The Rationale of Jesus’ Opponents
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
– Jn. 11:45-51
At face value, John’s words could be read in a very ominous tone regarding the decision and opposition of the Sanhedrin to Jesus. And, to be honest, that opposition will result in the crucifixion of Jesus. However, there is something a little deeper that should give us pause to consider how the opposition and the rationale for the opposition is part of God’s larger plan of redemption.
It is in the words of Caiaphas (the high priest) in verse 50, “Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” John pulls the veil back for us and reveals that Caiaphas was prophesying and not doing it on his own accord. (Jn. 11:51) So, as John pulls back the curtain for us, we see not only what Caiaphas is doing (prophesying), but more crucially, that Caiaphas does not understand the fullness of what he is saying. Jesus, as the good shepherd, has already spoken of the “sheep that are not of this sheep pen” (Jn. 10:16), we have the open promise of eternal life to “whoever believes” (Jn. 3:16), and we see the saving faith of the Samaritans (Jn. 4:39). Caiaphas’ words declared a truth that he and those that were with him could not fathom. A truth, where all people are welcomed into the family of God because of the “death of one man.” It is clear from verse 53 that those who were with Caiaphas interpreted his words at face value. They sought to save their nation and people from more destruction at the hands of the Romans by putting to death one man. In doing so, they played a key part in God’s redemptive story. And even though Caiaphas didn’t realize it then, his words were given to him by God.
What does it mean to believe in Jesus? This is a question that is as relevant today as it was in the first century. It is also a question whose answer has the power to resurrect lives and heal brokenness. Coming off the heels of raising Lazarus (11:38-44), we should pay special attention to verse 45, “Many of the Jews, therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him…” They had seen what Jesus had done, and it compelled them to believe in him. Miracles did not always prove to be effective for belief, one theologian notes, “The great miracle Jesus performed led them to believe. In earlier parts of the Gospel, a belief based upon miracles proved to be superficial (2:23–25; 6:14, 66; 8:31–38), but the evangelist gives no hint of that being the case on this occasion. On the contrary, these Jews function as an example of those who see the signs and believe (20:31).”[1] Their belief is another reminder that ‘the Jews’ in John’s Gospel are not always opponents of Jesus.
We would be right to put ourselves in the shoes of Caiaphas and the others on the Sanhedrin at this moment. It is clear that they felt and sensed something shifting. Yes, Jesus had performed miracles before, and many had come to believe. But, in time, they had also drifted from their belief. But, here and now, a dead man was raised, something is different in their belief, and something must be done, or everything will be lost. John’s phrase “the Jews” in verse 45 will give us a clue to who is included in those who believed and why this moment might have felt so different to Caiaphas. Those who came to the Pharisees in verse 46 believed in Jesus to have the power to raise dead men to life. They believed in a way that shook the religious leader to their cores.
Let us ask again; what does it mean to believe in Jesus? Caiaphas’ words were prophetic, even though he may not have known so. God would work through him and the ruling Sanhedrin court to bring about his redemptive plan. Yet, as we understand the Pharisees and the Sadducees, we should extend grace and even see ourselves in them. They knew that believing in Jesus would change their world. They were not wrong. It would upend their political allegiances, religious assumptions, and misunderstood theologies and require them to see Gentiles as their neighbors. They knew a truth that we do not often appreciate or give full weight to; believing in Jesus means surrendering my life.
At this moment, they resolved to save their lives, and God resolved to use them in his redemptive story.
[1] Kruse, Colin G. John: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 4. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2003.
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