Session of the Sanhedrin

Today's Reflections 
 
                                       

Session of the Sanhedrin 

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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?”

This man is performing many signs. The raising of Lazarus from the dead is certainly a very impressive sign that should be a strong proof for Jesus’ claim of having come from God. Indeed, many who have witnessed it have begun to believe in Jesus.

Even Jesus’ enemies, the scribes and the Pharisees, are beginning to concede that the miracles of Jesus are authentic. But they have hardened their hearts and so refuse to concede to Jesus and follow him. They sound more concerned about losing their authority over the people than rejoicing over the fact that God, in Jesus, has been doing great and marvelous works once again as God did in the days of their forefathers.

It is truly ironic that Jesus, whose actions are always life-giving, is the subject of death-dealing schemes.

“Cast away from you all the crimes

you have committed,

and make for yourselves a new heart

and a new spirit” (Ez 18:31).