Apostle John has written one of the Gospels recorded in the New Testament. His account of the life of Jesus of Nazzreth differs from the other accounts due to the main theme of which John tries to speak to the reader. When we compare the four accounts of the life of Jesus we find each told their version of which they witnessed for the purpose of which they believed important to their audience. Similarly, each account appears to follow a chronological calendar from the birth of Jesus to his death and resurrection. When we witness John’s dialog, John focuses mostly on the last few months before the crucifixion through the commandment to ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel.’ This was immediately before the ascension of Jesus back into heaven. The other authors write more details in the early ministry of Jesus focusing on the miracles he performed to prove his deity as the son of God.
When we get to John 10:22, John gives us a time stamp: 22 And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. Following this time indicator, the messages John tells are in parallel with the other Gospels as Jesus enters into his last winter on earth. We know he was crucified in the spring at the Feast of Passover; the end of the second week of the Jewish calendar new year.
From John's writings from chapter 10 and verse 22 to the end of the Gospel, we enter into the more urgent teachings of a spiritual language of which Jesus wants all men to comprehend. It appears this is John’s main purpose of his Gospel; to prove the spiritual nature which a living soul must abide to become pleasing unto God, in order to worship God and develop into a believer, strong in the faith, and to keep the wiles of Satan and the evil world away.
Let us focus upon more of these spiritual teachings important for a Christian to develop and transform their minds to be pleasing unto God.
This morning let us recognize a spiritual tactic of God using wicked men as instruments to serve His purpose.
In John’s writing we shall see the Pharisees and prominent Jews tried to seize Jesus to stop his teachings, but the common Jews believed in his teachings more and more. At the end of the Feast of Dedication, when the Pharisees tried to seize Jesus, he quietly left and returned to where John the Baptist had baptized people in the Jordan River. John 10:39-42. 39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand, 40 And went away again beyond Jordan into the place where John at first baptized; and there he abode. 41 And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true. 42 And many believed on him there.
The fame of Jesus was growing rapidly and the Pharisees did not like his fame. To them Jesus could not be The Messiah; he was not correctly suited for the position in their eyes. They must quieten him and his message before Rome hears of this man claiming to be The King of the Jews.
Following the Feast of Dedication, sometime in the winter months, Lazarus dies and Jesus raises him back to life. (John 11:1-44) We all know and cherish the story of Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus. We all remember our bible school class where we learned the shortest verse in the Bible, John 11:35, Jesus wept. And, we love telling and hearing the story of Lazarus often.
Raising Lazarus back to life was more than the Pharisees and prominent Jews could stand. John 11:45-48. These Jews were more concerned with their physical position in society. They were living in fear of the Roman government. READ 45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
Wicked men had to tell the Pharisees what they witnessed to cause trouble. In this council which was convened was the High Priest Caiaphas. This council was members of the Sanhedrin, the Jews governing body. Of all people who should have known the Law and prophecies of the prophets, along with having direct access to God Almighty, this is what the High Priest suggested: Vss. 49-50. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
This statement can be taken one of two ways: 1. he was against Jesus as was all the other members of the council, 2. He reiterated the purpose of the Messiah–to die for the sins of humanity.
It is hard to identify his reason for his prophecy or if he recognized he was prophesying at all; was it of his own accord or a guidance from God. John says, (vss. 51-52) 51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. His prophecy was a fulfillment of prophecy of many prophets of old. Did he know this or was it by accident he reiterates this prophecy. John said Caiaphas did not speak this of himself. (vs. 51)
Matthew Henry explains the speech of Caiaphas thus: Caiaphas prophesied, though he himself was not aware of it. Here is a precious comment upon a pernicious text; the counsel of cursed Caiaphas so construed as to fall in with the counsels of the blessed God. If wicked men, in what they do against us, are God’s hand to humble and reform us, why may they not in what they say against us be God’s mouth to instruct and convince us? But in this of Caiaphas there was an extraordinary direction of Heaven prompting him to say that which was capable of a very sublime sense. As the hearts of all men are in God’s hand, so are their tongues. Those are deceived who say, “Our tongues are our own, so that either we may say what we will, and are not accountable to God’s judgment, or we can say what we will, and are not restrainable by his providence and power.” Balaam could not say what he would, when he came to curse Israel, nor Laban when he pursued Jacob.
