Perspectives: The Pharisees
John 11:45-48 (NIV)
Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
The Pharisees hear about Jesus’ resurrection of Lazarus and it fuels their decision to get rid of him once and for all. Today, we’re looking at John Chapter 11 from their perspective.
Imagine…you have built your life on a set of laws that you believe are totally correct. Your life is directed by them, and your security, significance, and power depend on them being upheld. Then, suddenly, everything turns upside-down and laws you’ve spent years of your life memorising in exact detail are all rewritten by a man claiming to be God. Everyone has stopped listening to you, but they love him. You are becoming unpopular and your influence is crumbling.
You would have to be extremely Christ-like to face this without an ounce of cynicism or jealousy.
I wonder whether you’ve ever been cynical about something you see happening at church? A healing? A new worship song? A new way of preaching or teaching? Perhaps you’ve been jealous of the way God is using someone else? Or God has challenged you to move out of your comfort zone and you’ve resisted and tried to take back control of your life from him? I know I have, and I know I’m not the only one.
So, when reflecting on the perspective of the Pharisees, we are faced with a choice. In those moments of cynicism, jealousy, discomfort and challenge, do we choose to resist, control, kill and squash what God might be doing as the Pharisees tried to…or do we humble ourselves, let go of our resistance and take a leap of faith into the unknowns, surprises and newness of life with Jesus?
Prayer - Jesus, please examine my heart and reveal anything there that is getting in the way of experiencing more of you. Help me to let go of cynicism, jealousy, and control.