Prophecy

John 11:49, 50 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."

There's an old saying, "It's not what you say that's important, but what you do." In some Christian circles, this is called 'walking the talk,' and it all relates to another saying, "action speaks louder than words." But in today's passage, the reverse is actually true. It's not what Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin do when dealing with the problem of Christ, but in what the high priest actually says.

When Caiaphas ended the dispute about Jesus with the words, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish," everyone at the meeting, including the high priest believed that it would be better to assassinate or execute Jesus than risk a bloody revolution, which the Romans would brutally quell.

What Caiaphas doesn't realize is that his words turn out to be prophetic. He's being given an oracle from God and doesn't know it. As high priest, he is declaring that Christ's death would save the whole nation from perishing. This is precisely why Christ came down from heaven to earth, to die for His people and the whole world. In another part of John's gospel, we can read these words: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Unknowingly, this is exactly what Caiaphas is saying to the Sanhedrin.

God's will cannot be thwarted, even when people conspire and try to tear down His Son's work. In our western society, people are beginning to say that Christianity is dead and that the mainline church is irrelevant. But what those people don't understanding are two things: we are not called to be relevant, just reverent; and when you talk about dying to Christians, they look forward to resurrection!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your work is still taking place in the hearts and minds of billions of people on earth today. Your Spirit is still walking amongst us, and Your ministry will only be completed when Time and History end. Thank You for inspiring people all over the earth to remain faithful to You. Thank You for giving Your life for the whole world, so that many may be saved and not perish. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.