27 March 2022

Sunday School Special : Lesson 105

Sunday School Special : Lesson 105
Text: John 11:45-56

Speaker:
Rev Dr Charles Tan
Series:
Sunday School Special

Message Notes

SUNDAY SCHOOL SPECIAL 27 March 2022

Text: John 11:45-56

Subject: Evangelism

Focus: “I am the resurrection and the life IV” John 11:25

INTRODUCTION

1. The Ministry of the Lord Jesus was closely related to “Life”

a) Life on earth
b) Life in heaven

2. The Life that the Lord Jesus spoke about:

a) New Life (John 3:3)
b) Eternal Life (John 3:16)
c) Abundant Life (John 10:10)

3. The Power of Life and Death

a) Centered in the Lord Jesus
b) He is the Resurrection and the Life
i) Wonderfully demonstrated
ii) Proven in the most dramatic way

RESPONSES OF THE JEWS

1. Positive Response of some

“Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him”. John 11:45

a) They had come to the bereaved family of Mary
b) They had seen what the Lord Jesus did
i) In the past
ii) In the present
c) They “believed in Him”

2. Negative Response of others

46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs.

48 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.”

John 11:46-48

a) These Jews reported to their fellow-Pharisees
b) They shared what they had seen (John 11:46)

CONVENING A COUNCIL MEETING

1. Question of Response

“What shall we do?” John 11:47a

2. Grudging acknowledgment

“For this Man works many signs.”  John 11: 47b

3. Fearful concern I

“If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him” John 11:48a

4. Fearful concern II

“And the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” John 11:48b

a) Fear of the Romans
i) Unfounded fear
ii) Personal fear
b) Fear of losing their place (Temple)
If they lose followers, their Temple revenues would be affected
c) The nation (Judea)
Wild fear that the followers would do things that could anger Rome!

CAIAPHAS THE HIGH PRIEST

49 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,

50 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.”

51 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,

52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

John 11:49-52

1. Caiaphas

Identified as the presiding High Priest

2. His speech to the Council

a) Berates the Council
“You know nothing at all” John 11:49a
b) Expediency Plan
“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.” John 11:49b
i) Suggests that the Lord Jesus should be sacrificed
ii) The nation would then be spared

3. Comment of John the author

51 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,

52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.

John 11:51-52

a) The prophecy of Caiaphas
“He prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation” John 11:51
i) This does not make Caiaphas a prophet in the technical sense of the word
ii) He cannot be compared to prophets like Isaiah or Jeremiah
b) Prophetic utterances
i) Saul uttered prophecies too (1 Samuel 10:11)
ii) But he was a foolish and vindictive king
c) An unwitting prophet
i) Caiaphas spoke as an unwitting prophet
ii) He was not an anointed prophet
iii) His prophetic statement was, of course, not an original prophecy
iv) That the Lord Jesus would die for the nation, indeed for the world, was already a truth that the true prophets of God had already declared

4. The significance of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ

a) He would die for the nation
i) But not in the way he meant it
ii) But as the Lord God had planned it
b) Ramifications of His death
i) He would gather as one the children of God
ii) All believers, scattered abroad, would be one in the Lord Jesus (John 17:21)

PLOTTING THE DEATH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

55 And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.

56 Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?”

57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.

John 11:53-55-57

1. The Plotting was done by the Sanhedrin Council (John 11:53)

2. The Command of the Council

a) If anyone knew the whereabouts of the Lord Jesus
b) He must report it
c) So that He could be arrested

3. High alert 

a) Many went to Jerusalem to seek cleansing (ritual cleansing) in preparation to celebrate the Passover (John 11:55)
b) The question on the mind of many
i) Would the Lord Jesus come to Jerusalem?
ii) Some did not think that He would turn up (John 11:56)

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. John 11:54

1. Change of Ministry

He did not openly minister in Jerusalem among the Jews (John 11:54a)

2. Place of Ministry

a) He was in the city of Ephraim
b) This was near Samaria
c) His ministry was to His Disciples (John 11:54b)

CONCLUSION

1. Evangelistic Ministry

a) Sometimes, people will respond favourably
b) At other times, some can be very hostile

2. The Example of the Lord Jesus

a) He walked in wisdom
b) He leaned on the leading of His Father 
c) He remained:
i) Consistent
ii) Courageous
iii) Committed