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Preparations for Death
John 11:45 - 12:11
Last week we talked a little about death. And this week I have thought
more about it. If you knew you were going to die, what would you do?
Jesus knew that He was going to die and He was preparing to for it.
Today we will look at the events that show how Jesus was preparing to
die.
First the plot 45-53
many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he
did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told
them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees
gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs
many signs. 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."
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them,
"You know nothing at all. 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." He did not say this of his own accord, but being high
priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and
not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God
who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him
to death.
Jesus had turned into a real problem for the “Religious” people. In
fact, it was more than just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill problem. Jesus
had become a moral problem. Because He had raised Lazarus from the dead,
people could not remain neutral. They were forced to make a choice.
To us, it seems like no choice at all. It seems so easy to us. He raises
Lazarus from the dead and what choice is there?
But hearts were hardened. There were some that actually saw the miracles
and refuse to repent. Isn’t it amazing that humanity can be so obstinate
and stubborn, that it will persist in unbelief in the face of
overwhelming evidence? There are people that choose to oppose!
What is interesting to note here is that those that choose to oppose are
not atheists and pagans. They were very religious people. And whether
they were conservative or liberal when it came to their theology that
was set aside, because they all were mad. People believed in Jesus. This
had to stop! People were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah, and, as a
result, committed themselves to following Him.
So, there is a panic in the voices of the Jewish leadership. They have
been unable to keep up with Jesus. He is outpacing them and the whole
thing is getting out of hand. Everyone is going to believe in Him, and
not them. This was a tragedy in their view. For, it is their belief,
that Jesus is going to lead a political uprising, and then the wrath of
Rome will come to destroy the nation and the temple. And, then, they are
out.
They need help and a solution is presented.
The solution comes from the high priest, Caiaphas. Now Caiaphas was not
chosen to be the high priest because of his positive moral qualities.
No, the job went to the highest bidder, because it was the Romans that
determined who got the position, not the Jewish people. In fact,
Caiaphas must have been a man of considerable financial resource because
he held the position for eighteen years.
And he obviously doesn’t care what his fellow priests think of him,
because his words are filled with arrogance. He calls them fools! He
says that they know nothing. And because he desires to protect the
threatened position of the privileged class, he says…
“…it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that
the whole nation should perish."
Interestingly, Caiaphas thought he had an original idea! It was,
“Eliminate Him!” “Wipe Him out!” His sheer cynical approach was to kill
Jesus so that people might be saved.
And it as if God says, Finally Caiaphas you have got something right.
God takes those evil intentions and twists them to do exactly what He
intended. So Caiaphas’ suggestion is much deeper and more significant
than he realizes. For Caiaphas clearly does not understand what he is
saying. He thinks either the nation dies or Jesus dies. But what is
true, though, is if Jesus dies, the nation lives. Jesus would die so
that they could live.
The gospel writer, John, clues us in on what is going on. He tells us
that Caiaphas was speaking through the office of the High Priest. This
is so amazing, because he was an unprincipled, ruthless unbeliever, and
yet God speaks through him anyway.
Through it all, though, we find that the course has been chosen.
It was no longer whether the Jewish leadership would do it. That is now
decided. Now it was only a matter of how they would kill Him. In the
name of preserving the faith, they now work on their plans to trap,
capture and eliminate Jesus.
The second event was the tarrying 54-57
Jesus therefore 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. Now the Passover of the Jews was at
hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover
to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one
another as they stood in the temple, "What do you think? That he will
not come to the feast at all?" Now the chief priests and the Pharisees
had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them
know, so that they might arrest him.
Jesus had to leave the area, go somewhere else and wait there.
Jesus had returned to Bethany to heal Lazarus in what would be our
February. But God not only had a plan for Jesus, there was a timetable.
Jesus was to be the Passover’s sacrificial lamb, and so, He could not
get to Jerusalem until what would be our early April.
He had to wait several weeks, and stay out of harm’s way until then. So
we find Jesus leaving Bethany and going to Ephraim. It was probably no
more than twelve miles away, but it was a lonely town in the wilderness.
Though the Jewish leadership was looking for Him, He was left
undisturbed, as it was not one of His usual haunts, so to speak.
But now we find that Passover is approaching, and people were anxious to
see if Jesus would make an appearance.
The historian Josephus tells us that when the time for the Feast of
Passover came, the population of Jerusalem would rise to more than 3
million. And because Jesus had become the sensation of the nation,
people were looking for Him. In fact, the text here tells us that this
is a continual seeking. People are looking everywhere for Him. Some are
doing it because they believed in Him. Some were curious. Others were
doing it because the leaders wanted to get Him.
The leaders are still on course.
Jesus is still Public Enemy #1. The leaders had determined they were
going to arrest Him, but up to this point, since they had finally made
the decision, they have been unable to find Him. Here was an extremely
popular and famous man, with a large entourage, and they can’t get to
Him. But we know why. Jesus was going to be safe until it was time for
Him not to be safe anymore. The leaders were not in control. Jesus was
on God’s timetable, so He would endure and wait until it was time.
The third event was the Worshiping 1-11.
Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where
Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner
for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining
with him at the table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment
made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet
with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray
him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii
and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared about the
poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he
used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, "Leave her
alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. The poor you
always have with you, but you do not always have me." When the large
crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on
account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the
dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,
because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing
in Jesus.
