Christian Art | A Plot To Kill Jesus
John 11: 45-56 – Lent Week 5, Saturday (King James Audio Bible, Spoken Word)
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
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.
55 ¶ And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead. This is the seventh sign, or miracle, of John’s Gospel. We know more through this sign of our own resurrection. Jesus has power over death. Jesus is life and he gives us life.
It might seem strange that some people, following this miracle, go to the Pharisees to tell them what Jesus has done. One explanation is that many people in Jerusalem depended financially on the Temple and on the Temple authorities. They may have felt the status quo to be threatened by Jesus and so worried about their livelihoods. Money, and corruption, in other words, may have been at the root of this instance of evil.
It is also the case that many Jews in Jerusalem would have been terrified by the thought of an insurrection, or even the suspicion on the part of the Romans that there was to be an insurrection. The reprisals the Romans would then take would be very bloody, and would not discriminate between those who were and who were not involved. These were Jews: to the Romans, these people, with their strange monotheistic beliefs, were as little or nothing: there wouldn’t have been a fair trial.
The Romans, as they had done before, would murder randomly, storming into the city to ‘put people to the sword’, at random, to the hilt, spilling their guts out in the market place, and then crucify however many hundreds or – literally – thousands to make the point clear that you do not rebel against Rome, to terrorize the subject people into further submission. The Jews, and the Jewish authorities, knew this.
We may imagine the Gospels, before and leading up to Christ’s crucifixion, as being enacted against a background of hundreds upon thousands of people being nailed to die on crosses. There is torture to death all surrounding Christ and his people. Modern civilized people may not be able to imagine this: this is an unimaginably brutal and disgusting land and polity. This is where Jesus lived and worked. This is the Empire of Rome.
We may now also remember that the freed Barabas is stated by the Bible as having been a part of some unknown insurrection: the fears of the people were real. We may also consider this fact as we wonder why Jesus was so keen for his people to turn the other cheek, i.e. so that they may live and not be slaughtered by Romans. These thoughts may give us something of the terror of these times.
God’s plan, though, is coming into effect as the chief priests and the Pharisees gather to consider what they might do about Jesus. Caiaphas prophesizes that Jesus will die for the nation, ‘And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.’ Caiaphas does not know the meaning of his own words; nevertheless, the Holy Spirit speaks through him. Jesus is to be the scapegoat, both in this moment of Jewish history and for all time, for all people.
We see the fear of those gathered to plot against Jesus. This is expressed through their worries about what the Romans might do to them, and this is the mind-set of a people subject to an occupying power. We may recall the response of the people of Israel in Egypt when Moses came to them to free them, and when they travelled with Moses in the wilderness and suffered hardship, as recounted in the Bible in the Book of Exodus.
Even in the light of the events of the 20th Century, it is difficult to imagine being so wholly subject to oppression and slavery – and the ever present threat of arbitrary slaughter.
This council of the Jewish authorities decides that it will be expedient to have Jesus die so as to avoid troubles at the hands of the occupying Roman power. We might think that it is craven on their part. We might also recognize that this is what oppression, and the fear of mass murder, can drive us to. The Jewish authorities have no wish for a massacre for Jesus’ sake.
This is a powerful and wonderful passage of the Bible. Just as this council of the Jewish authorities decides that Jesus must die, we also hear that the feast of the Passover is near. We know that it is through this feast of the Passover that Jesus will indeed suffer and die and that it is through this great event that we can all be saved.
Jesus retreats from Jerusalem. He goes to a place near the wilderness. Once again, Jesus spends some time at the margins of society, preparing for his entrance into Jerusalem, to inaugurate our celebration of Easter, to endure his passion and to be crucified.
Meanwhile, the people gather. There would be preparations to make prior to the Passover. There would be rituals of cleansing and fasting. This is a period of anticipation for the rite of purification and expiation of sins, which was the Passover.
It is through Christ that the meaning of the Passover is about to be utterly transformed. When the Jews speak to each other, and in the Temple, wondering where Jesus is and asking, ‘What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?’ we can now answer this question. Our answer is, resoundingly: ‘Yes!’ Jesus is coming to this feast, and we are invited now to feast with Jesus forever.
