Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
After the raising of Lazarus, from that day the Jewish rulers entered a settled, united counsel to put Jesus to death at the first favorable opportunity. The decision joined chief priests, Pharisees and Sadducees in council under the counsel that it was expedient for one man to die for the people. The raising was His crowning miracle and clear final evidence that the Messiah was among them, leading many witnesses to believe, yet those who had repeatedly rejected light were hardened in unbelief and hatred by the greater light. Jealousy and fear of losing the people, their influence and authority drove them, and in rejecting the evidence they came under Satan's control while believing they acted to save the nation. They meant His death to prevent Him from becoming king, but God overruled their crime to bring about His death as Redeemer and ruler of the world, which did not lessen their guilt. Though agreed on His death, they delayed from fear of the people and of Rome taking their power, plotting a secret seizure and quiet condemnation, marking Lazarus also for death, and forcing Jesus to withdraw from open walk among the Jews, while He knowing their intent did not hasten the time.
Setting and Murderous Plot
From that day after Lazarus was raised the Jewish rulers entered a settled, joint counsel to put Jesus to death at the first favorable opportunity, turning repeated attempts to silence Him into a fixed plan. The raising was His crowning miracle that made plain the evidence that He was the Son of God, and many witnesses believed in Him and glorified God, yet the rulers rejected that evidence and their hatred grew stronger to stop His work. After the council judged it expedient for one man to die for the people the leaders began to plot together, and after Lazarus was raised and his family and friends rejoiced Jesus withdrew and could no longer be found by them. Others who had again and again rejected light would not yield even before this overwhelming evidence but were hardened in unbelief and went away immediately to tell the priests and rulers what Jesus had done, and their report aroused anew the hatred of His bitterest enemies whose jealousy was increased by every act of mercy, fixing the decision to kill Him.
The decision united chief priests, Pharisees and Sadducees in the council under the counsel that it was expedient for one man to die for the people. The Sadducees changed their position and joined the plan, deciding that only His death could stop His fearless denunciations of them. Nearly all agreed that this was the wisest policy, and most accepted the counsel as divine, though a few who doubted its wisdom dared not speak their minds.
Though agreed on His death they delayed carrying out the sentence because they feared the people's reaction, knowing Jesus was innocent and blameless, continually helping and teaching with strong influence over the people. Putting Him to death became their fixed purpose to preserve their authority, yet they feared the people and delayed. Some feared provoking the people would cause Rome to take away the priesthood's privileges and remaining power, and the Sadducees, despite hating Jesus, were cautious because they feared losing their high standing with Rome.
To carry it out they planned to seize Him secretly when alone because the people favored Him, hold a quiet trial, use false witnesses to condemn Him, and rely on public opinion to turn against Him after condemnation. After the raising the leaders began jointly planning to kill Him, watching for an opportunity to carry out their secret purpose, and in their hearts they were already murderers. The miracle gave clear proof that He was the Son of God, but instead of accepting it they grew more hostile and hateful and pursued their secret purpose to destroy Him.
The plot also marked Lazarus for death because his restored life testified to Jesus' power and threatened to turn the people away from the rulers and undermine their rule. The rulers feared losing their position as people listened to Jesus and believed in Him, feared Lazarus would testify after being raised, and feared Jesus would draw the people away from their authority, so they resolved to kill Lazarus as well. Alarmed by the people's sympathy after Lazarus was raised, they resolved to seize Jesus secretly and arrange His condemnation with as little public notice as possible, planning to take Him when alone because they feared the crowd would stone them if they tried to take Him publicly. Jesus knew of their intentions and that their plan would soon be carried out, but He did not hasten the time and withdrew from the region with His disciples so He could no longer walk openly among the Jews, a fact soon known among the people.
