Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. 48 If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, 50 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.” 51 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, and not only for the nation, 52 but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53 So from that day on they planned to kill him. 54 So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. 56 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?” 57 For the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should inform them, so that they might arrest him.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and many of the Jews who witnessed the miracle began to believe in him. Some of them told the Pharisees what Jesus had done. The Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, was convened. The chief priests, representing the Sadducees, and the Pharisees—two groups often in opposition—united in their confusion and concern over how to handle Jesus. They feared his growing influence among the people because widespread belief in Jesus could provoke the Romans. The Jews could lose favor with Rome, and the Romans could come and destroy the Temple and the nation. Caiaphas, the high priest, suggests, that it would be better for one man (Jesus) to die than for the entire nation to suffer, which is both ironic and prophetic. Jesus’ death would unify the dispersed children of God. The Sanhedrin condemned Jesus, but they did so without due process or just cause. As his hour had not yet come (Jn. 7:30), Jesus retreated to a town called Ephraim, near the desert, and stayed there with His disciples, avoiding public life.
Passover was approaching, and many people traveled to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the feast. The crowds, aware of the growing tension surrounding Jesus, wonder if he would come to the Passover festival, despite the threat against Him. Meanwhile, the chief priests and Pharisees ordered anyone who knew where Jesus was to report it so that they might arrest Him.
Heavenly Father, open our hearts to believe in Jesus as the source of life and salvation, even when the world opposes him. Strengthen our faith, so that we may follow him with courage, knowing that his sacrifice brings redemption to all. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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