TOPIC: WHICH CAMP DO YOU BELONG TO?
TEXT: John 11:45-57(NKJV)
- 11:45. Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.
- 11:46. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.
- 11:47. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.
- 11:48. “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
- 11:49. And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
- 11:50. “nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
- 11:51. Now this he did not say on his own [authority;] but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
- 11:52. and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
- 11:53. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
- 11:54. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
- 11:55. And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
- 11:56. Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think — that He will not come to the feast?”
- 11:57. Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report [it,] that they might seize Him.
STUDY:
Raising Lazarus from the dead brought two different and opposite reactions from the people. The first group believed in Jesus and therefore fulfilled the main purpose of miracles, which is to draw our faith towards God.
The second group, led by the high priest, the chief priests and the Pharisees, acknowledged the miracles, but plotted to kill Jesus (vv. 47, 53). See verse 48 for their reasons. Jesus rebuked the people of Bethsaida, Chorazin and Capernaum who saw his mighty works but did not repent (Matt. 11:21-24).
Take time to reflect on the many divine interventions in your life and the lives of others and repent of every sin you know of. It is unfortunate that high-ranking religious leaders were the very ones leading the plot to kill Jesus.
We see a similar occurrence in the church today. Out of envy or strife, some leaders do everything possible to bring down other leaders or groups who appear to be making more impact than them.
Do you belong to this camp? If yes, please repent. There is wisdom in the action of Jesus to withdraw to a safer location for a while. We should apply such wisdom in our secular and spiritual assignments.
PRAYER:
O Lord, help me to recognise your gifts in other people and not to hinder them from serving You, Amen!
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