Word to the Wise
Saturday, April 9, 2022 - 5th Week of Lent - Sat
[Ezek 37:21-28 and John 11:45-56]"What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation" But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish." He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, but not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. [John]
The dramatic raising of Lazarus from the dead results in a meeting of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish authority, at the request of the chief priests and Pharisees. The conversation is summarized by the evangelist in the quotation above, but it is filled with irony. The chief priests are concerned about their position and the temple. The Pharisees are concerned about Jesus' attitude toward their version of Judaism and the Mosaic Law. Getting rid of Jesus seems the simplest solution to them. The irony of all of this is noted by the evangelist, who composed the gospel 60-70 years later. Caiaphas' prophecy would prove to be true. Jesus' death would have world-wide significance and the Romans did indeed destroy the nation about 40 years later in the Jewish revolt of 66-70 A.D..
All of this serves to build the dramatic tension that will be on full display with Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem, which we will celebrate as the opening act of the Passion tomorrow on Palm Sunday. The last lines of today's gospel scripture illustrate this: "Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, 'What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?'" He would indeed be there.
The same question can be asked of us. Are WE going to participate in the events of Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday and Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem. Will this week be just another week with Easter Sunday at the end with its celebration and no connection with the days before it? Can there be more to this than Easter bunnies and Easter eggs? To give Easter Sunday and the Lord's resurrection its full significance, we must bear the cross with him and die with him. (cf. Romans 6:3-4). Will WE come to the whole event? AMEN
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