It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things that Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.

- John 11:45-54

In the past three readings, we have learned the story of the seventh sign or miracle in John's Gospel: the raising of Lazarus. Please see the past three readings and commentaries for the full understanding of what has happened: Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick, I am the resurrection and the life, and Lazarus, come forth!

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things that Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." My study bible notes here: "The Jewish leaders acknowledge Jesus' signs and are concerned that the Romans will intervene militarily if a popular movement around Jesus gains momentum and threatens the established order." I think it's important to our understanding of the Gospels and the story of Jesus' life that there are many (perhaps Judas, His disciple, among them) who simply never understand Jesus' ministry. It seems to me that here is a projection of expectations based on the popular notions of Messiah, or the Prophet who was to come and to deliver Israel. They are based on assumptions of a political messiah, or prophet-king -- a kind of national liberator in the political and military sense. Jesus' preaching is a completely different kind of understanding of what He is about and what He is doing in the world. It is remarkable to us today, perhaps, that there are so many who fail to grasp that understanding of the message. On the other hand, those who interpret His message in a purely political sense - regardless of political perspective - may always be with us. But we should take it as clear evidence of what is human nature, always with us. Expectations and projections so often form our opinions. But Jesus wants those who believe and understand, who "have ears to hear." Clearly, the council majority reacts with their own fears about their positions in the hierarchy and their importance to Roman rule.

And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. My study bible notes, "Caiaphas, being high priest of Israel, is given through his office the authority to speak prophetically. Caiaphas means only that the death of Jesus would spare the nation from Roman intervention. But the greater prophetic meaning of his words is that the death of Jesus will be for the salvation of the Jewish people and many others throughout the world." This is a brilliant note in my study bible, with its understanding that Caiaphas' prophetic voice does indeed speak for what will happen -- but it is interpreted by Caiaphas and the council in a purely self-interested way. Of course, Caiaphas is also playing on their fears. And therefore, his understanding is, in fact, upside down. Again, I feel this is a demonstration of human nature. Do we have the ears to hear, or are we caught merely in self-interest -- with no other true aim? Jesus has told us that we cannot serve God and mammon, we must choose between them. Those who are concerned only with their own glory ("the glory that comes from men") have made a choice, and it is spiritual blindness.

Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. The final miracle, that of raising Lazarus, is simply too much. It is the powerful sign that polarizes and puts things over the edge, so to speak. Jesus "is the resurrection and the life." This prefiguring of His own death and resurrection serves as a great stumbling block among the leadership and the nation.

Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. In John's Gospel, we understand "the Jews" to mean the leadership. From now on, Jesus will only return to His friends in Bethany six days before the Passover, when He is on His way to Jerusalem for His final appearance during Holy Week, the week of His Passion, when it is "His time."

The cycle of Jesus' wide-ranging public ministry is complete in John's Gospel - but there is so much more for us to read and to learn and understand! Next week's readings take us into Palm Sunday and Holy Week, and the beginnings of His final visit to Jerusalem. I think it's important that we understand the prophecy implied in Caiaphas' words. Despite himself, as my study bible has mentioned, there is prophetic meaning in what he says. Lazarus' death and revival will be the great signal for what is to come. It is the thing that sets in motion the circumstances for Jesus' death by crucifixion, and it is also the prefiguring of what is to come: Jesus' own death and resurrection. The means of that death will in fact become a unifying symbol for all of those who will be "gathered together" both from the nation and among those who are scattered abroad, as it remains so today. Caiaphas perhaps is incapable of grasping just what all this will mean and what it will lead to - he's not looking with the eyes of spiritual perception, but only self-interest. He fails to grasp what Jesus is teaching. It is with tremendous irony, then, that we view his speech -- and that we understand that what he is exhorting the council to do will have precisely the effect he wishes to avoid. And he will by no means save Israel from the Roman destruction that is to come. Once again, I suggest that this powerful irony is not limited to one time and place, but is exemplary of human nature when we fail to grasp spiritual reality. Jesus becomes that great stone upon which we stand or fall, and there is no one who is exempt. We make our choices. His friends, too, Lazarus, Mary and Martha, will, by their faith and through the tremendous sign which comes by them, also become wanted by the authorities in the aftermath of Christ's death and the persecutions that are to come. We stand and fall with Him; He is the great touchstone around which we make choices. This is the way a powerful spiritual truth so often works in our lives, when it is time for us to make a choice.. It is why the capacity for repentance, reconsideration, is so important.