Joel M Bradshaw

45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48If 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.” 

49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.–John 11 (with emphasis)

We live in a world with medical marvels that prolong life and heal diseases. God has blessed our age with wonderful medical intelligence and innovation. But Lazarus wasn’t like one of those TV dramas where the patient’s heart stops beating and doctors use those defibrillator paddles and yell ‘CLEAR!’ He had been dead 4 days. That’s dead dead. This would be like a person leaving their casket fully healthy at a funeral. That kind of moment today would go viral and that person would be interviewed around the world. You could only imagine the scene in Jesus’ day being a world without even aspirin.

1. BELIEF. Maybe these people say Jesus and in their hearts said This Jesus talks about being one with the Father, but I bet if God were here he would give these sisters back their brother. I guarantee that I would be thinking something like that then if I had any doubt about Jesus.
2. FEAR. Rather than being focused on this proving Jesus was the Messiah, some worried about Rome. If Jesus was Messiah that meant he would in their eyes be King. And if King then Caesar is not King. And if Caesar was not King then Rome would come and demolish Israel for insurrection. The people would rather have comfort and security than Jesus.
3. MANIPULATION. John here told us that the high priest was prophesying about the sacrificial death of Jesus. It was as if Caiaphas was planning for John 3:16 to take place. Seriously, look up that famous verse if you need to and then read verses 51 and 52 again. Some people selfishly seek to manipulate outcomes rather than submit in faith.

So faced with the reality that Jesus is God, how do you respond? You might just be seeking Jesus right now. As you draw near to God you will find out that He is drawing near to you (James 4:8). Is your response belief, fear, or manipulation?–JMB