That One Should Die for the Nation: An Exposition of John 11:45-54
Jesus had just done a great miracle by raising Lazarus from the dead. You would think all of Israel would rejoice that Mary and Martha’s beloved brother had been restored to them from the dead. And some did rejoice. Others believed on Him. Someone who could raise a man dead four days was no mere mortal. Yet the text says that some went to the Pharisees and told them about it. The context tells us that they were not believers because they are mentioned separately from them. The Pharisees were opposed to Jesus as they had been opposed to John the Baptist before him. they considered Jesus the worst of blasphemers by Jesus referring to Himself as the “Son of God,” this making himself equal to the Father. Worse yet, Jesus said that they were of their father, the devil. Their hatred of Jesus for exposing them for who they were really were made it impossible to at least be glad that Lazarus was raised. Instead, the text later said they wanted to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus.
The Pharisees hated the Sadducees. But their common hatred of Jesus brought them together. The Sadducees feared the populist preacher from Galilee. They held the common people in contempt. They were the wealthiest of the Jews and loved Greek culture. They did not care so much for Judaism as a whole. But the economy of Jerusalem depended heavily upon pilgrims from all over the world coming to the appointed feasts. As priests, they made a lot of money from religion. It also gave them special status. Even though the Jews lost home rule under Archelaus because he could not control a populist tax revolt led by a man named Judas the Galilean (not Iscariot), they still had considerable freedom to control the religious and social life of the Jews.
The Jews ruling council, the Sanhedrin was called to deal with Jesus. They admitted to the many miracles done by Jesus. They also knew he had a considerable group of followers and were afraid they would start an insurrection against Rome when they came to Jerusalem the coming Passover. This presented a danger to the Sanhedrin. Caiaphas, who was the High Priest and head of the council, knew that he owed his appointment to the Roman state. He was the High Priest “that year.” This was quite contrary to the Scripture which had a prescribed order of succession of the High Priests. They were also to be appointed for life and not just “that year.” As a matter of fact, his father-in-law, Annas, had been High Priest before him and was still alive. Many in Israel thought that the High Priest was not legitimately appointed. Many despised the priests as well as they were unspiritual men who were more interested in making money than representing the people of Israel. Their fears were not unfounded. When the “Triumphal Entry” of Jesus on Palm Sunday arrived a few weeks later, the people waved palm branches. The palm branch was a symbol of the last time the Jews were free under the Maccabees before Rome took them over. The palm branch was also the symbol of the Zealots who wanted to overthrow Rome,
Rome did not take kindly to insurrections. When the tax revolt happened, the perpetrators were crucified on the Jerusalem-Jericho road and their bodies left to rot. If the leaders of the Jews were not able to keep the peace, they would at the very minimum be fired from their positions and likely worse. This is the context in which the Sanhedrin met. They were afraid that the Romans would take away “their” place and nation. The pronoun “their” is significant. They thought the nation belonged to them. Their concept of nation only included them and not the people they ruled over.
Caiaphas interrupted the discussion by saying: “YOU know nothing at all!” The emphatic pronoun renders the idea of “You idiots!” Then Caiaphas asks them whether it was more profitable for one man (Jesus) to die rather than “their” nation perish. John tells thus that this was a prophecy that Jesus would die for the nation. He adds that he made the prophecy only because he was the High Priest that year. We can remember that God used a wicked man before to prophecy when he used Balaam in the book of Numbers. Saul who was disobedient to the LORD and rejected, also prophesied. So God used Caiaphas in spite of his evil. We must note that Caiaphas had a completely different understanding of what He said than what God said through him. He wanted to destroy Jesus and save their deep state. But John tells us that the purpose of Jesus’ death save the actual nation, that is the Jews who would believe on Him. He then adds that He would gather people from all over the world into this nation. This would include Jews of the diaspora but also Gentiles as well.
There is a great irony to Caiaphas’ strategy. The only way “their” place and nation could have been saved was to have believed on Jesus. Instead, they agreed to kill Jesus which guaranteed they would lose both “their” place and nation. The Bible is quite clear that the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD was because of their rejection of Jesus. But even after Jesus was crucified, their was hope of forgiveness. One wonders if both Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea were on the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus was there at an earlier meeting. Some of the priests came to believe on Jesus after the Resurrection and became obedient to the faith. But many continued in unbelief which cost them “their” place and nation. What is even worse, they forfeited the place God has prepared for those who believe on Jesus and went to “their” own place where Judas Iscariot went also.
From that day, the Jewish leaders were irrevocably determined to kill Jesus and waited for the opportunity to kill Him. But, as in other times, Jesus withdrew himself from them. It is not because Jesus was afraid to die. He would die in a few short weeks, but on His time and for His purpose, not theirs. Caiaphas’ prophecy would come to pass just as God intended.
We live in a world that is increasingly hostile to Christians. There are many who wish to silence our witness, by the death of Christians, if necessary. We need to reflect as we come to Palm Sunday that Jesus calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. The prospects of suffering are not pleasant, and we know there are those who are plotting us hurt. In many parts of the world, Christians are suffering for the faith. Christians have suffered for centuries. We must remember that a lot of Jesus’ followers thought Jesus came to overthrow Rome, their oppressor. When is showed out that Jesus had different ideas, they rejected Him as well and shouted for His crucifixion.
Jesus came to die for a different kind of nation, a kingdom that was not of this world. He did not come to start an insurrection but to save sinners. As He is God the Son, it would not have been an insurrection against Rome if He had started one. But He came to do the will of the Father to the uttermost. So when we see increasingly harsh and unjust treatment from the Heathen, we must trust God for our eternal care rather than take matters into our own hands. We are commanded to obey authorities by both Peter and Paul. Ultimately it is God who raises up as well as casts down leaders. So, if we suffer wrongly as Christians, that is meritorious. But remember, Jesus could have called down ten thousand angels and did not. We are not to avenge ourselves. Christians have too often taken matters into their own hands. Some have been executed by secular leaders for insurrection, That is the right of the God-appointed leader. Let no Christian suffer as an evildoer.
It takes a great deal of faith to go though suffering. One has to believe that God will not permit us to be tempted above that we are able. We have to believe that the greater manifestation of the nation Jesus died for is coming. At the other end of the suffering is the eternal weight of glory. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ is coming again. When He does, He shall gather His nation forever.
