Lazarus is Dead, Part
8
. . . That One Man Die . . .
The following Scriptural Nugget is
the eighth in a mini-series based on John 11.
"You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." (John 11:50)
I can just imagine what might have gone on in Caiaphus' court
that afternoon. Conversations might have run something
like this: "Now Jesus has really done it!
This trouble maker just doesn't know when to stop! He's
already got the people on so mesmerized by His Miracles
that they will no longer listen to reason! But now He has
made them actually believe that Jesus raised up a
man--Lazarus--who had been dead for four days! But what
can we do? How can we stop the eye witness accounts?
How can we argue that Lazarus really never was dead in the first
place? How can we save our face in front of these people?
How could we get rid of this Man before He causes any more
trouble???"
On and on the discussion might have gone. Nothing was
gained, except for this: The Jewish religious leaders had
but one choice to save the nation from this horrific problem: Jesus
had to go! And then, Caiaphus makes his famous statement:
"You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die
for the people than that the whole nation perish." (John 11:50)
What a powerful statement! One man must die for the people
to be saved. If he had only known the power behind his
words! If he had only realized that Jesus' entire purpose
on Earth was just this--That One Man might die so that the
Jewish nation would, indeed, not perish! And now just the
Jews, "but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them
together and make them one." (John 11:52).
No, he didn't understand.
However, his statement
becomes all the more powerful as a result of his lack of
understanding! You see, it was because of ONE MAN that sin
came into the world -- the man Adam (See Romans 5:12-18).
Wasn't it only fair that the solution to the problem might also
come from ONE MAN -- The God/Man Jesus Christ?
And what a sacrifice He made! His life for the lives of
ungrateful, undeserving humanity! But He did it out of
Love for each of us: "For God so loved the world that He
gave His only Begotten Son . . ." (John 3:16).
Was Jesus' sacrifice for naught? Only if
YOU refuse to
accept it! He died for YOU. But if you choose to
reject this gift, then it was all for nothing!
Don't waste Jesus' sacrifice, my friend! Answer His
call--Today!
Please see the Thursday edition of The
Illustrator for "Lazarus is Dead! Part
9"
Love in Christ,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart,
Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets (
www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ ), Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org ,