Many of the Jews who had come to Mary
and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him.
But some of them went to the Pharisees
and told them what Jesus had done.
Jesus manifesting himself resulted in some believing but others hardening their hearts. In raising Lazarus from the dead he drew many Judeans to himself. But some went to tell the Pharisees, precipitating the events that would lead to the death of Jesus himself. It seemed that in healing others suffering and difficulty always fell upon Jesus himself. Even more so with the raising of Lazarus that led to his own crucifixion. But he was the one who came to bear our griefs and carry our sorrows (see Isaiah 53:4). He knew what the consequences would be and yet he still desired to reveal himself as savior and life-giver.
“What are we going to do?
This man is performing many signs.
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him,
and the Romans will come
and take away both our land and our nation.”
In their hardness of hearts they recognized that the signs that Jesus performed were all but irrefutable. The natural outcome of signs such as he performed was for all to believe in him. But they didn't consider any deep or spiritual implications of this fact. Instead, they only thought about the practical consequences, seen from an earthly point of view. They weren't concerned with what the signs of Jesus might say about what God was doing in their midst. They were worried only about how the Romans might see such signs, and how that might have hard and immediate ramifications for their way of life. They certainly seemed to have a fear of the Romans but there was no evident fear of the Lord in their discernment.
“You know nothing,
nor do you consider that it is better for you
that one man should die instead of the people,
so that the whole nation may not perish.”
Caiaphas only intended to say that the death of Jesus ought to appease the Romans and keep them in check for the time being. But God spoke a deeper message through the mouth of Caiaphas even as he would accomplish a deeper purpose through the death of Jesus. Caiaphas and the earthly authorities who colluded with him had one purpose but God had another higher purpose. It was a purpose that they not only could not hinder but would actually be instrumental in bringing to fruition. God made all things, even their plans for evil, work together for the good of those who loved him and were called according to his purpose (see Romans 8:28).
He did not say this on his own,
but since he was high priest for that year,
he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and not only for the nation,
but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.
The savvy and politically expedient plans of Caiaphas did not in fact save the nation of Israel from Roman aggression which destroyed the temple and dispersed the people to distant lands. But the death of Jesus did result in the salvation and gathering around himself of all of the dispersed children of God. No longer within a physical nation around a human king, but now gathered in the Church around a single Good Shepherd, those who believed found a communion deeper and more unbreakable than any earthly state. This was the spiritual fulfillment of the prophecy of Ezekiel.
I will take the children of Israel from among the nations
to which they have come,
and gather them from all sides to bring them back to their land.
I will make them one nation upon the land,
in the mountains of Israel,
and there shall be one prince for them all.
Just as Ezekiel promised that "there shall be one shepherd for them all" so too did Jesus affirm that "there will be one flock, one shepherd" (see John 10:16) within his fold.
We are sometimes tempted to anxiety or despair when we see worldly leaders pursue priorities which are, shall we say, not the highest and the best. But in this life we will always see this conflict between the city of man and the city of God. Yet we can rest assured that even in the misguided plans of corrupt leaders God is able to bring about a greater good. We temper that confidence with the realization that the greater good often looks like the cross before it looks like Easter Sunday. But if we hang on to Jesus in faith we know that Easter will come, inexorably as the dawn.
My dwelling shall be with them;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Thus the nations shall know that it is I, the LORD,
who make Israel holy,
when my sanctuary shall be set up among them forever.
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