Chapter 59—Priestly Plottings
This chapter is based on
John 11:47-54
.
Bethany was so near Jerusalem that the news of the raising of
Lazarus was soon carried to the city. Through spies who had witnessed
the miracle the Jewish rulers were speedily in possession of the facts. A
meeting of the Sanhedrin was at once called to decide as to what should
be done. Christ had now fully made manifest His control of death and
the grave. That mighty miracle was the crowning evidence offered by
God to men that He had sent His Son into the world for their salvation.
It was a demonstration of divine power sufficient to convince every
mind that was under the control of reason and enlightened conscience.
Many who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus were led to believe
on Jesus. But the hatred of the priests against Him was intensified.
They had rejected all lesser evidence of His divinity, and they were
only enraged at this new miracle. The dead had been raised in the
full light of day, and before a crowd of witnesses. No artifice could
explain away such evidence. For this very reason the enmity of the
priests grew deadlier. They were more than ever determined to put a
stop to Christ’s work.
The Sadducees, though not favorable to Christ, had not been so full
of malignity toward Him as were the Pharisees. Their hatred had not
been so bitter. But they were now thoroughly alarmed. They did not
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believe in a resurrection of the dead. Producing so-called science, they
had reasoned that it would be an impossibility for a dead body to be
brought to life. But by a few words from Christ their theory had been
overthrown. They were shown to be ignorant both of the Scriptures
and of the power of God. They could see no possibility of removing
the impression made on the people by the miracle. How could men
be turned away from Him who had prevailed to rob the grave of its
dead? Lying reports were put in circulation, but the miracle could not
be denied, and how to counteract its effect they knew not. Thus far the
Sadducees had not encouraged the plan of putting Christ to death. But
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