None as audacious as men plotting to kill the Son of God
This cannot undo the eternal counsel of God
5 decisive moments in the narrative
The Catalyst for the final Crisis (v45-46)
The watershed moment – the magnificent resurrection of Lazarus
Two reactions:
v45 – faith/those who believed
The miracle produced life in Lazarus and the witnesses
v46 – opposition/hardness
This pattern is seen in Scripture
This reveals spiritual blindness – they saw the miracle but not the Messiah
This reveals misguided loyalty – they felt a great obligation to religion than the truth
Jesus became undeniable – the miracle was too big to ignore
Jesus became dangerous – a political threat to the religious leaders (v48)
The miracle of life (Lazarus) became the death of Jesus
The Concern of the Council (v47-48)
Two issues:
The problem:
Not a lack of evidence
A problem not with their eyes but their hearts
The panic:
They feared losing their religious place/authority
They feared losing their nation before Roman
Many people today resist Christ because they fear the cost
John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
This shows the depravity of mankind
Not an intellectual problem but a moral problem of sin in the human heart
The problem is not in Jesus but in mankind
The Calculation of Caiaphas (v49-50)
The high priest offers a cold and calculating solution
He does not care about right/wrong
He only cares whether Jesus is useful to the religious leaders
He is very pragmatic – to kill one man rather than lose a nation
Jesus is a problem to be removed
He did not know he was prophesying!
He though he was planning a murder
But he was actually doing the will/plan of God
The Counsel of the Creator (v51-52)
Three powerful truths of this prophecy:
The high priest did not prophesy in his own authority – God was in control
He was a microphone – God is the speaker
Rev 4 – John’s vision: God is in control
We may think that God is not in control – but He is
The vicarious death of Jesus as our substitute
He would die for the nation
Not just for the Jewish nation but the children of God throughout the world
John 10:16 "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd"
The Control of the Christ (v53-54)
A conflict of timing – the leaders were in a rush but Jesus was in a schedule
The conspiracy – the religious leaders plotted to put Jesus to death
They wanted him dad straightaway!
The control – Jesus withdraws
He is not running away or afraid
He is waiting … for the Passover
He is waiting for the right hour
"My hour has not yet come"
God acts in the right time
We have to rest in the hand of God – He knows the perfect time
The example of Sarah
Wait for God’s timing
Men may plot but Christ controlled the calendar
His life was not in the hands of the Sanhedrin but in the hands of the Father
Conclusion
Have confidence in God
Despite the circumstances of the world
Have conviction in God
Do not reject the signs of Christ for fear of loss
John 12:43
Have communion in God
You are gathered in the cross
Live in unity in the body of the Church
We are citizens of heaven, pilgrims of this world
We are one flock
There is a commission in God
The heart of mission – sharing the gospel
We must preach to the children of God
2 Tim 2:10 "Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory"
John 6:37 "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."
John 6:39 "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day"
John 17:2 "as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him"
Acts 18:9-11 "Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
