John 11:45-53 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man does many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, You know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
‘Some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.’ Many believed, but some, perhaps the temple spies, went to report to the rulers. They admitted the miracles, but their hearts were hardened to resist all claims of Jesus on their lives.
They thought that if they did not get rid of Jesus, all men will believe in Him and make Him king. They feared that the Romans will come against the Jews to destroy the nation and take the temple from them. [Which came to past – Job 3:25] In the law the priests were in office for life, but here it was an annual term; the Romans and Herod chose whom they pleased for this office. According to Josephus (Antiquities 18:4:3), Joseph was his name and Caiaphas his surname.
‘Expedient for us, that one man should die for the people’ Caiaphas prophesied that it was in their interest that Jesus should die in the place of the whole nation. God seemingly used the ungodly high priest as He used Balaam in Num. 22:38.
‘One’ referring to the Jews of the dispersion, this will be fulfilled at the second coming (Matt. 24:31; Isa. 11:11-12; Eze. 37:1-28). ‘Together for to put him to death’ At other times they had plotted His death, but the council had been divided. God used the divisions to give time for the teaching, example, and miracles of Jesus to do their work.
Living the Word 