March 15
Bible Reading: John 11:45-57
John 11:53, “So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.”
Acts 3:15, “You killed the Author of life.”
Christ’s crucifixion marked history’s most sinful and despicable crime. In his second sermon, the Apostle Peter indicted his own Jewish brethren for the offense, saying, “you killed the Author of life!”
He is the Author of Life! He has life in Himself and is the only One having the power to impart life. His own words and deeds proved the truth of that. As He said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:11). Lazarus lay dead and rotting away until Jesus called Him forth from his tomb. People witnessed what happened. Some believed as a result. But others ran off to tell the Pharisees.
The chief priests and Pharisees heard and gathered for a meeting. At the top of their agenda, they had the question regarding what was to be done with Jesus. By this time, Jesus had been performing all kinds of miracles over the course of a couple of years. The Author of Life bettered the lives of all whose life He touched. But the council was blind to truth and hard-hearted in their unbelief. That He fed the multitudes or healed the sick or gave sight to the blind or raised the dead made no difference to them. They were more politicians than religious leaders, and their chief concern was their hold on power, not concern for the people. Though he would not have realized the underlying truths of his prophesy, Caiaphas argued for Jesus’ death based on a forewarning he had received. The council met and debated the issue and decided their best course of action was to put the life-giver to death (John 11:53). They were evil men with an evil plan, but their plan would fail. Turned out you can’t put the Author of Life to death, for when they tried, He rose again (Acts 3:15)!
That awful council meeting stands as a stark reminder that “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). The evil one and his minions are still hard at work, blinding the minds of the unbelieving and plotting against the believing (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12). But praise God that in Christ, we stand victorious, “for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4)!
They had sought to put life to death, but through His death He “abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10)!
CHRIST AROSE
Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o’er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]
Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 