John 11:45-57
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
"What are we accomplishing?" they asked. "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."
49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."
51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
54Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
55When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the Feast at all?" 57But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.
Jesus has done many great miracles from the Father...With each miracle He did, more people put their faith in Him...The more miracles He did, the more people believed...
Jesus has just performed the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead...Many people had come to console Mary, when her brother had died...Some, of those who visited Mary, went to the Pharisees and told them that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead...Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin...
The Sanhedrin meets and they discuss Jesus' miracles...The council asks "What are we accomplishing?...Here is this man performing many miraculous signs...If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."...Then, Caiaphas, the high priest that year, spoke up and said "you know nothing at all...You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people that that the whole nation perish."...Caiaphas did not say this aloud, but he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one ...So from that day on they plotted to take the life of Jesus...Jesus knew their thoughts...Therefore, Jesus from that day forward no longer moved about publicly among the Jews...Instead He withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where He stayed with His disciples...
When it was time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover...The people looked for Jesus, and He was not their yet...The people ask, "What do you think?, Isn't He coming to the Feast?"...But the chief priests had given orders if anyone found Jesus, he was to report it so that they might arrest Him...The chief priests feared Jesus might cause some disruptions or unrest with their establish positions and culture...If there was a riot or rebellion of any size the Roman officials would blame the religious leaders and chief priests...The Jewish leaders would be held accountable for the civil problems...The chief priests would lose their positions, power, and prestige...
Jesus had done many previous miracles...The miracles, and because there is so many of them, get Him in trouble with the chief priests and Sanhedrin...The Sanhedrin say that here is this Man performing many miracles...If we let Him go on like this (performing miracle after miracle) everyone will believe in Him...Then the Roman officials will come and take their place in the nation...The Sanhedrin, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law did not want to lose their prominence in the country...
Jesus can perform miracles...He performed many great miracles from the Father on earth...His opposition during His time on earth wanted Him to stop with the miracles...Jesus did many healing miracles...He did miracles of exorcism...He did miracles over nature...He did miracles of raising the dead...Our God is a God of miracles...Jesus used miracles to help us...Jesus' miracles shows us He is divine...Yet His opposition wanted to put a stop to Him and His miracles...Jesus had said that "I have shown you many great miracles from the Father...For which of these do you want to stone Me?" (John 10:32)...The one miracle that the Sanhedrin start planning to kill Him, is the raising of the dead miracle...He had just raised Lazarus...