Well, now we move ahead in time, and Passover is now really at hand. And
Jesus returns to Bethany, which is just a few miles from Jerusalem. He
is literally returning into harm’s way. Perhaps, though, he finds safety
in an unexpected spot, for this next section does not take place in the
home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus where He usually stayed.
No, from the other gospel accounts, we know that Jesus is in the home of
Simon the leper…the former leper that is.
Here, we find that Jesus is served by those He loves.
Though, it is not her home, we find it is Martha doing her usual thing.
She is serving. She is waiting on them. And then we find the two men.
Simon is hosting. And there is Lazarus. He is in great health, at the
table with Jesus.
I have often wondered what that discussion would have been like. These
two men trying one-up the other about what Jesus had done for them.
Simon would be talking about being made “whole.” Lazarus would be
talking about being brought out of a “hole.” What fun they must have
had!
But then, there was Mary. And we find here Mary in her usual position
when it comes to Jesus. She is at His feet.
And Mary worships extravagantly.
This activity catches us by surprise. There is no warning. It does not
seem to be an event the planners knew about…only Mary.
She brings out a very expensive ointment that was used for burials. We
know from the other gospel accounts that she anoints Jesus’ head first.
The ointment would then run down His body until it covered His feet. As
it reached His feet, Mary unbound her hair, wiping up the excessive
ointment with it.
What we find here is the pure expression of what is in Mary’s heart. She
has literally taken the most valuable material possession she has, and
given it to Jesus. She has spared no expense, for this would have been
worth a small fortune, a year’s income.
Mary has not concerned herself with the customs of the day, or what
people would think of her. All she cares about is Jesus, and so, with
this act, she openly expresses her love for Him.
But the disciples had trouble with it, and one in particular.
Judas begins to show his real self, and our confidence in him is rudely
shaken…
He objects to Mary’s extravagance, and his objection at first glance,
sounds so spiritual. But when one takes a closer look, what he has
called a waste is really a matter of arrogance. For his arrogance turns
the attention away from the Lord and to himself. You see, he was not
like Mary.
He wasn’t in love with Jesus.
He was in love with himself.
And if he did do any giving, it was calculated.
As time as gone on as Jesus’ disciple, his interest has become, “What
will I get?” He has become a selfish, greedy materialist…a sneaky
thief…who has been helping himself to the treasury.
So Judas rebukes. But Jesus honors. He refuses to give in to Judas, nor
enter into a debate with him. Instead, He enjoys the moment. For perhaps
Mary saw clearer than the rest what was about to happen. She used the
burial ointment on purpose, because she knew something awful was soon on
the horizon.
And the leaders add to the list.
It is their decision to add the name of Lazarus to those that needed to
be removed. After all, when you don’t want people believing in a person
that raises people from the dead, you need to get rid of the star
witnesses. These resurrected corpses really damage your case. So Lazarus
also has to go…
It was their determination to get rid of the evidence, all of it, and be
rid of this Jesus’ problem once and for all.
APPLICATION:
Realize that God is in control, even over the plans men devise.
You know when the Sanhedrin said, “Let’s get together and decide what to
do with Jesus,” God said, “I’ll get them together and tell them what to
do with Jesus.”
When they said, “Let’s put Jesus on trial,” God said, “I’m going to put
man’s sin on trial.”
When they said, “By eliminating Jesus, we save the people from the
Romans,” God said, “By sacrificing Jesus; we’ll save people from their
sins.”
When they said, “Let’s build a cross and crucify the Son of Man,” God
said, “I’ll build a cross to reconcile God and man.”
I have always been one that has affirmed the ability of man to have a
choice. I have not always been able to figure out how it coordinates
with the providence of God. But I do know this. Humanity is free to
choose when it comes to their relationship with God. They can accept Him
or reject Him. But where humanity is not free is when it comes to the
consequences of their choice.
You see, the world is coming to an inevitable point of time when
judgment will occur. And the testimony of Scripture assures us that
every knee will bow before the Lord Jesus. Some will bow out of
humiliation. Others will bow out worship.
So, here is the choice you have today. You can confess the Lordship of
Jesus now while there is time. Or you can confess it before God on
judgment day, when it will be too late. But be assured of this…you will
bow.
So, if you are Christian today, take comfort. No matter what evil men
devise, God is still in control. It doesn’t matter what happens history,
whether there are more Katrina’s or Rita’s or more 9/11s God is still in
control. And because of this, He is to be worshipped.
Worship is meant to be real, heartfelt and sacrificial.
While Stuart Sacks was serving in Paraguay, a Maka Indian named Rafael
came to sit on his porch. Stuart was eating and went out to see what
Rafael wanted. He responded, "Ham, henek met." Again Stuart asked what
he could do for him, but the answer was the same. He understood what he
was saying but not its significance: "I don’t want anything; I have just
come near."
Stuart later shared the incident with a local veteran missionary. He
explained that it was Rafael’s way of honoring him. Rafael really didn’t
want anything; he just wanted to sit on his porch. He found satisfaction
and pleasure just being near Stuart.
"What brings you here, my child?" the Lord asks.
“I don’t want anything; I have just come near” Doesn’t that reveal the
heart of true worship?
Today I want you to
Trust in God …He is worth trusting, even in the midst of all that is
wrong in this world; for here is the simple truth…while man schemes, God
controls.
Wait on God …while it may seem that everything takes longer than it
should…realize that God’s timetable does not falter.
Worship God …for Jesus died for you…so worship Him alone, worship at His
throne, for He is holy and He has called us to be His own.
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