(By Thor Knutstad)
Before his death on the cross, Jesus did a major miracle that caused quite a stir with the Jewish leadership, the Sanhedrin. In John 11, He raised Lazarus from the dead. This set off a wildfire of rage and hatred with the Pharisees. Because of Lazarus’ resurrection (which was witnessed by hundreds), the Sanhedrin called a special meeting and began to specifically plot how to kill Jesus. Instead of celebrating God’s Glory in this miraculous work of Christ, their jealousy of Jesus and their desires to keep their power motivated them to put a plan into motion to stop what He was doing. I think that we sometimes wrongly assume that they tried to deny the miracles – especially the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection. Sure, there are moments in the gospels when they try to deny the miracles of Jesus, but here they do not deny. They actually admit the miracles and the miraculous signs and wonders.
A closer look at John 11:47-48 reveals something else. The Sanhedrin were motivated by fear. In verse 48 John writes in chapter 11, “If we let him go on like this (performing miraculous signs), everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away our place and our nation.” Isn’t it ironic that they were admitting that Jesus actually raised Lazarus from the dead miraculously, confessing the Glory of God in the miracle, without actually believing it? By doing this, they are somehow saying that Jesus is Deity (God). Their hearts do not testify to this, but their words and actions actually show an admission of the miraculous. Yet something was more sacred to them than seeing the Glory of God and being in the presence of the LORD God (Jesus). What was more important? Power – the nation – the temple – their fear. Their hearts did testify to that. They were so afraid of losing their power and their authority over the people that they would begin the plot to kill the Lord. Caiaphas, the high priest, didn’t even know the prophecy he was saying when he said, “It is better for you that one man die for the people than for a whole nation to perish” (John 11:49-50). This solidifies the plot and gives the authority to the Jewish leadership to begin a widespread plot of accusation and collected information to destroy the LORD. John notes that Caiaphas didn’t say this on his own, but that his statement was a prophecy of deeper truth. The secondary meaning of his words indicate that God declares the eventual effect of Christ’s sacrificial and atoning death for Israel and the entire world. What a statement! But it is a turning point in the battle of the Pharisees against Jesus. From that point on (verse 53), literally “from that day on” they plotted to take his (Jesus’) life. “From that day on” is a continual phrase that defines their mission. This meant that during the next two weeks they would bear down on the people, on Jesus, and the Roman leadership to enact Jesus’ death. This terrible but great set-up of questions and stirrings and accusations would eventually lead to the cross on Golgotha where Jesus was crucified for sin. Little did the Sanhedrin know that their plotting was part of a grander design by the LORD God in the sacrifice of His Son.
Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead as a miracle of Jesus is a crucial turning point in the unfolding events of history. It pits the Sanhedrin directly against Jesus as life-giver and God. They go so far as to even plot to kill Lazarus (John 12:10) and refuse belief in Jesus, even though they had all seen themselves His miraculous signs and wonders (John 12:37-44). It is easy to see how they are merely tools and pawns in a greater story, but it should amaze us that their jealousy, their anger and their fear brought them to the culmination of the premeditated murder of our LORD. The miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection stokes the fire that leads to Jesus’ death on the cross. It should sadden us that a miracle would create so much trouble. But life and resurrection do just that. Our Gospel collides with the enemy and with death and with a world system that is destructive to people.
We often consider Good Friday and Easter in this order: death, then resurrection. But Lazarus’ death and resurrection is a sort of prophecy of Jesus death and resurrection. It’s the very miracle and event that previews Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection that fires up the Jewish leadership to plot the LORD’s death. Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is in essence defying them and saying this: “I am God, and I have the power over death and life.” Jesus provoked and irritated their self-righteous and self-protective motives to the measure of them wanting to kill Him. Wow! But even their sinful plan to take Jesus out would be used by our masterful God in a better way. A greater and ultimate resurrection – Praise Him! (Part two next week – What The Resurrection of Jesus Does).
