Today’s passage: John 11:45-57
Helpful thoughts:
- After seeing Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, some people believed and others went to report it to the Pharisees.
- They didn’t just not believe. They opposed Jesus. (Matthew 12:30)
- The Pharisees feared that news of this miracle and others like it in the future would only increase the popularity of Jesus. If the people tried to make Him king, the Romans would see it as rebellion and remove what was left of their freedoms.
- Caiaphas believed Jesus had to die for the freedom of the people of God. That’s exactly what He had come to do. Just not the way Caiaphas had thought.
- The Passover was at hand, and a Passover Lamb was to be sacrificed (Exodus 12:13).
Questions to consider:
- Because there were multiple witnesses to the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead (Including Pharisees who were present), what must these religious leaders have thought they were dealing with? They couldn’t deny what happened, what did they have to believe about Jesus (Matthew 12:24)?
- In what way was Caiaphas’ prophecy correct? How did Jesus die for His people?
- What people did Caiaphas have in mind when he gave this prophecy? In what way are you a part of what it says in verses 51-52?