One Man Should Die for the People

Day 140: John 11:1-54

“‘Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.’ He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” - John 11:50-52 ESV

God's plan never seems to happen in a vacuum, insulated within a select group of people. When God starts to do something, He seems to involve everyone, even those against His plans and purposes.

It is mindblowing that the High Priest, a Jew with the maximum amount of power and influence during this particular year, is even prophesying about the rescue plan that is about to occur. Soon, this entire group of religious leaders will be on this High Priest's own property, trying to convict Jesus of crimes He didn't commit.

All of us have a decision to make. Will we be used by God willingly to advance his plans and purposes, or will we stubbornly resist (like Pharaoh) and still find ourselves in the middle of what God has wanted to do the entire time? To be sure, we all have a choice. We can decide to follow Jesus.

May we stay in the flow of His will both now and forever.

"John sensed that God was at work in the words of the high priest, in spite of himself. If any human words in history could be described as an ex cathedra statement (words coming from the throne or ‘seat’ and representing the mind of God), it was these words of Caiaphas, who John indicated ‘did not say this on his own’ (11:51). It was for the evangelist a prophetic act, but it was laced with irony because Caiaphas did not realize the vast import of his own words." - Borchert, G. L. (1996). John 1–11 (Vol. 25A, p. 365)