him. They also know that one can be put out of the synagogue for even talking about Him. But now in verse 57, the Jews declare Jesus to be an outlaw, a wanted man. Anyone who knows His whereabouts is to turn this information over to them. No doubt this word reaches the ears of Judas, and when he approaches these leaders in chapter 12, it is in response to this official order. This order also explains the secrecy of our Lord in making preparations for the Passover, for example. He will not give Judas an opportunity to betray Him until it is His “time.”

God’s Love in Giving Himself to Us

Before we see all this worked out in Bethany (verses 17–44), consider two confirmations from two other texts. For example, someone might say: But when I think of the love of God I think of John 3:16. Me too. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God’s love is the gift of eternal life at the cost of his Son. Yes. Yes. Yes!

But what is the heart and essence of eternal life? Jesus tells in John 17:3: “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” The essence of eternal life is the never-ending knowing of God the Father and God the Son. For God so loved the world, that at the cost of his Son’s life, he brought us into an everlasting knowing, admiring, loving, enjoying of himself and Jesus. The love of God is the gift of himself. And the greatness of that love increases in proportion to the greatness of his glory.

Jesus’ Love in Manifesting Himself to Us

And here’s a second confirmation that we are on the right track. In John 14:21, Jesus says, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” What a wonderful statement! “I will love you, and manifest myself to you.” That is how I will love you.

O how many of us can testify to this reality with thankfulness and joy. In the days of suffering and loss. In the days of darkness, and when it seemed that all around our souls would give way, Jesus loved us—not first by taking away the suffering or the loss or the darkness, but first by giving us himself in ways that could not have been ours without this painful season. If you demand that God love you the way the world expects to be loved in this life, you won’t know what it is to really be loved by God. The love of God is the gift of his glorious self.

Because he loved Lazarus and Mary and Martha, he stayed two days longer and let them walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and then went and showed them his glory.

 John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today.

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The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions.