John 11:45-53 (CEB)
45 Therefore, many of the Jews who came with Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees called together the council and said, “What are we going to do? This man is doing many miraculous signs! 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our people.”
49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, told them, “You don’t know anything! 50 You don’t see that it is better for you that one man die for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed.” 51 He didn’t say this on his own. As high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would soon die for the nation— 52 and not only for the nation. Jesus would also die so that God’s children scattered everywhere would be gathered together as one. 53 From that day on they plotted to kill him.
Prayer
Holy One, we know that following you is not always easy. In our lives today, living out your will for us sometimes looks like pushing against powers that be, which so often have only existed for the benefit of a few. Other times it’s taking a bold step to remove ourselves from a harmful situation. Jesus healed the sick, promised freedom to those held captive, and showed revolutionary kindness to people who had long been ignored. May we embrace the risk of following you, trusting in your love for us and your hopes for the flourishing of all of creation. Amen.
Written by Rev. Allison Wehrung, UKirk Ole Miss (Oxford, MS)