Day: October 23, 2023

Monday, October 23, 2023

“The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him” (John 12:19 KJV).

Behold, the lamentation of professional religious leaders whose system is in jeopardy!

At the time of today’s Scripture, Jesus’ earthly ministry is three years old. Throughout that period, Israel’s religious leaders were steadily losing members—and thus their longtime influence over the nation was waning. People were finally starting to wake up to the fact their nation had drifted so far from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Judaism was so watered down, so hollow, so evil—and its leaders were most displeased when the Lord Jesus showed up to expose it.

By the time of today’s Scripture, their frustration partly stems from how the Lord Jesus has already raised Lazarus from the dead. See chapter 11: “[45] Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. [46] But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. [47] Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. [48] If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

“[49] And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, [50] Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. [51] And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; [52] And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. [53] Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.”

To save their religious system, they will find and execute the Lord Jesus….