The Unintended Sacrifice (John 11:45-53)

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish." 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

John is the only gospel writer to share what he calls the high priest’s prophecy. In this remarkable passage we see two responses to Jesus. The first is belief. The second is rejection, typified by the Pharisees and the temple priests, especially Caiaphas the high priest. Jesus, concerned only with the glory of God, offends those seeking their own glory. The Council members, concerned that the popularity of Jesus will lead to a Roman crack down and their loss of power, seek to eliminate him.

Couching his thoughts in serving the nation of Israel, Caiaphas acts to save his power and position and keep Rome satisfied. He will have Jesus killed as a substitute for the sake of the people of God: “It is better that one man should die for the people, not that all the people should perish.” One wonders why God would allow such an ungodly man to occupy this most sacred office unless God’s will is for the high priest to offer up the ultimate sacrifice.

God established the priesthood after the exodus of his people from Egypt in the wilderness. The role of the priests was to make sacrifices for the people and reconcile them to God. The Book of Leviticus lays out these sacrifices in detail—excruciating detail for most people, who plan to read the entire Bible starting with Genesis and stop when they hit Leviticus! In chapter 16, Leviticus describes the explanation of the office of the high priest and the role he plays for the people of God, especially on the Day of Atonement. Without recounting all the details, which you can (and should) read for yourself, the high priest makes atonement for the “uncleannesses of the people of Israel because of their transgressions, all their sins” (Lev 16:16) by killing a goat and bringing its blood into the Holy of Holies and sprinkling its blood over the mercy seat, the place of the presence of God. He alone is allowed into the space and only on this day to make atonement for the people.

God established the unique role of the priests, and especially the high priest, to make atoning sacrifices. In the words and actions of Caiaphas, we can see this role coming to its ultimate conclusion in the sacrifice of Jesus. He fulfills this role. Now we can understand why God created this bloody system overseen by those commissioned to serve him. That is why John says, Caiaphas “did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.” Caiaphas unknowingly advances the purposes of God, moving Jesus one step closer to the cross. God is sovereign. His plan to reconcile us to himself will not be thwarted. The cross of Christ is no mistake but at the heart of the purposes of God. God established the office of high priest and the sacrificial system to prefigure what would happen at the cross.

One final note: with the death of Jesus and the subsequent destruction of the Jerusalem temple by Rome in AD 70, the sacrificial system came to an end. As Hebrews 10:10-14 explains: “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”

Lord God, thank you for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Thank you that in the midst of things hard to understand, such as the ungodly hard-heartedness of Caiaphas, we can be assured that you are sovereign, working through things you established for our reconciliation. Thank you for leading your Son to the cross for the sake of all who believe in him. Thank you that he made there a perfect atonement for all time. Thank you for this amazing selfless act of grace. Please help us to comprehend the broadness of your forgiving grace and love for all your children who are scattered abroad, who you bring home in your Son, our Savior. Amen.