How will you Respond to Jesus’ Miracles? What will you do with what you’ve seen?
John 11:45-57
- Takes place Right after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead
Everything from this point forward in the Gospel of John focuses on the cross.
The raising of Lazarus from the dead assures us of Jesus’ power over death before He even goes to the
cross to die.
John 11:45-57 NIV
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in
him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 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. 48 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.”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at
all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole
nation perish.”
51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the
Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them
together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a
region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for
their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the
temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But
the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should
report it so that they might arrest him.
- There were 2 reactions from those who witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead
o 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus
did, believed in him.
Who else but God can raise a man who had been in the tomb for 4 days?
- 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
o It’s amazing that 2 groups of people can witness the same event and come away with
completely different reactions
The way people see miracles depends on their moral condition
Somehow, it isn’t a guarantee that someone will come to Christ just because they
witness a miracle
If a person is filled with unbelief, it might not make a difference if they’ve seen a
miracle
Rather than worship Jesus in reverence for what they saw, they had to report it
Jesus becomes Israel’s most wanted for the crime of raising a man from the dead. He
restored Lazarus’ life, but many Jews want to take Jesus’ life. Pretty ironic, right?
47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
- The Sanhedrin was the highest judicial body in Israel
o They had the political and spiritual power, but served under Roman authority
o In their point of view this was devastating
o Any time the star witness is a resurrected corpse – you have a pretty good case for the
validity of Jesus as the Messiah.
47 Continued “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many
signs. 48 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.”
- Jesus’ enemies admit that He is doing miraculous works (many signs)
o They didn’t protest the authenticity of the healings
o Too many miracles to deny the reality of the works
- We see this later, when some of the disciples were performing miracles in Jesus name, and were
brought before the Sanhedrin…
- Acts 4:15-17
- 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are
we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have
performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further
among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
o “Don’t confuse me with the facts – I’ve made up my mind”
o How do we explain their failure to see the truth?
It wasn’t lack of information
Jesus actually gave the answer back in Chapter 9 when He told them they were
blinded by their sin.
All of this religion and all of this biblical knowledge represented by the Sanhedrin,
yet they were unable to see the glory of God’s Son – because of sin.
Some of the things we can take away from the Sanhedrin…
You can be religious, but lost.
You can memorize scripture but still be ignorant of its truth.
You can say all the right things, but still have a heart that hasn’t been transformed
by the power of Jesus Christ.
o They also had questioned the source of the miracles: demonic in origin
- Matthew 9:34
34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
- They were just trying to justify their position
o And so we see their unbelief play out in an interesting way that even applies to us today
too: unbelief will encourage you to protect your idols (vv. 45-48).
- 1. Unbelief encourages you to protect your idols
48 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.”
Their primary concern was maintaining control – Jesus threatened their position and influence –
their idols
o They are afraid that the Romans will come in and take away their nation
Their concern wasn’t for the people, but for themselves
They believe that if people worship Jesus as the Messiah, then the Jews will come
and crown Him King of the Jews
They were afraid - They knew the Romans would come in and destroy the temple
and Jerusalem, and scatter the people - if everyone believed in Him
The Jews, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin weren’t interested in doing the right or just
thing. Instead, their top priority was retaining their power and influence.
Ironically – that which they were so afraid of happening – did happen…
In AD 70 the Romans did that very thing
It wasn’t because the people believed in Jesus – it was most likely because
they didn’t
We see in them a clear and striking picture of the self-centeredness of empty
religion.
- Empty Religion – these days, practiced by people who come to church, give money, say and do the
right thing and are moral, but have no relationship with Jesus Christ – they haven’t given their lives
to Jesus
Empty religion is always revealed by a person’s focus
What is your focus?
If someone is truly following Jesus, their focus will be first on Jesus, then on others
and finally on themselves. – Empty religion always focuses first on me.
It’s based on MY effort
It’s about maintaining MY good works
It’s concerned primarily with MY blessing and MY safety – so others can
look on at “all the good choices I’ve made”
Empty religion evaluates spiritual realities by how WE will be affected. – When our
decisions are not based on clear biblical standards of holiness, but how they will
affect our own comfort and convenience.
The Pharisees and Sadducees fear of loss of influence, power and income pushed
them to disobey God’s will.
o People want to protect their lifestyle (their idol) from Jesus
o He always has and he always will be a threat to our idols. And when Jesus threatens idols
you can expect hostility.
o For someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus, the idol always wins –
Unfortunately, this is true for us too, isn’t it?
What are some of the idols you have been protecting from Jesus?
Popularity – approval of others – your lifestyle – your habits
We need to reserve the thrown in our lives for Jesus
For the Pharisees, power and control were their idol, and blinded them to the
miracle that so many had witnessed.
They were more concerned about their place and their power than whether
or not this was really the Messiah
Are we more committed to our own power, position, your possessions, your pride
than Jesus?
Do you see Jesus as someone you can use for your own plans, or someone who is
free to use you for His?
- At the same time Jesus is aware of the plot to kill Him, He longed to shelter and protect the
people of Jerusalem.
