Based on John 11:45-57 (New King James Version)
“Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.’ And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’ Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, ‘What do you think—that He will not come to the feast?’ Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.”
We can see the truth that existed in each person’s heart through the actions of the Lord and how they reacted to them. The same thing happens today. In today’s passage, for example, we see very curious reactions in different people. We see Mary, the Jews that believed, and also those that not only did not believe, but thought to do evil against the Lord. How can you think about doing something wrong to Someone that only did good, Someone that did so many miracles, even raising someone from the dead before their very eyes? And the answer is not very complex. In fact, it’s very simple: they had other interests that absorbed them more.
There are people that frankly just don’t care, no matter what you tell them or show them; they simply will not believe; not because they cannot believe, but rather, because they are more attracted to other things. The Lord Himself could stand right in front of their face (just like He did with these religious people), and they are simply interested. Like Judas Iscariot who lived with the Lord for three years, witnessing and maybe even doing miracles himself through the power of God, but preferred to sell the Lord for thirty pieces of silver. The silver was of more value to him than the King who he lived with day-by-day. Judas saw and heard everything of the Lord, but it was all useless to him.
These religious people had other interests, other things that were feeding them inside that attracted them more than the Messiah. Even though they mention hypocritically that they were worried about their place and the nation, there was another deeper feeling that they didn’t mention. This feeling was kept in the sepulcher of their hearts. There was someone outside of the Lord that did know: Pilate. For it is written: “Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.” Matthew 27:15-18. The religious envied the Lord; nothing more, nothing less. They envied God Himself. They envied His works, His Word, everything that represented Him. There existed a being with these characteristics before, and this was Lucifer, the one that is known today as Satan (the Devil). The Lord, as God, was very clear on what was happening, because He said it just as clearly to the religious: “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.” John 8:43-45.
So then, almost always, the problem that people have with the Lord is not one that involves understanding. It’s not a problem of faith. It’s not an intellectual problem. The problem is lack of interest. These religious people were more interested in their envy, in their position with the people, in their pride than in the fulfillment of the Scriptures, in the manifestation of God Himself, and even in their own salvation. Other people have this problem also. But there are also other things that divert people. There are many that have more of an inclination to fulfill their own will than doing what God says, and that’s why they don’t listen. Others believe more in the supposed power of money than in the power of the Almighty. There are others that believe more in their carnal relationships than in the Lord. There are many that would rather continue following sin, enjoying the very thing that produces death, instead of following the Word of Life from God’s only begotten Son. And well, there may be many other things that people are more interested in than in God.
The issue is that even seeing things practically (because believing and following God is the most logical notion that can exist), nothing should take the first place of God because nothing or no one can do what the Lord can do. What did these religious people gain by giving so much importance to their envy? Could their envy free them from the eternal fire that they find themselves in today? Was the thirty pieces of silver able to give Judas Iscariot the happiness he was looking for? Did not Judas hang himself even though he had the pieces of silver in his hands, having accomplished what he wanted? Can a human being save himself if they don’t even know what will happen to them in the next five minutes? Can one human being give another eternal life if they are just as limited? Can the practice of sin give life if within itself it can only produce death? So then, is it worthwhile to put our eyes on other things, giving preeminence to that which is of less value?
You should ask yourself (because this is the most important question you can ask), “Am I really interested in the Truth of God, or is there something else that is keeping me entertained that is of lessor value? Lord bless! John