Unbelief, Motives, and Warning
The raising of Lazarus was Christ's crowning miracle, clear and final evidence that Jesus was the Son of God and that the Messiah was among them, and many who witnessed it believed in Him and glorified God. That same miracle supplied powerful proof of His divine power, yet it was immediately followed by a joint resolve to put Him to death. Those who had again and again rejected light would not yield even before this overwhelming evidence but were hardened in unbelief. Instead of softening their hearts, the miracles that proved His Messiahship, including healing the sick and raising the dead, made their hostility greater; the greater the light and mercy shown, the greater their hatred became. Some went away immediately to tell the priests and rulers what Jesus had done, and their report aroused anew the hatred of His bitterest enemies, the Pharisees, whose jealousy was increased by every act of mercy, rekindling jealousy and fixing the decision to kill Him.
Jealousy and fear of losing the people, their attention, influence and authority drove the chief priests, elders and rulers to join in the plan. The miracle had strengthened His influence among the people and threatened their own, so they determined to silence Him and His works and to rid the world of Jesus. The Sadducees changed their position and joined because only His death could stop His fearless denunciations of them. The Pharisees sought revenge for His exposure of their hypocrisy and hollow piety, after their efforts to find grounds against Him, to stir up Herodians and Romans against Him, and to bar His followers from the synagogue had been thwarted. In rejecting the evidence they came under Satan's control while believing they were acting to save the nation, with most accepting Caiaphas's counsel as God's words though a few dared not speak their minds. Their envy and prejudice had led them into hatred and unbelief into settled, deliberate opposition to God beyond remedy, rejecting Christ as a stumbling block and refusing to have Him rule over them.
They meant His death to prevent Him from becoming king, refusing Him as king and later demanding His crucifixion. God overruled their crime to bring about the very result they sought to stop, for through His death He became the Redeemer of mankind and ruler over the whole world. That providential use of their crime for good did not lessen their guilt. Jesus knew their intentions to remove Him and that their plan would soon be carried out, but He did not hasten the time and withdrew from the region with His disciples, leaving Jerusalem to preserve His life. His example teaches that those serving God should not needlessly put themselves in danger, because their lives are needed to teach and help others. The rulers' deliberate, malicious resistance stands as a warning example of religious leaders resisting truth, repeated in ministers who oppose the truth with malice and falsehood.
After the raising of Lazarus, from that day the Jewish rulers entered a settled, united counsel to put Jesus to death at the first favorable opportunity. The decision joined chief priests, Pharisees and Sadducees in council under the counsel that it was expedient for one man to die for the people. The raising was His crowning miracle and clear final evidence that the Messiah was among them, leading many witnesses to believe, yet those who had repeatedly rejected light were hardened in unbelief and hatred by the greater light. Jealousy and fear of losing the people, their influence and authority drove them, and in rejecting the evidence they came under Satan's control while believing they acted to save the nation. They meant His death to prevent Him from becoming king, but God overruled their crime to bring about His death as Redeemer and ruler of the world, which did not lessen their guilt. Though agreed on His death, they delayed from fear of the people and of Rome taking their power, plotting a secret seizure and quiet condemnation, marking Lazarus also for death, and forcing Jesus to withdraw from open walk among the Jews, while He knowing their intent did not hasten the time.
Setting and Murderous Plot
From that day after Lazarus was raised the Jewish rulers entered a settled, joint counsel to put Jesus to death at the first favorable opportunity, turning repeated attempts to silence Him into a fixed plan. The raising was His crowning miracle that made plain the evidence that He was the Son of God, and many witnesses believed in Him and glorified God, yet the rulers rejected that evidence and their hatred grew stronger to stop His work. After the council judged it expedient for one man to die for the people the leaders began to plot together, and after Lazarus was raised and his family and friends rejoiced Jesus withdrew and could no longer be found by them. Others who had again and again rejected light would not yield even before this overwhelming evidence but were hardened in unbelief and went away immediately to tell the priests and rulers what Jesus had done, and their report aroused anew the hatred of His bitterest enemies whose jealousy was increased by every act of mercy, fixing the decision to kill Him.
The decision united chief priests, Pharisees and Sadducees in the council under the counsel that it was expedient for one man to die for the people. The Sadducees changed their position and joined the plan, deciding that only His death could stop His fearless denunciations of them. Nearly all agreed that this was the wisest policy, and most accepted the counsel as divine, though a few who doubted its wisdom dared not speak their minds.
