April 9, 2008

Let's Talk

I've been reading John 11, right after Jesus raised Lazarus.

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 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 miraculous 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 place and our nation."

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, 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."

He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that 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. So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
~vv. 45-53


Questions have flooded my mind.

Why didn't the religious leaders, who should've been the most educated in recognizing the Messiah, want people to believe that Jesus was the Messiah?

Did they certainly recognize Him (not just believe He was a prophet, but know he was the Christ), and still reject Him? If not, why were they so afraid? If so, what does that say about them?

Why wouldn't they want to be freed from the burden of the law? Was their identity so wrapped up in ritual that they were afraid of losing themselves if they gave it up?

I've always assumed they just didn't recognize Him. Now I wonder if they actually KNEW who He was.

I don't have the answers. What say you?

Let the discussion begin.

4 comments:

Joanne : The Simple Wife said...

Me either!

If we lived closer, wouldn't it be fun to head out for some coffee and imagine the what ifs, whys, and wherefores together...

Joanne

Mrs.Naz@BecomingMe said...

I'm not sure of the answers, but I think it was because Jesus didn't fit with their legalistic views. They were top dog in their society and Jesus was turning their world upside down. In short they were weak and scared. They built their strength on law.

Mary@notbefore7 said...

I agree with "Becoming Me" for sure. I was reading in Luke today and chapter 16, verse 14 states,
"The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him..."

God tells us that we can not serve God and money. Clearly the Pharasiees were so involved in their LOVE of THIS world that they didn't want to be broken of it.

I think their authority, identity, power, and life was so wrapped up in this world that they couldn't let the things of this world go.

Jesus's statements would have kicked them right in the center of their passions.

Alana said...

I think it was all about their fear of losing power and influence.