PREPARE TO DIE!
John 11:45 – 12:11
S: Jesus, Death, Sovereignty, Worship
Th: The Road to the Cross
Pr: JESUS WAS PREPARING TO DIE.
?: How?
KW: Events
TS: We will find in our study of John three events that show how Jesus was preparing to die.
The _____ event was the…
I. SCHEMING (45-53)
II. ENDURING (54-57)
III. WORSHIPPING (1-11)
Version: ESV
RMBC 28 March 04 AM
INTRODUCTION:
One of my favorite movies of all time is “The Princess Bride.”
Some of you already know this because I have made reference to it before.
All throughout the film, one particular character has revenge on his mind.
We know this because the following line is repeated over and over again:
“My name is Indigo Montoya;
you killed my father;
prepare to die!”
Well…
If you knew you were going to die, what would you do?
ILL Notebook: Death (bingo)
A man is struck by a bus on a busy street in New York City. He lies dying on the sidewalk as a crowd of spectators gathers around. "A priest. Somebody get me a priest!" the man gasps.
A policeman checks the crowd but no priest, no minister, no man of God of any kind. "A priest, please" the dying man says again.
Then out of the crowd steps a little old Jewish man of at least eighty years of age. "Mr. Policeman," says the man, "I’m not a priest. I’m not even a Catholic. But for fifty years now I’m living behind St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church on First Avenue, and every night I’m listening to the Catholic litany. Maybe I can be of some comfort to this man."
The policeman agreed and brought the octogenarian over to where the dying man lay. He kneels down, leans over the injured and says in a solemn voice: "B-2. I-16. O-66. N-34. I-19. . ."
Hopefully, there is more to both life and death than Bingo!
TRANSITION:
If you were not here last week, you should know that we suspended our study of I Corinthians last week, and restarted our study in the gospel of John.
We began in John 11 and the story of Lazarus.
It is during this story that…
1. Jesus communicated Deity.
He says to Martha…
"I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
What is significant to this point is the use of “I am.”
Jesus is unabashedly making a claim of equality with God.
By saying “I am”, He declares Himself to be the God of Moses that appeared at the burning bush.
But Jesus also says more…
2. Jesus communicated His authority over death.
Jesus claims that death has no power when He is around.
He is the source of life.
So when Jesus approached the tomb of Lazarus, He was moved with divine indignation.
This is not how God designed man.
Man was designed by God to live forever.
So to prove all this…
3. Jesus established the certainty of the resurrection by raising Lazarus.
This was not about showing off, for that’s not what Jesus’ miracles were about.
Jesus is not about satisfying human curiosity.
There was spiritual value to what He was doing.
He was demonstrating the power of God.
He was determined to glorify God.
He was revealing the plan of God.
And so, we see that…
4. JESUS WAS PREPARING TO DIE.
But how?
What was happening that was preparing for His death?
Well…
5. We will find in our study of John three events that show how Jesus was preparing to die.
OUR STUDY:
I. The first event was the SCHEMING (45-53).
(45) 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. (47) So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. (48) 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." (49) But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. (50) 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." (51) He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, (52) and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. (53) So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
We see in this passage, that to some people…
1. Jesus had turned into a real problem.
In fact, it was more than just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill problem.
Jesus had become a moral problem.
Because He had raised Lazarus from the dead, people could not remain neutral.
They were forced to make a choice.
To us, it seems like no choice at all.
It seems so easy to us.
He raises Lazarus from the dead and what choice is there?
But…
It is apparent that hearts were hardened.
There were some that actually saw the miracles and refuse to repent.
Isn’t it amazing that humanity can be so obstinate and stubborn, that it will persist in unbelief in the face of overwhelming evidence?
There are people that choose to oppose!
What is interesting to note here is that those that choose to oppose are not atheists and pagans.
They were very religious people.
And whether they were conservative or liberal when it came to their theology, that was set aside, because they all were mad.
People were believing in Jesus.
This had to stop!
People were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, and, as a result, committed themselves to following Him.
So, there is a panic in the voices of the Jewish leadership.
They have been unable to keep up with Jesus.
He is outpacing them and the whole thing is getting out of hand.
Everyone is going to believe in Him, and not them.
This was a tragedy in their view.
For, it is their belief, that Jesus is going to lead a political uprising, and then the wrath of Rome will come to destroy the nation and the temple.
And, then, they are out.
They need help and so…
2. A solution is presented.
The solution comes from the high priest, Caiaphas.
Now Caiaphas was not chosen to be the high priest because of his positive moral qualities.
No, the job went to the highest bidder, because it was the Romans that determined who got the position, not the Jewish people.
In fact, Caiaphas must have been a man of considerable financial resource because he held the position for eighteen years.
And he obviously doesn’t care what his fellow priests thinks of him, because his words are filled with arrogance.
He calls them fools!
He says that they know nothing.
And because he desires to protect the threatened position of the privileged class, he says…
“…it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish."
Interestingly, Caiaphas thought he had an original idea!
It was, “Eliminate Him!”
