SATURDAY, FIFTH WEEK OF LENT
Ez 37: 21-28; Jer 31: 10-13; Jn 11: 45-56
WOULD YOU ALSO CRUCIFY HIM?
It is said that there are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who have no idea what happens. We find these kinds of people in today’s Gospel. Jesus always made things happen. Many people did not have even the slightest idea of what He did. Some watched Him with wonder and some were so skeptical. The skeptics, the chief priests and Pharisees were religious officials who were extremely concerned about Jesus and his growing influence on the people. They were angry but also fearful.
Jesus was a threat to their power and control over the people. The Chief Priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin, the ruling body of the Temple. When they gathered, many of them spoke of their fear of Jesus. Daily, he was growing in popularity. More and more people were following him. The Sanhedrin realized that if they did not take immediate action, they would lose their power and influence with the people. The Sanhedrin was also worried that the Romans might cease their land and take control over their nation.
In the course of this discussion, Caiaphas, who was the high priest, voiced what many of them were thinking: Jesus had to die! There was no alternative: he was too much of a threat to their power. Caiaphas justified this course of action by saying that it was better for one man to die rather than have the nation torn apart. Thus the stage was set. The decision had been made. They put into motion a plan to kill Jesus.
While Jesus was a problem solver. They had a handy solution too; just finish Him! If our eyes fail to capture the wonders that God is doing in our lives there is always the danger that we too may take the stand of Caiaphas and crucify Him; for we may find God as the cause of all our problems.
Response: The Lord will keep us, as a shepherd keeps his flock.
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