Approaching the Last Passover
Study No. 20 - Chapter 11:45 – 12:11
Because of Lazarus’ resurrection, many Jews ‘believed’ on Jesus. 45
Special Sanhedrin council to discuss the ‘Jesus problem’. 46 – 53
* Problematic evidence
Caiaphas’ solution – the Jews were permitted to govern their own people and even make arrests. To offer one of their trouble-maker inmates for capital punishment was an opportunity to gain respect with the Roman government. They had a practice of doing this annually.
* Jesus’ ‘evasive’ action. 54
Ephraim is about 16 miles to the North – east.
The approaching Passover 55 - 57
* Supper with Lazarus, Martha and Mary. 1 - 11
Jesus is ‘anointed’ in preparation for His death. 3
The expense of the compound is criticized by Judas. 4-8
* An Inquisitive audience 9
* Some report to the authorities
Plans are amended to include Lazarus’ death also. 9, 10
* Some believe. 11
Several reminders concerning belief (saving faith).
1. It comes in (or involves several) stages –
John 2:23 ¶ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast [day], many believed (???????) in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24 But Jesus did not commit (???????) himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
60 ¶ Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?
62 "What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
John 6:66 From that [time] many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Mr 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
2. It involves ‘maintenance’
Ro 2:6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": (7) eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
evidence of continued faith more than continued works.
Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (‘beginning of our confidence’ is another way of describing faith)
3. It continues to grow –
Eph 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (etc.)
The following ‘nobleman’ believed something about Jesus or he would not have bothered seeking Him out.
John 4:49 The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"
50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"
52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."
53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.
4. It involves a multiple focus Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that
He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
John 8:24 "… for if you do not believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins."
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
5. It is destroyed when a part of the object is rejected or doubted. “If it is you, let me come to you, walking on the water”
Heb 6:1 ¶ Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary [principles] of Christ, let us go on to perfection (completion or maturity), not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this we will do if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Faith is destroyed in the above example when it does not “go on” and it, in fact, ceases or “falls away” see also 2 Peter 1:4-10
Believing in Jesus is the only ‘work’ that we can do for our salvation. John 6:28 ¶ Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" (29) Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
And while ‘believing’ is not a difficult work, what makes it even less vulnerable is the following verse:
Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Because of Lazarus’ resurrection, many Jews ‘believed’ on Jesus. 45
Special Sanhedrin council to discuss the ‘Jesus problem’. 46 – 53
* Problematic evidence
Caiaphas’ solution – the Jews were permitted to govern their own people and even make arrests. To offer one of their trouble-maker inmates for capital punishment was an opportunity to gain respect with the Roman government. They had a practice of doing this annually.
* Jesus’ ‘evasive’ action. 54
Ephraim is about 16 miles to the North – east.
The approaching Passover 55 - 57
* Supper with Lazarus, Martha and Mary. 1 - 11
Jesus is ‘anointed’ in preparation for His death. 3
The expense of the compound is criticized by Judas. 4-8
* An Inquisitive audience 9
* Some report to the authorities
Plans are amended to include Lazarus’ death also. 9, 10
* Some believe. 11
Several reminders concerning belief (saving faith).
1. It comes in (or involves several) stages –
John 2:23 ¶ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast [day], many believed (???????) in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
24 But Jesus did not commit (???????) himself unto them, because he knew all men,
25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
60 ¶ Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, "This is a hard saying; who can understand it?"
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, "Does this offend you?
62 "What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
John 6:66 From that [time] many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.
Mr 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
2. It involves ‘maintenance’
Ro 2:6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds": (7) eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
evidence of continued faith more than continued works.
Heb 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, (‘beginning of our confidence’ is another way of describing faith)
3. It continues to grow –
Eph 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, (etc.)
The following ‘nobleman’ believed something about Jesus or he would not have bothered seeking Him out.
John 4:49 The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!"
50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.
51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, "Your son lives!"
52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."
53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.
4. It involves a multiple focus Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that
He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
John 8:24 "… for if you do not believe that I am [He], you will die in your sins."
John 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
5. It is destroyed when a part of the object is rejected or doubted. “If it is you, let me come to you, walking on the water”
Heb 6:1 ¶ Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary [principles] of Christ, let us go on to perfection (completion or maturity), not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this we will do if God permits.
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Faith is destroyed in the above example when it does not “go on” and it, in fact, ceases or “falls away” see also 2 Peter 1:4-10
Believing in Jesus is the only ‘work’ that we can do for our salvation. John 6:28 ¶ Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" (29) Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
And while ‘believing’ is not a difficult work, what makes it even less vulnerable is the following verse:
Php 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;