Part 2
I want to pick up right where we left off, for last week’s chapter did not end. This is actually what happened next. I believe there are some powerful things to highlight as we continue walking through some of these resurrection stories for His glory.
Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” 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.” He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life. Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.
-John 11:45-57 NIV
Isn’t it so interesting what a four-day resurrection can do to people? You see, the leaders of that day felt so strongly about making sure everyone was following the rules that had been established way back. Part of their position was to remind everyone how to apply the rules, which brought safety to them. This was a high calling, and should be upheld, yet this Man named Jesus was doing His own thing and they couldn’t really figure out what to say or do about it. It was making those in control lose control and they just couldn’t have that.
The power was always what was in question. Yet, Jesus didn’t come for power, He came for hearts. Jesus never came to overturn tables. He actually came to turn tables right side up. I like this Jesus. 😀 He came to heal you, and that healing got people talking. Here is a Man performing miracles!! The more I think about it, He wasn’t actually performing, He was yielding Himself to the Father and allowing Himself to be used as an offering. And as He poured Himself out into others, healing and resurrection moments happened. The anointing and the depth of intimacy produced healing fruit. They had seen counterfeits before, but they were really having a hard time believing the purity of this Man’s gifting and anointing. Sadly, some never understood His character, and for that my heart feels sad.
Fear and power made them plot His execution. Again, they thought, it’s for safety right? We can’t have people trying to overturn or start a war or rebellion, so let’s take Him out. It’s for everyone’s good right?
They just didn’t understand, and I don’t think it was the Father’s plan for them to. I mean, where would we be if they started working together? Our souls would not have access to eternity.
It’s still sad that they didn’t see the Jesus we’re getting to know, and He was right there in flesh and blood. What a gift, and all they saw was a threat.
This Man came to resurrect hearts, and heal seen and unseen broken parts. He is a mender y’all, through and through. He is a seeker of the lost ones and eternally calling them home. I believe we have an internal beacon that draws us to Him, and the more we yield to Him the more it draws us to want to spend more time with Him. Just like any growing relationship, the more time you spend with them, the more time you want to spend with them, and the more you talk like them and think about them too. This is the renewing that happens as we become renewed image-bearers for His glory. We are just passing through, and I also believe this life is preparing us for the next one. So, how will we prepare for the eternal life to come?
I’m going to stop right here, for next week we will pick back up at the tomb.
Until next time,
Keep gliding 🪁
Abiding 🙇🏼♀️
& Smiling 😁