And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
The rulers of Israel — the chief priests, scribes, elders, and Pharisees — assembled in council at the palace of Caiaphas the high priest to plan the death of Jesus. They consulted together how to seize Him by stealth and craft and treachery and kill Him, deliberately rejecting open violence as bad policy. They secretly sought a pretext and a quiet opportunity away from the crowds.
They chose secrecy because they feared the people, who were Christ's friends and would not have allowed harm to come to Him during the feast. Many who had witnessed His mighty works believed Him to be the prophet of the Most High and favored Him, especially after the raising of Lazarus. A public attempt upon His liberty would have greatly incensed them, provoked opposition, and raised a tumult or disturbance or uproar. Fear of the people alone had kept the rulers from accomplishing their purpose long before, and it kept them from carrying out their plan openly.
Their plot was driven by hatred, envy, jealousy, and rage, and they pursued it despite the innocence of Jesus. Their reverence for the tombs of the prophets concealed the same murderous intent, for while claiming they would never have joined in killing God's servants, they were themselves plotting to destroy Jesus. Their plot demanded haste because they had lost the authority to execute anyone, that power having passed to the Romans, so after their own hasty condemnation they had to refer the case to the Roman authorities for final decision. They were anxious to force an immediate trial and execution before the Passover, because if it were not done at once there would be about a week of delay for the feast, Jesus would be kept in bonds, the intense excitement of the mob clamoring for His life would be allayed, a natural reaction would set in, the better part of the people would be aroused in His behalf, and His release would probably be accomplished.
They intended to hold a quiet mock trial and then rely on public opinion to turn against Jesus after His condemnation. They found their instrument in Judas, one of the twelve disciples, who offered to lead them to Jesus in a secluded place in the absence of the multitude and agreed to betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. They had been given the privilege of receiving Christ as Saviour without money and without price in constraining love but refused the gift, and instead bought their Lord for thirty pieces of silver when Judas came to them for revenge after reproof. They also decided to kill Lazarus, fearing that his living testimony to Jesus' power would undermine their authority and bring disaster on them.
The rulers of Israel — the chief priests, scribes, elders, and Pharisees — assembled in council at the palace of Caiaphas the high priest to plan the death of Jesus. They consulted together how to seize Him by stealth and craft and treachery and kill Him, deliberately rejecting open violence as bad policy. They secretly sought a pretext and a quiet opportunity away from the crowds.
They chose secrecy because they feared the people, who were Christ's friends and would not have allowed harm to come to Him during the feast. Many who had witnessed His mighty works believed Him to be the prophet of the Most High and favored Him, especially after the raising of Lazarus. A public attempt upon His liberty would have greatly incensed them, provoked opposition, and raised a tumult or disturbance or uproar. Fear of the people alone had kept the rulers from accomplishing their purpose long before, and it kept them from carrying out their plan openly.
Their plot was driven by hatred, envy, jealousy, and rage, and they pursued it despite the innocence of Jesus. Their reverence for the tombs of the prophets concealed the same murderous intent, for while claiming they would never have joined in killing God's servants, they were themselves plotting to destroy Jesus. Their plot demanded haste because they had lost the authority to execute anyone, that power having passed to the Romans, so after their own hasty condemnation they had to refer the case to the Roman authorities for final decision. They were anxious to force an immediate trial and execution before the Passover, because if it were not done at once there would be about a week of delay for the feast, Jesus would be kept in bonds, the intense excitement of the mob clamoring for His life would be allayed, a natural reaction would set in, the better part of the people would be aroused in His behalf, and His release would probably be accomplished.
They intended to hold a quiet mock trial and then rely on public opinion to turn against Jesus after His condemnation. They found their instrument in Judas, one of the twelve disciples, who offered to lead them to Jesus in a secluded place in the absence of the multitude and agreed to betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. They had been given the privilege of receiving Christ as Saviour without money and without price in constraining love but refused the gift, and instead bought their Lord for thirty pieces of silver when Judas came to them for revenge after reproof. They also decided to kill Lazarus, fearing that his living testimony to Jesus' power would undermine their authority and bring disaster on them.