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Day 21 John 11:47-57 John 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? For this man does many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. 55 And the Jews’ Passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spoke among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should show it, that they might take him. Has anyone tried to find something wrong with what you did or how you went about doing your work? Jesus came under scrutiny from the Pharisees all the time. They intended to kill him for blasphemy but were afraid of the people who trusted and sought him. They didn’t want the people’s condemnation for capturing him. They didn’t know what to do, when Caiaphas spoke up and said it was better for one person to die than for the whole nation to perish. John added little side notes to the narrative from the vantage point of after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection when he recognized why Caiaphas said what he did. It is easier to see why something happened after an event than prior to it. As Christians, you know the significance of the Scripture and what Caiaphas said, because you also have the advantage of knowing what happened. You also know timing is essential with God. In the fulness of time Jesus was born and in the fulness of time, Jesus would die and bring new life to those who believed on him when he rose from the dead. Until then, Jesus needed to remain hidden from sight. Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (KJV) As Jesus told his mother, his time hadn’t come yet when she approached him at the wedding in Cana, his time hadn’t come yet when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but it would soon be time. Passover was close. You might feel like people are closing in on you, but God has something important for you to do. You need to be ready when God calls you to fulfill your destiny in him. Let’s pray: Father, help me be ready when you call me to fulfill my purpose for your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 22 December 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay