The Plot to Kill Jesus
45Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen.46But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.47Then the leading priests and Pharisees called the high council together. “What are we going to do?” they asked each other. “This man certainly performs many miraculous signs.48If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”
49Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about!50You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”
51He did not say this on his own; as high priest at that time he was led to prophesy that Jesus would die for the entire nation.52And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.
53So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.54As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.
55It was now almost time for the Jewish Passover celebration, and many people from all over the country arrived in Jerusalem several days early so they could go through the purification ceremony before Passover began.56They kept looking for Jesus, but as they stood around in the Temple, they said to each other, “What do you think? He won’t come for Passover, will he?”57Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him.
This entire account is just so sad. Jesus had just done a mighty and good deed. Jesus had done nothing but good and mighty deeds. The Jewish leaders were living with someone who had just raised a man from the dead, and they want to kill him. They choose to fear the Roman army rather than fear God. They choose to serve Rome, despite its cruelty and bondage, instead of serving a loving and mighty God. They choose their own power, though it was pretty much powerless to help the average Jew among them, rather than submit to Jesus who obviously had the power of God and used it to help those no one else could help.
As sad as this is, we must also be sad because we can see ourselves in these examples, or at least I can see myself. How many times have I failed to speak out against a popular opinion rather than trust God and proclaim his Word? I have chosen the bondage of sin, despite its cruelty, instead of giving myself entirely to Jesus who has proven he loves me and wants to change me. How many times have I tried to accomplish my futile deeds for my own glory rather than letting God quietly use me for his glory?
Lord, change me so I see and trust your power and love. Change me Lord, please, change me. *obbs*
