They Plotted to Kill Jesus!

Saturday, April 12, 2025

Ez 37: 21-28; Jn 11:45-56

Today’s Gospel highlights the unfolding of many events that led to the death of Jesus.

1.The raising of Lazarus inspired many to believe in Jesus, as they all regarded that raising the dead was clearly God’s domain. Afraid that more people would follow him, the religious leaders, more than ever, felt the need to eliminate Jesus to ensure their survival and dominance. It is strange that those who accused Jesus of blasphemy (because he claimed to be the Son of God) wanted to eliminate him for the same reason lest ‘all will believe in him.’ The words and works of Jesus divide humanity between those who believe and those who reject. 

2. The religious leaders say, ‘The Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.’ Biblical scholars believe that ‘our land’ refers to the Jerusalem Temple, around which their survival and dominance were established. Now, the rising popularity of Jesus may endanger their very survival because Romans would read an insurrection into the crowd that gathered around the leadership of Jesus. Though their fear of Romans could be true, what they feared more was the loss of their dominance and control. 

3. The statement of Caiaphas that ‘one man should die instead of the people’ was a cunning response, though unwittingly his prophecy revealed the redemptive plan of God for humanity through Jesus. Here, John deserves praise for reserving the credit of prophecy to the office (of the high priest) and not to the man (Caiaphas). 

4. Jesus hid from the sight of the public not out of fear but because his time had not yet come. 

Reflecting on the silent suffering of Jesus and his resolute will to embrace the cross, I am reminded of the quote by the American Benedictine nun that reads, ‘Goodness carries us through the hard moments of life and brings us out better on the other side. It is patience when we have reason to be frustrated, generosity when we qualify to be frugal, and the public commitment to the truth when not a soul in the world would be expecting us to speak out.’

As evil seeks the fall and death of a good man, Jesus steels his heart for the moment of intense suffering and death. 

Let us pray we may live out the sacrifice of Jesus by seeking to do the good and fighting against injustice.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar