2019.04.12 Hopewell @Home ▫ John 11:45-57

Read John 11:45-57

Questions for Littles: What group does John 11:45 tell us about? To whom had they come? What had they seen? In Whom did many of them believe? What did some of them do (John 11:46)? What did the chief priests and Pharisees do (John 11:47)? What did they admit? What were they worried that “everyone” might do (John 11:48a)? What were they worried that the Romans might do (verse 48b)? Who spoke up in John 11:49? What was his office? What did he suggest should happen to keep the nation from perishing (John 11:50)? How does John 11:51 say that he ended up saying such a thing? What does John 11:52 explain about for whom Jesus would die? What did the council plot from that day (John 11:53)? How did Jesus respond at this time (John 11:54)? What was near in John 11:55? What did many from the country go up to Jerusalem to do? Whom did they seek (John 11:56)? Who else sought Him (John 11:57)? For what reasons?

In the Gospel reading this week, we see two different kinds of responses to Christ.

The one thing that this passage screams is that, when confronted with who Christ shows Himself to be, neutrality is not a possible response. It cannot be denied that He “works many signs.” What’s ironic is that the Council is more concerned with the wrath of Rome than they are with the wrath of God.

Oh, how we need to know God’s wrath against ourselves! The composite picture throughout the gospels was that the chief priests and Pharisees thought themselves to be doing pretty well. As a result, they seem not to fear the wrath of God at all.

But the crowds who were coming for Passover sure seemed to. And well they ought to have! For the Passover was a reminder that the wrath of God applies equally to all. That there is no one who is safe in any other way than by the blood of the Lamb.

And this Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, came to die for many of the nation of the Jews, and many “children of God who were scattered abroad.” Whether in the nation or scattered abroad, the only ones who would be saved are those who are covered in the blood of the Lamb.

If the council had only realized that they were in much greater danger than the danger of what the Romans might do to them! If they had only paid attention to the sign of Passover! If they had only paid attention to Jesus’s own signs about Who He is!

What did Jesus show about Himself by raising Lazarus? What did the Passover show about us? What do we need from Jesus if we are going to be safe from God’s wrath?

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH354 “Not All the Blood of Beasts”