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John 11 & 12 "Wait on the Lord"
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. 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." And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, 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." 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 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. (John 11:47-53)
After hearing that Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead the Jewish council met to consider what to do about Him. The problem they faced was more political than religious. The question of whether or not Jesus was from God was no longer the issue. Instead, the Jewish rulers feared that if Jesus got too popular the Roman armies would swoop in and crush them all. They were afraid for their nation, but also afraid for their own positions. As rulers of the people, they would be responsible in the eyes of the Roman overlords. They felt that they had to do something quick. Our memory verse today is Psalm 27:14, "Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart; wait I say on the Lord." The pressures and fears of this world would force us to make decisions quickly. We often feel like the Jewish council that if we do not do something soon all will be lost. "What shall we do?" is the natural question if God is not involved in our situation. But if God is involved then we should first ask, "What will God do?".
When God is not included in our plans, our methods also turn out to be ungodly. The high priest Caiaphas gave a good argument that seemed to be quite logical, "It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." The council took matters into its own hands and decided to kill Jesus to avoid trouble with the Romans. What the council did not know was that God was involved in their situation. It is very important to catch the significance that John puts on the high priest’s words. "Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied." Caiaphas did not understand the full meaning of what he had said. Caiaphas was not obeying God or even considering God. Caiaphas was seeking to kill Jesus for his own gain. And yet even though Caiaphas was evil, God spoke through him. We need to be very careful when we listen to those in authority over us. All authority is given by God and God uses it to bless His people. God often uses people in authority to force us to do things that we don’t want to do, to teach us things that we don’t want to learn. Sometimes the way that they do it is wicked but then we can be sure that God will judge them for it. Caiaphas and the other rulers of Jerusalem were judged only a few years later when the Romans did march in and destroy the nation. Their plan to save the nation through one man’s death failed. But because he was high priest Caiaphas’ words had a greater significance. Jesus’ death would save the people, but not only the nation of Israel. Jesus’ death would gather together the children of God from every nation.
Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said, "Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. "For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus. (John 12: 1-11)
Contrast the schemes of the Jewish council with the dinner at Bethany. The council was ruled by fear and they decided to make their move quickly. The dinner is a perfect example of waiting on the Lord. Everyone knew that at any moment soldiers could come bursting through the door and arrest them all. And yet there is no nervous planning, no last minute preparation, just waiting on the Lord Jesus. Notice that each one of them waits a different way. Martha served. For her the best way to pass the time was to stay busy taking care of the needs of Jesus and His flock. She was not busy trying to solve the problem, just the normal things that needed to be done. She waited on the Lord by waiting on his table. Mary worshiped. She sacrificed a precious treasure, the very costly fragrant oil. Her gift was generous, costing her much to thank Jesus for what would cost Him everything. She gave in humility and without concern for what others thought, anointing His feet and wiping it with her hair. Lazarus simply sat and ate with Jesus, but just by being there, alive, he was a silent testimony to the truth of everything that Jesus said. This group is so different from the council because Jesus is right there in the middle.
Only one could not wait. Judas saw the gift that Mary gave and complained, "Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" Only one spoke; Judas. The others were content to wait on the Lord, but Judas could not bear it. "How can you all just sit there when such great things are at stake?" The money could be used to give to the poor, the food to feed the hungry, the time to preach and heal. The time is short and there is so much left to do!" Jesus answered Judas, "For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." However you choose to wait on the Lord, knowing Him is far more important than any work that we can do for Him. The poor, the hungry and the lost all can wait. They have been poor, hungry and lost this long without us. Unless we have found Him we really don’t have anything for the lost anyway. Unless we are rich and full with Jesus we have nothing to give. Unless we know the deep love of Jesus, we will not have enough love for others to keep from simply helping ourselves at their expense. The result of not waiting on the Lord is that our actions only reflect ourselves. The council reflected fear and Judas reflected greed. The result of waiting on Jesus is that our actions reflect Him.
Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness. For this reason the people also met Him, because they heard that He had done this sign. The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!" Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor. Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. "Father, glorify Your name." Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "I have both glorified it and will glorify it again." Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to Him." Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself. This He said, signifying by what death He would die. (John 12:17-33)
Let’s skip over Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem
and save that material for Palm Sunday next month. Suffice it to say
that so many people welcomed Jesus into the city that the Pharisees
said, "Look, the world has gone after Him!" As if to verify
that, certain Greeks approached Philip about wanting to have an interview
with Jesus. When Philip and Andrew told Jesus, He took it as a sign
that these foreigners would come to seek Him. "The hour has come
that the Son of Man should be glorified." In our time we would
probably say, "Now I shall be famous." Everybody will know
my name! Indeed there are very few people in the world now who have
never heard the name of Jesus Christ. But Jesus chose a strange way
to be famous. "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and
dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."
Jesus could have easily been the most famous man in the world, and no
one else could even have come close. But Jesus intended to share His
glory with many. He did not want to remain alone as the Son of God,
but to gather together in one the children of God who were scattered
abroad. His response to the Greeks was, "If anyone serves Me, let
him follow Me; and where I am there My servant will be also. If anyone
serves Me, him My Father will honor. Jesus did not say that those servants
have to be Jewish. He said, "anyone". Anyone can know Jesus,
believe in Jesus, serve Jesus. That is why He died on the cross for
us, so that we could be gathered together in Him. Jesus chose to die
not just so that all men would know Him, but more importantly that all
men might know God. This was His purpose for coming so that God’s
name would glorified. And God agreed with Him speaking from heaven.
Jesus became famous in a way that is very different than we are used
to. The most famous person in the world when Jesus was alive was the
Roman Caesar. His face and name were imprinted on the coins that were
circulated throughout the Empire. The same things make people famous
today. Everyone knows the names of the rich and powerful. Jesus became
famous the opposite way. He emptied Himself of power and laid down His
life. He became the poorest of the poor. Jesus said, "Now is the
judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
Jesus was rejected by all, the Jews and the Romans and placed on the
cross to die. Lifted up into the air the people around Him mocked and
cursed Him and gambled over the only possession He had; His robe. But
at the foot of the cross people still gather. Not to curse and to mock,
but to wonder at a love so great that He would die for them. People
from every nation come not to reject Jesus but to be accepted, forgiven,
and cleansed by Him. One man died to save us all. This is why we wait
on Him. We serve Him because He first served us. We give to Him because
He first gave to us. We love Him because He first loved us.
Copyright 2000 Jonathan Wilson
All Rights Reserved
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