John Chapter 11 Highlights

Last night our Bible Study at The Gate covered the Gospel of John Chapters 11 and 12. It was another Spirit-filled evening. I have read chapters 11 and 12 probably 50 times, but something hit me when I saw the gospel acted out in the Gospel of John DVD. In 11:45-52 John writes,


45Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. 48"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."

49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53So from that day on they plotted to take his life.


The part I hadn't thought about before was verse 51 and 52. I am still mulling this over in my mind, so don't be too harsh. Up until last night I thought that this meant that Caiaphas made a God-uninspired prophecy from his position as high priest that Jesus must die for the good of the Pharisees (and by default all Jews). But after I reread this last night I think that John is saying that the Holy Spirit caused Caiaphas (an unbeliever) to prophesy about the death of Jesus, and that God would use this to bring not only the Jews, but the Gentiles together in one body of Christ? I think it does. It shows me that God sometimes uses unclean vessels to accomplish His holy will.

Praise God that even when I, as a sinner saved by grace, fall and I am at less than my best He can still use me inspite of myself to affect the lives of others for His kingdom.