April 9

Saturday, April 9, 2022
John 11:45-53

“From that day on they began to conspire to kill Jesus.”  Why?  Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead, and many of those who saw it began to believe in Jesus.  The leaders worry that Jesus will continue doing such signs, and soon “everyone will believe in Jesus.”  But the real threat, they think, is that the Romans will see the followers of Jesus as a threat to the status quo.  They fear the Romans will use violence to get things back to how they should be.  Caiaphas offers a solution: If we kill Jesus, his followers will eventually vanish.  He says, “One man dying for the people is better than if everyone dies.”  John tells us Caiaphas speaks more truthfully than he intends: Jesus will indeed die for the people.   But even more than that, John says, Jesus will also die to gather the scattered children of God into one.   As we prepare for Holy Week and the Cross, let us remember that Jesus’ death isn’t just for ourselves as individuals.  It is to restore our relationships with God - and with one another.  “May there be one flock under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Amen!

Reflection by Michael Compton