The following Scriptural Nugget is the last one in a mini-series based on John 11.
“He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation . . .” (John 11:51-52) Lazarus, the man who had been dead for 4 days, is now walking the streets, Jesus is getting the credit, and the Jewish leaders are at their wits end. Just how can one stop a man who raises the dead? Caiaphus knows how. Caiaphus wants Jesus dead!: “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” (John 11:50). Did Caiaphus know the power behind his words? Did he realize that in this statement he was summing up the entire plan of Salvation? The Bible says that he didn’t! “He did not say this on his own . . .” (John 11:51). Caiaphus was under the power of the Holy Spirit when he made this famous statement — “as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.” (John 11:51-52). Wait a minute! How can this be? Caiaphus was planning to have Jesus killed! Caiaphus was the enemy! How could he have “prophesied”? How could he? Because sometimes God chooses those who are not of His flock to be the bearers of His messages! Just what does this mean to each of us? It means that we had better attention to anything that we hear! It means that everything we hear needs to be put to a simple test to find out if it is of God or not! It means that we have to truly rely on the Holy Spirit to help us discern if it’s truly of God. So often Christians hang onto the words of their pastors and church leaders and dismiss every other thing as “Not of God”! The sad thing is this: Sometimes those “men of God” are speaking for themselves, and sometimes God uses the ungodly to be His voice! How can we know the difference? Only by taking every thought and idea back to the Word of God for verification! Don’t be led astray, my friend, by hanging on to your pastor’s every word and dismissing the ideas brought about by others. Instead, ask God to verify for you the authenticity of the idea through His Word. Lord God, help me remember to take this soooo important step every time I hear a new (or an old!) idea! Don’t let me be led astray by blindly hanging onto every word of my church or the leaders of my church. Instead, help me to listen for YOUR voice, no matter what the source.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets ( www.scripturalnuggets.org ), Answers2Prayer Ministries, www.Answers2Prayer.org
(To access the entire “Lazarus is Dead!” mini-series, please click here.)