Sin is deceitful and unbelief often resists belief, even when confronted by miracles and evidence of Jesus’ power and love.  Chapter eleven illustrates this very clearly.

Notice what the Bible says happened after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.  In verse 45 we’re told that “many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.”  Notice that it says “many”, not “all” believed.  Think about that for a moment.  There were some present that saw Jesus raise from the dead a man who had been dead four days (verse39) and they still did not believe in Him.

Instead they went to “the Pharisees” and reported on Jesus’ activities (verse 46).  Then the Pharisees and “chief priests” got together and discussed a strategy for dealing with Jesus.  They were afraid that if they allowed Him to continue everyone would eventually believe in Him (verses 47-48).  They were not really concerned about the truth of Jesus was or the ministry He was doing that actually helped people – they were concerned about their personal status and positions of honor (verse 48).

It was Caiaphas, the high priest, who came up with the idea of killing Jesus.  He argued that it was better for one man to die, if that was what it took to keep peace, than it was for the whole nation to be punished by the Romans because of controversy or rebellion against authority (verses 49-52).  Without knowing it, Caiaphas was actually describing what would happen to Jesus – not for geopolitical reasons, but for spiritual reasons.  Jesus would die as one man for everyone – so their sins could be forgiven.

It was at this moment the religious leaders made the definite decision that Jesus had to die (verse 53).  Afterward they enlisted people to be on the lookout for Jesus and let them know where He was so they could arrest (“seize”) Him (verse 57).

We’ve seen the division of opinion about Jesus growing stronger in the preceding chapters and now it has hardened into hostility and a plot to kill Him.  Both the religious leaders and other ordinary people who knew for a fact Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead are part of the plot.  Amazing!

I recently read an article about Bart Campolo, son of well-known liberal preacher, author, and social activist Tony Campolo, in which he describes his decision to abandon belief in God and become an atheist.  Bart Campolo is now the first “humanist chaplain” at the University of Southern California.  In the article he indicates that because his prayers for healing were not always answered, it made him doubt God’s existence.  He said, “Why does God heal so many people of cancer but never an amputee grows his limb back?”  He decided he no longer believed in “a supernatural God” or that “Jesus rose from the dead” or in “the core fundamentals of the faith anymore.”

People sometimes say, “if God did such and such,” then I would believe.  Maybe! Maybe not!  Not everyone who saw Lazarus walk out of the tomb where he had been buried four days believed in Jesus.  Ultimately faith is not about we see – even if we think it is.  There is something deep within each human being that has to decide if he or she will genuinely submit – completely submit – their total being to their Creator.  Many good people who care about others are unable or unwilling to do that.  It is not about faith.  It is about the will.  It is about the power of self not wanting to completely relinquish the throne of our existence.

Pastor Steve Hogg