Not for that nation only

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.  – John 11.50-52

This is an amazingly intriguing little passage of scripture. It involves a group of Jews plotting what to do about Jesus. We know that there was a small pro-Jesus party of which Nicodemus was a member. The miracles of Christ were starting to worry some of the Jews because they felt like if the continued Rome would crack down on them and take away what liberties they had.

Caiaphas was a leading Jewish prophet who met with other Jews to try and deal with the Jesus issue. He came up with what he thought was a brilliant solution. He decided that they needed to find a way to kill Jesus because it is handier for one man to die, than for the entire nation to suffer.

Besides, he said he had a prophecy that Jesus would die for the nation and that He would ‘gather together in one all the children of God who were scattered abroad.’  The Bible even lets us know that the prophecy was from God, not in his own authority.

From this point on things are set in motion for Jesus’ death. It wouldn’t make any sense but for the fact that Jesus told us earlier that He was going to lay down His life. Caiaphas and the others would have had no power to do this if it wasn’t part of Jesus’ plan as revealed by the Father.

That alone is amazing stuff. Just as amazing I think is the fact that we see revealed here that Jesus’ death would not only deliver the Jews, but that His death was for more than just the Jewish nation. He died to gather people from all the nations of the earth.

Poor old Caiaphas never knew what a marvellous truth he was prophesying. All he wanted to do was get Jesus out of the way to placate Rome.

God was in control – even in what must have seemed like the darkest days. He still is.