The apostle John wrote how Jesus stood at the grave where Lazarus was buried, and “cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said unto them, Loose him, and let him go. Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done”, and in chapter eleven and verse forty-seven of his book John shared how how the Pharisees asked, “what do we” or “what do we do?” where we read:
Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said,
What do we? for this man does many miracles.
The verse reads, “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, ...” John began with the words, “then gathered” which means “at that time collected together and assembled” “the chief priests” or “the high priests” “and the Pharisees” which means “and the men who belonged to a sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life” “a council” or “a session or assembly of people deliberating or adjudicating”, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and asked” the following words. John shared how the “high priests” and the religious leaders known as the “Pharisees” “assembled” for a “deliberation” and asked the following question.
The verse goes on to say, “... What do we? for this man does many miracles.” John continued with the words, “what do we” which means “what are we to make ready, produce or perform”? “for this man” which means “because, since and on account that this male human being, Jesus” “does many miracles” or “makes ready, performs and produces a great number of signs, tokens and wonders”. John shared how the “high priests” and “Pharisees” wondered how they were to respond to Jesus because He performed so many wonders and signs.
When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how perplexed these “religious leaders” were who “gathered together”. Because Jesus did so many “miracles”, including raising people from the dead, these men did not know what to do. We shall discover some of their “deliberations” in our next verse, but their question is a relevant one for every person to ask – “what do we do with Jesus”? Those who are wise believe and trust in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord”, and those who are unwise attempt to destroy or minimize His message and works so they will never need to believe. God leaves the choice to every person, and their response incurs eternal consequences.
Next time John shares how the Pharisees say, “if we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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