Betrayal for money

June 27, 2025 | Read Luke 22:1-6

The heading, "Judas agrees to betray Jesus" appears in the passage for today.

A deal was made. It was between Judas and the religious leaders we have been reading about during this module. They gave Judas money if he would hand Jesus over to them in the absence of a crowd.

These leaders feared the crowds, for they might stand up for the One who had been performing such miracles, signs and wonders before them, whom they thought could be the One to deliver them from Roman oppression.

In today's reading, the 4th verse stood out to me. I mention some symbolism I see in the verse below, in italics:

He [Judas] went away

• One of the sheep left the fold ...

and conferred with the chief priests and officers

• and met with the wolves ...

how he might betray Jesus to them.

• to hand over the shepherd to the wolves.

In the last several passages, we have seen how the leaders showed their disdain for Jesus when He claimed to be able to forgive sins, slandered his name as being in league with the demons, tried to shut him down as a rule breaker who healed on the Sabbath, threatened to ostracize those who might follow him, plotted overtly to kill Him, and conspired with His own follower.

Jesus knew it all. Yet still He washed the feet of Judas. John 13:5. Yet still He prayed from the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

June 25, 2025 | Read and Think About

• John 11:1-16

• and 11:38-54

The death of Lazarus is not the only "dying" that is dealt with in this chapter. The chapter has several references to impending death. It is a heavy chapter.

The first reference to dying (or punishment by death) was when Jesus announced they would go to Bethany (a stone's throw from Jerusalem) to see about Lazarus. On hearing it, the apostles questioned whether that was wise, remarking that the leaders "were just now seeking to stone you."

This is a literal reference to the events of John 10:31. Jesus had equated Himself with God, and the Jewish leaders had picked up stones for an execution. That moment was not Jesus' time, but the intent of the leaders was there.

Turning back to chapter 11 and the account of Lazarus, death was still on the apostles' minds in verse 16. As they were leaving, Thomas announced to the others, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." As a concept at least, they considered dying as a possible outcome for themselves.

Of course, that didn't happen during the events recorded by John.

But the heading in my Bible over John 11:45 says, "The Plot to Kill Jesus." This is the third impactful reference to death in this chapter, other than the main story of Lazarus. The leaders' plot was the result of them witnessing or finding out about the raising of Lazarus, and what followed that. In chapter 11, John gives 3 reasons why the leaders entered into this plot:

1. Because many of the people who saw the raising of Lazarus now believed in Jesus. (11.45)

   
   

2. Because they realized that Jesus would continue to grow in popularity and power. (11.48)

   
   

3. Because this growth would cause the Romans to sense an impending insurrection, and they would come down hard on the Jews. (11.48)

Caiaphas was the high priest of the leaders, and a main organizer of this plot. In verse 50, Caiaphas made a famous statement, "it is better that one man should die for the people, than that the whole nation should perish."

And in an editorial way, John wrote in the next verse that Caiaphas was right, Jesus did die for the people. He died for His people who lived then, those here and now, and everyone in between. He accepted the Father's predetermined plan, willingly.

He died for you. He died for me. He offers eternal salvation; it is up to us to accept it.

Threat of Ostracism

June 23, 2025 | Read and Think About John 9:13-34

This passage from John's gospel immediately follows another miraculous healing by Jesus (restoring sight to a blind man). Again this occurred on a Sabbath, and again some religious leaders accused Jesus of being a rulebreaker, even going so far as to investigate the occurrence.

This is now very late in Jesus' earthly ministry. Some sources put it approximately six months before the crucifixion. The tension around the works and teachings of Jesus, at least for the leaders, feels almost at a boiling point.

An indication of the leaders' animosity toward Him is seen in verse 29: "... as for this fellow, we don't even know where he comes from." To us, it may seem like a subtle dig at Jesus over the rumors that Mary had conceived out of wedlock and his actual father is unknown. But in that time, it was anything but subtle. It was an over-the-top insult hurled by them.

In the passage, John reveals another tactic used by the leaders to prevent people from following Jesus. According to verse 21-23, the parents of the formerly blind man were brought into the investigation. The council asked them many questions: is this your son? Was he blind? How long had he been blind? How were his eyes were opened? Who opened them?

And the answer they gave is remarkable: our son will need to speak to this himself; we cannot be witnesses in this matter.

"His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue." verse 22.

In the time and place, this threat of ostracism was coercion. To be cast out of the synagogue would strike at the very social and economic fabric of a family. Friendships would be lost. A person's livelihood would be jeopardized. This threat of being put out was not just a practical or moral lever, but a psychological one as well.

John is showing that this group of leaders would stop at nothing to silence the Lord and turn people away from following Him.

And if you are asking the question "Why," go to the Bible passage featured in the next post.