Page 84 - The Gospel of John - Student textbook

In chapter 11 Jesus will exercise power over death and as a result many religious leaders will begin to break
ranks and believe in the son of God (John 11:45). Therefore, the custodians of religious power in Jerusalem could
no longer put off the question of Jesus. By the time of Jesus, the Jews had instituted what may be considered a
provisional government in anticipation of the Messiah, who would rule as King. Until then, they vested the high
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priest with all the rights and privileges of a monarch (1 Maccabees 14:35 – 49) with the understanding that he
should step aside when the Christ came to claim His rightful place on the throne of Israel. Except during the
reign of Herod the Great, who had himself named “King of the Jews” by Rome, the high priest traditionally
guided the nation as its provisional leader. Throughout its history, Israel also looked to a body of elders for day –
to – day leadership, a council known as the Sanhedrin, which served as both Parliament and Supreme Court. This
ruling counsel of 70 learned men set Jewish policy (within limits established by Rome) and ruled on civil and
criminal court cases.

The Sanhedrin placed a high priority on maintaining the uneasy balance between Rome’s desire to dominate its
subjects and the yearning of the Jewish people for independence. Normally the high priest (who was appointed
by Rome) and the Sanhedrin (who advocated for independent – minded Jews) engaged in a kind of public rivalry,
each pretending to work against the other, yet neither really wanting anything different. Change of any kind
with threatened to strip every one of their power. The Council met in order to decide what they should do with
Jesus.

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49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! You’re not
considering that it is to your advantage that one man should die for the people rather than the whole nation
perish.” He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was going to
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die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to unite the scattered children of God. So from that
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day on they plotted to kill Him. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but departed from
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there to the countryside near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim. And He stayed there with the disciples.
55 The Jewish Passover was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country to purify themselves before
the Passover. They were looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple complex:
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“What do you think? He won’t come to the festival, will He?” The chief priests and the Pharisees had given
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orders that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it so they latest expression could arrest Him.

Application: John 11:1 – 46
A Better Time, a Better Plan, a Better Future

I admit it; sometimes I become very frustrated with the Lord. My prayer requests are for the
most part asked with a pure motive, rarely selfish, yet He frequently chooses to allow events
to unfold in ways I do not comprehend. His timing is rarely what I would expect of a God who
loves His people. The money needed for critical ministry is too little or arrives too late. Evil people flourish
financially while good people suffer with cancer. His ways and His timing challenge my trust far more often than
I wish, so I find myself repeating the words in my mind like a mantra, “The Lord is right in all His ways.”

The Lord is right in all His ways

When I read the story of Martha and Mary’s loss, I take comfort in knowing that I am not alone in my
experience. Here are two women who knew the Son of God as personally as I know my closest friends yet
struggled to understand His handling of Lazarus’ illness. Why did He not rush to Bethany as soon as He heard the
news? Did he not care? He was only a day’s journey away! Why would He allow Lazarus to suffer his illness one
moment longer than necessary? Yet each woman – to her credit – expressed continued devotion to the Lord;
neither lashed out in bitterness or questioned His goodness. They merely expressed disappointment, laced ever
so subtly with bewilderment.

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