What do you do when you find yourself on the losing side in a game, or a job or work opportunity, or in an argument or discussion? I hope you wouldn't do what some very highly respected religious leaders did in this true story when they realised they were on the losing side! They turned out to be most vicious! But you will have to decide what you will do yourself!
One man had attracted great crowds to Himself causing great jealousy among Jewish council members. An incredible thing had happened. A man called Lazarus who had been dead for four days, and who had been lying rotting in his grave, had been brought back to life by this Man, Jesus of Nazareth. (John 11:38-44.)
Surely such a miracle should have caused these religious council members to realise that Jesus was truly God; just as He had said He was. (John 5:18-23.) But no! they were met together to discuss how to they could get the people to turn back to them again instead of believing in Jesus.
"What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him.." (verses 47-48.)
Why did they not want the people to truly believe in Jesus? It was for the very same reason that priests today would give! Priests of any religion claim to be able to bring their people to God. But Jesus was claiming that He alone could bring people to God! (John 14:6. 1 Timothy 2:5-6.)
If people truly believed in Jesus as their only Priest then they would no longer need other priests, or their services!
God has this to say to you and me about Jesus - "His work as a Priest does not pass on to someone else. And so He is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through Him... Jesus then is the High Priest that meets our needs.." (Hebrews 7:24-27.)
So it is not surprising to find the priests wanting to keep the people from truly believing in Jesus, even today!
I wonder if you were asked to name your priest, would you name JESUS CHRIST as the One YOU trust in as your only Priest? (1st Peter 3:18. Acts 4:12.) I certainly would!
The High Priest at that time was named Caiaphas. He said to his fellow priests, "You know nothing at all! You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for all the people than that the whole nation perish." (verses 49-50.) The solution Caiaphas was recommending was that they should plot to take Jesus' life rather than allow Him to destroy their priesthood, and the faith of their Jewish nation. "So from that day on they plotted to take His life." (verse 53.)
The High Priest did not realise how wonderfully true it would turn out to be that this "one man", JESUS CHRIST, would die ...not only for that nation but for all mankind. (verses 51-52. also 1st John 2:1¬2.) Because Jesus was willing to become our substitute, and die for
our sins, He would then be able to bring you and me to God, if we put our trust in Him! (1st Peter 3:18. & Hebrews 10:9-14.)
Is your trust in Jesus Christ alone today?
Read of opposition and rejection of Jesus in John chapter 11, verses 45-57.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
For the next
reading from John's Gospel go to NEXT
In order to browse
further "Good News Compage" prompts and commentaries for John's
Gospel go to
---------------oOo---------------
