The Plot and Prophecy of a Pompous Priest John 11:45-57
The Raising of Lazarus from the dead after he had been in the grave for days demonstrated Jesus’ power over satan and over the curse of sin, which is death. The miracle also was a prelude of Jesus’ own death and resurrection, just days away. We pick up our reading just as Lazarus receives the resurrection and life call from the Savior in John 11: 43: Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Loose him, and let him go." 45 Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.”
The miracles of Jesus stand to encourage and convince those whom the Father is drawing to Himself, and amazingly, they also more deeply entrench those who willfully and wholeheartedly refuse to believe. The miracles as well as Jesus’ parables have similar results.
We continue in verse 47: “Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 48 If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." (You see here that the concern of the highest Jewish leaders in the land was not for the people or the nation of Israel, but that the Romans would take away THEIR authority and rule. Jesus’ signs and wonders, as well as his profound authoritative teaching would not be matched by the religious leaders. There was no way that they could compete with the Light of the World, the One and Only from the Father, who taught with the very authority (exousia) of God. As long as Jesus would teach, the selfish ambition and influence of Israel’s leaders was at risk. Human pride was and still is the great fuel that feeds human unbelief.)
And so we read in verse 49: And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us (profitable or it is to our advantage) that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.”
Let’s take a few minutes to examine the Prophecy and Plot of this High Priest, Caiaphas. Caiaphas was not only the high priest “THAT YEAR”, but actually held the office from A.D. 18 until A.D. 36. It would be “THIS YEAR”, this particular year, this fateful year of which John is speaking, in which God would give Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world, as John had mentioned in chapter 1:29 and 36, and especially the nation of His chosen people. Caiaphas, in this memorable year in all of world history, would be instrumental in endorsing the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.
In vs. 49, the arrogant and pompous nasty nature which the Sadducees were known for comes through the comment of Caiaphas: “You know nothing at all.” The words in the Greek are contemptuous and emphatic: “You don’t know what you are talking about!” These leaders, especially the High Priest were servants of God and mediators for the people, but even as the prophets of old had repeatedly warned and taught, they did not serve the people with love and devotion, pointing them to the Lord God, but they served themselves and their own prestigious positions.
In verse 50 Caiaphas says: “Nor do you consider that it is expedient for us (profitable or it is to our advantage) that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” There is extreme irony and double meaning in the words which come from the mouth of Caiaphas! Caiaphas thought he was showing his political prowess and pragmatism but God was using the office of Caiaphas to proclaim His own providential plan of redemption, which had been in His Providential plan before all time and eternity.
Caiaphas’ language is sacrificial in nature even though he had no Christian conception in mind. His intent was purely political and his expediency was no doubt based on self-preservation. Justice for Jesus would be sacrificed for the preservation of the religious leaders, but here too, irony finds its pinnacle: They would be accomplishing the plan of redemption for those who would believe, but in reality they would be judging themselves in trying to preserve themselves.
The imagery which Caiaphas uses reminds us of the Old Testament scapegoat, given to spare the sins of Israel on the Day of Atonement. That practice in the Old Testament pointed to the reality of what the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God, would do for His chosen People. He would be taken outside of the city and the sins of mankind would be placed upon Him. He would vicariously suffer the wrath of God for the people of God, those whom God has chosen for His own.
The words, “people and nation” in Caiaphas’ statement would eventually refer to Christians and the Church, the redeemed of the Lord. In Romans 9:25-26 it says.: As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved." 26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God."
Ironically, one Man, Jesus, DID die for the nation but His death did not save Israel from destruction. Actually, Jesus’ death set in motion events which led to the destruction of Israel, Jerusalem, and the temple and its people. However, through Jesus’ death, as many as received Him, to them He gives the right to become children of God. (John 1:12)
In verses 51-52 the irony of Caiaphas’ words is expounded upon: 51 “Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.”
Caiaphas no doubt “THOUGHT” that he was being so knowledgeable and controlling in his plan to make Jesus the “scapegoat” but he was not speaking of his own accord. He didn’t speak of himself but out of his high priestly office. The message he was speaking, whether he was aware of it or not, was God’s message that he was delivering. Jesus indeed was the one promised in the Old Testament who would die “on behalf of the nation.” He had been promised by God to Israel; He was born through David’s lineage, and He would indeed be sacrificed in Israel for ALL of Israel, those who were dispersed, but also those who would become part of spiritual Israel, sharing in the community of the Messiah and of His Kingdom. Listen to a few of those passages.
Isaiah 43:5: “Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west.”
Ezekiel 34:12: “As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.”
Ezekiel 36:24-26: “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
In the next chapter in John 12:32, Jesus Himself declares: “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." The plot of Caiaphas was part of God’s Providential Plan, to gather into One, the scattered children of God, to gather His beloved Church. The phrase anticipates the future, when those who are potentially God’s children shall have become the begotten of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Look at the closing of chapter 11 in verse 53: “Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. (The leaders of the Jews set their wills to kill Jesus; the only thing that remains is for them to make definite plans.) 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, "What do you think--that He will not come to the feast?" 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.”
The way that Jesus would celebrate the Passover, would be with His disciples in the upper room, as He Himself prepared to become the Passover Lamb for us. Jesus’ hour for His greatest glory was determined by the Father, and He would be seized and die according to the Father’s perfect will, not the will of man. Amen
Message Memorandums
Vs. 49: The arrogant and pompous, nasty nature of the Sadducees is exemplified through the comment of Caiaphas
Vs. 50: Caiaphas thought he was showing his political prowess and pragmatism; but God was using his office to proclaim HIS own providential plan of redemption.
Vs. 51-52: The message Caiaphas was speaking, whether he was aware of it or not, was God’s message that he was delivering.
The plot of Caiaphas was part of God’s Providential Plan to gath
