Lesson 70

Here is another unique feature of the Gospel of John. In Today's Scripture, the author of the Gospel lays out the reason that the religious authorities in Jerusalem sought the death of Jesus of Nazareth. They felt that they had reason to punish Him already because of things that He had said and done in Jerusalem. He had healed on the Sabbath. There were questionable statements that most believed were blasphemous.

But, now, with the raising of Lazarus from the dead, they knew that His popularity with the people would be greater than ever. There would be many of the uneducated masses who, despite His blasphemous statements, would believe in these miraculous works. They did not feel that they could move boldly against him. There might be a popular uprising centered around this man if they did. Then, the Romans would come in and take away their own positions in society and the little freedom they still had.

Then Caiaphas, who was High Priest that year, came to speak before them. He told them that they did not understand what needed to be done. It is better, said Caiaphas, that one man should die for the sake of the whole nation, than that the whole nation be lost. By this manner, he reasoned that Jesus should be executed, so that the Romans would have no reason to move against them.

John declares that Caiaphas did not speak these words for himself only. He prophesied these words because the death of Jesus was a part of the will of God. Caiaphas said these words in order to bring harm to Jesus because he thought that Jesus was evil. God had allowed these things to be revealed because He knew that Jesus must die as a sacrifice for all the people.

From that day forward, the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sought to put Jesus to death. They planned to arrest Him and have Him executed. And, they would have done so immediately had Jesus not withdrawn Himself once more into a city in the wilderness called Ephraim.

God knows the hearts of evil people. Even those who do not consider themselves to be evil, but who really are. Their plans do not surprise Him. There is nothing that people can do to us that God is not aware of and that is not within God's overall plan for our lives. We are not in the hands of evil men, even when they, temporarily, seem to have control of our lives.

We are in the hands of a God who loved us enough to die for our sake. We are in the hands of a God who was willing to sacrifice His own Son so that we might have the hope of salvation. And, we are in the hands of the One who was willing to be the sacrifice for us.

No matter how dire your circumstances, you can rest in His hands. No matter how bad it gets, you can be safe in His arms.