Better For One To Die

 

 

 John 11: 45-56

The Plot to Kill Jesus

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?”

"The plot thickens" as the old Hollywood expression goes. It is now clear that the Pharisees definitely want to eliminate Jesus. God's plan for our redemption enters its final stages.  Indeed, within a week, Jesus will be captured, questioned, condemned, tortured, crucified and buried.  It all happens fast, so for us to be aware of these events, we need to set aside time from our ordinary routines and contemplate and absorb the depth of God's love for us, so visible during the coming week.Yes, the prophetic words ring true. It was better for one to die, so that all might have a chance for everlasting life.

Doesn't it see like it was just Ash Wednesday?  So fast go the days of our lives. Let us make the most of them and walk with Jesus to Calvary and the empty tomb.

Bro. Rene