5th week in Lent, Saturday – 23rd March 2024 – Ezekiel 37,21-28; Jn 11,45-57
Redemptive Death
Jesus’ act of giving life to Lazarus leads to his own life being taken away. The raising of Lazarus provoked a divided response among the people: many believed in Jesus, and others went to inform the religious authorities of Jerusalem what Jesus had done. At the meeting of the council, the authorities expressed fear that Jesus and his followers might provoke a revolt. Caiaphas, the high priest, accuses the council of being unable to understand the gravity of the situation. Fearing that he would lose power and everything he had, Caiaphas designs a strategy. His words challenge his listeners to get rid of Jesus so that the nation will not suffer. However, being high priest, Caiaphas’ words of political convenience were understood by his listeners to be message from God as well. John the evangelist seizes the high priest’s prophetic words to explain the fuller significance of Jesus’ death. Caiaphas, with his shrewdness and without knowingly, proclaimed that the death of Jesus would be redemptive both for the Jewish people and for all people. His death would not only save God’s people but would unify all who believe into a single-fold. By his death and resurrection, Jesus will bring salvation, holiness and renewed relationship with all people.
