Plotting Against God

Can you imagine plotting against God? It seems unthinkable doesn’t it?

But yet, there are those who do. What is really surprising is when those who claim to serve God do this.

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

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.
⁵³ Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.  -John 11:45-53                                                                                         

As a believer and follower of Christ, not only do I see how horrible this is (rebellion against God), but I also see how foolish. The “religious” leaders, who knew all the mighty works of God, were going to try and kill His Son. [1]  Why would they do such a thing?

They had grown accustomed to a certain lifestyle and Jesus was about to mess it all up. They had been enjoying all of the prestige of their office and the admiration of the people, but in reality, they were nothing more than Roman agents used to keep peace in the nation. Rome had given them much freedom to do what they wanted, as long as they kept the people peaceful.

How far were they willing to go to keep their power?

9 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. ¹⁰ But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, ¹¹ because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.  –John 12:9-11                                                                                        

Not only were they willing to kill God’s Son, they were willing to wipe out any evidence of His miracles and deity. 

It is easy for us to say, “I would never do that!” Peter said the same thing (Mat. 26:35, 69-75).

My prayer is that we would grow so close to Jesus, nothing this world has to offer would even seem appetizing. May we shun “ANYTHING” that competes for our first love-Christ Jesus.

God bless~

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[1] See Luke 20:9-19