John 11:45-54
Humanly speaking bringing Lazarus back to life was the main reason the chief priests and Pharisees plotted to kill Jesus. Jesus had already been wanted for arrest in Jerusalem but this event sealed His death. Directly after Lazarus was raised the priestly council met to determine what could be done to stop the one who dare speak against them and capture the heart of the nation. The evil intentions of the Jewish leaders is made evident during the council, they were not as concerned about His blasphemy as they were about losing their position and authority. During the council the high priest Caiaphas unknowingly prophesied a message from God that one man should die for the people and not that the whole nation should perish. From God's perspective things were right on schedule, His plan for the death of His Son was not only to die for the nation but that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad (the Gentiles). Jesus was sent to die for all mankind, but not quite yet. He would withdraw from public life until the Passover and head to a village called Ephraim in northern Judea. There and on His final journey to Jerusalem for the Passover several events and teachings occur, we will look at those over the next two weeks starting with the ten lepers tomorrow.
