“Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.’” John 11:45-48.

The Jews who had come to Mary were those who followed her to Lazarus’ tomb and witnessed his resurrection by Jesus. Seeing someone four days dead, a rotting corpse reeking of decay, walking out of a tomb a whole man staggers the mind.

Many believed, and yet.

“But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.” John 11:46.

Is it possible that they wanted to tell the Pharisees so that they would believe in the Christ too? The generous heart wants to say, “Yes”.

However the Scripture says that many of the witnesses believed enough to trust Christ. Many, is not all. Then the words, “but some” seems to separate them from the “…many of the Jews” who believed, indicating that there were those who believed and those who did not believe.

Speaking of the boldness of the preaching of some of the Christians who were actually strengthened by the imprisonment of the Apostle Paul; he makes a curious statement.

“Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.” Philippians 1:15-17.

There are those who are so worldly minded that they would rather ingratiate themselves to people like the Pharisees rather than believe their own eyes and admit that there is another higher thing in life than physical or egotistical pleasures.

The more I study Scripture, the more I realize how bound the souls of many are to the earth and its system. I encourage the atheist, those with a lust for wealth and worldly things, and those with no interest in spiritual things, to step back and assess your short life; where will you spend eternity?

“Do not be afraid when one becomes rich, when the glory of his house is increased; for when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him. Though while he lives he blesses himself (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself), he shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light. Man who is in honor, yet does not understand, is like the beasts that perish.” Psalm 49:16-20.

The rich, when he enters hell will have neither riches, or renown, “…for when he dies he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.” instant eternal poverty.

“For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26.

The chief priests and the Pharisees must have believed the seemingly outrageous stories of these eye witnesses of the resurrection of Lazarus, because they convened a council.

They did this for their own selfish reasons, to protect their own little plot of ground on this earth.

The other two recorded resurrections of the dead were, one very public one during a funeral in the town of Nain, see Luke 7:11-17; and the more private but no less renowned resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, see Mark 5:21-43.

Then there is the healing of the paralytic, with its extreme Sabbath controversy, John chapter 5. And the healing of the man born blind which was carefully researched and loudly disputed in a synagogue by the Pharisees, John chapter 9, and you see tremendous flashes of lightning lighting up this dark world.

Add to this the window rattling thunderclap of the resurrection of Lazarus and you have something that cannot be ignored, or denied.

Admitting that this Man did many signs, yet ignoring that these signs were the credentials of the long prophesied Messiah, they actually plotted to kill this innocent Man.

And for what reason do they plot to kill God?

“If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” John 11:48.

It is said of Pilate when the Jews delivered Jesus up to him.

“But Pilate answered them, saying, ‘Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?’ For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.” Mark 15:9-10.

Even though they were worried that the Romans would take both their place and their nation; it is not merely patriotic, they would still suffer loss and prestige if the nation were touched.

“And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’ Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.” John 11:49-52.

“Caiaphas, being high priest that year…” the eternal shame of the nation of Israel is that it had so degraded itself that the lifetime office of the high priest was no longer handed down within the priestly lineage, but rather the office could be had through influence.

Caiaphas himself having been appointed by the governor Valerius Gratus in 26 A.D. he remained in office until deposed by proconsul Vitellius in 36 A.D. He presided over the trial of the Lord and was present during the questioning of Peter and John Acts 4:6.

Government has absolutely no place in the affairs of God’s people, both then and now.

That is why the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States says the following:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The first Ten Amendments to the Constitution were ratified effective, December 15, 1791; they are also known as the Bill of Rights.

American government has established Humanism as its religion and as concerns Christianity, is constantly “prohibiting the free exercise thereof” through harassment and court orders.

The First Amendment was added because so many of those who came over from Europe did so to escape religious persecution from the Church of England, the Catholic Church and other state churches.

These churches were corrupt and persecuted any who would dare to disagree with them.

And they were corrupted because godless men gained positions of authority, both through the laziness of the Christians within the church and by appointments to offices such as priest by kings and other government authorities.

It was not by order of Christ that men and women were tortured and burned or roasted at the stake; it was by order of Satan himself who had gained power in Christ’s church.

So, not surprisingly the ungodly had gained power within Judaism and decided, in Satan’s counsel, to murder God the Son.

Notice the arrogance in the speech of the man Caiaphas as he speaks to men who are his peers though not of his office. “You know nothing at all…” Yet it is God who speaks through him as he prophesies, “…it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”

This is all the glory that this evil man deserves as he pronounces his own eternal death sentence in rejecting Christ as his sacrifice for sin.

John, author of this gospel, then elaborates on the high priest’s prophesy.

“Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.” John 11:51-52.

In saying that Jesus would not die for the nation only we are reminded of John the Baptist’s words.

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29b.

It is not just for the Jew or the Christian; it is for the sin of the world, this includes everyone, even Caiaphas and these men in this council.

Salvation is a gift for anyone, but they have to accept the gift. If it is rejected, then one does not have the gift of salvation.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

There is nothing complicated here, it is just a matter of receiving a gift.

Not only is this statement all inclusive, “…not for that nation only” but the second half says, “…also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.” meaning that all, both Jew and Gentile would become one in Christ.

“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.” John 10:16.

“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh – who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands – that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been made near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:11-16.

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26-28.

“…there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.” Colossians 3:11.

It is not just the church, the bride of Christ in view here but all men who have put their trust in God over the ages, and in time all who have done so will gather at Mount Zion with all the holy angels.

“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:22-24.

“Then from that day on they plotted to put Him to death.” John 11:53.

Jesus was a Man targeted for death from the day of His birth.

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under…” Matthew 2:16.

“Then all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up and thrust Him [Jesus] out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.” Luke 4:28-30.

“Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him [Jesus], because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” John 5:18.

“Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, ‘What do you think – that He will not come to the feast?’ Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.” John 11:54-57.

It was not fear that kept Jesus from walking openly among the Jews but necessity, for His time had not come; it is during the Passover that He must die.

As a result He went to Ephraim which is almost 15 miles northeast of Jerusalem, again as the crow flies, perhaps much longer on foot.

It is also clear from the above passage that it was a well known fact in Jerusalem that the chief priests and the Pharisees were out to arrest the Lord.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Matthew 23:37.

Plotting to Kill God, John 11:45-57 taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 1-23-13, updated on 12-10-17.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.