2-24-2014

Good Morning to All,

     John 11:50; “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.”

       It is always interesting when we look at history and see how someone’s comment or thought can be strangely accurate or incredibly off target.  For example, take Charles H. Duell.  In 1899 he was the Commissioner of the U. S. Patent Office.  He recommended that the Patent Office be closed down because “everything that can be invented has been invented.”  Given what the next few years brought in terms of new patents, well he might have missed it by a tad.  Our verse for today goes to the other extreme; it is very accurate.

    Our verse is part of a discussion that the Pharisees had in the Jewish Council that ruled the Jews at the time of Jesus.  These Jews, rich, powerful men, were worried about Jesus.  More to the point, they were worried that Rome was going to start paying attention to Jesus and see him as a potential troublemaker.  If Rome got involved that would mean soldiers, lots of Roman soldiers who would come to Judea, specifically Jerusalem, and simply destroy the place.  The Temple would be destroyed and everything that these men held near and dear would be gone.  They would go from a life of luxury, with money and power, to nothing overnight.  They did not want this.

    So the plan was easy, kill Jesus and the threat would go away.  The problems of a Judean revolt would go away, at least to the point that it would not be a threat to Rome and thus not a threat to these rich men’s lifestyle.  All they have to do is kill Jesus, one man, and the destruction of the nation, and their way of life, would be saved.

    Of course we know that this is not the way it worked.  Jesus’ death didn’t stop the Romans from coming to destroy Jerusalem.  This happened in 70 AD.  But that was never God’s reason for Jesus ministering here on earth.  Jesus came for one very specific reason and that was to die, one man, so that all could live.  His death covered the sins of the whole world.  So it appears that Caiaphas, the high priest, was far more correct than he could have ever imagined. 

    Because of Jesus, we, the whole nation, do not have to perish but rather we will have eternal life.  We have it because one man, Jesus, died for us.  We have it because God has given it to us.  We have it because God, with more love than we can ever imagine, chose to redeem us and bring us back into the family.  One man’s actions, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, saved us from certain eternal death and gives to us certain eternal life.  All because one man, Jesus the Son of God, died for you.

Father of grace and mercy, by sending Jesus into this world to die for us you have given us life.  By giving your only Son we have life.  Give us the courage to trust in this truth.  Be with those who are still struggling with the wonder and simplicity of this truth.  Give them the faith to trust in your promises.  In Jesus’ precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret