The wrath of man will praise God, fear no evil.

John 11:47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council [“a council” - that is the word Sanhedrin, sunedrion[sun = together; edra= sitting] which means a sitting together. Transliterated, this word is Sanhedrin.], and were saying [there was a great deal of discussion], "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs.

 

The convening includes the chief priests and the Pharisees. The distinction is very important.

 

We saw that the Sadducees and the Pharisees came about after Cyrus the Great allowed Jews to return to Judea and rebuild the Temple.

 

He did not all the restoration of the Judean monarchy, so the seat of authority was void. The people looked to the priests. The most wealthy and influential priests organized themselves into a group and called themselves the Sadducees.

 

Another sect of wise men, learned in the Scriptures, who didn’t think authority should be with the priesthood was the Pharisees.

 

Both groups became wealthy and powerful in Judea.

 

Christ was a threat to both groups. Both groups used the intimidation of legalism as the base of their power over the people and since Christ was grace oriented and was popular with many of the Jews both groups united in plotting to kill Him, and to do so publicly and violently.

 

In the next verse they continue their deliberation.

                                          

John 11:48 "If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

 

Their dilemma is introduced by the word “If,” a 3^rd class condition. “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him.” The point is: ‘We have to do something. If we don’t He is going to convert everyone.’ Of course, they are excluded. They are non-convertible—negative volition.

 

The verb here is interesting. “we let” It is the aorist active subjunctive of a)fihmi[aphiemi] really means to abandon Him, to give Him perfect freedom, abandon Him to His own function, let Him alone completely. The word connotes live and let live.

 

Christ said this as a command to the people concerning Lazarus - “let him go;” let him enjoy his freedom. This freedom is an inalienable right of every man, endowed by his creator.

 

And that’s their argument. If we give Him the freedom (an inalienable right to any person) He’ll convert everyone [translation: He’ll hurt our power and our wallets].

 

 

 

This means that some in the council have suggested this. Some, maybe even Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea have stated, “Just let Him be, He hasn’t done anything, or broken any laws,” and here that voice is shut down by the majority who are in fear of losing their wealth and power.

 

Notice the implication of what they say. They realise why the seven miracles. What was the purpose of seven credit cards? That they might believe in Him!

 

The Sanhedrin understood the issue even though fundamentalists in our day do not. (No walking aisles, raising hands, being baptised, etc.) When the Sanhedrin says “believe” they have rejected e)pignwsijgospel themselves. They themselves understand the issue clearly and they have obviously rejected it. So if we let Him alone and continue His function all will believe.

           

If all believe they have everything to lose as far as they are concerned - their own power.

 

They realise that if Jesus Christ performs another miracle they are going to lose their power. They have power lust, and like all people with power lust they are very jealous of anyone who gains the attention of the people.

 

The Sanhedrin is in danger of losing control of the people at this point and part of their dilemma is the fact that Jesus Christ has challenged their power to the extent that they are afraid they are about to lose it. The other part of the dilemma has to do with the Romans.

           

“and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.” At this time the Jews were enjoying a certain measure of autonomy under Roman protection. Northern Palestine at this time was under the rule of Herod the tetrarch; southern Palestine was under the control of the Sanhedrin.

 

As far as they are concerned if the people flock to Jesus Christ and believe in Him then the Romans may decide that the Sanhedrin cannot handle the situation and will personally come in and take a greater part, and remove the autonomy of the Sanhedrin. The Romans were already there but “the Romans shall come” means to come and take over.

           

John 11:49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all,

 

Caiaphas, through years of training, has become very wise in the ways of evil, and the manipulation of the people.

 

Caiaphas is a Sadducee and the high priest during this year. He has learned many things in his political career, but what is also giving him wisdom is the fact that God is faithful and since he is the high priest he is actually predicting the future though he doesn’t know it.

 

The great life promised in Christ occurs when you see Christ for who He really is, and Caiaphas as an arrogant unbeliever has no clue who Christ really is.