“Wipe Him out!”
“Waste Him!”
His sheer cynical approach was to kill Jesus so that people might be saved.
But do you know what God does?
God takes those evil intentions and twists them to do exactly what He intended.
So Caiaphas’ suggestion is much deeper and more significant than he realizes.
For Caiaphas clearly does not understand what he is saying.
He thinks either the nation dies or Jesus dies.
But what is true, though, is if Jesus dies, the nation lives.
Jesus would die so that they could live.
The gospel writer, John, clues us in on what is going on.
He tells us that Caiaphas was speaking through the office of the High Priest.
This is so amazing, because he was an unprincipled, ruthless unbeliever, and yet God speaks through him anyway.
Through it all, though, we find that…
3. The course has been chosen.
It was no longer whether the Jewish leadership would do it.
That is now decided.
Now it was only a matter of how they would kill Him.
In the name of preserving the faith, they now work on their plans to trap, capture and eliminate Jesus.
Now we come to…
II. The second event was the ENDURING (54-57).
ILL Notebook: Wait (lobby and wait there)
A colleague was planning a trip to Sue Gibson’s business office and asked if she could find him a hotel with exercise facilities. She called several hotels, with no luck. Finally, she thought she had found one. She asked the receptionist if the hotel had a weight room.
“No,” she replied, "but we have a lobby and you can wait there."
Well, this is what happened to Jesus.
He had to leave the area, go somewhere else and wait there.
Here is how the text reads…
(54) Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. (55) Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. (56) They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?" (57) Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
1. Jesus left the area again to wait.
You may remember from last week’s study that Jesus had returned to Bethany to heal Lazarus in what would be our February.
But God not only had a plan for Jesus, there was a timetable.
Jesus was to be the Passover’s sacrificial lamb, and so, He could not get to Jerusalem until what would be our early April.
He had to wait several weeks, and stay out of harm’s way until then.
So we find Jesus leaving Bethany and going to Ephraim.
It was probably no more than twelve miles away, but it was a lonely town in the wilderness.
Though the Jewish leadership was looking for Him, He was left undisturbed, as it was not one of His usual haunts, so to speak.
But now we find that Passover is approaching, and…
2. People were anxious to see if Jesus would make an appearance.
The historian Josephus tells us that when the time for the Feast of Passover came, the population of Jerusalem would rise to more than 3 million.
And because Jesus had become the sensation of the nation, people were looking for Him.
In fact, the text here tells us that this is a continual seeking.
People are looking everywhere for Him.
Some are doing it because they believed in Him.
Some were curious.
Others were doing it because the leaders wanted to get Him.
You see…
3. The leaders are still on course.
Jesus is still Public Enemy #1.
The leaders had determined they were going to arrest Him, but up to this point, since they had finally made the decision, they have been unable to find Him.
Here was an extremely popular and famous man, with a large entourage, and they can’t get to Him.
But we know why.
Jesus was going to be safe until it was time for Him not to be safe anymore.
The leaders were not in control.
Jesus was on God’s timetable, so He would endure and wait until it was time.
Now we come to…
III. The third event was the WORSHIPPING (1-11).
(1) Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. (2) So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at the table. (3) Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (4) But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, (5) "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" (6) He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. (7) Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. (8) The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me." (9) When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. (10) So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, (11) because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
Well, now we move ahead in time, and Passover is now really at hand.
And Jesus returns to Bethany, which is just a few miles from Jerusalem.
He is literally returning into harm’s way.
Perhaps, though, he finds safety in an unexpected spot, for this next section does not take place in the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus where He usually stayed.
No, from the other gospel accounts, we know that Jesus is in the home of Simon the leper…the former leper that is.
This is a house that is filled with gratitude for what the Lord had done for them.
And so, we find…
1. Jesus is served by those He loves.
Though, it is not her home, we find it is Martha doing her usual thing.
She is serving.
She is waiting on them.
And then we find the two men.
Simon is hosting.
And there is Lazarus.
He is in great health, at the table with Jesus.
I have often wondered what that discussion would have been like.
These two men trying one-up the other about what Jesus had done for them.
Simon would be talking about being made “whole.”
Lazarus would be talking about being brought out of a “hole.”
What fun they must have had!
But then, there was Mary.
And we find here Mary in her usual position when it comes to Jesus.
She is at His feet.
And it is there we find…
2. Mary worships extravagantly.
This activity catches us by surprise.
There is no warning.
It does not seem to be an event the planners knew about…only Mary.
She brings out a very expensive ointment that was used for burials.
We know from the other gospel accounts that she anoints Jesus’ head first.
The ointment would then run down His body until it covered His feet.
As it reached His feet, Mary unbound her hair, wiping up the excessive ointment with it.
What we find here is the pure expression of what is in Mary’s heart.
She has literally taken the most valuable material possession she has, and given it to Jesus.
She has spared no expense, for this would have been worth a small fortune, a year’s income.
Mary has not concerned herself with the customs of the day, nor what people would think of her.
All she cares about is Jesus, and so, with this act, she openly expresses her love for Him.
