Murder in America is not new for our times. Because of the proliferation of so much crime, we are oftentimes given a behind-the-scenes view of those who committed murder. We see the crime from the point of view of the one who committed the crime in documentaries. Most of you do not know the name of James Holland. Holland is a Texas Ranger who some described as Scotland Yard in a Cowboy Hat. He has previously served on the protective detail of Governor George W. Bush. But he’s better known as the “serial killer whisper.” Why? Because he elicited ninety-three confessions from serial killer Samuel Little over some 650 hours with the inmate. Holland listened to Little describe how he strangled all these women over sixteen months. To make the seventy-nine-year-old serial killer comfortable to confess, Holland has talked over grits, Dr. Pepper, and even Braums’ milkshakes while hearing all the grisly details. Families of the victims have praised the Texas Ranger for his work. Do you have what it takes to listen to the Point of View of a murder, much less a serial killer? The Bible gives us a POV of Jesus’ murders, a snippet of a preview into what they were thinking. Listen carefully to the voice of Caiaphas, who sought to orchestra the murder of Jesus Himself. And it’s a miracle of all things that pushes them in the direction of killing Jesus.
Find John 11 with me, if you will.
Yes, a miracle was the tipping point in solidifying the resolve of those who murdered Jesus. We drop in on a story of Jesus raising a dead man back to life after he lay in his tomb for four days. The Bible gives listening ears as if we are eavesdropping on one of Jesus’ murders. Watch for the murder’s point of view.
Today’s Scripture
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death” (John 11:43-53).
Lazarus is famous around the world and in the portals of heaven. Now, the place where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead was called Bethany in Jesus’ day. Today, they have renamed the town to an Arabic name meaning “the place of Lazarus.” Again, Lazarus is famous. But he’s not famous because he did anything to distinguish himself. He’s famous only because of this amazing miracle! Even all these years later, the people at the Cleveland Clinic have what they know as “The Lazarus Effect.” The Lazarus Effect is when someone a healthcare provider has declared dead suddenly regains blood flow and appears to come back to life.1
Sermon Preview
1. Does This Make Sense to You?
2. Dead Men Tell No Tales
Watch for three take-aways in today’s message.
1. Does This Make Sense to You?
“Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done” (John 11:45-46).
1.1 What Would You Have Written?
If you were writing the story, what details would you have included immediately after Lazarus rose from the grave? If you were in charge of writing the Gospel of John, what would be the first thing you would have reported? In our day, we would love a snapshot where Lazarus embraces his sisters, Mary and Martha. Someone would likely ask him, “How does it feel to be alive again after all this time?” Surely, we would enjoy Lazarus telling his story over a meal with family and friends (see John 12:1-8).
Yes, we would love to be a “fly on the wall” at such an event. John gives us none of this. If this were a movie, we would hope the camera lens stays on Lazarus. Instead, we are swiftly moved to an emergency meeting of the Sanhedrin. It’s here that we get the Point of View of Jesus’ murders. Again, if you were writing the story, what would you have included right after Lazarus rose from the grave?
1.2 How Would You Have React?
The Bible says some witnessed Jesus raise a dead man from a tomb and believed (verse 45). But others informed the Pharisees, what I have called the religious cartel (verse 46).
1.2.1 If Lazarus Came to Texas
If Lazarus were roaming the streets of Fort Worth, somebody would call it a conspiracy theory, saying the government is behind it. If Lazarus were roaming the streets of West Texas, some old cowboy would say, “Well, if he’s back, he better get to work. We got fences to mend.” And if Lazarus were roaming the streets of North Dallas, some business-minded person would say, “We need to get this guy on Joe Rogan. And, let’s trademark ‘Texas Lazarus BBQ’ before someone else does.”
How would you react to Lazarus rising from the dead? What if he were your classmate? What if he were your brother? What if he were simply a casual acquaintance from around town? I’m asking you to ponder: how would you react to Lazarus rising from the dead? The Bible says some went off to inform the Pharisees in verse 46.
Now, maybe some of those who went to share the story with the Pharisees thought they could win these influential men to faith in Christ. But don’t we all doubt that everyone was motivated to see the Pharisees change? People knew the Pharisees were connected to those in authority, what John calls the “council” in verse 47. So, they “rat” Jesus out, we would say.
1.2.2 If Only I Could See a Miracle…
Wouldn’t you think if a dead man came back to life, all doubt would be erased? Do you think if everyone were to witness a genuine miracle where a dead man came back to life, then everyone would believe? If this kind of thing were to happen in the city square of Keller, Southlake, or downtown Fort Worth, everyone would believe that people would just be standing around with their phones recording every detail. You could scan the crowd of faces to see people flabbergasted, shocked, and in awe. Wouldn’t you think if a dead man came back to life, all doubt would be erased? Shockingly, that’s not true of everyone. The hearts of many are so wickedly stubborn that you could describe them as half beast and half devil. But then, upon further consideration, you hate to insult animals in this way.
