Life to Lazarus, Death to Jesus

Life to Lazarus, Death to Jesus

 It was after the raising of Lazarus from the dead that the chief priests, Pharisees, and other religious leaders finally determined to put Jesus to death (John 11:53). Until now, the conflict between them and the upstart rabbi had been little more than a war of words. But the raising of Lazarus was an incredible miracle, witnessed by many. Jesus had raised at least two others, but those events had taken place in faraway Galilee (Mark 5:22–24, 35–43; Luke 7:11–17). By contrast, Lazarus’s resurrection occurred in Bethany, a suburb of Jerusalem (John 11:18).

 Not surprisingly, the miracle caused many to believe in Jesus (11:45). It provided undeniable proof that Jesus’ bold claim must be true: “I am the resurrection and the life … and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die” (11:25). Indeed, Lazarus became something of a curiosity, drawing numerous onlookers who wanted to see for themselves the man whom Jesus had brought back to life (12:9).

 It was this kind of publicity that the leaders especially feared. Disputes over religious matters were one thing; a rapidly growing movement led by a popular Messiah-figure was something else. It was bound to have political repercussions, as the Romans were ever on the lookout for signs of rebellion (see “Jerusalem Trampled by Gentiles” at Luke 21:20).

 It was Caiaphas the high priest (Matt. 26:3) who saw the usefulness of that fact. Why sacrifice the entire nation for the sake of Jesus, when Jesus could be sacrificed for the sake of the nation (John 11:49–52)? Thus the religious leaders began to scheme how they might bring Jesus before the Romans and, hopefully, have Him put away on a charge of rebellion. And even though Lazarus had just been brought back from the dead, they plotted to do away with him as well, as he was living evidence of Jesus’ power (12:10, 11). The desire to kill a man raised from the dead, as well as the One who raised him, reveals the blindness of an unbelieving heart.

 The plan succeeded brilliantly except for one detail that Caiaphas and his fellow leaders either overlooked or refused to believe: in arranging His death, they handed Him an opportunity to prove once and for all that He had spoken the truth when He said, am the resurrection and the life.