Rejected and Despised

Introduction

Well, here we are again in the book of John. This morning we are, once again, be in the eleventh chapter of the book of John. If you were here last week, I misspoke! Sometimes my mouth runs faster than my brain. I made a passing comment to the woman with the issue of blood and mistakenly called her Mary Magdalene. THAT IS NOT CORRECT! She is never named anywhere in the gospels!

Mary Magdalene was the woman whom Jesus cast out seven demons. My wife lovingly called me on my mistake and I deeply appreciate it. So I wanted to correct my mistake!

As you might remember, if you were with us last week, that we closed with John 11:45-46.

John 11:45 NIV

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Because Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, many of the Jews—these were Jews that came from Jerusalem to comfort Mary. I think it is interesting that only Mary is mentioned.

But not everyone believes. Look at verse 46.

John 11:46 NIV

But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

That’s right, some of the people who saw the miracle ended up going back to Jerusalem, and report (I would call it tattling) on Jesus!

NOTE: Our motto here at the church has been “Love God, Love People.” The problem that some of us will face is that no matter how much you love someone, they may not love you back!

Jesus was a prime example of this. While he deeply loved the religious leaders, and deeply loved those who tattled on him, they refused to love him! This is very evident in the response of the religious leaders. Look at verse 47.

The Religious Leader’s Response.

John 11:47 NIV

Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.

The Emergency Meeting (v. 47a)

We have the word, “Then” or in some translations, “So”, the key is because of the reports. . .

The chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

SIDE NOTE: Who or what is the Sanhedrin? Well, the Sanhedrin was a 71 member council made up of:

The chief priests who were mainly Sadducees who dominated the council. This group of Jews did not believe in the resurrection so they were sad-you-see—just an easy way to remember at least part of what set them apart from the Pharisees.

The Pharisees mostly scribes (most of the time when I hear “scribe” I think of someone who writes/records things. But they were more than that! They were religious authorities who were concerned with the “correct interpretation of the law”). Because of their understanding of and adherence to the Mosaic law, they were a powerful minority.

The elders. This was the smallest group, and consisted of landed aristocrats (wealthy landowners) with a mix of theological views.

This council was considered to be the “rulers” of the Jews, and acted as one of the proxy’s for the Roman government. As long as they kept the peace in their region of influence (i.e. Jerusalem and Judea) the Romans would let them be—but if there was any conflict or a dispute of power in the region, the Romans would come in and take over the complete rule and do so with an iron fist (it was not uncommon for the Romans to kill everyone involved).

The Issue at Hand (v. 47b)

The members of the Sanhedrin were afraid. They basically ask, “What are we going to do?” (What are we accomplishing?).

They cannot deny the miraculous signs that Jesus was preforming. They have seen the lame man walk, the blind man see, demons cast out of people, and NOW, a dead man—dead four days—had been raised to life! They could not deny the miracles that Jesus performed.

John 11:48 NIV

If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

If they continue to let him teach freely and continue to perform miracles they are afraid that several things will happen (v. 48):

More and more of the people (Jews) will believe in Jesus. This would mean the Sanhedrin would lose much of their power and influence over the people.

If they were to lose their influence over the people, the Romans could “take away” their temple (their right to worship).

And they Romans could take away the Sanhedrin’s rule because they would no longer represent a “nation.”

For those in the Sanhedrin, Jesus represented a significant threat to their way of life. These men were at risk of losing EVERYTHING that they held dear. Their power, prestige, wealth, and even their lives.

Jesus did not speak or teach as though he was a revolutionary, who would be able to overthrow the Roman government. Nevertheless, if the people were to follow after Jesus and reject the leadership of the council; they would, indeed, lose EVERYTHING!

John 11:49 NIV

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all!

The High Priest’s Solution

We are introduced to Caiaphas:

He is identified as holding the position of high priest of Israel (v. 49a)

He was “high priest that year” (v. 49b). Actually he was the high priest from AD 18-36, so the term that year simply identifies his role as high priest during that time period.

Caiaphas tells the council that they really know nothing at all (v. 49c). As bad as the council thinks the situation is, Caiaphas believes it is far worse! Nevertheless, he basically accuses the rest of the council of being ignorant!

John 11:50 NIV

You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

His solution, it is better for one man (Jesus) to die, rather than have the entire Jewish population be destroyed (v. 50).

John 11:51 NIV

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation,

John’s Side Note

John tells us that the idea Caiaphas presented was NOT his idea (v. 51a).

