February
15, 2003
GATHERING
THE CHILDREN OF GOD
"Being
high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for
the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He
would gather together in one the children of God who were
scattered abroad" (John 11:51, 52, NKJV).
Following
Lazarus's resurrection, some of the Jews reported to their
leaders what they had seen and what Jesus did. "Then
the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and
said, 'What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If
we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him,
and the Romans will come and take away both our place and
nation.'
"And
one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to
them, 'You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it
is expedient for us that one man should die for the people,
and not that the whole nation should perish.' Now this he
did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that
year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and
not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together
in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. "Then,
from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death" (John
11:47-53).
"In
declaring that one man should die for the nation, Caiaphas
indicated that he had some knowledge of the prophecies, although
it was very limited. But John, in his account of this scene,
takes up the prophecy, and shows its broad and deep significance.
He says, 'And not for that nation only, but also that He would
gather together in one the children of God who were scattered
abroad.' How blindly did the haughty Caiaphas acknowledge
the Saviour's mission!..
"At
this council Christ's enemies had been deeply convicted. The
Holy Spirit had impressed their minds. But Satan strove to
gain control of them. He urged upon their notice the grievances
they had suffered on account of Christ. How little He had
honored their righteousness. He presented a righteousness
far greater, which all who would be children of God must possess.
Taking no notice of their forms and ceremonies, He had encouraged
sinners to go directly to God as a merciful Father, and make
known their wants. Thus, in their opinion, He had set aside
the priesthood. He had refused to acknowledge the theology
of the rabbinical schools. He had exposed the evil practices
of the priests, and had irreparably hurt their influence.
He had injured the effect of their maxims and traditions,
declaring that though they strictly enforced the ritual law,
they made void the law of God. All this Satan now brought
to their minds" (The Desire of Ages, pp. 540, 541).
Satan,
through Caiaphas, influenced the council to seek to put Jesus
to death. "In rejecting the proof of the divinity of
Jesus, these priests and rulers had locked themselves in impenetrable
darkness. They had come wholly under the sway of Satan, to
be hurried by him over the brink of eternal ruin. Yet such
was their deception that they were well pleased with themselves.
They regarded themselves as patriots, who were seeking the
nation's salvation" (Ibid. p. 541).
In reality,
God was preparing to fulfill His covenant promise to provide
salvation to the ends of the earth, "Look
to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God,
and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:22).
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