John
Introduction: To those who do not believe on Jesus there is
a significant problem. The problem lies
in the facts. Facts are things that
actually exist; realities; truths. Those who do not believe in Jesus must
ignore truth. The Pharisees do not
believe on Jesus and they are having to deal with the facts. Individually the problem is to large to
handle so they seek to solve the problem together.
I.
Presenting the Problem with Jesus.
(John
11:47) Then gathered the chief priests
and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many
miracles.
The Chief priests are of the sect of
the Sadducees. They do not believe in
the resurrection nor do they believe in Angels.
The Pharisees believe in both of these things and are at odds with the
Sadducees. They set aside their
differences because they have a common problem.
The actual problem is their lack of faith. The problem they have is that they do not
believe on Jesus.
They state the problem in their
counsel with a question. “What do we?”
They need a plan of action. Jesus is
doing, literally, many signs. He keeps
proving over and over again that He is the Messiah. The proofs or signs are so many that even
among the Pharisees there are men who have believed on Jesus. It is hard to
fight the facts. Truth will always
prevail. Those in the right will always be vindicated.
II.
Presenting the consequences of the Problem with Jesus.
(John
11:48) If we let him thus alone, all
[men] will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our
place and nation.
A problem is only a problem if it
has consequences. The consequences of their problem with Jesus lies with their
current state of affairs. If they take no action to stop Jesus from doing signs
and miracles then the people will no longer follow and support their current
rulers but will instead follow Jesus. They will believe on Jesus and will make
Him their King.
The consequences of the problem with
Jesus will be, as far as they see it, that the Romans will come and destroy the
temple, which is their place and not God’s, and will scatter the people as did
the Babylonians and the Assyrians.
The Pharisees conclude that God
would not protect them from the Romans because as they see it Jesus is a sinner
and not from God at all. They see Him as
a rebel and God would not be pleased to have Jesus rule as King over
(John
11:49) And one of them, [named]
Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing
at all,
The problem the Jews have is that
Jesus is doing many miracles or signs.
The real problem is that they do not believe on Him. The source of the miracles Jesus is doing is
God the Father and the source of their unbelief is the devil.
Caiaphas speaks up and states a
fact. He is the High priest and has the job of interceding between the people
and God. When He speaks the people are
to listen. In the midst of men who
believe a lie it seems odd that Caiaphas states a great truth. Caiaphas informs them that they know nothing
at all. They are ignorant of the
truth. How refreshing to hear such
words. It is precisely what they need to
hear. There is much they do not
know. They do not know God the Father
and they do not know His Son. They do
not know that they are headed for Hell.
They do not know that they are sinners, condemned and unclean. They do
not know that they need to repent. They know nothing at all. The things the know and seem so sure of are
lies.
(John
11:50) Nor consider that it is expedient
for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation
perish not.
Caiaphas continues proclaiming great
truths. These men indeed had not
considered Isaiah chapter fifty three. It is expedient, necessary, that one man
should die for the people. This great
truth has been known and taught by one generation to another ever since Adam’s
fall. Except a savior should come and
pay the sin debt of mankind then all men would perish. Caiaphas, a lost man, is preaching a great
truth. If he only believed what he was
saying there would be hope for him. Is
it possible that Caiaphas is a saved man and is speaking up for Jesus?
(John
11:51) And this spake he not of himself:
but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that
nation;
No.
Caiaphas is not speaking these words of truth on his own. God the Father, the very source of the
problem they have with Jesus, has caused the high priest to prophesy. God has caused men in the past to say things
they do not mean. He caused King Saul to
prophesy when King Saul was outside the will of God. These words of truth which
we have recorded here are rooted in God the Father.
(John
11:52) And not for that nation only, but
that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were
scattered abroad.
John elaborates for our benefit on
what God was saying through Caiaphas.
Praise the Lord, Jesus did not just die to save the nation of
IV.
Presenting a solution to the Problem with Jesus.
(John
11:53) Then from that day forth they
took counsel together for to put him to death.
A solution to the problem they have
with Jesus is proposed. Remember that
the real problem is their unbelief. The
solution their perceived problems is to put Jesus to death. This will stop Him from doing miracles. This will take him out of the way and cause
the people to return to following them.
This will keep the Romans from taking away their place and their
nation. Or at least this is what they
believe. They will succeed, at least in
their minds, in putting Jesus to death but their place and nation will not be
secure. They will loose everything. They will be killed by the Romans and the
They have a problem with Jesus and
the problem is that they do not accept Jesus as their savior. If they would set aside their pride and
prejudice and humble themselves and pray to God for forgiveness their problem
with Jesus would turn into their salvation. Their place would become God’s place. Their Nation would become God’s nation. Their problem would become their deliverance. If they would only believe the truth they
would saved.
Do you have a problem with
Jesus? Is it hard for you to “kick
against the pricks?”