But the disciples had trouble with it, and one in particular.
For it is here that…
3. Judas begins to show his real self.
ILL Notebook: Stealing (tax time)
There was once a burglar needing money to pay his income taxes, so he decided to burgle the safe in a store. On the safe door he was very pleased to find a note reading, "Please don’t use dynamite. The safe is not locked. Just turn the knob." He did so. Instantly a heavy sandbag fell on him, the entire premises were floodlighted, and alarms started clanging. As the police carried him out on a stretcher, he was heard moaning, "My confidence in human nature has been rudely shaken."
Well, I think we can feel the same way about Judas.
Our confidence in him is rudely shaken…
He objects to Mary’s extravagance, and his objection at first glance, sounds so spiritual.
But when one takes a closer look, what he has called a waste is really a matter of arrogance.
For his arrogance turns the attention away from the Lord and to himself.
You see, he was not like Mary.
He wasn’t in love with Jesus.
He was in love with himself.
And if he did do any giving, it was calculated.
As time as gone on as Jesus’ disciple, his interest has become, “What will I get?”
He has become a selfish, greedy materialist…a sneaky thief…who has been helping himself to the treasury.
So Judas rebukes.
But Jesus honors.
He refuses to give in to Judas, nor enter into a debate with him.
Instead, He enjoys the moment.
For perhaps Mary saw clearer than the rest what was about to happen.
She used the burial ointment on purpose, because she knew something awful was soon on the horizon.
In the meanwhile, we find that…
4. The leaders add to the list.
It is their decision to add the name of Lazarus to those that needed to be removed.
After all, when you don’t want people believing in a person that raises people from the dead, you need to get rid of the star witnesses.
These resurrected corpses really damage your case.
So Lazarus also has to go…
It was their determination to get rid of the evidence, all of it, and be rid of this Jesus’ problem once and for all.
APPLICATION:
Well, what can we learn from all of this today…
First…
1. Realize that God is in control, even over the plans men devise.
You know…
When the Sanhedrin said, “Let’s get together and decide what to do with Jesus,” God said, “I’ll get them together and tell them what to do with Jesus.”
When they said, “Let’s put Jesus on trial,” God said, “I’m going to put man’s sin on trial.”
When they said, “By eliminating Jesus, we save the people from the Romans,” God said, “By sacrificing Jesus, we’ll save people from their sins.”
When they said, “Let’s build a cross and crucify the Son of Man,” God said, “I’ll build a cross to reconcile God and man.”
(Howard Harden)
I have always been one that has affirmed the ability of man to have a choice.
I have not always been able to figure out how it coordinates with the providence of God.
But I do know this.
Humanity is free to choose when it comes to their relationship with God.
They can accept Him or reject Him.
But where humanity is not free is when it comes to the consequences of their choice.
You see, the world is coming to an inevitable point of time when judgment will occur.
And the testimony of Scripture assures us that every knee will bow before the Lord Jesus.
Some will bow out of humiliation.
Others will bow out worship.
So, here is the choice you have today.
You can confess the Lordship of Jesus now while there is time.
Or you can confess it before God on judgment day, when it will be too late.
But be assured of this…you will bow.
So, if you are Christian today, take comfort.
No matter what evil men devise, God is still in control.
It doesn’t matter what happens history, whether there are more 9/11s, or more Hamas and Al-Qaeda.
God is still in control.
And because of this, He is to be worshipped.
You see..
2. Worship is meant to be real, heartfelt and sacrificial.
ILL Notebook: Worship
While Stuart Sacks was serving in Paraguay, a Maka Indian named Rafael came to sit on his porch. Stuart was eating and went out to see what Rafael wanted. He responded, "Ham, henek met." Again Stuart asked what he could do for him, but the answer was the same. He understood what he was saying but not its significance: "I don’t want anything; I have just come near."
Stuart later shared the incident with a local veteran missionary. He explained that it was Rafael’s way of honoring him. Rafael really didn’t want anything; he just wanted to sit on his porch. He found satisfaction and pleasure just being near Stuart.
"What brings you here, my child?" the Lord asks.
"Ham, henek met."
“I don’t want anything; I have just come near”
Doesn’t that reveal the heart of true worship?
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
Trust in God today…He is worth trusting, even in the midst of all that is wrong in this world; for here is the simple truth…while man schemes, God controls.
Wait on God today…while it may seem that everything takes longer than it should…realize that God’s timetable does not falter.
Worship God today…for Jesus died for you…so worship Him alone, worship at His throne, for He is holy and He has called us to be His own.
Now…May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
RESOURCES:
Morris, Leon, The New International Commentary: The Gospel According to John
Hughes, R. Kent, Preaching the Word: John
Sermoncentral.com
A Genuine Miracle, Richard Tow
Who’s Really in Control? Howard Harden
Resisting the Truth, Mike Rickman
What’s Going On? Ray Stedman
Worship or Waste? Ray Stedman
Giving as Worship, Rick Pendleton
Extravagant Love, Michael Hensley
Giving God Our Best, Gary Shockley
