Religious Leaders Plan to Kill Jesus

Our study is in John 11:47-54. Jesus has just raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. Lazarus' resurrection was stunning considering the crowd saw Lazarus float out of the tomb while being bound from his anxiety to his head. He could not walk out of the cave considering his feet were bound. He could non have pulled himself out because his hands were bound and he could not see where to become considering his face was wrapped with textile. The resurrection of Lazarus was a stunning event. After the miracle, John eleven:45 says that many believed in Jesus. But poetry 46 reveals that not everyone in the oversupply believed in Jesus, and some of them visited the religious leaders and told them what Jesus had washed. This occurred because miracle proved Jesus is God to those who have ears that hear the truth. The spiritually deaf or spiritually rebellious do not hear, because they exercise not want to hear. Our study will reveal how the religious leaders responded to the written report they were given. John's business relationship of the historical events that followed includes a prophecy about Jesus' death and why He died. Hither is our study.

This Homo Is Performing Many Signs

Our report begins with John 11:47. In poesy 46, we are told that someone had contacted the religious leaders and informed them that Jesus had raised Lazarus. Poetry 47 begins the description of how they responded to the report.

Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were proverb, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs." John eleven:47 (NASB)

Nosotros are told the primary priests and the Pharisees responded to the news of Lazarus' resurrection past holding a meeting to discuss the state of affairs. They were not rejoicing for Lazarus or with his family over the skillful news! They did non respond by believing in Jesus. Rather, they were upset that Jesus had resurrected Lazarus. Jesus was performing too many signs. What an amazing reaction. But that is feature of unbelieving politicians and other unbelievers. They exercise not care about the people. They care merely well-nigh themselves.

We should not be surprised at the reaction of the Pharisees and Sadducees since they were religious men only past reputation. The Sadducees were the liberals who believed in only the first five books of the Sometime Testament. Acts 23:8 tells the states they did non believe in resurrections, angels or spirits.

For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor an affections, nor a spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Acts 23:8 (NASB)

That is, they rejected the testimony of Scripture (Genesis three:24; sixteen:seven; 19:1; Exodus 33:2; Leviticus 19:31; 20:6, 27; Deuteronomy 18:11) fifty-fifty though they had the first five books memorized. In Matthew 22:29-xxx Jesus told them,

You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, just are like angels in heaven. Matthew 22:29-30 (NASB)

Imagine existence told that you did not understand the Scriptures when you accept it memorized. They were non true believers in God or the Scriptures. They did non understand Scripture. They were spiritually blind. The Sadducees were the wealthy aristocrats or the elite of Israel. They dominated the government of the nation of Israel by occupying a majority of the seats on the Sanhedrin Council.

The Pharisees were the conservatives of the time. While they believed the entire Bible, they too interpreted Scripture allegorically. Unlike the Sadducees, they believed in the resurrection, angels, and spirits (Acts 23:eight). Merely on 1 occasion, Jesus taught that the Pharisees were spiritually blind. Jesus chosen them "hypocrites" half-dozen times (Matthew 23:13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29). He said they were "blind guides" five times (Matthew 23:16, 17, 19, 24 , 26). In John 8:44, Jesus said their father was the devil and accused them of beingness liars—Satan is the male parent of lies.

This helps us empathise that the Sadducees and the Pharisees were not believers who followed God. Their hearts were hard. In Matthew 12:34 Jesus called them a brood of snakes and "being evil." In summary, neither the Sadducees or Pharisees were godly men.

Consequently, both groups of men were incapable of loving and caring for others, especially Jesus. We must recollect that only the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love, peace, kindness, goodness and self-control. Unbelievers are not truly good people who care for the people they oversee. They are incapable of such intendance since the fruit of the Spirit cannot exist in them. Unbelieving politicians are incapable of true morality. Their viewpoint volition always be more distorted and be more immoral than the morality of a mature Christian. The gospels clearly paint a picture of the Pharisees and Sadducees every bit extremely cocky-centered! They were religious leaders in title only and not in reality.

Some of our political leaders today are as self-centered as the Pharisees and Sadducees. They may quote the Bible, even though they do not believe it. They apply it to deceive and influence gullible people. We must call back that Jesus said we can know a expert tree past its fruit.

The Pharisees and Sadducees should have asked themselves what the resurrection of Lazarus revealed almost Jesus. Just they were not interested. They had already reached their decision. These spiritually deaf and spiritually rebellious men did non hear, because they did not want to hear. Hatred ignores the facts. Hatred just wants to impale. They wanted to kill.

So, a meeting of the Sanhedrin Council was called. It was composed of seventy-one[i] of the nigh prestigious, wealthy, politically and religiously influential men of the nation of State of israel. The wealthy and religiously liberal Sadducees dominated the council. The Pharisees had the high respect of the average people. While these two groups had strong disagreements, ane person brought unity of purpose. The major concern of this meeting of the council was Jesus. "What are we doing?" What were they going to do about Jesus?

