The Plot to Kill Jesus – John 11:45-57

How might Christianity be challenged or threatened by Jesus if he were to come back today?

Bible Reading

John 11:45-57

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.

54  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.

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.

(NKJ)

 

Food for Thought

1.   Without naming names, who is the most dishonest and self-serving person you have ever known?

2.   What examples of selfishness do you see in a typical day in Lagos?

3.   How do you deal with problem people?

 

Bible Study

4.   How did many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary respond to Jesus’ miracle? (11:45)

5.   Who was told about Jesus’ miracle? (11:46)

6.   What did the Sanhedrin fear? (11:47-48)

7.   What did Caiaphas say about Jesus? (11:49-50)

8.   What did the Jewish leaders of the Sanhedrin plot to do? (11:53)

9.   How did Jesus respond to the Sanhedrin plot? (11:54)

10. Why did many people go to Jerusalem? (11:55)

11. What orders had the chief priests given to the people? (11:57)

 

Kingdom Dynamics

12. What motive other than ministry might people have for engaging in church service?

13. What personal ambitions might subvert the goal of serving men in church organisations?

14. What can you do to ensure that your motives are pure?

15. Why is it so difficult to have pure and selfless motives in life?

16. How do you respond when your goals and your motives conflict with one another?

17. Why was it necessary to kill Jesus?

18. Why is it dangerous for some people if others believe in Jesus?

19. What would happen if everybody were to believe in Jesus?

20. In what way would Jesus die for the people according to Caiaphas?

21. What would have happened to Israel if Jesus had not died?

22. What happened to Israel as a result of Jesus’ death?

23. If Jesus is not a sacrifice for sins, what is the point of his death?

24. Did the religious authorities believe that Jesus was the Messiah?

25. Why would human beings decide to kill God’s Messiah?

26. How valid should we take the commentaries of writers of the gospel?

27. How might Christianity be challenged or threatened by Jesus if he were to come back today?

28. What would be the attitude of Pastors and why if Jesus were to come back today?

 

Practical Christianity

29. How would you tell a self-centred person the gospel message?

30. What self-centred motive will you ask God to help you change?