The 4^th Sunday in Lent

SERMON

INI

Text: John 11:45-54

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. "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." And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, "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." 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, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 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.

In Christ Jesus, the Good Shepherd who gave up His life for the sheep, dear fellow-redeemed:

• Yes, there was a flood about the time Noah supposedly lived on the earth but it was just a local flood, of the kind we might see today.

• Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by a volcanic eruption and since the cities were known to be on the "wild side" people just called it into a judgment from God.

• It became somewhat dark during the time that Jesus hung on the cross because there was a solar eclipse that day.

These are just a few of the ways that people have tried to take the works of God away from Him and dismiss them as being part of nature, coincidental, or humanly decided and created. This same practice of taking away God’s glory also occurs on a personal level.

• You just gave me the perfect solution for the problem I have, what a coincidence that we just happened to run into each other today and had time to chat.

• I don’t know how everything worked out so well. Just last week it seemed like we were on course for total disaster and didn’t know what to do! Funny how things just work out sometimes. I sure got lucky!

….and so it goes

In a world that is completely guided by an all-knowing God who controls all things for the salvation of souls, there is no such thing as luck and random coincidence. When our holy and almighty Creator states something in His Word such as world-wide flood and His judgment on Sodom, there is no way to dismiss what He says as being anything but the truth; and still human beings continually strive to remove God’s glory and power and turn Him into "one of them."

This kind of de-glorification of God is serious and if it is applied to the events of Jesus’ suffering and death it takes the glory and salvation right out of the Gospel. Secular scholars use the governmental relationships between the Romans and the Jews, the politics among the Jewish leaders, and what they call Jesus’ renegade style of teaching to explain in detail why it came to be that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. After-all, when you consider the politics of the day and Jesus’ lack of "political-correctness" is it any wonder that He had enemies and they took His life?

There are even supposedly religious scholars who spend pages discussing all the political and social reasons Jesus’ enemies took His life – what a waste of time that is! It is so much simpler than all of that! Scripture points us to Jesus’ death and tells us JESUS’ LIFE WAS NOT TAKEN—HE LAID IT DOWN The truth surrounding Jesus’ death leaves the control of events and the significance of what happened right where it belongs—in God’s hands and toward His glory, and that has great meaning for our lives as well.

This morning we’re going to see that Jesus’ death had far less to do with His enemies than the world might think because I. His enemies’ strategy did not stop His success II. His enemies’ "solution" proclaimed His salvation III. His enemies’ schedule was determined by His time.

I.

We hear that the Jewish Council met after some people came and told them the things Jesus did. "The things Jesus did" in this case was raising Lazarus from the dead. You will recall that Jesus had received word that His friend Lazarus was sick. Jesus delayed going to Bethany where Lazarus lives with his sisters, Mary and Martha. While Jesus delayed, Lazarus died and by the time He arrived, Lazarus had already been in the grave 4 days. When Jesus commanded the stone from Lazarus’ tomb to be rolled away, Martha told Jesus that her brother’s body would have already begun to decay. It didn’t matter. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead by calling out, "Lazarus, come forth!"

Jesus had healed many people from their sicknesses. He had even raised others from the dead and every miracle had its effect on the people following Jesus. However, this "raising" was all the more amazing because Lazarus’ body had already begun decay. The people who saw it were greatly amazed!

This miracle’s result among the people was that some believed in Jesus and others told His enemies about what He had done. “Many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.” [vv.45-46]

When the Scribes and Pharisees heard about this work of Jesus and how many people were putting their faith in Him, they concluded that their present strategy against Jesus was not working—they needed a new plan. “The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.” [v.47]

Jesus’ enemies’ "old strategy" was to threaten the people against following Jesus. They had put into place their strategy saying that if anyone confessed that Jesus was the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.

Earlier in the Gospel account of John we hear of an other miracle Jesus performed. He gave sight to a man who was born blind. This miracle had, likewise, infuriated Jesus’ enemies. They went to the man’s parents and asked them, “And they asked them, saying, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered them and said, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.’ His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.” (John 9:19-22).

The Jewish leaders had a clear strategy of intimidation against anyone who would dare to follow Jesus. Their strategy worked partially with the blind man’s parents because they were afraid to say anything and quickly said, "Ask our son." When the leaders did ask the blind man himself he simply told them what Jesus had done and gave glory to Jesus. The Jewish leaders spoke angrily to him and in the end said, “You were completely born in sins, and you are teaching us?" And they cast him out [of the synagogue]" (John 9:34).

The strategy of Jesus’ enemies had been fear – make the people so afraid that they will be fearful of confessing Christ. But this strategy wasn’t working. The people who had seen Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead reported were MORE people were being added to His followers!

