John 11:45-57Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. Directly after Lazarus was raised again to life, many came to believe in Jesus and follow Him; and of course it did not take long before some brought this before the chief priests and the Pharisees (see note 1 below); and then the oft repeated notion that the Jews sought the death of Jesus really takes off. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” We can see in this verse — this statement — how the mindset of the Pharisees prevails, fear moves in and they become concerned about all that they have become and how they might lose that position of authority should Jesus be allowed to continue in His way. And one of them, Caiaphas [meaning ‘as comely’], being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Caiaphas, who is the duty High Priest at that time, makes the comparison between allowing Jesus to die as against their whole way of life. Surely, he says it is better to dispose of Jesus than to lose all that we are? Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. The fear was that Jesus would begin an alternative religious structure that would supplant their own religion — basically they would all be redundant — in which they were entirely correct. Jesus intent was to do the Will of the Father which was to bring about a truth which the Pharisees did not comprehend. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. [John 11:47-53 NKJV] This is always what the religious mind seeks in reality — the death of Jesus. Jesus always promoted and exclusively sought a relationship with Father God. The religious mind seeks its own understanding, its own will, and not the Will of God. Thus the truth must be crushed. PRAYER: Oh Heavenly Father, help us to move only in Your truth. Let us not descend into religiosity and thus seek our own way. May Your way be the only way in our lives. Hallelujah and amen! NOTE 1: PHARISEES — A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books, the Pharisees recognised in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good and evil angels, and to the expectation of a Messiah; and they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, and be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods and the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy and their country's cause, and possessed great influence with the common people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause; and were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity. There are 10000 reasons and many more, why we need to worship and hold to the life of Jesus in the midst of us. Peace: Life in the SpiritThe revelation of identification means that we are one with God in His Son, but not by obedience, for obedience is nothing more than the human approach to this mightiest of revelations. We enter into identification by the door of obedience and faith, but the oneness is a revelation. When we do touch God we lose all consciousness of being in conscious touch with Him, we are so absorbed with His peace and power that language cannot convey the assurance of the oneness. The experience of sanctification is simply the entrance into this relationship. [from ‘Approved Unto God’ by Oswald Chambers] 
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MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS…Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Archives
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