As we continue our study of the Gospel of John, we pick up at verse 9 of Chapter 12. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle wrote:
“Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of Him but also to see Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him.” John 12: 9-11
When the word started circulating to the people who were coming into Jerusalem from around the country to celebrate the Festival of the Passover that Jesus was at the home of Lazarus, they wanted to see Him. They had heard of His miracles. They had heard the story of Lazarus being raised from the dead after 4 days, and they wanted to see Lazarus too. Excitement was everywhere because the word “Messiah” was in the air. This infuriated the chief priests because they had already decided Jesus was not the Messiah, but in their mind the people were too blind to see that. Therefore, they had decided that it was best to murder Him, to get rid of what was bad for the people, and good for themselves, and since Lazarus was being pointed to as proof that He was the Messiah, they had to murder him as well. Evil had taken their minds.
Evil, when left unchecked, has a way of taking a mind, and filling it so full of that which is wrong that we become totally blind to who is leading us. I saw on T.V. recently where a man murdered his wife, and two little girls. When he confessed, he said he was having an affair with a lady at work, and he wanted to have a “fresh start”. As we follow the progression of one evil act leading to another, we see him allowing himself to go from a temptation to an unchecked sin, to an affair, to thinking he had to have the forbidden fruit completely, to thinking he had to destroy that which was holding him back from it, we see the insanity of it. He was blinded by the insanity of evil. He was taken over by it. His wife and children were destroyed by it.
The chief priests started in their evil because they did not want to lose their position. But then the enemy was given the room to come in to their hearts, and evil progressed until they were ready to kill anybody in their way to be able to have what they wanted. Because of their own personal lust and greed they were willing to destroy the lives of innocent people.
Temptation comes into every life. That is part of this journey. It is part of being in a body of flesh, and having a soul that can be taken over by evil if we do not stay on top of what is going on within it. What we must do is put the Lord in front of each day as we begin it and be in our spirit with Him. Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness and all things we have need of will be given.” (Matthew 6:33) Seek His presence. Talk to Him. We must purpose to spend time each morning with Him in His Word as we receive it into our mind, heart and soul. We must discuss our plans with Him. He will reveal the right path for us to take each day as we do these things. He will lead us in the path of righteousness for His name sake and for His Love for us. Good decisions and good things are ours in Him. One good decision will lead to another.