WTTW: HIS WORD

SUNDAY

“Plot to Kill - Plot to Discredit”

Psalm 95:6

Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

GOD'S WORD: John 11: 45-57

Paraphrase

The religious leaders fearing the magnitude of what Jesus had done in raising Lazarus from the dead considered how all the people coming to faith in Jesus would lead to Rome taking away their position, power and nation.

This led to Caiaphas, the high priest that year, prophesying that it would be better for Jesus to die for the people than for the nation of Israel to perish under the hand of Rome because of all the commotion occurring due to Jesus' miracles.

Not saying this on his own, Caiaphas prophesized that Jesus would die for the entire nation of Israel, including those of Israel who were scattered, to order to unite them. His saying this led to their plotting to take Jesus life from that point on.

Jesus could therefore no longer move at will among the Jews and withdrew to Ephraim near the desert where he and his disciples stayed.

When time came for the Passover and the ceremonial cleansing in Jerusalem they began wondering if Jesus would dare come to the Feast since the religious leaders had given orders to report any sightings of him so they could arrest him.


Principles

Central Idea of the Text (CIT)
Interrogatory (INT)
Answer (ANS)


A. Meaning for 1st Century Readers

I. CIT: John told his 1st Century Readers that when the religious leaders heard that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead they plotted to kill him. v. 53

II. INT: Why did the religious leaders plot to kill Jesus?

III. ANS: The religious leaders plotted to kill Jesus because they feared:

A. Everyone would believe in Him. v 47-48a

B. Rome would crush their Nation. vv 48b-50

C. Their Nation was becoming disrupted. vv 51-52

D. The Passover would increase His popularity. vv 54-57




B. Meaning for 21st Century Readers

I. CIT: John tells us today that when other religious leaders hear about Jesus they plot to discredit the resurrection. v. 53

II. INT: Why do other religious leaders plot to discredit the resurrection?

III. ANS: Other religious leaders plot to discredit the resurrection because they fear knowledge of it will:

A. Bring everyone to faith in Christ.

B. Crush their positions and power.

C. Disrupt their faith traditions.

D. Increase Jesus’ popularity.



Prayer

LORD, we thank You for the Power of the Resurrection.

We praise You that through the Resurrection Your Son has become known to the world.

LORD, we glorify You that the Resurrection brings people to faith in Your Son.

We praise You for the eyewitness accounts of the Resurrection and to the contrary that neither Rome nor the Jewish leaders ever produced Jesus’ body to disprove he had risen!

LORD, may the Power of the Resurrection be revealed in the lives of believers so that those trying to discredit the Resurrection will always be faced with its power in the world today.

In the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior,

Amen.