John 11:47-53 - 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.
Lord, thank You for making a way, The Way, for us, even though we deserve nothing. It was quite sobering going through Your Word today. Lord, search my heart and show me if there is anything out of place or that needs to go. It's so easy for us to slide our focus onto ourselves and not even realize it. Guide me Father so that I may walk on Your paths and be in Your presence this day. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Walking through all these verses today really opened my eyes to just how callous and wicked mankind's hearts can be (religious and non-religious). We see bad and even horrible things every day in our world so it's not surprising. It was just something about today's verses being the reaction to Jesus raising a man from the dead. Something so mind blowing and amazing and beyond joyous and loving for that family becomes the catalyst for premeditated murder.
All the times before this the religious leaders came against Jesus because they did not believe He was the Messiah or the Son of God. Now, with an official meeting and the chief priests present there is no discussion over who Jesus is. It's a simple acknowledgement that He "performs many signs" and if they let Him keep on everyone will believe in Him and they will lose all they've built.
We clearly see these men cared about nothing and no one besides themselves. They go as far as saying if Jesus continues the Romans will take away "our place". They were referring to the temple, their holy place. They didn't even recognize the temple as belonging to God, it was theirs. They built their lives on their rules, their interpretations, their temple, their power, to the point they now plotted to murder the Son of God to keep it theirs. Wow.
Christian, how many of us today view home, church, family, work as "ours" and not God's? I know the Christian auto reply is, "Everything I have belongs to the Lord!", but how many genuinely believe that and operate in that? How many say it because they know it's the right answer yet it's just lip service for others. We're great with wordy prayers and declarations when it comes to blessing, protection, and provision, all the while clinging to "our place". It's a dangerous game to play viewing anything as "yours" or to value a home, people, church name/building/pastor above God or His Word.
Honestly, we could dive deeper into these scriptures, but I find few words to truly describe how my heart is broken reading this today. Not just for Jesus during this time, not just for the Jewish people, but for us right here in 2023. How many "religious" people are more focused on themselves, their place, their own little personal nation, or world they've built, than they are on actually knowing and following God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)?
This isn't just me being some high and mighty holy person trying to look down my nose at others. This convicts me on a deep level. Even things such as the JesusCCC.com website can be viewed as "my ministry" or "my site". It is just so remarkably simple for our focus to slip onto ourselves, even while saying, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus" with our lips. It's our actions that betray our words and sometimes our words that betray our actions. If our words and actions don't line up, then we know we're not where we need to be with Him.
Beloved, I hope you will slow down and ask the Lord to search your heart and show you anything out of place or that needs to go. I know for me it is my desire to start 2023 focused fully, in all areas, on the Lord and follow Him wherever He goes!
Don't take my word for anything. I pray you will get into your Bible and read for yourself today!
You are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
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