Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. John 11:45-54
In today’s verses we really see what was troubling to Jewish authorities. They weren’t worried about God; they were worried about what the Romans might do. It is interesting that the first thing they worried about was losing their position of authority, and then they worried about the country. Jesus was a threat to their livelihood. They had a good thing going and did not want anything to rock the boat.
Nothing much has changed over the last two thousand years. Jesus still rocks the boat and people still put their own needs before God. We worry what others will think if we are too upfront with our faith. Some worry about the fun they will have to give up if they decide to follow Christ. We worry about everything except what really matters.
Too many are like the Jewish authorities who worried so much about what they might lose that they forgot to think about what they might gain. Earthly power and wealth are fine but they are transitory. Earthly power? Look at all the kingdoms that no longer exist. Wealth? Just look at how many professional athletes that are broke just a few years after they retire or look at once great companies that went bankrupt.
Earthly things come and go; only things of God are eternal. Jesus came to offer us eternal things and too many reject what He offers in order to hold on the something they cannot keep. Choose the eternal.
Have a blessed day,
David