In the past, Jesus’ enemies had also tried to set up traps as part of their strategy. They tried putting Jesus into situations and tests that would leave Him no choice but to contradict some part of God’s Word. None of the traps worked. In the past, they had discredited Jesus’ miracles saying that He was getting His power from Beelzebub—the Devil himself and not from God! (cf: Matthew 12:24). Again, their strategy failed. They themselves admitted privately, “…this Man (they didn’t even want to call Jesus by name) works many signs” [v.47] – the kind of signs that come from God, not the Devil.

This same strategy led the Jewish leaders to later plot to kill Lazarus. They were so consumed with hatred and their intent to stop Jesus, that they thought killing a man He raised from the dead would help their cause! (cf: John 12:9-11). Nothing worked. Jesus’ success kept right on growing!

The strategy of Jesus’ enemies couldn’t stop His success in the days after His ascension either. In the early days of the Christian Church, the enemies of Christ and His Church pursued the same kind of strategy—FEAR, threatening people against following Christ.

Peter and John healed the lame man in the temple and were brought before the Council. The Council had already discussed their problem saying, "…what shall we do with these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” (Acts 4:16-17). The enemies followed through with their plan but Peter and John responded, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20) and kept right on preaching despite still further threats.

Later, more apostles were imprisoned for teaching about Christ. That night, God set them free, and the next morning they were back in the temple preaching about Christ (cf: Acts 5:17ff). When Peter and the other apostles were re-arrested and brought before the Council they refused to stop preaching Christ. The Council was furious and plotted to kill them. However, one of the Pharisee’s then stood up and gave this evaluation of the situation: "…keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” (Acts 5:39).

Whether Gamaliel ever believed in Christ or not, we don’t know; but his evaluation is 100% true and correct. Gamaliel understood that no strategy of man could stop the work of God!

We find this same truth demonstrated still later in the history of the Christian Church when the Roman government began to persecute the Christians. The more the Romans persecuted the Christians and the more they suffered outwardly, the more it grew in numbers and in strength. One of the earlier historians called the blood of the martyrs the seed of the church. This is completely contrary to human wisdom, but demonstrates that these things are not of men, but of God!

To proclaim the work of Christ and what His death accomplished is the goal of the Gospel, was the goal of Jesus’ work on the earth, was the goal of the disciples and is the goal of Christians of all ages. No strategy of human design can be effective in stopping that work.

We are able to carry this same truth into our own work today. The world still has strategy sessions trying to find a way to "stop Christ." There are times when it may seem that their strategy is working very well—that they are very effective in stopping the proclamation of the truth. HOWEVER, no strategy of man can stop the success of God! Regardless of what the world may plot, the strategy of all the enemies of Christ and the Gospel WILL NOT SUCCEED in stopping the work in Christ’s kingdom from going forward!

II.

The Jewish Council did feel that they had a solution, however, and Caiaphas was the one who brought it to them. “And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, "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.” [vv.49-50]

There is a little bit of political history that is helpful in understanding the position of the Jewish Council. The Council which the Jews had called to debate what they would do about Jesus was the Sanhedrin—the Council of 70. We hear about the Sanhedrin in other times during Jesus’ ministry.

The "Council of 70" was made up of three different groups of people: 1) The chief priests (the leaders of each class of the priests), 2) the elders of the people(the tribal heads), and 3) the scribes (the experts in the law). In about 140 B.C. the Macabees gained a certain amount of religious and political independence for the Jews and the nation of Israel.

At the time of Jesus, the Jews were permitted to have this governing Council and to a great extent rule their own affairs, but they were always under the ever-watchful eye of the Romans. It was for this reason that the Jewish Council had to come to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, to receive permission to execute Jesus.

As the Council met and discussed what to do with Jesus, it was a political issue for THEM. They were afraid that if Jesus’ popularity continued that somehow He would try to start a revolt against the Roman government and it would fail and they would lose the power and authority Rome had given them. Or else, Jesus’ following would become so anti-Sanhedrin that the Romans would conclude "You Jewish leaders don’t have control over your people. We’re going to take away ever bit of freedom you have."

Ultimately, the Jewish leaders were afraid of losing THEIR position, THEIR power, and THEIR authority. They said they had to do something lest, “the Romans come and take away both our place and our nation.” This sounds very patriotic but there is emphasis on the "OUR" – OUR place, OUR nation, OUR role. Jesus’ popularity had already diminished the leaders’ authority and prestige among the people and they were very much afraid that if they let Him continue it would diminish all the more.