‘Come then, let us also share in the law, not in the letter but in the spirit of the Gospel, perfectly and not incompletely, for eternity and not for a period of time only. For our capital let us take not the earthly Jerusalem but our mother city in heaven, not the city now trampled by armies but the one extolled by angels.’ St Gregory Nazianzen
Audio Bible KJV | King James Version | Endnotes
What Is Fear In The Bible? | Fear Of The Romans | Fear Of God
We see the Jewish leaders becoming increasingly afraid of Jesus’ growing popularity and influence, fearing that it will lead to a Roman crackdown on their religious authority and power. This fear leads them to make a calculated decision to put Jesus to death, even though they know that he has performed many miracles and has a large following.
Fear can be a powerful motivator, driving people to take actions that they might not otherwise take. In the case of the Jewish leaders, their fear of the Romans and their desire to maintain their own power and authority led them to reject Jesus and to plot his death.
This theme of fear and rejection when confronted with God is a common one in both Catholic and Protestant theology. In Catholicism, the concept of fear of the Lord is seen as a healthy respect and reverence for God, but fear in the sense of being afraid of God’s judgment or punishment can lead to a distorted understanding of God and our relationship with Him.
Protestant theologian John Calvin believed that fear of God can lead us to a deeper understanding of our own sinfulness and our need for salvation. He wrote: ‘Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but not the end. We must go on to trust and love Him as well.’
A thought is to recognize that fear is a natural human emotion, but that it should not drive us to make decisions that are contrary to God’s will or to reject the truth when it is presented to us. Instead, we should seek to understand and overcome our fears through faith and trust in God’s love and mercy.
John 11:47-48: ‘Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”’
We see that the fear of the Roman authorities and their potential crackdown on Jewish religious authority was a key motivator in the decision to put Jesus to death. This fear drove the Jewish Temple authorities to make a calculated decision to reject the truth and to plot Jesus’ death.
Pope Francis has spoken on this topic, saying:
‘The fear of God is a gift of the Holy Spirit, but this gift too, like all the others, must be activated by us. A gift, if not used, does not grow, it remains small. And the fear of God is the same: it grows with the love of God. If a person does not cultivate the gift of the fear of God, he or she will live in fear of everything: of life, of others, of everything. But if the gift of the fear of God is cultivated, then it becomes a beautiful thing, a grace that saves us.’
In Protestant theology, fear of God is often seen as a natural response to God’s holiness and power, but it should not drive us away from Him. Martin Luther wrote: ‘The fear and love of God should be so mingled that we neither become reckless in our fear nor presumptuous in our love.’
The fear of God can save us from many temptations, including the temptation to reject God’s truth in favour of worldly power and prestige. This is precisely the temptation that the Jewish leaders faced in John 11:45-56, and it is a temptation that we still face today.
In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes about the danger of allowing fear to drive us away from God. He says: ‘The safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.’ In other words, it is often the slow erosion of our faith, driven by fear and complacency, that leads us away from God.
Facing our fears and trusting in God can lead to great spiritual growth and transformation. In his book The Way Of The Heart, Henri Nouwen writes about the importance of confronting our fears in order to deepen our relationship with God. He says: ‘The spiritual life is not a life before, after, or beyond our everyday existence. No, the spiritual life can only be real when it is lived in the midst of the pains and joys of the here and now.’
In addition to confronting our fears, it is important to acknowledge the role that power and prestige play in our lives, and how they can lead us away from God. This thought relates also to our fear and reluctance in terms of ongoing conversion in Christian faith – to set the truth of God far and away above and beyond the false promises of human societies. The Jewish leaders in John 11 were motivated by their desire for power and prestige, which led them to reject Jesus and plot his death.
In his book The Cost Of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes about the dangers of seeking power and prestige at the expense of our relationship with God. He says: ‘The disciples had to learn that power, position, and prestige are not the means of salvation, but rather its opposites. They must relinquish all these things if they are to follow Jesus.’
Pope Francis in a homily in 2013 said: ‘The spirit of the world leads us to vanity, arrogance, pride. And this is not the spirit of Jesus. The spirit of Jesus is humility, meekness, service, charity.’
As we reflect on the rejection of Jesus by the Jewish Temple leaders, may we be mindful of the ways in which thought of power and prestige can lead us away from God. May we beware of our baptismal vow to reject the false promises of Satan. May we seek to follow Jesus in humility, meekness and service, and may we be willing to relinquish all that stands in the way of our relationship with God.
