Session of the Sanhedrin

Today's Reflections

Session of the Sanhedrin

 

Jn 11:45-56

⁴⁵Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what [Jesus] had done began to believe in him. ⁴⁶But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. ⁴⁸If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” ⁴⁹But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, ⁵⁰nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.”
⁵¹He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, ⁵²and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. ⁵³So from that day on they planned to kill him.
⁵⁴So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.
⁵⁵Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. ⁵⁶They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?”

 
Reflection:
 
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? The question of the chief priests and the Pharisees is devoid of concern. It is overbearing and selfish, meant to secure their interests. The Pharisees feel threatened by the preaching of Jesus and his growing popularity. And to protect their power and position, they decide to eliminate Jesus.

The high priest Caiaphas proposes that one man should die instead of the nation. He prophesies that Jesus’ death will unite nations into one people of God.

Many people look for Jesus. The season of Lent is the graced moment to look for Jesus. We seek Jesus to have and to hold him, to love and to serve him.

I will choose Jesus above anything or anyone else.