"The High Cost of Living"
Now isn’t that interesting? Many saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead and believed in him. But some people went to tell the religious hierarchy who were not impressed. What they were was afraid. The raising of Lazarus thrusts everyone into a choice. There are only two options. Either you can believe in Jesus, or you can become afraid of Jesus. No one remains neutral, and no one wants to leave Jesus alone. Not any longer. Not after we realize that Jesus can change the way it is.
There were two political parties that competed for power on the Jewish council. On the right side of the aisle were the Pharisees, and on the left were the more liberal Sadducees. Rome determined which party would have ruling power by appointing the high priest. For eighteen years Caiaphas, a Sadducee, had kept that job which is a tribute to his political savvy. The Sadducees’ political platform was somewhat optimistic, claiming, “The Romans aren’t so bad. We’ve got good roads, building programs, and at least they keep other oppressors out.” The Pharisees took a more pessimistic view. The Romans were Gentiles which meant they were sinners, but the only thing worse than a Gentile sinner, according to the Pharisees was a Jewish Rabbi who kept breaking the law by healing people on the Sabbath. So when Caiaphas got very worried that “everyone will believe” in Jesus, he found bilateral support on the ruling council. So, “from that day on they planned to put him to death.”
That is what happens when we get good at coping with an oppressive world. We become afraid of the high cost of hope. The Sadducees were afraid the Romans would take away their power if Jesus started a popular movement. The Pharisees were afraid Jesus would take away their holiness by just giving the love of God to any sinner who needed it but didn’t deserve it.
Put yourself in Caiaphas’ place. You’ve got something going for you in this oppressive world. I know I do. Maybe you have a good job, a few friends, a little money. Maybe you’ve even pulled together a little power. Do you really want a savior who prefers to raise life from the dead? No. You want a savior who keeps death at bay, and who makes a few improvements in the life you’ve got. That’s what the Romans will do for you. But Jesus has little interest in the lousy deal you’ve made with the Romans. What Jesus wants to give you is a whole new life. He wants to give you a vision of a whole new world.
The clash between Jesus and Caiaphas is simply the perfection of a clash that has been in force since the start of time. Caiaphas represents that part of each one of us that becomes so manipulated by our political and economic loyalties that we cannot serve the true king anymore. Caiaphas represents for us that tendency we have, little by little, to acculturate to the needs and forces of the day. I wonder if God, as he peers into our hearts by the Spirit this morning, sees more of Caiaphas than kingdom? The world has incredible economic, social and even spiritual pressures that force us into its mold.
In his book Hope Within History, Walter Bruggemann claims, “Biblical hope reminds us that the way things are is precarious and in jeopardy. Hope reminds us not to absolutize the present, not to treat it too honorably, because it will not last.” Biblical hope provides a place to stand outside the world, from which it is possible to evaluate, imagine, and seek redemption. Biblical
hope dreams of another way — for all of us. Again, you have to decide if you want to live with Jesus’ death-defying, revolutionary hope that can change the way it is for everyone. If Jesus can defeat death, he can undermine a society that is built on the assumption that you have to grab what you can before you lose it all. But what a futile way to live: “Be a Sadducee — grab all of the power and wealth you can.” “Be a Pharisee — grab all of the respect, admiration, righteousness you can.” In the end, what’s the difference? Jesus offers another way. Why not begin a new life today? This is a life given by the Savior who calls you. It is a life that comes not as an achievement to be earned, but as a grace to be received. Why not reject the lousy deal of society that tempts to you use up life trying to gain what you cannot keep?
I wonder if you have something of a Caiaphas complex. Caiaphas is an example for us of present realities and possibilities, and the way things can go wrong in spite of our best intensions. Look, we live with powerful social and societal pressures: the pressure to be rich, look great, get ahead, have the most toys. Even in the church, we can sell out so easily to what our culture values. There are competing kingdoms here: Rome and the Kingdom of God. Caiaphas, in the middle, represents how even people who have religion can be completely sold out to Rome. Don’t look down your nose at Caiaphas: it happens all the time.
Jesus posed a real threat to the status quo. I think we need to read the story of Jesus before Caiaphas as something of a personal wake-up call. We have two kingdoms represented here. Caiaphas was a spiritual leader but he had long ago sold his soul for power and prestige. He had become a puppet of the most violent political machines the world has ever seen. Jesus wasn’t going to stand in the way of that. Caiaphas forces us to ask those questions of ourselves. How have I sold my soul out for power? What have I done to get ahead? To the degree we allow our souls to be manipulated for worldly advancement – to that degree we have become infected with the spirit of Caiaphas.
It is tragically ironic that the temple Caiaphas was so worried about keeping was eventually destroyed by the Romans anyway. In 70 AD the Roman General Titus leveled it, so that not one stone was standing upon another. That is what happens to all of the deals we make with an oppressive world. For a while you’ll get by with your own happiness. You can work hard and look like you are doing okay for many years. But in time the harsh world will still turn its destruction upon you. It doesn’t matter how healthy you are, how good you look, or how much power or money you have collected. It is only a matter of time before all the things you are worried about keeping are gone. Unless you give up your life to Christ, you will surely loose it.
Fulfilled Psalm 2:1-12
The speakers are the rebellious rulers Psa.2:1-3
Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.
“Let us break their chains,” they say,
“and throw off their fetters.”
The Speaker is God the Father – Psa.2:4-6
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
“I have installed my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
The Speaker is the Lord Jesus Christ – Psa. 2:7-9
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
He said to me, “You are my Son ;
today I have become your Father.
Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
You will rule them with an iron scepter;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
The Narrator speaks here (The Holy Spirit) – Psa.2:10-12
Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
What shall we do with Jesus? What will we do with this miracle-worker?
What will we do with the anointed King?
1. You can try to ignore Him
2. You can blatantly oppose Him
3. You can believe on Christ as your Savior and Lord
Philippians 2:6-11
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.