seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 11:45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 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. 48 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.”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
54 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.
55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 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?” 57 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.
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Here's the link to the commentary I read. I did leave some things out.
But some of them went away to the Pharisees: John continues his persistent theme — that the words and works of Jesus divide humanity between those who believe and those who reject. There were some who saw both the power and sympathy of Jesus yet responded by working against Him.
Gathered a council: Though unofficial, “It was a meeting of the Sanhedrin. John’s authority for the account of what passed here would be Joseph of Arimathaea or Nicodemus or some other member of the Sanhedrin who later became a Christian.” (Trench)
For this Man works many signs: The religious leaders privately admitted that Jesus performed signs that authenticated His claim to be Messiah and God. As Jesus claimed, His works did bear witness of Him (John 10:25).
Their opposition changed. First they opposed Jesus because they weren’t convinced He was the Messiah. Now they opposed Jesus because they were convinced that He was the Messiah. They admitted the miracles, but look how they treated the Miracle-worker:
- They denied Him.
- The opposed Him.
- They were afraid of His influence over the people.
If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him: The religious leaders knew the logical response to the witness of the works of Jesus was to believe in Him. They feared more and more would do so.
There is a wonderful thought suggested by this phrase, if we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him — simply that left alone, Jesus shows forth His glory.
The Romans will come and take away both our place and nation: As Jesus attracted more and more followers, the religious leaders feared that the Romans would regard it as a significant threat. Wanting especially to keep their power and prestige, they wondered how to deal with the problem of Jesus.
Most commentators believe that our place refers to the temple. The religious leaders had made such an idol of the temple that they were willing to kill Jesus to preserve it.
It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish: Caiaphas thought logically but nor morally. It was logical that one man should die for the people, but it was not moral to reject the Messiah and seek the death of an innocent Man.
Being high priest that year: “He was High Priest during the whole Procuratorship of Pontius Pilate, eleven years. In the words that year, there is no intimation conveyed that the High Priesthood was changed every year, which it was not, but we must understand the words as directing attention to ‘that (remarkable) year’.” (Alford)
You know nothing at all: “According to Josephus, Sadducees had a reputation for rudeness, even among one another.” (Bruce)
Nor do you consider: “A word used of reckoning up accounts and the like. He is saying that they cannot even calculate, cannot even work it out that such and such a course of action is the expedient one.” (Morris)
He prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation: Caiaphas gave an unconscious and involuntary prophecy. John was careful to give the credit to the office, not to the man (being high priest that year he prophesied).
“He is urging them to put Jesus to death: but the form of words he uses is unconsciously prophetic.” (Trench)
Also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad: John explained that the unconscious prophecy of Caiaphas was greater than he could have ever imagined. The death of Jesus would also gather together in one the sheep of another fold Jesus had previously spoken of (John 10:16).
Then from that day on they plotted to put Him to death: Before it was mostly lesser religious officials who wanted Jesus dead. At this point the men with real political power decided to murder Jesus. The time was now short until the death of Jesus.
Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews: Again, Jesus did not do this out of fear, but because His hour had not yet come (as in John 7:30). The hour had not yet come, but it was soon to come.
Before the Passover, to purify themselves: This means that it was the last few days before the coming Passover — at which Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, condemned, and crucified.
“Some purifications required a week, others consisted only of shaving the head and washing the clothes.” (Dods)
That He will not come to the feast? “The second of their questions seems to show that they expected as answer ‘No’…They considered it unlikely that in view of circumstances He would be so foolhardy as to put in an appearance.” (Morris)
Both the chief priests at the Pharisees had given a command: Most of the chief priests were Sadducees and normally uncooperative with the Pharisees. They found common cause in their opposition to Jesus.
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Check out verses 49 & 50. Here.... I'll quote them here for you.
"John 11:49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”"
The Apostle Thomas [yep Doubting Thomas, who was also Jesus' twin] had to be shaking in his shoes. The Pharisees, Sadducees, and those politically joined to the Temple at the hip [like the money changers and the vendors] were all looking for Jesus. Thomas looked just like Jesus.
The Romans had to be "concerned" about crowd control now. Jesus had been reported to have brought a man back from the dead. The crowds would have grown exponentially. If the Romans got too shaky, they would impose Marshall Law and shut down the Temple! Caiaphas was right about that. Riots in the streets were not allowed. Jerusalem had been conquered by Rome. Any huge crowd made their blood pressure rise and they started to get all soldierly!
Caiaphas was the man with a plan. To put everyone at ease, they had to murder Jesus. He sold it as their patriotic duty.
One man had to die so life could go back to normal.
Caiaphas sold the idea that it was patriotic to die for one's country.
It was their patriotic duty to turn Jesus in to the Romans.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees had to save the Temple.
They had to do away with Jesus.
It was their "Patriotic Duty"!
