Studies in John's Gospel. Pt 61 Earthly realities cannot resist Jesus Christ.

Good morning and thank you all for visiting with us as we study God's Word together. 

This Ohio morning seemed more like an early fall morning, much cooler, sounds of Blue Jays squawking and a crisp Fall scent in the air. As I get older I see the reality of Bible truth that life is like a vapor that dissipates when the morning sun rises. I am reminded that I truly only have this day to serve the Lord of glory.

In our last post we saw the resurrection of Lazarus and a family made whole again through the power of Christ. Many believed on Jesus but there was another group that did not and we will learn about them today.

Unbelief existed even after seeing a mighty miracle.

John 11:46-48  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47)  Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48) If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 

In our last post we noted that Jews from Jerusalem were in Bethany seeking to comfort Mary and Martha on the loss of their brother. They viewed this as their religious duty. After the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead many of the Jews believed. However, some of them were still hostile toward Christ.

The Jews who were aligned with the Pharisees quickly returned to Jerusalem and told the religious leaders about the mighty miracle that Jesus had done. The chief priests and the council of 70 held a meeting to talk about this matter. 

You would think that upon hearing of Jesus raising a dead man back to life that the hostile religious leaders would pause to reconsider their view of Christ. Remember part of the history in Eygpt was a test with Pharaoh's magicians, making lice from dust. But the magicians of Pharaoh could not duplicate what God did through Moses.  (Exodus 8:16-19)

Instead the religious leaders held a council to figure out what they could do to Christ. They did acknowledge the miracles Jesus did but instead of repenting and turning to embrace their Messiah, they were worried about all the Jews believing on Jesus and Rome coming in to remove the Jews from their homeland.   

Caiaphas pointed to Christ as dying in our place. 

John 11:49-53  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50) Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51) And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52) And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53) Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 

Caiaphas served as high priest at that time and he insulted them when he sarcastically said "You know nothing at all." He was talking down to them like they were inferior and unlearned, even though they were members of the council.

Next, Caiaphas spoke prophetically not realizing that what he was saying was exactly what God wanted the council to hear. His prophecy was that Jesus should die for the whole nation. The irony is that Caiaphas wanted to murder Jesus and to arrest all who believed on Him. Instead, he was moved by God's Spirit to point out  Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who would die in their place.

In fact, Caiaphas prophesied that Jesus would die for all the children of God, including Gentiles. This connects with what Jesus said in John 10. He is the good Shepherd seeking other sheep who are not only Jews.....but including Gentiles. 

This was exactly what Jesus came to do. Jesus' death would end the Jewish system of sacrifices. His death on the cross was the perfect completion of all pictures or types of Christ in the Old Testament. Jesus perfectly fulfilled all aspects, commands and ordinances of the law with perfect obedience before He laid His life down for us.

Jesus spoke openly about His death on the cross.

John 3:14-15  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15)  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

Matthew 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. 

One of the types of Christ in the Old Testament was the brass serpent mounted on a pole in the center of their camp. Poisonous snakes were a judgment from God upon Israel's sin but when Moses interceded for the people God provided a remedy that the people looked to when a poisonous serpent bit them in order to be saved from death (Numbers 21:4-9). 

Specified requirements for each animal being slaughtered according to the law were also fulfilled by Christ. Each animal must be without spot or blemish. No defects, no diseases, no deformities. This was God's requirement because one day Christ offered Himself without spot or blemish. Each person offering an animal to be killed for their sins had to lay their hand on the animal before it was killed to admit their guilt before God. The animal was an innocent substitute for the sinner and this is what Jesus came to do as the Lamb of God. 

Jesus Christ: God's perfect Lamb. 

1 Peter 1:18-21  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Peter tells us the purpose of Jesus death on the cross. It was to redeem all mankind from sin by the shedding of His precious blood which is "as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Peter also tells us that this was the mighty redemptive plan of God foreordained before anything was created. The Son of God would be the Lamb of God to die on the cross and to rise there days later! (See also Isaiah 53:7).

This is why John the Baptist joyfully proclaimed "Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world." (See  John 1:29; 36).

The text from Matthew's gospel shows Jesus teaching His disciples that He must go to the cross and die in order to bring salvation to a lost and dying world. (See also Luke 13:33; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22 & Mark 8:31). 

The last action from this council is that they earnestly plotted to kill Jesus. 

Passover feast came with questions about Christ.

John 11:54-57  Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. 55) And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56) Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? 57) Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him. 

Jesus avoided the religious leaders and ministered to those in Ephraim. Jesus knew the religious leaders wanted to kill Him so He went into a more remote wilderness area and stayed there ministering with His disciples to the people's needs. 

Another important feast day, the Passover was coming soon and pilgrims traveled to Jerusalem to prepare for its observation. Some of the same Jews who heard Jesus at the feast of tabernacles were talking among themselves, wondering if Jesus would show up to the Passover feast. Just like the previous feast, the religious leaders gave orders that if any saw Jesus or knew where he was they were to tell the council so that they could arrest Him.  

Thoughts to Ponder...

It seems difficult to us that any rational person who saw Jesus raise a dead man back to life would have any doubt about who Jesus Christ was. Yet, sin and unbelief are agents of darkness. If we are honest, we know that we too, lived in Christ rejecting darkness before the light of the gospel penetrated our heart. We may meet many people who will not listen to the gospel due to unbelief but we can keep praying for them and trusting the Lord to do a work in their hearts. 

Can God use wicked men to accomplish His purposes? He did with King Saul who prophesied with the prophets but refused to obey God's commands. He did with that evil prophet Balaam who was hired by Balak to curse Israel but God forced Him to bless them each time. God used the hardened heart of Pharaoh to accomplish His purpose of bringing the Hebrews out of bondage. 

God used Caiaphas to prophesy a powerful truth about the redemptive work of Christ as the Lamb of God. God's Spirit overruled Caiaphas' evil plot against Christ by telling the council that Jesus would die for the nation that the nation might be spared, and the Gentiles, too! 

I think that this is what Paul teaches us in Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1-2 & 1 Timothy 2:1-4. Rulers are ordained by God. The kings heart is turned by the Lord (Proverbs 21:1). Sometimes the rulers are evil and sometimes they are good but God still works all things out according to His good purposes. 

We see John 11 close with lingering questions about Jesus and the Passover, and with political intrigue in every corner. However, the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus left an indelible impression upon many people. 

I pray that we rejoice if we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and that we celebrate God's perfect and all powerful plan of redemption set in motion before creation! May we stand strong when facing opposition to the gospel and that we share God's truth in love to those who do not yet know Him.

Bob