Greetings all
I would like to wish everyone a great week to come. We are about to enter into the week before Jesus makes his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. This weeks reading will focus on the plotting to kill Jesus. The week before palm Sunday is a very important week in the ministry of Jesus. In the verses leading up to John 11:45-53 we get to see Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead there were many Pharisees present. With the Pharisees who were present many of them believed in Jesus after seeing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.
John 11:45-53
45(N) Many of the Jews therefore,(O) who had come with Mary and(P) had seen what he did, believed in him, 46but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47So the chief priests and the Pharisees(Q) gathered(R) the Council and said,(S) "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and(T) the Romans will come and take away both our(U) place and our nation." 49But one of them,(V) Caiaphas,(W) who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. 50Nor do you understand that(X) it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." 51He did not say this of his own accord, but(Y) being high priest that year(Z) he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and(AA) not for the nation only, but also(AB) to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53So from that day on they(AC) made plans to put him to death. I would like us to take a look at verse 48. In verse 48 the Pharisees who witnessed Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead started to get worried about what the Romans would do to them if Jesus became more popular. The Romans were in charge of the region at this time and the Jews were afraid the Romans would destroy their nation and there temple. The Jews figured if they killed Jesus their problem would go away and they would be able to keep their temple and way of life. Jesus was looked at by the Pharisees as a man who was to be their sacrifice to save the nation and bring the nation together.
The problem the Jewish nation and Pharisees had was is they could not believe without seeing. The Jewish leaders took the focus off of what God wanted His people to do and started making laws for everything.
What is the lesson we need to look at from this passage in scripture? In looking at this passage we need to remember Jesus came into the world to save us from our eternal damnation. The Pharisees did not want to believe in God; the Pharisees wanted their idea of God to fit into a box. God cannot be put into a box and the Pharisees could not understand that. Jesus came into to the world and took on all our sin and forgave us of each and every one of our sins.
Prayer
Lord Jesus may we always keep our eyes on you. Lord may we not be like the Pharisees by putting you into a box. Lord prepare our hearts and minds as we get ready for holy week. Jesus please take care of us this week and keep us safe from sin as well as all evil in the world.
AMEN