The power of God dwells in the spiritual nature as it coincides in our physical nature. God uses evil men to discipline good people. Matthew Henry gives a good example–Balaam and his lack of power to curse Israel. Laban, father-in-law to Jacob could not do anything to Jacob when Jacob quietly slipped away from Laban with his wives and livestock, among other articles belonging to Laban which Rachel hid under her saddle. God had stopped Laban from doing harm to them. Genesis 31:24. 24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. And verse 29, 29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. God intervenes even with evil men to fulfill his purposes.
Matthew Henry says John explains what he said, and shows how it not only was, but was intended to be, accommodated to an excellent purpose. He did not speak it of himself. As it was an artifice to stir up the council against Christ, he spoke it of himself, or of the devil rather; but as it was an oracle, declaring it the purpose and design of God by the death of Christ to save God’s spiritual Israel from sin and wrath, he did not speak it of himself, for he knew nothing of the matter, he meant not so, neither did his heart think so, for nothing was in his heart but to destroy and cut off, Isa. 10:7. Isaiah 10:5-7 says, 5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. God using an evil nation and its leader to speak and do against Israel proves God can do similar with evil men against the righteous to fulfill His greater will. This is what I believe Caiaphas did; speak as the oracles of God unknowingly to stir the council to have Jesus die for the people. (God’s greater will for mankind)
Notice vss. 1-2 in Isaiah chapter 10: 10 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! Even believed righteous believers say things against others and God declares his ‘woes’ against them by other sometimes more evil vial persons who carry out the punishments authorized by God upon humanity. If we pay close attention today to persons we feel are wise righteous people, we can recognize they may be speaking against and causing evil judgments against God’s beloved believers. Those deeds are a directive from God for correcting small unrighteous behaviors of believers to bring them back into justification with God. Evin presumed evil characters may be in position to bring justice to greater populations of evil leaders in other nations around the world. These are the works of God, a spirit in the spirit realm intertwining with the physical realm.
Even these spiritual influences intertwined in the physical world are what John wants us to recognize. In doing so, a Christian can appreciate and comprehend the nature of God, a Spirit, to worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Here is what Matthew Henry says concerning evil Caiaphas and his speech to the Sanhedrin: God can and often does make wicked men instruments to serve his own purposes, even contrary to their own intentions; for he has them not only in a chain, to restrain them from doing the mischief they would, but in a bridle, to lead them to do the service they would not.
Notice also the prophecy of Caiaphas stated Jesus would not die for only the Jews (not for that nation only,) but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (vs. 52) Caiaphas declared with his mouth the divine purpose of God; Jesus would die for the children of God whoever they be and of whatever nation they be, wherever they be found. Caiaphas did not realize what a profound statement he declared to the council. However he set off the deed necessary to have Jesus crucified later that spring. Caiaphas stirred up the council which stirred up the people. It was of this purpose God sent His son Jesus to die a physical death that all the righteous children of God may live spiritually eternally.
Praise God for His divine will being carried out so a sinner like me can have hope in eternal life if I only believe and obey.
Do you believe in Jesus as the divine Savior of your living spirit called the soul? Can you begin to comprehend the spirit nature which guides the living toward a better life; a life eternal in the heavens? Jesus is that Light which shines in the world guiding all who believe and obey to an eternal home with him in Heaven.
Add to your wisdom all the knowledge of God the Spirit, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit by transforming how you perceive all things surrounding us. God wants us to enjoy all the pleasures He bestows upon humanity both physical and spiritual of His righteousness. God desires we recognize how He affects our physical world by His directives using both righteous and unrighteous persons to direct their steps for His greater purpose.
