John 11.43-53
Jesus had always gotten on our nerves
With His unconventional ways and disrespect
He contradicted our teaching, even insulted us
We, the upper echelon of our sect!
But this thing with Lazarus, raising the dead
Jesus, this time You’ve gone too far!
You’re confusing and misleading our people
Just who do You think You are?
What if the nation followed Him?
We couldn’t just leave Him alone.
Our Temple and nation might be destroyed
By retribution from Rome
And so as high priest, head of the council,
I felt entitled to make the call
Israel must be saved from Rome
Let this one man die for all
And so these words were prophetic
Though Caiaphas didn’t understand
Not just Israel, but all God’s people
Were saved by the sacrifice of this one man
Yes, the plot was set in motion
Before Passover even began
The Pharisees thought they were in control
But everything was in God’s hand
Lazarus lay dead in a tomb. Jesus stood before that tomb and
called out, “Lazarus, come forth!” And out Lazarus walked! One would think that
such a miracle would convince all who saw it to believe that Jesus was indeed
the Son of God. Many did believe. Strangely, some chose to report the event to
the Pharisees. When they heard, instead of saying, “Perhaps He is who He says
He is, how could anyone other than God restore life to the dead,” they were alarmed
and wanted to get rid of Jesus. Perish the thought that Jesus might upstage them
or that Rome might investigate this troublemaker. At first glance, their obstinacy
seems unthinkable! But if I’m honest with myself, am I sometimes like them? Do
I seek to align my will with God’s will or do I remain a slave to my own agenda?
Am I open to God when He shows me something new?
Lord, sometimes I think I know how things should work out. Then
I try to make things happen according to my plan. Help me not to be so wrapped
up in my own agenda that I fail to see the truth. Forgive me when I seek my will
without even thinking about Yours.
In Jesus’s name, Amen
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