Jesus Must Die John 11:45-57
Behold & Believe • Sermon • Submitted
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· 22 viewsJesus' death was good politics to his enemies but life for the people of God.
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Jesus' death was good politics to his enemies but life for the people of God.
Read John 11:43-53
43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
Two important words to get the context: Pragmatism & politics
Pragmatism is the moral framework of the day - What works is right
A way of thinking born out of a skepticism of our ability to understand absolute truth.
Does it grow the economy? Then its ok
Does he lower my taxes? Good - Does he take care of my SS? - Good
Does it help my family? Then its ok
Does it benefit my career?
Does it remove the problem? then its ok - I’m young and pregnant -problem ; solution remove the problem - God wants me happy!
When I say politics what comes to mind?
Definition of politics
1a: the art or science of government
b: the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy
c: the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government
Religious politics then is concerned with holding power and control over its followers
Jesus' death was good politics to his enemies but life for the people of God.
It was the practical, pragmatic way to fix the problem that Jesus posed to their power and control
Last week Jesus is our Power for Life, YET His plan is not always our plans but it is the best plan
Jesus Christ plan is moving and His plan is unstoppable
Jesus’ Death Was Good Politics vv. 45-50
Jesus’ Death Was Good Politics vv. 45-50
The people’s two-fold respond to Lazarus resurrection - John 11:45-46
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
Some believed & Some Went away
We are not told the nature of those who believed
v.46 - Those who went away ands told the religious leaders
One might charitably hope that the motive of at least some of them was to win the Pharisees to the truth, but the contrast set up between those who believe and those who go to the Pharisees suggests that their intent was more malicious.
Ryle: There is no greater mistake than to suppose that seeing miracles will necessarily convert souls.
Truly spiritual blindness is worse than we thought
The religious elite gather & reveal (both their fear and their motives) - John 11:47- 48
47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
The Gathering & their admission
This council gathering was probably the great sanhedrim, or consultative assembly of the Jewish Church.
Virtually all the priests were Sadducees.
The Pharisees constituted an influential minority; most of them were scribes.
The rest of the members were elders, landed aristocrats of mixed (or few) theological views.
It was for purely ecclesiastical, and not for civil or political purposes.
This group rarely agreed except for when their power is threatened
The admission -
They didn’t protest the authenticity of the healing.
They acknowledge Jesus has supernatural power to raise the dead. yet they refuse to ask what the works point to.
These were supposed to be the most spiritual men in the nation.
Their fear & motives
V.48 take away our “place” position
The Pharisees here pretended fear of the Romans, when in reality they found the growing influence of Jesus pulling down their own power over the people.
They feared that if every one starts believing in Jesus, then the believers would make him king (cf. 6:14–15), which would mean rebellion against the Roman governance. It would then provoke the Romans to come and take away their place, the Jerusalem temple (cf. 2 Macc 1:29; 5:19; Acts 6:14; 21:28), and nation, the people of Israel (11:48).
When religion is motivated by self-centered fear it will justify almost anything
The high Priest pragmatic plan - John 11: 49-50
49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”
Caiaphas’ conclusion is short and decisive. This Man must die.
It is far better that one should die, whether innocent or not, for the benefit of the whole nation, than that the whole nation should be brought into trouble and perish. I cannot suppose that Caiaphas meant anything more than this.
He simply argues that Christ’s death would be a public benefit, and that to spare Him might bring destruction on the nation.
We must never do evil that good may come.
Ex: You’re a doctor and your hospital calls a meeting and says that the government has approved the harvesting of “fetuses” because they have discovered how to use them to end Parkinson.
Imagine you could give a injection to your loved one and reverse it, you just have to kill an unborn child to do it. End a life that isn't born yet anyway or save a life that is already here. Pragmatically what should we do?
The religious elite said yes kill the man to save our position, our power and our nation
How did this turn out?
The historical outcome of their political plan
Matt 24:1-2
1 Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
AD 36 - Caiaphas is deposed and replaced
The Lexham Bible Dictionary Josephus
He relates that Gratus made Joseph Caiaphas high priest during a period of rapid turnover, and later writes that Caiaphas is deposed and replaced by Jonathan, son of Ananus (Antiquities 18.35, 95).
AD 36 Pontius Pilate is removed from office after his handling of a Samaritan uprising
AD 70 - Jewish Revolt brought the roman down destroying the temple and demolished the political religious system that killed Jesus.
This could be a political prophecy concerning the Romans, who would seize Jerusalem in 66–70 CE to destroy the temple and take away the Jews as slaves.
Prov 16:9; 25
9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
Jesus' death was good politics to his enemies BUT
Jesus’ Death Brought Life for the People of God - vv. 51-57
Jesus’ Death Brought Life for the People of God - vv. 51-57
God’s sovereign plan - John 11: 51-53
51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
Peter makes this point clearly during his sermon on the Day of Pentecost: (Acts 2:23).
23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
God made the plan before time
1 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Tim 1:8-10
20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
V.52 - Purpose of the plan is to gather
John 10:16 - Ingathering
16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
The church - 1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Jesus must die so my people might be redeemed
Joseph & his brothers or Saul chasing David - God already had a plan
v.52 -”for” - You understand the significance a little more if you substitute the words “in place of” or “on behalf of.”
Jesus our willing/ selfless substitute
Substitution atonement - Passover - took our place
v. 52 - “for” = on behalf of
v. 55 - The Passover was at hand
Sidebar: These religious elite who had just planned murder went now to purify themselves for the Passover.
The four Passovers mentioned by the Gospel of John include 2:13; 5:1; 6:4; and 11:55–12:1.
Satisfaction of Gods wrath - Day of atonement -- two lambs; One atoned for the sin by being the substitute for the people & the other was the substitute by removing the sin and its debt never to return.
He Took Our Poison and he didnt have to
A story coming from the Kejave Medical Center in Kenya tells about a case involving an eight-year-old named Monica who broke her leg when falling into a pit. An older woman, Mama Njeri, happened along and climbed into the pit to help get Monica out. In the process, a dangerous black Mamba snake bit both Mama Njeri and Monica. Monica was taken to Kejave Medical Center and admitted. Mama Njeri went home, but never awoke from sleep. The next day a perceptive missionary nurse explained Mama Njeri’s death to Monica, telling her that the snake had bitten both of them, but all the snake’s poison was expended on Mama Njeri; none was given to Monica. The nurse then explained that Jesus had taken the poison of Monica’s sin so that she could have a new life. It was an easy choice for Monica. She then received Jesus as Savior and Lord on the spot (Swindoll, p. 541).Jesus our redeemer
Jesus is our Ransoming Redeemer
The idea of redemption must not be reduced to the general notion of deliverance.
The language of redemption is the language of purchase and more specifically of ransom.
A ransom is the securing of a release by the payment of a price.
Ex: someone come by and throws a rock thru our plate glass window. One week later his conscious convicted he comes in and admits and asked us to forgive him. I’m holding the bill for the plate glass.
The word of our Lord himself (Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45) should place beyond all doubt three facts:
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Rom 6:15-18
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Just as sacrifice is directed to the need created by our guilt, propitiation to the need that arises from the wrath of God, and reconciliation to the need arising from our alienation from God, so redemption is directed to the bondage to which our sin has consigned us.
Jesus' death was good politics to his enemies but Jesus’ death brought life for the people of God.
So What?
So What?
Do I have a pragmatic faith that works for me or a costly faith the works for Him?
COVID has brought us to a near nervous breakdown. What should I do?
I begin to remove things that bother me (Kids back in school will fix it, husband out of the house, wife needs to get a job)
I begin taking pills that dull my senses
I pull away from those who love me
Any one of those kinds of choice may seem right and might even work until the next storm blows in.
How does faith fight?
costly Faith worships first especially in the storm
Costly Faith is honest and asks for help
Costly Faith determines to obey God character and his promises no matter the cost
mens conference - Martin Luther King Jr.
“Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles;
Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances.
Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it.
Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?
Expediency ask the question, is it politic?
Vanity asks the question, is it popular?
But conscience ask the question, is it right?
And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.”
Joshua 1:5-9 -
5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
I am with you so trust me and obey me for I am with you wherever you go.