John 11:49-53 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You do know anything! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man should die for the people and not the whole nation should perish.” 51But he did not say this of his own, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, 52and not for the nation only but also in order that the scattered children of God might be gathered into one. 53Therefore, from that day on, they planned to put him to death.
John inserts in his account a curious statement from Caiaphas, the high priest that year. John interprets the phrase as prophetic. A significant turning point takes place in these verses. Up until this point, the Jews were talking and scheming about what to do. They had tried to arrest and stone Jesus while he was in the temple during the Feast of Tabernacles (8:59) and the Feast of Dedication (10:32) but could never get hold of him. Caiaphas was the presiding high priest of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council of the Jews. Caiaphas had been high priest since AD18, appointed by the Roman prefect Valerius Gratus. He was removed from office in AD 36. He was highly influential among the Jews, having held this position at least for over a decade by this point. John gives the time reference of that year, likely referring to the significant year of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion.
Caiaphas’ opening statement, as John records it, is rather demeaning to the rest of the group. He rebuked the rest as knowing nothing. He went on to describe the nothing in terms of politics and a good way to keep the peace. Get rid of the troublemaker so the rest of the people do not suffer retribution from the Romans. Caiaphas appealed to the self-preservation of the council with it is better for you. He thought that getting rid of Jesus would quiet things down and return things to the way they were. Caiaphas was trying to walk the fine line of appeasing the Romans, keeping his position and influence, and unifying the council against their common enemy.
In verses 51-52, John interprets Caiaphas’ statement spiritually. Caiaphas’ statement die for the people uses sacrificial terminology to indicate that Jesus should die rather than the nation and its leaders. John explains that Caiaphas was actually being prophetic. Jesus would serve as the sacrificial Lamb of God (1:29, 34) who would die for the sins of the world. The atonement language is strong in these verses, with the particular nuance of the sacrificial aspect of the atonement. Jesus took the place of the rest of the people. He died the death others deserved to die for their sins. His death would bring salvation to the Jews (the nation) and all people. The reference to the scattered children of God could refer to diaspora Jews or more inclusively as all who would believe in Jesus, both Jews and Gentiles. God so loved the whole world (3:16), not just a small group of Jews. Jesus died for all, to bring unity and salvation.
Verse 53 indicates that the rest of the council apparently agreed to Caiaphas’ idea of killing Jesus. With the Passover coming in a few days, they would have another opportunity with him in town. They just needed to find a way to capture him without creating a riot. John gives no specific time reference for Lazarus’ resurrection and the meeting of the Sanhedrin, but both likely took place before Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem known as the Triumphal Entry. Verse 55 indicates that the Passover would soon come, so that would be a prime time to arrest Jesus.
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