The Plot to Kill Jesus

John 11:45–57 ESV

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 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.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 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.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Lose our place and nation

John 11:45–48 ESV

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 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.”

Many believed in him. Over and over we have seen this phrase and many believed in him. Jesus number of followers are large enough now that he is not a minor problem.

pharisees wondering what to do

but notice why they are concerned John 11:48

John 11:48 ESV

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.”

FEAR

fear of lost position not in charge

fear of Romans taking complete control

growing sense of Jesus being long awaited king of israel which will lead to rebellion against rome

The savior is to them only a destroyer

The fear of roman destruction comes true in 70 ad when they come in and destroy the temple.

Caiaphas Solution

John 11:49–50 ESV

But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 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.”

You know nothing at all/ Nor do you understand - you fools

Its better for you

Not this is what is right or good

but rather this is what is advantageous to you

concern is not for the nation but for themselves

Let us kill one man so the whole nation wont perish

If the nation is destroyed then they wont be in charge and wont sit in the places of honor they will lose the respect of the people.

God’s plan of salvation

John 11:51–57 ESV

He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Yet John tells us that Caiaphas was really prophesying

Jesus would die for the nation and also the whole world that God might call all his children to him

This means it was God’s plan that Jesus be crucified.

It was not merely God working man’s evil for good rather he planned from the begginning that Jesus would be the substitutionary death for the world.