The Plot To Kill Lazarus — Andrew Forrest

John 12:9-11

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

In chapter 11, we saw that Jesus’s decision to go back to the area around Jerusalem to save Lazarus would lead directly to His own death—life for Lazarus would mean death for Jesus. Here, we see that the leaders of the Jews would also like to have Lazarus murdered as well, since his very existence meant that people were believing in Jesus.

The reason the crowd’s arrival is important is because it shows the chief priests that they won’t be able just to grab Jesus in broad daylight—they will need another way to get at Him when the crowds aren’t around. Judas will be the one who gives them what they need; he betrays Jesus on the night of the Last Supper, when everyone in Jerusalem is preparing for the Passover meal.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The chief priests would rather commit murder than have the people believe in Jesus, even though believing in Jesus would mean life for Israel. It is a remarkable statement of human wickedness—we would rather kill than admit we were wrong.