1.3 Marvel at the Unbelief
Picture the scene carefully in your mind’s eye with me. Here is a group of people who stand by Lazarus' grave, witnessing that he has been dead for four days.
They hear Martha’s objection to removing the stone, saying, “By now, he will smell” (John 11:39). This group sees Lazarus emerge from the tomb at Jesus’ command. They observe how the onlookers, at Christ's instruction, unwrapped the napkin and graveclothes from Lazarus’ body. They have no doubt that a remarkable miracle has taken place—a dead man has come back to life.
Marvel with me at this stubborn unbelief. You would think the last thing anyone would do after seeing such a miracle is to run off and report it in a way that fuels the hatred of Jesus’ enemies. But that’s exactly what these people do. Many others who witness this incredible moment are so convinced that they put their faith in Christ, as they should (verse 45). But some, instead of believing, rush off to the Pharisees to accuse Jesus.2
1.3 Some Things Don’t Make Sense
If I were to turn to silliness for a moment…
Have you ever noticed that some things we say don’t make sense? Why do we park on driveways and drive on parkways? Why do noses run while feet smell? And why do we call it “rush hour” when traffic barely moves? All of these are just silly but considered something that is both sinister and serious.
“So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs” (John 11:47).
Why do they believe the miracles but not the miracle-worker? Can anyone explain to me why you believe the miracles but come to oppose the One who performed the miracles? How can a miracle only harden some people against the miracle worker? And how can the raising of one man lead to the death of another? Better still, how can sane people think they should kill someone who has the power to raise the dead? If He can make a blind man see and a dead man live, why not come to Him to trust Him? This is a mystery, and I cannot explain it fully. Part of the explanation may be what Proverbs warns us against.
1.4 Take Away #1: The Fear of Man
“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
But after carefully reading their reaction to the miracle of a dead man rising, I’m convinced of this truth: It’s a mistake to live your spiritual life through the lens of other people’s approval.3 What the Bible calls “The fear of man,” we called peer pressure when I was a young man. This is when you hold people in awe. When people are big, and God is small.4
The Bible says, “The fear of man” is a dangerous trap. It’s when you are controlled by others. When you make people the biggest thing in your life rather than God, you are motivated by what others think of you. I am not suggesting that everyone who sought to crucify Jesus was motivated by what others thought. But surely some of them did. Many of those rejected what their eyes saw because of their fear of man. How did some people reject Jesus and seek to kill Jesus when they knew Jesus could raise the dead? I don’t understand all of it, but some of it is that they sought the approval of others. No amount of evidence will convince those who have determined to reject Jesus. Unbelief is really stubborn.
1. Does This Make Sense to You?
2. Dead Men Tell No Tales
“Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish” (John 11:50).
2.1 Dead Men Tell No Tales
There’s a popular saying, “Dead men tell no tales.” This phrase means that once someone is dead, they cannot reveal any secrets or information. It is often used to suggest that killing someone is a way to ensure they will not disclose any incriminating details or testify against others. It was popularized by the Pirates of the Caribbean Movie a few years back. Mobsters know this, and so do the chief priests of Jesus’ day. Look over at the next chapter in the Gospel of John and locate verse 10: “So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus” (John 12:10-11).
2.2 Dead Dog on a Plane
Did you hear about the baggage handlers out here at DFW who went to the back of the plane where special baggage was kept? It was there they found an animal carrier and inside was a dog, but only the dog was dead. They quickly panicked, and they thought a lawsuit was impending. So, they went and told the owner whose name was written on the dog carrier, they said, “Sir, your dog has been sent to a different destination. We messed up but we’re on it, and we promise to deliver the dog to your house later on in the day.” They got busy! They disposed of the dead animal, and one of them bought a brand new, live dog of the exact same size and put it in the crate. Thinking they were in the clear, they delivered the dog to the woman’s house later that afternoon, but she took one look in the crate, and she said, “That is not my dog. My dog is dead, and I was bringing it home for burial.”
2.3 Lazarus as Proof
A battle has been brewing throughout the gospel of John between Jesus and those who oppose Jesus. The raising of Lazarus was a spark. The last thing these priests expected to see was Lazarus alive. The star witness was a resurrected corpse, and they can see that he’s very much alive. In fact, he’s eating at the café across the street, if you will.
2.3 Caiaphas’ Prediction
Put your focus on Joseph Caiaphas for a moment, if you will. Again, the gospel of John will show you the point of view from a murderer. History tells us that Caiaphas reigned as the Jewish high priest from AD 18 to 36. He will later take a leading role in the sham trial of Jesus. He will interrogate Jesus and hand Jesus over to Pilate (Matthew 26:57-66). History tells us that Caiaphas had an unusually cordial relationship with the Roman officials of his day. “Council” in verse 47 is the Sanhedrin, the Supreme Court of the Jewish nation.