Rather he was actually speaking a prophecy that was given by God (v. 51b):

Jesus would die for the Jewish nation (v. 51c).

John 11:52 NIV

and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

And not just for the nation but for all the children of God that had been scattered throughout the known world (v. 52a).

And that through Jesus’ death all of God’s children would be made into one people (v. 52b).

The Solution

John 11:53 NIV

So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

From that day on, the Jewish religious leaders began to plot how they might kill Jesus (cf. Matt. 12:14) (v. 53).

Jesus’ Reaction

John 11:54 NIV

Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

Somehow, Jesus found out about the Jew’s plan. Perhaps it was through Nicodemus (that came to him by night, cf. Jn. 3:1-21), one of the members of the Sanhedrin. So, because, the Jewish leaders were plotting to kill Jesus, he no longer moved around Judea (the area where Jerusalem and Bethany are located).

Jesus decided to go out into the wilderness—to a place called Ephraim (in the Old Testament, Ophrah or Ephron. This would have been one of the villages located within the tribal lands of Benjamin).

It was located northeast of Bethel, some 12 to 15 miles north of Jerusalem (cf. 2 Chron. 13:19). It was far enough to be “safe” but close enough to return to Jerusalem when his time was right (cf. Jn. 12:23).

Scene Change!

John 11:55 NIV

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover.

John fast forwards to the beginning of the last Passover that Jesus will celebrate with his disciples (v. 55a).

Before the Passover celebration, John tells us that there was a time of ceremonial cleansing.

NOTE: on the Ritual Cleansing

Pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem before Passover to undergo ceremonial cleansing (John 11:55), a practice rooted in Jewish purity laws. This cleansing took place in ritual immersion pools that were located near the temple’s southern entrance.

The ceremonial cleansing was necessary, because lay people needed to be ritual pure in order to enter the Court of the Priests. They had to enter the court in order to bring their lambs for sacrifice.

Those requiring this purification had to complete it seven days before the festival.

The underlying requirement reflected Old Testament regulations about ritual defilement. Contact with a human corpse created seven days of uncleanness, requiring purification on the third and seventh days (Num 19:11–22).

Some individuals couldn’t celebrate Passover on the proper day because they had become ceremonially unclean through contact with a dead body (Num 9:6–14), though the Lord permitted such people to observe the feast a month later (Num 9:6–14).

Because festive pilgrims might unwittingly contract uncleanness from graves in the fields, all the tombs were made to appear white a month before Passover to make them visible.

The significance of this practice extended beyond mere ritual compliance. The Jewish leaders took elaborate precautions to avoid ritual contamination in order to eat the Passover. Yet, we will see that these same leaders are going to manipulate the judicial system to secure the death of Jesus. Isn’t that interesting? Jesus, alone is the true Passover—John highlights this tension through the dramatic irony of the people looking for (seeking) Jesus before the Passover. Look at verse 56.

John 11:56 NIV

They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?”

John tells us that the people keep looking for Jesus (v. 56a).

They were looking specifically in the temple courts (v. 56b).

They were talking to each other and asking: “Do you think Jesus is going to come to the Passover festival at all?”

They are questioning if Jesus would even come to the Passover at all. After all, EVERYONE in Jerusalem knew that the religious leaders (the Sanhedrin) were seeking Jesus in order to kill him. We actually learn about their intent in verse 57.

Putting Their Plan into Action

John 11:57 NIV

But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

We are told that the chief priests and the Pharisees had “given orders” to everyone!

The orders were simple, if someone saw Jesus they should report it to them!

When that report came in, they planned to arrest Jesus! Ultimately, they want to put Jesus to death.

SO WHAT?

Some people will believe in the miracles of Jesus! And some people will NOT!

1 Peter 2:7–8 NIV

Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.

At times, even those who should recognize Jesus, miss Him!

John 1:11 NIV

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

Some people seek Jesus for the wrong reasons.

Some seek to prove Jesus is a fake or fraud.

Some seek to prove you cannot trust Jesus.

Some seek to prove Jesus was only a good man but NOT God incarnate—made flesh.

Some seek Jesus to get what they “want” or “need.”

I’ve talked to some who seek Jesus because that’s what they are expected to do.

Still other people seek Jesus for the right reasons. They believe and trust in Him. They seek as the Lord, Master, or Ruler of their lives.

This morning, let me ask you a question:

QUESTION: Why do you seek Jesus?