John • The passed-over passages 12 • The Conspiracy to Kill Jesus
- Steve Schott
- Nov 28
- 7 min read
► Previously in John we looked at the 7 signs recorded, and referenced in John 20:30-31, where it says
30Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
► We also explored the 7 "I AM" statements that do not always correspond to the signs, but also add definition to the nature and purposes of Jesus.
► Links to all of these posts can be found at the end of this posting
► Now I'm going to turn my attention to what I call the "passed-over" passages, Those passages from chapter 1 to chapter 12 which I haven't previously dealt with.
► After that we'll deal with chapters 13 to 19, which I call "the end of it all". These chapters deal with a single 24-hour period, that starts with the last supper in the upper room, and takes us all the way to the cross and the tomb.
► And then we'll end with chapters 20 and 21 that I call "the new beginning".
► After the last of the 7 signs, the raising of Lazarus from the dead, there was a significant response from the leaders of Israel - and not a positive one. In John11:43-44 we see Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life...
43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” 44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
► Jesus had "cried out with a loud voice," which is very clear in the Greek. "Loud" in Greek is "megas" and "voice" in Greek is "phone (pronounced fo-nay)", which is where we get the English word "megaphone". When Jesus called Lazarus to "come forth", He did it in a way so that there would be no confusion on anyone's part about what He was saying. I can almost see Jesus cupping His hands around His mouth to direct His voice toward the people watching. They all heard Him give the command. They all saw Lazarus obey.
► The people's response was immediate → John 11:45-46...
45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.
► We see two different responses to this event...
1st, some "believed in Him." They saw the impossible happen and understood that Jesus had the power to raise people from the dead.
2nd, others "went to the Pharisees" and tattled. They communicated to the Pharisees what Jesus had done, but it wasn't to help them believe - it was to give them evidence with which to incriminate Jesus.
► The immediate response of the Pharisees is once again to attempt to kill Jesus. Let's look at the details...
The Conspiracy to Kill Jesus → John 11:47-57
John 11:47-57 → 47 Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. 48 If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
► Once armed with the info from the tattle-tales, the leaders met to ponder on this Jesus fellow.
► They clearly understood His signs to be genuine. They are not negating the truth of what He has done.
► It seems their concerns are twofold...
• 1 → they seem to have an issue with the concept that "all men will believe in Him,...".
• 2 → and with that, either in addition to, or because of, the "Romans will come" and upset the apple cart. The Romans are already there, but apparently have left the Jews pretty much alone to legislate their people, at least from a religious standpoint. If the Romans get agitated by Jesus, it's possible that they will kick out the existing leaders, who couldn't keep this rabble-rouser in His place, and replace them with someone else.
► So it looks like what it comes down to is that the Jewish leaders are concerned about losing their power and influence over the people. Either Jesus will take it away because of His power and popularity. Or the Romans will, because they couldn't keep the people under control.
49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” 51 Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.
► This passage is so weird to me because God is using the ordained high priest, who is an ardent enemy of Jesus, to prophecy that Jesus must die. In God's plan this is necessary, but He's carrying this out by using His enemies to do it.
► The net result of this "one man" must "die for the people" prophecy that Caiaphas voices is that Jesus will end up saving not only the Jews from their sins, but ALL who believe in Him, whether or not they are Jews.
► So the leaders "planned together to kill" Jesus, just as soon as they could get their hands on Him. My guess is that they had planned to stone Him to death, as that would have been the Jewish punishment for blasphemy, the crime they are accusing Jesus of.
► Little did they know that God's plan is to have Jesus die in a more public, and also less Jewish way.
54 Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.
► Ephraim is about 13 miles north and east of Jerusalem. Just far enough to be out of the spotlight, but still less than a day away from Jerusalem. Jesus knows it's not His time yet so He's just hanging out with His disciples until it's time for Passover.
55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 So they were seeking for Jesus, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think; that He will not come to the feast at all?”
► With Passover coming close, the people are preparing themselves for the events that are about to happen. Coming from all over Israel, bringing offerings and sacrifices to the temple to cleanse themselves before the festivities begin.
► But they've all heard of, possibly even seen, Jesus, and are wondering where He is.
57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him.
► The leaders are also curious as to where Jesus is, but not for the same reasons. They've put a bounty out on Jesus' head, so that if anyone spots Him, they will be able to capture Him.
So what?
► This passage so clearly demonstrates the basic reality of how the claims of Jesus are dealt with in the world today.
► Some respond with contempt, refusing to even consider that Jesus, if He's even actually a real person, could be anything other than a normal man. A holy man maybe. A good teacher possibly. A prophet pointing to a better society perhaps.
► But how could anyone realistically consider Jesus to be anything other than a crazy man, or a liar, since He was clearly teaching that He was equal to, and in full communion with, God?
► Unless He really is God in the flesh, and His words are true.
► And if that is correct, then there is a dilemma for each of us.
► Each of us needs to consider the claims of Jesus. If what He said is true, then we need to respond to Him in faith, accepting His death on the cross as being the payment for our sins, so that we might have eternal life.
The Signs
The "I AM" Statements
► I AM #5 • I AM the Resurrection and the Life - Jesus is the SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE → John 11:24-27
► I AM #6 • I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life - Jesus is THE WAY TO THE FATHER → John 14:1-6
Comparison between the 7 signs & the 7 "I AM" Statements
Photo • 2025/11/14 - fall colors along the Katy Railway Walking Trail, Cleveland, OK.
“Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995
by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”
All linked verses are from the YouVersion at www.Bible.com
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