Hatred of Jesus Increases
3 March 2013 PM – John 11:47-12:11 – Scott Childs
Introduction: Why did the chief priests and Pharisees hate Jesus? Did they really hate his miracles? I doubt it. Did they really think he worked for Satan? I do not think so. Did they hate his teaching? Well, yes, he exposed their hypocrisy, but I do not think that was the main reason they hated him. I think the main reason they hated him was that they were jealous of him. Their teaching was boring. People did not love them. No crowds gathered to ask them questions. They had no ability to heal the sick and raise the dead. Jesus was popular and they were not.
Transition: In this section, we see four events that show that hatred for Jesus is rapidly increasing.
I. Lazarus’ Resurrection Ignites Hatred Jn 11:47-53
A. Chief Priests and Pharisees are concerned (47-48)
1. They could not deny that Jesus did many miracles. The raising of Lazarus after four days was too much for them to ignore.
a) They knew Jesus did miracles.
b) I think that they knew he did them with the power of God. They may have even known that he was truly the Messiah.
c) Jealously and their sinful hearts could not accept the truth.
2. They feared that all men would believe on him if they did not stop Christ.
3. They assembled a counsel. The word “counsel” is sunedrion or Sanhedrin.
“The Sanhedrin was a council of 71 individuals, around the time of Christ that was comprised of Pharisees and Sadducees who governed the Jewish nation while under the rule of Rome. It often served as a court to settle legal and religious matters.” CARM
Rome gave the Sanhedrin authority to arrest, judge and punish Jewish people for offences relating to their religious law and for certain civil offences The one exception concerned the death sentence. Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
B. Caiaphas ignorantly speaks truth (49-53)
1. Caiaphas, the high priest, led the council.
2. He said, “One man should die for the people that the whole nation perish not.” He did not fully understand that truth.
a) The Holy Spirit inspired John to note in verse 51 that his prophesy was not from Caiaphas but from God.
b) In the next verse, he adds that Christ would die to gather all who were scattered abroad. That includes us!
3. They discussed how they could put him to death.
God is able to use the hatred and plots of evil men to fulfil his divine plan. This is an encouragement in our world today as we see evil men and women in leadership of our nations actively advancing wickedness. God is allowing this to fulfil his final plan for this world. While we must pray for peace, we must also pray for God’s will to be done.
II. Jesus Hid as He Awaited the Passover Jn 11:54-57
A. Jesus went into the wilderness
1. Jesus no longer walked among the Jews.
2. He hid in a city called Ephraim. This was a city overlooking the Jordan valley, a short day’s journey from Jerusalem.
If persecution comes our way, would it be wrong try to escape? I do not think so. Several times, Jesus escaped persecution. While we need to be willing to suffer for Christ, we need not go looking for it.
B. Many looked for Jesus before the Passover
1. Many from all over Israel began travelling to Jerusalem to prepare for the Passover. As they walked, they discussed whether Jesus would dare attend the Passover in Jerusalem or not.
2. The chief priests and Pharisees passed a law that required anyone knowing where Jesus was to report it.
III. Mary Anointed Jesus Irritating Judas Jn 12:1-8
A. Jesus went to Bethany for a special meal
1. This was six days before the Passover. Again, we see that Martha served the meal. She was a very hospitable woman.
2. Lazarus of course was at the table with them. Remember that they did not sit on chairs around a table as we do. The word literally means, “reclining together for a meal.”
3. Mary, perhaps in appreciation for Jesus raising her brother to life again, took costly ointment and anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her long hair. Washing feet was a servant’s job and wiping them with her hair was humiliating.
It is no doubt true that it was usually considered immodest for a woman to wear her hair loose. But it is not impossible that Mary of Bethany in her carefully planned love-offering for Jesus on this occasion was only glad to throw such a punctilio [a fine point of etiquette] to the winds. Such an act on this occasion does not brand her a woman of loose character. A.T.Robertson
Both Martha and Mary leave us great examples. We need to be hospitable people, especially towards other Christians. In one of his parables, Jesus said that as we share with Christians we are in a sense sharing with him. Mary is an example of sacrifice and humility. She sacrificed financially for the Lord. As we give sacrificially to the Lord’s work, we honour Him. If we will humbly do lowly jobs in church and for others, we honour the Lord.
B. Judas saw this anointing as a waste
1. He asked why the ointment had not rather been sold and given to the poor.
2. John points out that Judas did not care for the poor, but he was a greedy thief and was evidently Jesus’ treasurer.
3. Jesus rebuked Judas and identified Mary’s anointing as preparation for his burial. Then he added that the poor are always present, but he would not be.
Judas was the opposite of Mary. She gave. He took. She openly loved Jesus. He secretly hated Jesus. She was generous toward the Lord. He was greedy toward the Lord. If we will be more like Mary, the Lord will bless us for it.
IV. Lazarus’ Testimony Endangers His Life Jn 12:9-10
A. People wanted to see the resurrected Lazarus
1. When news got out that Jesus was back in Bethany, people came to see Jesus.
2. They also came to see Lazarus, the man who had been dead four days.
B. This worried the priests.
1. Lazarus was living proof that Jesus was the Messiah.
2. The priests discussed killing Lazarus as well, just to keep his life from being a testimony for Christ.
Conclusion: I think the best things we can learn from this section of Scripture are from the examples of Martha, Mary, and Judas. Being hospitable like Martha takes some work and costs a little, but it requires very little verbal skills.
3 John 1:5-8 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
Like Mary, we can humbly give to support the Lord’s work. We can all give of ourselves. We can give of our time and energy. We can give of our finances.
Unlike Judas, we can all be loyal to the Lord. Confess and forsake any hypocrisy. Love God faithfully. Live honest lives. And rejoice when the Lord is glorified.
Song: Have I Done My Best – 368