Day 47-Easter Sunday-March 31st
John 11:45-57
Implications of Resurrection

Being less than two miles from Jerusalem, word of the raising of Lazarus from the dead quickly reached the Temple and the religious leaders who had been plotting to kill Jesus. The disciples of Jesus had cautioned Him about returning to the region because of the danger involved (see 11:8), but they had no idea what Jesus actually intended to do and what the consequences of these actions would be. The reaction to the raising of Lazarus was mixed, as could be expected.

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” John 11:45-48 NIV

The religious leaders called an emergency meeting of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of 70 of the most influential leaders in Jerusalem. These leaders don’t even try to hide their true fears in this meeting. With the growing popularity of Jesus as He reveals His power more and more, these leaders are convinced that they will soon lose their positions of power and influence, believing that the Romans may even take away both the temple and their autonomous standing as a nation. (This may seem like an exaggeration, but this is essentially what happened in AD 70 when the Romans crushed the Jewish uprising. The temple is still in ruins today.)

Then, the High Priest Caiaphas (who will become very important as this story unfolds), makes a statement that resonates throughout the ages of human history…

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” John 11:49-50 NIV

Caiaphas presents to the Sanhedrin the idea that it would be better for Jesus to die for the nation rather than the nation die while He lives. This is the true meaning of the incarnation, and the exact reason Jesus was born in Bethlehem-to give His life for His people so that they may be brought back to God.

The next verses are an unexpected nugget that John includes that are essential to this story. We are reminded again that the Gospel story is not some random act of a desperate God making some last-ditch effort to somehow save His people. Rather, God intended to redeem His creation through the death and resurrection of Jesus from before beginning of time. John includes that Caiaphas had prophesied earlier that year that Jesus would die not only for Israel, but ultimately He would die for the whole world.

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one from that day on they plotted to take his life. John 11: 51-53 NIV

From this point forward, the collision between the ministry of Jesus and the plot of these religious leaders would be inevitable.

Today, on Easter Sunday, here we see one fundamental truth at work: it is impossible to ignore resurrection. Everywhere we look, we see God at work resurrecting futures, marriages, families, careers-raising everything back to life!! Will you believe in the power of resurrection, or will you skeptically reject this incredible power and deny the benefits from your life.

Easter is a celebration of resurrection. Jesus is Alive! Happy Resurrection Day to all!

Question for you to consider:
What are you going to do with this power of resurrection in your life?

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