John 11 NLT
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Many of the people who were with Mary believed in Jesus when they saw this happen. 46 But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then 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. 48 If 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.” 49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You 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.” 51 He 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. 52 And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world. 53 So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. 54 As 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. 55 It 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. 56 They 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?” 57 Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest Him.
He had to go, He needed to die. The Pharisees couldn't have Jesus running around healing and raising people from the dead now could they? If Jesus was the Messiah, and prophecy certainly was pointing to that fact, that put a big wrench in the Pharisees plans! How could they control and mislead the people if Jesus was teaching the opposite of what they were teaching? Jesus taught love and forgiveness and faith, the Pharisees taught strict adherence to the law and penance and fear. They were running a big pyramid scam and they liked being at the top. The temple was their headquarters, if the Messiah had come, there would be no need for them or the temple and the Roman leaders would have it all destroyed.
Jesus withdrew. He went Ephraim, near the wilderness.
Where do you go when you need quiet? Where do you go to clear your head? Do you spend time with the Lord? Do you lay your burdens at His feet? Do you surrender control or do you try to hang on tight to what you have as the Pharisees did?
The Pharisees believed they would save their world by sacrificing Jesus. They believed that's what the scriptures meant. God's plans were so much higher then theirs. God's plans are so much higher then ours. When we surrender control to the One who is in control, true healing can begin. Only Jesus can raise us from our death in sin. Only Jesus can give us new life. Only Jesus.
Blessings, Cecilia
No comments:
Post a Comment