 

So even though he’s seen or heard of many confirmed miracles from Christ, and he is prophesizing as the high priest, and even though he is going to interview Christ and see Christ handle unfair treatment marvelously, he still doesn’t really see the Christ, all he sees is a threat to his power.

 

John 11:50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."

 

Verse 50 - “consider” is logizomai[logizomai] which means to think logically. Present active imperative: “Keep thinking logically.”

           

“it is expedient” - sumferw [sumphero], present active indicative: ‘it is for our benefit, it is advantageous for us [the Sanhedrin].’

           

 

“that someone should die for the people” - a)poqnhskw[apothnesko]is the verb he used. It means to die violently, to die in a spectacular manner so that everyone knows about it and they talk about it for a long time.

           

The true issue is that Jesus must be eliminated, but not quietly like an assassination, but violently for all to see and remember.

 

Either Jesus must be eliminated or the Romans will eliminate the Sanhedrin and therefore possibly the national autonomy. Caiaphas is not purposely prophesying but he is appealing to their logic.

           

“for the people” - u(per[huper]. What is so wonderful here is that this is the same preposition that Paul always uses for the efficacious substitutionary atonement of Christ for salvation, but Caiaphas attempts to use the word as an innuendo and also as sarcasm, i.e. If you want to keep ruling the people then He has to die for the people. This is actually what is known as a rulership gimmick: using the good of the people to stay in power.

 

But Caiaphas is prophesizing, using the same language that would be the good news that saves all who believe in Christ.

 

The principle is that nothing will stop the gospel, not even one of the evilest men in all of history.

 

Psalm 76:10 states a principle: “God uses the wrath of man to praise Him.” While Caiaphas is only interested in keeping Caiaphas in power, Caiaphas inadvertently is referring to the cross without one clue as to its implication.

           

“that the whole nation should not perish” - someone has to die for the people so that the nation doesn’t perish! ‘This man who has been presenting Himself as the Messiah to the people must die for the people.’ In this we have great sarcasm.

 

We also know that Caiaphas himself as a chief priest is aware of what the scriptures teach about the Messiah, and he is aware that when Messiah comes Messiah is going to die for the people because of Isaiah 53.

 

Caiaphas knew all about these things and as an unbeliever he is being sarcastic.

 

Example: Well, He claims He is Messiah, He has been proving it all this time. Now if He is Messiah then let Him die for the people, because if He dies for the people He is going to preserve the nation. Which translated means, We are going to stay in power.

 

But Christ didn’t come to save them from the Romans. Christ came to save them from the second death, to save them from their sins, and to freely give them eternal life through His own death.

 

What a great scripture to show us that the plan of God will not be hindered one iota by the wrath of man.

 

Therefore, do not fear man, for he is only mere man, and there is no man that can stop you from glorifying God and experiencing the happiness of God if you have faith through positive volition.

 

It is necessary to understand Caiaphas from the standpoint of Caiaphas. He is a man who enjoys his life. He has power, authority, prestige, everything he wants. If he has everything he wants the only problem he has is to maintain all of the things that he has and not lose them.

 

Jesus is a challenge to losing these things. Caiaphas runs the Sanhedrin; the Sanhedrin run the people. Caiaphas is the power and he wants to keep it that way. How is he going to do it?

 

Eliminate this one who calls Himself the Messiah, let Him die for the people. And by that Caiaphas indicates that while he understands the truth he has rejected it. He has rejected Jesus Christ.

 

John 11:50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish."

 

 

“that the whole nation perish not” - aorist active subjunctive of a)pollumi [apollumi], 5^th cycle of discipline, total destruction. He knows that if the Romans ever start interfering it is just a matter of time.

           

The historical situation will be far different than what Caiaphas estimated. The cross will definitely eventuate in the 4^th and 5^th cycles of discipline to Israel. God will use Rome as the whip. The siege against Jerusalem will begin in 67 AD and will culminate in the destruction of the entire city in 70 AD with the death of 1 million Jews.

 

So Caiaphas is trying to eliminate Jesus not realising the repercussions.

 

The principle is that we never have to enact revenge against those who seek to hurt us. Revenge and repayment belongs to the Lord.