Jesus Withdrawal to Ephraim. John 11:47-54

Transcription

1 1 Jesus Withdrawal to Ephraim John 11:47-54

2 2 Text: John 11:47-54, Withdrawal To Ephraim 47. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50. Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51. And this spake he not of himself; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52. And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. Commentary: John 11:47, Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. I. Following the resurrection of Lazarus some of the witnesses from the multitude went to the Pharisees, the enemies of Jesus, and informed them of what had taken place.

3 3 II. The chief priests (Sadducees) and the Pharisees, having been informed of Jesus resurrecting Lazarus... A. gathered a council (quorum of members of the Sanhedrin) and Was this an impartial council? Hardly! 2. Sadducees and Pharisees disagreed on the resurrection question. 3. They were agreed on their wanting to hold onto their power to which they perceived Jesus to be a clear threat. B. said, What do we? What are we doing? C. This man doeth many signs. III. Jesus enemies were intransient in their opposition to Jesus. A. They were adamant, not influenced by the facts. B. They had demanded a never ending series of signs, but were convinced by none. C. They admitted here that Jesus performed many signs. 1. They did not deny that Lazarus had been raised from the dead. 2. They were not interested in truth and right.

4 4 D. Their reaction to these many signs was to seek to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. 1. Stephen. Acts 7:58, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man s feet, whose name was Saul. John 11:48, If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. I. The chief priests and Sadducees concern was, A. If we don t stop this Jesus, let him continue unopposed, all men will believe on him B. and, by inference, we will be out of work. C. The Romans will come and take away our place (positions as leaders of the Jews) and our nation. 1. They identified their retaining their positions and the continuation of the nation as it then was as inseparable. 2. The Romans were not concerned about a prophet from Nazareth. 3. Killing Jesus did not preserve the nation as Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. anyway. John 11:49-50, And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

5 5 I. One member of the council, the then high priest Caiaphas, said, A. You know nothing at all! (You are dumb!) B. You don t even know that it is expedient that one man should die for all the people. C. So that the whole nation does not perish. D. Caiaphas was speaking expediently. 1. It is better that Jesus die than that all the people should accept him as Messiah which Rome would interpret as a threat. 3. Rome then, Caiaphas thought, would destroy the Jewish nation to put down this perceived threat to their power and control. 4. Did Caiaphas really think this Jesus would mount a rebellion against Rome or was it his excuse for mustering an all out effort to kill Jesus? John 11:51, And this spake he not of himself; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; I. Caiaphas did not fully understand the significance of what he said.

6 6 II. God used the high priest to proclaim that Jesus would die for, give himself a sacrifice for the nation. III. These religious-political leaders inadvertently brought about the fulfillment of prophecy. By their own rebellion they precipitated the destruction of the nation. John 11:52, And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. I. Caiaphas further declared that, A. Jesus would die not only for the Jewish nation but for the purpose of uniting into one the children of God that are scattered abroad. B. Did Caiaphas statement here refer to Jews of the dispersion only or to representatives of all people of all nations who were to be brought into one body, church, kingdom? John 11:53, Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. I. From that time on the enemies of Jesus connived in earnest as to how they might put Jesus to death. A. The council had determined to kill Jesus. B. They now set about figuring out how they might accomplish this objective.

7 7 C. These religious leaders used sinful, wicked means to achieve the death of Jesus. D. They evidently thought the end justified the means. John 11:54, Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. I. Jesus knew the Jewish leaders were intent on killing him. A. Jesus, therefore, did not appear in public again until his time for crucifixion approached. B. Furthermore he left Bethany and went into the country near the wilderness into a city called Ephraim. 1. Hendriksen located this Ephraim at 14 miles NNE of Jerusalem, 14 miles W of the Jordan River, and about 18 miles S of Jacob s well. 2. How strange that Jesus was sequestered in such an out of the way place for sometime prior to his last trip to Jerusalem. C. Jesus stayed there with his disciples for a while until the Passover neared.

8 8 His Withdrawal to Ephraim Questions 1. The and the took and said, We have to do something! This man doeth many. 2. These religious leaders were not interested in. They had a position to defend. Do you know anybody like that? If so, who? 3. Was their concern about the Romans taking away their place and nation because all men believed in Jesus well founded? 4. For whom did Jesus die according to verses 51 and 52?

9 From that forth they took for to put Jesus to. 6. Exactly why did the chief priests and Pharisees set about to kill Jesus? 7. Because of this plot to kill him Jesus no more among the, but went to a near the, into a called, and thee continued with his. 8. They also set about to kill Lazarus? Why? 9. Name several Old and New Testament martyrs.

10 Was evil Caiaphas inspired of God when he spoke in verses 49-51?