- But even though Jesus longed to gather His people under His wings, they just weren’t interested.
-
Matthew 23:37-39
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have
longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were
not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until
you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ [a] ”
Yes, He was speaking to Jerusalem – but how often has He said to each of us “How often I have wanted
to be your number one focus, but you were not willing”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at
all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole
nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus
would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God,
to bring them together and make them one.
John credits the prophesy to the office of High Priest, and not to the man
- Interesting notes on Caiaphas:
o He was a Sadducee, which means he didn’t believe in the resurrection under any
circumstances
o As a Sadducee, he collaborated with the Romans
o He didn’t want anyone rocking the boat
o Having been high priest for 16 years, he was highly educated and intelligent, but also cynical
and ruthless.
What we read in verses 49-50 is a great example of the irony that John builds into his gospel. Because
clearly, Caiaphas is thinking only of political expediency, but the Lord intended for us to see something
else entirely.
It’s obviously ironic because what Caiaphas says in those verses is the gospel message in a nutshell!
Jesus’ death would save his people. “The nation” is a reference to the nation of Israel, but remember,
Paul tells us that the people of faith are true people of God.
- The death of Jesus Christ was going to accomplish what God intended. It was going to save those it
was intended to save, and it was going to gather them into one people.
-
o Though Caiphas said it – It’s a great note of unmistakable certainty.
- Caiaphas’ didn’t understand his own prophecy
- He was so obsessed with his own political power, he only sees everything through that lens. He fails
to understand that the Lord revealed something of spiritual significance through him – but he was
blind to it.
o One thing to learn from that is that being obsessed with political power can force you to
see everything only through that lens – and miss the point of what God is actually doing.
It’s a lesson for all of us in this politically charged day.
- Because it wasn’t Caiaphas’ plan that was ultimately carried out - it was God’s plan for redemption!
- For evil reasons they sought to put Jesus to death, but unbeknownst to them they were
accomplishing God’s sovereign will all along. What they meant for evil, God intended for good.
- Caiphas’ words, though said to fulfill his own purpose, held greater meaning than he could have
planned.
Peter makes this point during his sermon on the day of Pentacost.
- Acts 2:23
23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you,
with the help of wicked men, [a] put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
- This doesn’t get Caiphas off the hook – he wasn’t an unwilling puppet. God just turned his wicked
words into truth.
o His speech must have been convincing, because in verse 53:
53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
It’s gone beyond impulsive attempts to stone Jesus, and become premeditated murder.
It is noteworthy that some religious people, who claim to know God and to love and serve God don’t
recognize their God when He shows up.
- Amazing what darkness produces in the heart of the unbeliever – the blindness
o It’s a good example of pragmatic thinking. Pragmatism is the fundamental belief that
everything is subservient to achieving results and success.
o If your only goal is to achieve results, it won’t be long before you find yourself
compromising your own moral integrity.
o Unfortunately, this way of thinking has even crept into the church. So many churches are
willing to do whatever it takes to grow. But if that’s your only guiding principle it won’t be
long before your pragmatism puts you at odds with Biblical standards.
What you win them with is what you win them to…
- Jesus avoided them until the appropriate time:
54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a
region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
- He would not die because of the whims and wished of the religious establishment.
- His death was not the tragic death of a religious zealot. He would die at the time chosen by His
Father. His life would not be taken from Him. But He would willingly sacrifice it.
55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for
their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the
temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?”
They were wondering if Jesus was even going to come to the Passover
57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was
should report it so that they might arrest him.
So - How will you Respond to Jesus’ Miracles?
Will you waiver?
- There is no neutrality, when it comes to Jesus – no middle ground when it comes to Jesus
o Middle ground is illogical – if you believe Jesus is who He says He is, then you believe what
He says and you obey Him. Jesus never claimed to occupy the middle ground either…in
fact…
John 14:6
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me.
o There are only two options when it comes to Jesus Christ: trust in Him for the salvation of
your soul, or reject him in unbelief.
o One path – the wide path leased to destruction, and eternity away from God
o The path to Jesus is narrow…eternal life with him
Will you fight against it?
- Will your idols of wealth, independence, politics, power, control, pride, popularity or approval blind
you to what Jesus wants to do in your life? Does the lifestyle you want to have…or maybe the one
you already have conflict with God’s will for your life?
o God’s will like a stream…or water coming in at the beach
- Part 2 of the title: What will you do with what you’ve seen?
o You can try to justify unbelief by saying “I didn’t see any miracles with my own eyes”
Sure you have!
Do you have a mirror? You’re made in His image.
Genesis 1:27
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Life itself is a miracle.
Ever been outside?
Romans 1:20
20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine
nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are
without excuse.
Can you see me?
- 5 year celebration of surviving a cardiac arrest.
The same God that raised Lazarus from the dead, and was murdered by the religious leaders for every
sin we commit, and was raised from the dead himself 3 days later still performs miracles today. This all
points to Jesus…every story in this room points to Jesus…or at least should.
What will you do with what you’ve seen?
You can’t unsee it now…You can’t unhear what you’ve heard…so you have to make a choice
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