The issue here is huge. This is no longer the mob violence we witnessed back in John 10:31, where they were about to stone Jesus. When Caiaphas says it’s better for Jesus to die here in verses 49-50, it’s as if he is signing Jesus’ death warrant. This is quickly becoming a high-level federal prosecution.5
Remember, Caiaphas and the ruling council live and operate under the threat of the Roman Empire. So, their every step, and his every step, is calculated to keep his nation free of Roman tyranny. Caiaphas says, after telling the informers they know nothing at all, “Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish” (John 11:50).
The irony of all this! The very man who is engineering the murder of Jesus predicts Jesus will act as some sort of a scapegoat. Double WoW! Triple WoW! Can you believe he said this?
2.4 Take Away #2: Jesus is Our Substitute
In his mind, Jesus’ death would save his “bacon” and his nation. But those of us who see his statement after the cross get a whole new meaning. Jesus’ death far more than save a nation – it offers hope to the world! In the mind of Caiaphas, the substitution was this: We kill Jesus so the Romans won’t kill us. We substitute Jesus for ourselves. But in the mind of God, the substitution was this: I will kill my Son so I don’t have to kill you. God substitutes Jesus for his enemies. This is the very center of our Christian faith: God substituted Jesus for us sinners. Here’s a priest who functions more like a politician.
Still, this corrupt high priest’s statement was the other side of the coin to Jesus, saying, “I must give my life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45b). “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” (1 Peter 3:18a).
Yes, he’s more worried about pragmatism and popularity than the truth. Believer, when Satan reminds you of your sin, you remind Him that God is too just to punish you when He’s already punished His Son. God would never require two punishments for the one sin.
2.5 Take Away #3: God is More than Watching, He’s Planning Your Good
“He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation” (John 11:51).
Notice carefully what John says about Caiaphas’s words. He prophesied. In other words, God brought these words to his mind. God put them there. And God has a meaning. At one level, these are Caiaphas’s words with his meaning. And at another level, these are God’s words with His meaning.6
Jesus is always operating in our tragedies and in our pain. He does much more than watch our lives; He plans our lives. When suffering and hard times come your way, know that God is in it from the very beginning.
2.5.1 You Think You’re in Control
We like to be in control. How many of you have ever gotten on an elevator and pushed the floor number and then you pushed the close door button? I confess I’ve done it hundreds of times. But just this week I learned that the button doesn’t work. Since the ADA requirements for buildings in 1990, all elevator doors are programmed to stay open for a minimum of three seconds. So why are those buttons even there? When firefighters insert their key, those buttons are activated. But they are just placebo buttons for you and me.7
We like to be in control. I’ve heard of small churches that would install several dummy thermostats inside the sanctuary so that people could think they were adjusting the temperature to their comfort level. We like to be in control. But I have good news for you today: God is in control. The Bible says, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Psalm 118:22-23).
2.5.2 Assurance vs Insurance
When you feel that God is in control, people call this assurance. What is assurance? Think about insurance for a moment. Assurance is better than insurance. With insurance, you’re betting that things will go wrong, so you’ll be covered. With assurance, you know that whatever happens, God is in control!8 Our Father is loving. He directs the path of life for His glory and our good. He directed His Son to die on the cross for sinners. God is loving and in control of your life, dear believer.
2.6 Picking A Savior
Let me close with this…
When you go to pick a Savior, pick a good one. Everybody needs saving. So, when you go to pick a Savior, check out your Savior’s track record. Who else can but speak a word and make a child whole? Who else can tell Lazarus to come out of the grave? Who else has turned around drug addicts? Prostitutes? Drag Queens? And Alcoholics around? What other name other than the name of Jesus can pull men out of a life of crime?
When you go to pick a Savior, pick a good one. Everybody needs saving. So, when you go to pick a Savior, I tell you to check out your Savior’s track record. What other name can walk on water? What other name can turn water into wine? What other name can tell the sea to calm down? Tell me who else can make the blind see and the lame walk. Listen to the voices of millions of people around the globe chant, but one name and one name only: J E S U S. There is no other name!9
EndNotes
1 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24876-lazarus-effect; accessed February 11, 2025.
2 C. H. Spurgeon, “The Great Miracle-Worker,” The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons. (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1901), 47.
3 Skip Heitzig, “What to Do with Jesus?,” Skip Heitzig Sermon Archive. (Bellingham, WA: Faithlife Corporation, 2018).
4 Ed Welch, When People Are Big and God is Small (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing, 1997).
5 John Piper, “Jesus Died to Gather the Children of God,” Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2014).
6 John Piper, “Jesus Died to Gather the Children of God,” Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2014).
7 https://gabc-archive.org/wp-content/uploads/s011220.pdf; accessed February 16, 2025.
8 https://gabc-archive.org/wp-content/uploads/s011220.pdf; accessed February 16, 2025.
9 E. V. Hill and Joseph M. Stowell, A Savior Worth Having (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2002).
