Plotting

Plotting

John 12:10-11, NLT

Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Setting the Scene

Only a few weeks had gone by since Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. The fact that this miracle had caused many Jews to believe in Jesus had angered the leading priests so much that they were plotting to have both Jesus and Lazarus killed. From the Jewish leaders’ point of view, they could accuse Jesus of blasphemy because he was claiming equality with God. But Lazarus had done nothing of the kind. They wanted Lazarus dead simply because he was a living witness to Jesus’ power.

Note the contrast between the crowd (wanting to see Jesus and Lazarus) and the leading priests (wanting to kill both). The religious leaders, not the people, were actually guilty of Jesus’ death. The chief priests had already formulated a plan to kill Jesus (John 11:50-53); then they added Lazarus to their hit list. As someone who had been brought back to life by the person they wanted to kill, Lazarus was embarrassing to them.

Getting Personal

Who may feel threatened because of your faith in Christ?

What believers do you know or know of, here or in other countries, who have suffered severe persecution because they follow Jesus? What can you do to encourage them?

We might assume that everyone would be thrilled at Lazarus’s story—a person who had been dead was alive again! Instead, Lazarus was targeted by the leading priests for death because he was a powerful witness for Jesus and the power of God to transform lives. Lazarus was the ultimate before-and-after story; no one who knew him could doubt that Jesus had performed an amazing miracle in his life. Thus, jealous for their power and influence, the religious leaders felt threatened by Lazarus’s popularity and influence, so they decided to take him out.

Those who stand for Christ, honoring him as the sovereign Lord, often threaten existing power structures and undermine many worldly values. It happens in families, schools, and communities. We don’t know what happened to Lazarus, but we know Jesus’ story. And Christians throughout the world are following in his steps (Acts 5:40-42).

Talking to God

Spend some time today praying for your Christian brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted, some experiencing torture and death, just because they faithfully follow Christ. Pray that they will be filled with a strong sense of God’s presence and renewed courage and grace.