The truth was that these religious leaders simply had every bit much control equally God granted them. Their very decision had already been determined. They did not realize that the raising of Lazarus was planned by God and had planned to motivate them to finally unite for one purpose — to murder Jesus on the cross. Jesus' many signs were too significant! He was a threat.

Chronology 13 - Life of Christ Study

All Men Will Believe in Him

Ironically, during their coming together the religious leaders revealed that the signs were so incredible that they should have acquired anybody, including them, to believe in Jesus. It was an admission that Jesus was non an ordinary human. They should have believed in Him, but such an access would take argued that they should worship Him. Then someone admitted their greatest fear and in the process revealed that Jesus' signs were real.

If we let Him go on similar this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans volition come up and take abroad both our place and our nation. John 11:48 (NASB)

Find that they did not attack Jesus' miracles. They did not claim His signs were the human activity of trickery, were deceptive or were fake. In fact, before in John 9 they had investigated the healing of a man who was bullheaded at birth. The entire chapter describes their investigation. They could not find any evidence that the miracle was false. They could not refute that the phenomenon occurred. They tried to find another caption for the healing, but they could not. They refused to believe. Finally, they argued that since Jesus was a man, He could not have healed the homo built-in bullheaded. They finally found an excuse for rejecting the healing. A spiritually hardened individual will always detect an argument to support their refusal to believe. Unbelief always looks for a reason to support itself.

Therefore, we can understand that the decision of the Sanhedrin Council had already been adamant. They were not going to believe in Jesus considering they hated Him. The verdict had already been determined. Information technology just had to be formally stated in the Sanhedrin Council. They were also fearful that they would lose power and their nation. There is no explanation as to why the Romans would remove them from their leadership role. Simply Matthew 27:xviii and Mark 7:22 both tell us that the members of the Sanhedrin Council had envy toward Jesus.

Expedient that One Human being Die for the People

Finally, somewhere in the discussion Caiaphas, the high priest, made a prophetic statement.

Just one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that yr, said to them, "You know cipher at all, nor practise yous take into account that information technology is expedient for you that 1 man dice for the people, and that the whole nation not perish." John 11:49-50 (NASB)

Three high priests are mentioned in the New Testament. The first 1 mentioned is Annas (Luke three:2; John 18:13, 24; Acts 4:6). He was the high priest from A.D. 6 to A.D. 15. Caiaphas was the next high priest of Israel from A.D. eighteen to A.D. 37. He was the grandson of Annas. The 3rd high priest mentioned in Scripture is Ananias (A.D. 47 to A.D. 58). He first appears in Acts 5:1 and his last appearance is Acts 24:one.

Caiaphas' statement that "You know nothing at all, nor do you lot have into business relationship that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish" was both accurate and prophetic. It is clear that the men on the council knew nothing. Caiaphas used a very strong and negative word when he said that they knew nothing. The Greek word for "nil" is equanimous of two negatives, ou oudeis. The two negatives adds accent to his statement. They knew cypher!

In fact, they were spiritually bullheaded, like anybody else who rejects Jesus Christ. Those who reject Jesus are spiritually bullheaded. They are like a blind human who feels pieces of woods that are like. Walnut lumber feels like cerise lumber, and Salmon feels similar catfish. A blind man cannot determine the difference. The spiritually blind can read the Bible, but he does non really sympathise the full depth of what he reads. He reads it similar a novel that he purchased from the local store. It has no existent spiritual depth of significant for him, and, eventually, he is not interested in information technology. The Bible has little or no life for him. His interest in the Bible is establish in what appeals to his cocky-contentedness. Some want to become scholars of the Bible. They are like the Sadducees.

Caiaphas' statement was accurate. They knew nothing—spiritually! They were the spiritually blind leading the spiritually blind. Still ironically, if Caiaphas was truly concerned that they would loose their position as leaders and the nation and killing Jesus would secure their position, he was wrong. Their rejection of Jesus resulted in the loss of their position as leaders and the devastation of the nation in A.D. seventy when the Roman regular army invaded Israel and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple. Later Mara Bar-Serapion, a Syrian, wrote that God avenged the death of Jesus by abolishing the Jewish nation.

Or the Jews by murdering their wise king? It was just after that their kingdom was abolished. God rightly avenged these men. . . the wise king . . .[two]

Biblical fools lack wisdom.

The Prophecy Near Jesus' Decease

At the aforementioned time, Caiaphas prophesied accurately. All the same, he did not realize that the Holy Spirit had motivated him to make the annotate. His statement was a prophecy not just nigh murdering Jesus. The prophecy summarized the One-time Testament prophecies virtually the sacrificial death and resurrection of the Messiah for the sins of men and women (Isaiah 53).

Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that yr, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation simply, but in order that He might also assemble together into i the children of God who are scattered away. John 11:51-52 (NASB)

Christians sometimes remember the Holy Spirit only moves believers in Christ to prophecy. Simply that is not true. Numbers 24:1-9 tells united states of america the Holy Spirit moved the prophet Balaam to requite a prophetic blessing upon the nation of Israel. Revelation 2:14 reveals that Balaam was a false prophet. The Holy Spirit moved the imitation prophet to give a prophecy. Here in this passage we are told the Caiaphas gave a prophecy, and it is articulate that God the Holy Spirit moved him to do this. We need to be careful to not limit God and to be expert students of the God of God. God tin use imitation prophets and unbelieving, Christ-rejecting religious leaders.

Isaiah 53:4-ten prophesied of the Messiah's sacrificial decease for the sin of flesh. Zechariah 12:10 and 13:7 prophecy of the crucifixion of Jesus. In Zechariah 12:10 God speaks these words,

I will cascade out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, equally one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 (NASB)

Caiaphas urged the quango to pierce Jesus. The resurrection of Lazarus is the phenomenon that motivated the religious leaders to finally kill Jesus.

Caiaphas' prophecy concludes with, "In lodge that He might also gather together into 1 the children of God who are scattered abroad." Earlier in John x:16-17 Jesus had said that He had two different flocks and the purpose of His sacrificial expiry was to bring them together into one flock.

I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, considering I lay down My life so that I may take it once again. John 10:16 (NASB)

Caiaphas' prophecy echoed the same truth. Who are those scattered abroad? First, they include the Jews who were scattered as the consequence of the Assyrian Ground forces invading the northern kingdom of State of israel in 722 B.C. and the Babylonian Army invading the southern kingdom of Judah in 605 B.C. These invading armies took the Jews convict and scattered them. James 1:ane refers to them equally "the twelve tribes who are dispersed away." They are the diaspora. In 1 Peter they are called "those who reside every bit aliens, scattered . . ." Both James and 1 Peter are written to Jewish Christians, too chosen Hebrew Christians or "Completed Jews." Only in Jesus' statement in John ten:16 and in Caiaphas' prophecy, we are given a hint that the "children of God who are scattered away" will include the Gentiles who believe in Jesus. Jewish and Gentile Christians volition be brought together.

Map — Jerusalem, Bethany & Bethphage

They Plan to Impale Jesus

Amazingly, that is the only comment that Scripture records from the coming together. The next poesy tells united states that the determination of the coming together was to impale Jesus.

Then from that day on they planned together to kill Him. John eleven:53 (NASB)

This reveals that the arrest and trial that will occur in the nigh future volition be an unfair trial. The guilty verdict and sentence of death were already determined at this quango. The trial would not be only and Scripture will ostend that was true.

Today, the Jews object and complain that they are wrongly defendant for killing Jesus. Such complaints are not based on facts. The Sanhedrin Quango planned to impale Jesus months before the supposedly just trial was even started. Yet, it occurred considering God had planned from the foundation of the earth for it to occur. Here are the words of the campaigner Peter on the Day of Pentecost.

Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a homo attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just equally yous yourselves know — this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross past the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him upwards again, putting an cease to the agony of death, since it was incommunicable for Him to be held in its power. Acts two:22-24 (NASB)

God had planned Jesus would dice for our sins, and yet, the Sanhedrin Council was responsible for His death. They wanted Him dead and made the decision to kill Him. Jesus is now going to die in nearly three months.

Conclusion

Galatians four:iv says that in "the fullness of fourth dimension" God sent Christ to be born into this earth. That is, to take on homo mankind. Romans 5:6 says,

. . . at the right fourth dimension Christ died for the ungodly . . . Romans 5:6 (NASB)

That is, the timing of Jesus' death was carefully planned. This helps united states understand that verse 54 reveals Jesus left the area to avoid existence killed. Even though His decease was the plan, it was besides early for Him to die. Jesus' 60 minutes had not nonetheless arrived (John 2:four; 7:30; eight:20; 12:23, 27; 13:1; 17:1).

Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from at that place to the state near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples. John 11:54 (NASB)

Jesus and the disciples did non return to Capernaum, the city of His headquarters, or to Nazareth, His hometown, but to a urban center called Ephraim. Perhaps Galilee and Judah were as well unsafe now. Mayhap that is the reason Ephraim was selected. Ephraim was located almost twelve miles from Jerusalem on the edge of the desert. From this location He and the disciples made trips to Samaria and Galilee until it was time for Him to be crucified.

The divine plan for His crucifixion was being implemented perfectly. Jesus was in control, but it was in accordance with the Father' wishes. He would soon become . . .

. . . the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NASB)

The decease of Lazarus was for the glory of God. God the Father was glorified past the resurrection of the Lazarus, but the great glory was three months away. God the Begetter would be revealed as existence righteous and believers could be forgiven their sins and be declared as righteous (Romans 5:one-2) as Jesus (ii Corinthians v:21).

References:

one. Jacob Neusner. Sanhedrin i.5. Mishnah. Yale University Press. 1988, p. 584.
2. British Museum, Syriac Manuscript, Additional fourteen,658

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