Misc. - “ “ - John 11:45-53

Guys welcome to The Bridge. This is an exciting night, and we are so very honored and grateful that you joined us for worship!

Let me take a moment and share with you what The Bridge is all about:

We believe God is doing something special here and we are a ministry of Mount Pisgah!

We want to be a Bridge that helps you get plugged into the local church.

We want to see this be a place to help you love Jesus and people, Grow in your spiritual walk with Jesus, serve Jesus, and then go into the world, your future or current career to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

So tonight… the week of Easter, I want us to start this ministry and our

What are we going to do?

What are we going to do? I took Hailey to a Mediterranean restaurant in Asheville. We had just started dating and I’m trying to be a good boyfriend and win her over...

Get to the restaurant, and look at the menu… literally everything is in Greek. everything. Even “water” was written “

We looked at each other, I had a single tear building up in my duct because all I could think was: “she’s not going to like Hangry Hayden” and she too had a single tear swelling up in one of her eyes but it was because she was thinking “please tell me this man aint about to make me eat a bambi lamb.”

We didn’t have any ties to that place

We weren’t committed, we had not yet participated in eating… nothing.

we recognized it was in fact a restaurant.

We understood that it was in fact a place with great reviews and a lot of fame… but because

we had no commitment, and not experienced it before, we we left with a huge question:

What are we going to do??

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John 11:45–56 KJV 1900

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. 55 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

1. The Crowd Processed the Work of Jesus

There have been many important decisions made behind closed doors.

Many important decisions made with a small group of people gathered together.

a. They All Witnessed a Miracle of Jesus

What did they watch?

Lazarus come to life!

What else did they see?

Jesus weep

Mary come to His feet

The mourners were there weeping… and now they had nothing else to weep about.

b. They All Responded to the Man of Jesus

John 11:45 KJV 1900

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

The work of God in the heart of man is a miracle!!!

Some responded with faith.

Some responded with rejection.

Not only did they reject Jesus, they went to the wicked religious leaders

2. The Council Planned to Stop Jesus

a. This Council Gathered out of Fear

“What are we going to do with Jesus?”

The Sanhedrin comes together and does a few things:

They asked an important question: What are we going to do?

The recognized the works of Jesus: His miracles and signs point to who Jesus is! They couldn’t deny Jesus but because they didn’t accept Him, they denied Him.

They realized that people would believe in Him.

They felt their prestige and power was threatened.

Lordship… Lordship… Lordship...

They were afraid, because of the Pax Romana, that if the Romans saw the Jews following Jesus, that the Romans were come down to Jerusalem

What did this Gathering include?

They asked the question, “what should we do?” in verse 48… but who was in the room?

This council, or “sanhedrin” got together and began to ask the question: What are we going to do with Jesus?

look at Acts 5:16-17

Acts 5:16–17 KJV 1900

16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. 17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

Sadducees and Pharisees were on completely different ends of the spectrum. Sadducees didn’t believe in the miraculous and were much more liberal of the Rabbis. The Pharisees were the legalist...

Yet, they rallied around this One thing.

We are here to rally around a common interest, but in the best possible way. We can ask the same question, “What should we do?” Because I want my life to count. I want my life to matter. I want to let Jesus live through me… so we gather to rally around a common interest… Jesus!

b. This Council Foolishly Rejected the Truth

He had proven Himself… Jesus is more than a miracle worker. He’s more than a man. He is God . He is the Savior! He is who He says He is!

Nothing they did or said in this council involved

You all too have been presented with clear information about Jesus.

Jesus would mess up their position.

Jesus would mess up.

They didn’t accept Jesus as Lord because it would mess up their career, comfort, and conviction.

Maybe you have understood Jesus is clearly who He says He is, but you haven’t allowed Him to be Lord over certain aspects of your life:

Dating relationship

c. This Council Providentially Spoke the Gospel

70 men plus the president of the sanhedrin… Caiphas.

Caiphas made a statement… This lost man, made a statement that is so profound, so good, and such a display of God being in control.

Notice three parts:

a. The Speaker’s Role

He was the High Priest - God’s mouth piece for His people.

verse 51 - “he spake not of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation.”

b. The Statement’s Revelation

He was right! It was better for one man to die and not the whole nation!

Romans 5:7–8 KJV 1900

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3. The City that

Notice:

a. The City of Ephraim

Ephraim… double fruitfulness.

Genesis 41:52 KJV 1900

52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

b. The Crowd’s Expectation

c. The Council’s Engineering