Letters to the Prison - Week 133

Hello, everyone.  We hope you join our study of John.  If you need a Bible, ask for one!  Last week, we began to examine a stunning thing Caiaphas, the High Priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, said about Jesus --stunning and quite ironic, given the sort of man Caiaphas is.  So, the source of the statement is established… a criminally corrupt leader of the religious community.  But what does the statement mean?  Fortunately, we don’t have to spend much time speculating about that because John himself makes the significance of Caiaphas’ statement clear:
•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.-John 11:51-52
When an author of Scripture, like John, offers a clear interpretation of what someone in history has said about Jesus, it is definitely wise to pay attention.  First, John notes that Caiaphas has predicted (accurately, by the way) that Jesus will die for the sake of the nation of Israel.  This is absolutely true.  Jesus is Israel’s Messiah:  The Anointed One predicted by all the Old Testament books (see Daniel 9, for example).  Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross atoned for all the sins of all Israelites ever who would believe in him in perfect fulfillment of God’s law.  Further, as John points out, Jesus’ death was not just for the nation of Israel but for all the children of God… who are described by Peter as being a “holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9).  The book of Acts records the beginning of the Church –the Body of Christ (Colossians 1:24-26)— which is what emerges when God “gathers into one” his children (1 John 3:2) who are “scattered abroad…” both Jewish and Gentile believers (1st Corinthians 12:13).
So, Caiaphas, in his prideful and condescending explanation of why Jesus had to die, nevertheless –as High Priest-- actually and accurately predicted Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sake of all believers everywhere.  Caiaphas –thoroughly corrupt and arguably Jesus’ most bitter human enemy-- predicted the emergence of the Church and the ushering in of God’s Kingdom of believers in Jesus the Christ.  And quite unwittingly despite his murderous intent, which was made apparent in the very next verse:
•So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.-John 11:53
This, dear friends, is a dire object lesson in how even God’s enemies act –according to their own beliefs—in perfect accordance with God’s plan.  Peter would confirm this very thing during his sermon on the day the Church began (Acts 2:22-24).  So, even those who actively and intentionally resist the will of God are nevertheless participating in his perfect plan.  This should be a warning to anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to deny God and “do their own thing.”  It might also be a comfort to believers who are being persecuted by enemies of God to know that God has a purpose and a plan even for their enemies’ violence and hatred.
Jesus, knowing full well the intent of the religious leaders in Jerusalem to murder him:
•no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.  -John 11:54
Jesus left, but he didn’t stay away long.  God’s timing is perfect, as we will see.  We love you!

Dean A.