John 11:45-57
Q.1. Why did the chief priests and Pharisees want to get rid of Jesus? How should they have responded to the evidence? – (Jn.11:45-48 c.f. Jn.5:36; 10:25, 37-38)
Many mourners and friends of Lazarus, plus Martha and Mary, placed their trust in Jesus as a result of this miracle performed by Jesus. Some actually testified about the resurrection to the Pharisees. If anything should have convinced them all of Christ’s identity, this sign was it. Instead, they were outraged to think that the crowds would believe in Him, and that there might be repercussions from the Roman authorities. They feared losing their position of elevation and had a low view of Messiah’s power to reign (Jn.11:48). The resurrection of Lazarus should have caused serious concerns about their unbelief, and their very limited view of the Messiah’s power to reign over His enemies.
Q.2. What remarkable prophecy did the High Priest make about Jesus? How did the prophecy apply to Christ? – (Jn.11:49-53 c.f. Jn.18:12-14; Rom.5:15; Heb.10:10)
As the religious head of the nation, Caiaphas had concluded that Jesus had to be eliminated. He responded – 49 … “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” 51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation (Jn.11:49-51). John commented that Caiaphas was actually giving a prophecy, and that Jesus would be the sinners’ substitute – 52 and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad (Jn.11:52). Jesus would indeed tear down the wall between Jews and Gentiles, and in doing so, would make us all one (Eph.2:11-16).
Q.3. What strategies had the religious leaders put in place in order to arrest Jesus? Why did Jesus avoid arrest at this time, since He knew He was to die? – (Jn.11:53-57 c.f. Jn.7:6, 8, 30; 8:20)
Caiaphas galvanized the leaders to move against Jesus – So from that day on they planned together to kill Him (Jn.11:53). They put in place plans to have Him arrested – Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him (Jn.11:57). Knowing this, Jesus retreated into the wilderness – 54 Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples (Jn.11:54). If He knew He was going to die, why did He avoid being arrested? This was because the time was not yet right (Jn.7:6, 8, 30; 8:20), since Jesus was to die as the Passover Lamb (Jn.18:28; 19:14).