Though agreed on His death they delayed carrying out the sentence because they feared the people's reaction, knowing Jesus was innocent and blameless, continually helping and teaching with strong influence over the people. Putting Him to death became their fixed purpose to preserve their authority, yet they feared the people and delayed. Some feared provoking the people would cause Rome to take away the priesthood's privileges and remaining power, and the Sadducees, despite hating Jesus, were cautious because they feared losing their high standing with Rome.
To carry it out they planned to seize Him secretly when alone because the people favored Him, hold a quiet trial, use false witnesses to condemn Him, and rely on public opinion to turn against Him after condemnation. After the raising the leaders began jointly planning to kill Him, watching for an opportunity to carry out their secret purpose, and in their hearts they were already murderers. The miracle gave clear proof that He was the Son of God, but instead of accepting it they grew more hostile and hateful and pursued their secret purpose to destroy Him.
The plot also marked Lazarus for death because his restored life testified to Jesus' power and threatened to turn the people away from the rulers and undermine their rule. The rulers feared losing their position as people listened to Jesus and believed in Him, feared Lazarus would testify after being raised, and feared Jesus would draw the people away from their authority, so they resolved to kill Lazarus as well. Alarmed by the people's sympathy after Lazarus was raised, they resolved to seize Jesus secretly and arrange His condemnation with as little public notice as possible, planning to take Him when alone because they feared the crowd would stone them if they tried to take Him publicly. Jesus knew of their intentions and that their plan would soon be carried out, but He did not hasten the time and withdrew from the region with His disciples so He could no longer walk openly among the Jews, a fact soon known among the people.
Unbelief, Motives, and Warning
The raising of Lazarus was Christ's crowning miracle, clear and final evidence that Jesus was the Son of God and that the Messiah was among them, and many who witnessed it believed in Him and glorified God. That same miracle supplied powerful proof of His divine power, yet it was immediately followed by a joint resolve to put Him to death. Those who had again and again rejected light would not yield even before this overwhelming evidence but were hardened in unbelief. Instead of softening their hearts, the miracles that proved His Messiahship, including healing the sick and raising the dead, made their hostility greater; the greater the light and mercy shown, the greater their hatred became. Some went away immediately to tell the priests and rulers what Jesus had done, and their report aroused anew the hatred of His bitterest enemies, the Pharisees, whose jealousy was increased by every act of mercy, rekindling jealousy and fixing the decision to kill Him.
Jealousy and fear of losing the people, their attention, influence and authority drove the chief priests, elders and rulers to join in the plan. The miracle had strengthened His influence among the people and threatened their own, so they determined to silence Him and His works and to rid the world of Jesus. The Sadducees changed their position and joined because only His death could stop His fearless denunciations of them. The Pharisees sought revenge for His exposure of their hypocrisy and hollow piety, after their efforts to find grounds against Him, to stir up Herodians and Romans against Him, and to bar His followers from the synagogue had been thwarted. In rejecting the evidence they came under Satan's control while believing they were acting to save the nation, with most accepting Caiaphas's counsel as God's words though a few dared not speak their minds. Their envy and prejudice had led them into hatred and unbelief into settled, deliberate opposition to God beyond remedy, rejecting Christ as a stumbling block and refusing to have Him rule over them.
They meant His death to prevent Him from becoming king, refusing Him as king and later demanding His crucifixion. God overruled their crime to bring about the very result they sought to stop, for through His death He became the Redeemer of mankind and ruler over the whole world. That providential use of their crime for good did not lessen their guilt. Jesus knew their intentions to remove Him and that their plan would soon be carried out, but He did not hasten the time and withdrew from the region with His disciples, leaving Jerusalem to preserve His life. His example teaches that those serving God should not needlessly put themselves in danger, because their lives are needed to teach and help others. The rulers' deliberate, malicious resistance stands as a warning example of religious leaders resisting truth, repeated in ministers who oppose the truth with malice and falsehood.