The Conspiracy Formed Against the Life of Our Lord John 11:46-57

DISCOVERY OF FACTS

1. The Origin of the Conspiracy, vv. 46-53 What are the Jewish leaders represented as doing in the opening verse of the lesson? Of what was this a fulfillment? (Ps. 2:2, 3; Acts 4:25, 28.) Was this the first time they had taken counsel against Christ? (Mark 3:6.) Was it the last time? (Matt. 26:3, 4; 27:1, 2.) How does the Lord regard all these conspiracies of men against Him and His anointed? (Ps. 2:4, 5.) Was it some evil that our Lord had done of which the Pharisees complained (v. 47)?

Was the fact that He did signs a sufficient reason for plotting His destruction? Would it alone be a sufficient reason for accepting Him? (2 Thess. 2:9.) What lay at the bottom of the conspiracy? (Matt. 27:28; 21:38.) What were they afraid would occur if they left Him unhindered in His work? Would it have been any misfortune if all men had believed on Him? (1:7.) In trying to prevent men from believing on Him whose work were they doing? (Luke 8:12.) What does Jesus say of those who thus shut men out of the kingdom of heaven? (Matt. 23:13.)

What is the result of such a course of action? (1 Thess. 2:16; Matt. 23:33.) What further were they afraid would occur if all the people came to believe on Him? Were they right in that apprehension? Did they save their city and nation by killing Christ? (Luke 19:41-44; Matt. 22:7.) Does it often happen that wicked men bring upon their own heads by their evil actions the very ruin they seek to avert? Who came to the front with a proposition as to how to stop the growth of our Lord's popularity and to avert the dreaded overthrow by the Romans?

What was it? Was he not right in saying; "It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not"? Did it follow from that that they ought to put our Lord to death. (Ro. 3:8.) Was it in reality the good of the nation that Caiaphas had at heart? What explanation does John give of these words of Caiaphas? Could such an unprincipled man as Caiaphas be used of God to proclaim the truth? (Num. 24:2, 14:25; 2 Peter 2:15.) Will the mere gift of prophecy save or profit a man? (Matt. 7:22, 23; 1 Cor. 13:2.)

Did Caiaphas realize the prophetic import of his own words? Was it true that Jesus would die for the nation? (Is. 53:8.) Was it only for the nation that Jesus died? For whom did He die? What would be the result of His death? (10:11, 16; Is. 56:8; Eph. 2:14-16.) Who are these who are gathered into one by the death of Christ? What then is the bond of unity between all the children of God? What was the condition of God's children at that time? Is that their condition still? Will they always be "scattered abroad"?

When will they be "gathered together into one"? (Eph. 1:10; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Rev. 5:9.) What was the effect of the words of Caiaphas? Was he any worse than the rest of them? Of what is this murderous hatred of Jesus Christ an illustration? (Jer. 17:9; Ro. 8:7.) What illustrates the same thing today? 2. Our Lord's Departure into Ephraim, vv. 54-57 What did He do after the conspiracy against Him had been formed? Until what time did He remain in seclusion? (12:1.) What did He do while in seclusion?

At what time of the year was it (v. 55)? What was the state of the country at that time? For whom were those who went up to Jerusalem especially looking? What query was made on every hand? What made them think that He might not come up to the feast (v. 57)? How strong had the conspiracy against Him become? CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS

1. Jesus Christ

(1). What He did:

Many signs, 47; raised Lazarus from the dead, 12:9; died for the nation, 51; died for all men, by His death gathered together into one the children of God that were scattered abroad, 52.

(2). How He was received:

Common people attracted to Him, 12:9; many believed on Him, 12:11; envied by the leaders of the people, 48; hated by the leaders, 47-53, 8-11; His death determined upon by the leaders, 53.

2. The Chief Priests and the Pharisees

Feared, envied our Lord, 47, 48, 37; hated Him, 47-53, 8-11; confessed His supernatural powers, 47; could find no flaw in his character, 49; endeavored to hinder men from believing in Him, 46, 48; conspired against Him, 47-53; plotted His death, 53; plotted the death of Lazarus because he was a living witness of His divine power, 12:10, 11; sought to overthrow the purposes of God by their hellish plots, 47, 53; brought upon themselves the very ruin they sought to avert by their wicked plot, 48.

3. Caiaphas

Utterly unscrupulous, hated our Lord, advised his assassination, 49-53; sought to cover the infamy of his design by specious, pious and patriotic pleading, 50; prophesied, 51; carried out his plan by perversion of the truth, 50.

4. The Children of God

Both Jews and Gentiles, scattered abroad, gathered together into one by the death of Jesus Christ, 52.