The Last Straw

What is the thing everyone dreads most in life? Death! Dying or having someone we love die. So what is the most attractive thing that can happen in life? Something (or someone) who can overcome death!

It didn’t take long for the news to travel. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead – after he had been dead several days! “Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.” John 11:45 I imagine that the disciples were getting giddy with excitement. Their leader/teacher was becoming nationally recognized. And they were the ‘cool guys’ who hung out with him. Any day now, Jesus was going to ‘show his stuff’ and rise up against Rome and conquer them. He was, after all, the Messiah! The one they believed was coming to rescue them and make them back into a strong nation.

But what is that whispering I hear? The chief priests and Pharisees are having a meeting of the Sanhedrin? They said what? “If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” John 11:48 They feared for their people and their nation. This was the last straw. Jesus was attracting too many followers and in this political climate, it was too dangerous to keep going this way.

The high priest, Caiaphas, spoke up. “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” John 11:49-50 It is time to get rid of this Jesus. He has caused enough trouble. He is causing people to doubt the leadership of the religious rulers and he has embarrassed them over and over in public. They will endure it no more. They will not risk their nation (or their own positions!).

And while Caiaphas thought he was doing one thing, God was going to use his plan for another reason – “Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.” John 11:51-52 In the Old Testament recording of Joseph’s life, when Joseph is reunited with his brothers, he tells them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20. It seems that God is once again going to use something intended as harm to save many lives!

Since Jesus’ time had not yet come, “he withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.” John 11:54. The leaders had put out a warrant for his arrest. And this time they were serious.

I wonder what Jesus was thinking and feeling. It can’t be easy to know the authorities are looking for you. Yet, somehow his love for the Father and his love for people (and may I suggest even the people who were pursuing him to kill him?) drove him on.

Oh Lord, I don’t know why you did it, but I am so glad you did! If I can love my fellow human beings with even half as much love, what a difference it could make. It seems we are heading fast for the cross here. Help me, Lord, to stay the course and to keep my eyes on the victorious ending. But don’t let me miss anything on the way. You did this to change my life. So please keep changing me. Teach me to love like you love – not holding anything back including my own life.