Main verses:
11:47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many miraculous signs. 11:48 If we allow him to go on in this way, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away our sanctuary and our nation.”
Jesus had done a miracle that the religious leaders did not have any room to deny nor they were able to deny that Jesus was the Messiah/Savior/King. They knew that if they "allowed" Him to go on everyone would believe that He is the Messiah. However, they worried that when the Messiah was recognized by the people then the Romans would know about that and then their current relationship with the Romans would fall.
(PNTC) Rather, they express their fear that popular messianic expectations will be fired to fever pitch, and, with or without Jesus’ sanction, set off an uprising that would bring down the full weight of Rome upon their heads. They fear such reprisals could end in destruction of ‘our place’ (almost certainly a reference to the temple...) and nation (i.e. the semi-autonomous status of the Jewish nation)... They are prompted less by dispassionate concern for the well-being of the nation than for their own positions of power and prestige...The rapid changes in power across the previous three centuries make such fears understandable, if not admirable.
11:49 Then one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said, “You know nothing at all! 11:50 You do not realize that it is more to your advantage to have one man die for the people than for the whole nation to perish.”
(NET) In his own mind Caiaphas was no doubt giving voice to a common-sense statement of political expediency. Yet he was unconsciously echoing a saying of Jesus himself (cf. Mark 10:45). Caiaphas was right; the death of Jesus would save the nation from destruction. Yet Caiaphas could not suspect that Jesus would die, not in place of the political nation Israel, but on behalf of the true people of God; and he would save them, not from physical destruction, but from eternal destruction (cf. 3:16–17).
Reflection: Caiphas only believed in the things in the natural world, the power of human government. His statement, “For this man is performing many miraculous signs. 11:48 If we allow him to go on in this way…” is ironic. If Jesus is able to perform so many miracles then He is God. If He is God then why did Caiphas need to be afraid of the Romans? Obviously, Caiphas did not believe in God nor was he looking forward to the kingdom of God. Am I like him? I only see this world with only physical influence and ignore the sovereignty of God? Yes, human rulers are powerful and fearful, but God is above them. Also, Caiphas was satisfied with his worldly position and thus not looking forward to the kingdom of God or the presence of God. Am I like that? Too comfortable with the world and not looking forward to its end?
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