It sounded so noble, then, for Caiaphas to say: "One man for the sake of the nation!" It sounds so right! He said that it would be advantageous—a good thing—to sacrifice one for many. He was telling the Council, "Gentlemen we are in crisis! Therefore, we need to kill this one man for the good of the people!" It sounded justifiable, but under that noble-sounding solution lay the rot of murder. Caiaphas was suggesting nothing less than murder for they all knew that Jesus had done nothing that was truly wrong.

The Council needed a reason to get rid of Jesus and here it was—political and selfish. This was Caiaphas’ sinful reasoning, but we find out something more wonderful as John goes on to say, “Now this he did not say on his own authority (the motives were his and wicked, but what he said was not his own); but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad” [vv.51-52]

God can use anyone for His purposes. He used Caesar Augustus to bring Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem. In the Old Testament, Balaam was hired by Balak to curse the nation of Israel and all God would allow Balaam to speak were blessings upon His people. On Balaam’s way to King Balak, God even allowed Balaam’s DONKEY—an animal—TO TALK! (Numbers 22:1ff). So it doesn’t need to surprise us that God would here use the wicked intentions of Caiaphas to also proclaim His Word. God’s Word is not bound by the sinfulness of man.

What Caiaphas said out of wicked intentions is really the sweetest news of the Gospel for us. Jesus would indeed die for the sake of the whole nation, but it would not be for the sake of political gain. His death would be for spiritual gain and the forgiveness of sins. His death would not be for the sake of the nation of Israel (as Caiaphas said), but for all sinners. The promise to Abraham was that in his seed ALL the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1ff). Jesus said, “Other sheep I have which are not of this fold (the Jews); them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

Caiaphas’ words describe the "Jesus for us" substitution that Paul speaks of when he wrote the Corinthians, “[God] made [Christ] Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The whole sin of the whole world of all time was put on ONE MAN who then took that sin to the cross and died there for that sin so that the whole world would not have to die in eternal judgment. Jesus’ death was not a political death AT ALL. As Caiaphas spoke by prophesy from God, He declared the gracious truth of the death that would provide forgiveness of sins for EVERY SINNER. The solution that Caiaphas expressed was really a proclamation of God’s solution for sin even though Caiaphas didn’t recognize it.

III.

The Jewish leaders had their solution. They had a plot in place to kill Jesus, but still could not stop Jesus. The Council was unable to activate its plan because the time when they would accomplish this would be GOD’S TIME. We hear, “Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 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.” [vv.53-54]

We heard in our Gospel lesson of the occasion in Nazareth when the people tried to kill Jesus but He just slipped away from them—it wasn’t HIS time. There are other times in Jesus’ ministry when He did the same thing. To some this might look like Jesus was avoiding his death…running away. Not at all! When His chosen time to die had come, Jesus boldly, openly rode into Jerusalem—the heart of "enemy territory"—on Palm Sunday.

Jesus was not avoiding the issue. He was acting according to God’s chosen time. God alone would determine when these enemies of Christ would take Him, put Him on trial, and kill Him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus told the ones arresting Him, “I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures might be fulfilled” (Matthew 26:55).

In John chapter 10, Jesus says, “I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself…” (John 10:16). It is true, the Jewish leaders and Jesus’ enemies were used to accomplish this atoning death of Christ, but it was all done according to God’s time table, plan, and purpose. Jesus could have defended Himself. Instead, He rebuked Peter for trying to defend Him and willingly laid down His life when the time was right.

If God so governed the time and scheduling of His work of salvation, we can also say that He will likewise govern the time and scheduling of our lives. We can say this because God’s goal in our lives is to lead and preserve us in the salvation He has won for us. King David wrote in the Psalms, “My times are in [God’s] hands” (Psalm 31:15).

Just as surely as these Jewish leaders could not harm Jesus until God’s appointed time to accomplish salvation, just so surely God has YOUR times firmly in His hands and is guiding them by His wisdom and purpose. He guides our times out of the same grace and mercy that led Him to send Jesus to die for you.

When we look at the whole picture of Jesus’ suffering and death we see that the enemies had so little to do with it. They were tools for God but it was God’s plan of salvation. It was not just happenstance that Jesus died, but God’s plan from eternity.

Think of how important this is! Imagine what it would be if today as you commune at the Lord’s Table you were remembering the death of a political victim – a man who died because he didn’t know how to keep quiet. What point would there be? If we were remembering a death accomplished by enemies there would be no salvation. But we are remembering and celebrating the death of our Savior (true God and true man)—a death purposed, planned, and accomplished by God our Father and the willingness of Jesus, His Son.

This means that our salvation is SOLID. We can look and see that Jesus’ life wasn’t taken, He laid it down for US. On that truth we build our every hope. Amen.

—Pastor Wayne C. Eichstadt