Saint Cyprian reflects on something very ordinary and very difficult: waiting. He insists that patience is not just a virtue floating on its own but is a necessary companion to faith and hope. Faith looks to God; hope leans toward what God has promised; but patience is what keeps both alive in the long spaces where nothing seems to be happening [ … ]
Scripture: John 14:27 ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ In this verse, Jesus offers his peace to his disciples, a peace that is different from what the world provides. This divine peace is deep, abiding, and capable of calming troubled hearts and dispelling fear. It is a peace that surpasses all understanding and is rooted in the presence and promises of Christ. Prayer Dear Jesus, I come before you, seeking your peace in my life. The world around me is filled with chaos and uncertainty, but I know that your peace can calm the storm within my heart. Help me to trust in you more deeply, to rest in your promises, and to feel your presence in every moment. Fill me with your peace that surpasses all understanding, and help me to be a vessel of your peace to those around me. Amen. Personal Reflection What areas of your life are causing you anxiety or fear? How can you invite Jesus’ peace into these areas? Reflect on a time when you experienced Christ’s peace amidst turmoil. Meditation On Prayer And Gospel John 14:27 reveals a profound truth about the nature of Jesus’ peace. Unlike the fleeting and often superficial peace offered by the world, Jesus’ peace is enduring and deeply transformative. This peace is not dependent on external circumstances but is anchored in the character and promises of Christ. As we navigate through life’s challenges, it’s crucial to understand and embrace this divine peace. Jesus’ peace is rooted in his presence. When he says, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you,’ Jesus is assuring us of his continual presence. This peace is a gift that flows from his abiding presence in our lives. It is a reminder that we are never alone, no matter what we face. his presence brings comfort and security, allowing us to rest even in the midst of life’s storms. Furthermore, Jesus contrasts his peace with the peace that the world gives. The world’s peace is often conditional and temporary, based on circumstances that can change in an instant. In contrast, Jesus’ peace is steadfast and eternal. It is a peace that reassures us in our deepest fears and anxieties, reminding us that he is in control. This peace transcends our understanding, as it is grounded in the eternal and unchanging nature of God. To experience Jesus’ peace, we must cultivate a relationship with him. This involves spending time in prayer, meditating on his word, and seeking his presence in our daily lives. It also means surrendering our worries and fears to Jesus, trusting that Jesus will provide and protect. As we draw closer to Jesus, his peace fills our hearts and minds, transforming our outlook and calming our spirits. One practical way to embrace Jesus’ peace is through prayer and meditation. By setting aside time each day to be still before the Lord, we create space for his peace to fill us. Reflecting on scriptures like John 14:27 can remind us of his promises and help us focus on his presence. Additionally, practicing gratitude can shift our focus from our worries to the many blessings in our lives, further opening our hearts to his peace. Another aspect of embracing Jesus’ peace is learning to let go of control. Often, our anxiety stems from a desire to control our circumstances. Jesus invites us to trust in his sovereign plan, even when we do not understand it. By surrendering our need for control and placing our trust in Him, we open ourselves to the peace that comes from knowing that He holds all things in his hands. Living in Jesus’ peace also means becoming peacemakers in our relationships and communities. As we experience his peace, we are called to extend that peace to others. This involves forgiving those who have wronged us, seeking reconciliation, and promoting harmony wherever we go. By being agents of his peace, we reflect his love and grace to a world in desperate need of his presence. Prayer Lord Jesus, Your peace is a precious gift that the world cannot give. In times of turmoil and distress, remind me to turn to you. Let your peace guard my heart and mind, dispelling all fear and anxiety. Teach me to trust in your unfailing love and to rest in your promises. Help me to be a peacemaker, sharing your peace with those around me. May your peace reign in my heart, my home, and my relationships. Thank you for your constant presence and the gift of your peace. Amen. Scripture: Matthew 5:9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.’ Blessing May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ fill your heart and mind, guiding you through every challenge and bringing you comfort and joy. May you rest in his unending peace and share it generously with those around you. Amen.
This passage from Ephrem the Syrian offers a contemplative and poetic account of the nature of divine revelation, centred on the inexhaustibility of the Word of God. Unlike the more argumentative tone of Latin writers such as Augustine of Hippo or Leo the Great, Ephrem proceeds through imagery and analogy, inviting reflection rather than analysis [ … ]
