John 11:45-56
It
was the raising of Lazarus to life that initiated the plan by the Jews to kill
Jesus. When Lazarus was raised from death, some Jews came to visit Mary his
sister. Seeing the miraculous power of Jesus and his popularity, they were
gripped with fear that one day the Jesus may cause the people to revolt against
the authorities. This would attract the wrath of the Romans who would not
tolerate any other power other than Caesar’s. When the Pharisees took this
matter to Caiphas the high priest, he prophetically stated that “It is better
for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be destroyed”.
This is quite in order, it actually came to pass. Was it not through one man
that death entered the world? And the reversal is this: through one man,
salvation entered the world. One man had to die in order to save the Jewish
nation from destruction. Jesus’ death brought salvation not only to the Jews
but to the whole of humanity.
We
are few days into the holy week when we commemorate the passion and death of
our Lord and Savior. What merit will this bring to you? Jesus died for all of
us. He was made a prisoner that we might be free. He was condemned that we
might be vindicated. He carried a heavy trunk of wood to Calvary that the heavy
weight of sin might be lifted from us. The innocent one was slain! Remember, as
we participate in the Holy week activities, we suffer with Christ, die with him
and rise with him. Let us not allow this period of grace and mercy to pass
without spiritual transformation in us that will radiate through our actions. Don’t
miss out!!!
