We need to get rid of him…

WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS GUY! KILL HIM!

Seriously!

These words came from the mouth of one of the Jewish top religious leaders.

And he was talking about JESUS!

Why?

Jesus had just raised someone from the dead.

That seems like a wonderful thing!

So, why did he suggest killing Jesus?

Come with me as I stalk the high priests meeting behind closed doors.

As we read John 11 we learn that someone who witnessed Lazarus resurection hightailed it to the high priests and tattle tailed.

There was an emergency meeting to discuss their concerns .

Let’s listen in:

That guy Jesus, he brought Lazarus back to life. He said, “Lazarus come out” (of the tomb).

AND HE DID!

The crowd went wild!

There’s no use denying it happened!

Too many people were there and actually saw Lazareth walk out of the tomb. I mean it happened right before their very eyes.

Caiaphas the high priest then said,

“LET’S KILL HIM.”

And so from that day on, the religious leaders of God made plans to put Jesus to death.

Don’t miss this, the high priest was advising the murder of an innocent man for political reasons. He did it to protect his power.

His religious buddies agreed. Jesus had to go.

Why would these men want to kill him?

In order to understand the Jewish leadership mindset we need to have some background information and then it will all make sense.

Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum explains it in his book YESHUA: Life Of Messiah.

Sometime prior to the coming of Jesus the rabbis came up with what were called "messianic miracles”. These were miracles only the Messiah would be able to perform.

According to the rabbi’s teachings, only the Messiah would be able to heal a leper and Jesus healed a leper.

From that point on everywhere Jesus went, a Pharisee was always following him to check up on what he was up to and what they learned upset them.

Jesus was saying things like “you have heard it said…but I say unto you.”

Jesus did not agree with what the religious leaders taught in their oral manmade laws also called the “traditions of men.”

Not only did Jesus not agree with their “man-made rules” he was teaching things that contradicted the Pharisaic interpretation of the Mosaic Law.

This made them furious.

The resurrection of Lazarus put the Pharisees in a predicament.

The Jewish leaders were now in a position that they had to make a public statement about Jesus claiming to be the Messiah.

They had 2 options.
1. Accept him as Messiah.
2. Reject him as Messiah.

The problem was if they rejected Jesus claim that he was the Messiah that the Old Testament prophets said was coming, they were also going to have to explain to the Jewish people how he had the power to do what only the Messiah could do.

The resurrection of Lazarus was undeniable evidence that Jesus was who he said he was.

He was God!

So, now, the Jewish leadership met behind closed doors to discuss their concerns.

Little did they realize that the stage was being set for another death and a very different resurrection.

Caiaphas, the high priest made a suggestion – let’s kill him.

So from that day on they made plans to put Jesus to death.

It didn’t take long.

Caiaphas got what he wanted.

By the end of the next week, Jesus was dead.

Or so he thought.

The Pharisees thought that this was their plan.

But God….

This was all part of God‘s plan.