John 11:53 is a most remarkable statement. It reads,
“So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.”
As you’ll hear in this PODCAST, I’ll tell you exactly to what John refers with the phrase, “From that time on…” Again, this is most remarkable.
But before we get to that, consider this: It is, in my humble estimation, the Single.Most.Misunderstood parable in the entire New Testament. No exaggeration.
The parable to which I refer is most commonly entitled, “The Rich Man and Lazarus,” and it is found in Luke 16.
Now, you might be wondering, What does this parable in Luke 16 have to do with John 11 wherein the religious leaders “from that time on… began to plot Jesus’ death?”
Honestly, it has everything to do with John 11.
So much so, that if you don’t understand this parable — the meaning of it, and just as importantly, the timing of it — you won’t understand John 11. You won’t understand the motivations of those who began to plot Jesus’ death.
In terms of how hard a person’s heart can become, this is nothing short of breathtaking. Breathtaking.
Now, I’ve got to tell you here at the outset, I am so excited about this discussion for a number of reasons.
First, we are going to learn together how properly to interpret a parable, along with what never to do when trying to understand a parable.
Second, we are going to see in real time the lengths to which Jesus went to reach out to these murderous religious leaders, all an expression of His love undying love for them.
Third, we are going to lay the foundation for all that is to follow, both the why and the how of the coming events that inexorably lead to the crucifixion of Jesus. To once-more-quote that telling phrase from John 11, “From that time on…” Jesus days are numbered. And that now of days will now rapidly grow smaller.
The curtain is now coming down fast and furious on Jesus’ life.
This here in John 11 truly is a watershed moment.
What I need you to understand is this: In the chronology of Jesus’ life and ministry, the plot to kill Jesus in John 11 is linked directly to the parable Luke 16.
Let me read to you the parable, and then we will talk about.
19 Jesus said,“There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury.20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores.21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet.The rich man also died and was buried,23 and he went to the place of the dead.There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish.26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
Image: Jack Kelley
27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home.28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” (Luke 16:19-31)
Okay… first of all, remember that a parable is a made up story. To interpret them correctly, we, the readers or listeners, must ask the question, “Who represents me in this story?”
Also, know that parables were not unique to Jesus’ teachings. It was actually a way in which rabbis of His day typically taught.
All this to say, Luke 16:19-31 is a parable – a made up story.
Next, because it is a made up story, we should never interpret a parable literally.
Therefore, we should never derive our theology or doctrinal beliefs from parables.
The story’s purpose is merely to make a spiritual point, not to define our belief system.
All this to say, it was never Jesus’ intent, when He told this parable, to teach us what hell is like. In fact, knowing that Jesus always perfectly crafted and chose His words, notice in the parable that He never even used the word “hell”. Throughout the Gospels, He DID say “Gehenna”, the proper word for “hell”. But in this parable, He referred to “Hades” (Greek) or “Sheol” (Hebrew) – both words meaning “the place of the dead”. At no time, when this word is used, does it refer to the final, eternal state of unbelievers.
Therefore, it would be wrong – very wrong – to base any teaching on what hell is like on this parable… especially when there are so many direct teachings that reflect our eternal options.
Frankly, I don’t understand how or why so many Bible teachers take this parable literally about hell, when they would never, in their right mind, teach any of Jesus’ other parables literally.
You see, the point of this parable isn’t about what hell is like. The single point of this parable breaks down to what Abraham says at the end of the story:
“If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” (Luke 16:31)
In other words, there are people whose hearts are so hard and their eyes are so blind that even if someone rose from the dead to warn them of their defiance of God’s will in their lives… they still wouldn’t listen.
This brings us to John 11. The “they” that Jesus is referring to in this parable is the same “they” in John 11 who were conspiring against Him.
We know this based on the verses preceding the parable: Luke 16:14-15
14 The Pharisees, who dearly loved their money, heard all this and scoffed at him. 15 Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.
When Jesus spoke of the rich man in His parable, He was talking about the Pharisees (and anyone else, really) who loved their money more than they loved God and people. You see, these Pharisees equated God’s approval with the amount of their wealth. According to their lives and decisions, the fact that they had money showed that God was pleased with them and therefore God was issuing out due punishment to the poor for whatever sins they must have committed.
Yet, this is not a parable about money. It’s about hardened hearts.
Now, this parable is the one and only time Jesus mentions a proper name: Lazarus, which means “God helps”. Lazarus – the very name of Jesus’ friend who Jesus will raise from the dead just a few short days after sharing this parable. This parable is not only a lesson on what happens when someone’s heart is hardened by their love of money and other distractions… it is also a prophesy!
Within a matter of days, the same Pharisees who heard Jesus teach this parable would fulfill the very prophesy He was laying out… and their hearts were so hard and eyes so blind, they didn’t even realize they were doing it.
You see, according to the chronology of Jesus’ ministry, He told this parable within days of raising His friend Lazarus from the dead.
This is no coincidence.
In John 11:45-54 , we learn about what happened right after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead:
45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary,and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.47 Then the chief priests and the Phariseescalled a meetingof the Sanhedrin.
“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.48 If we let Jesus go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
These men knew that because Jesus is the real deal, people would follow Him and not them any longer, and they would lose their position, power, and money.
53 So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death. 54 As a result, Jesus stopped his public ministry among the people and left Jerusalem. He went to a place near the wilderness, to the village of Ephraim, and stayed there with his disciples.
Now, let’s fast-forward a few weeks on the Biblical calendar to the night before what we know today as “Palm Sunday” – Jesus’ Triumphal Entrance into Jerusalem. On that Saturday evening, we read about how a large group of people came to Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem to see Jesus and His friend whom Jesus had recently raised from the dead:
9 When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus. (John 12:9-11)
Apparently, it wasn’t enough to kill Jesus – they felt they needed to kill Lazarus, too… all because they were losing their power, position, and money. Their hearts were so hard and their eyes so blind, they couldn’t even think straight.
This is 2 Corinthians 4:4 in action!
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Yes, the bad Pharisees’ hearts were hardened and their eyes were blind. But none so much as their high priest, Caiaphas
49 Caiaphas, who was high priest at that time, said, “You don’t know what you’re talking about! 50 You don’t realize that it’s better for you that one man should die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed.” (John 11:49-50)
Yet, as blind as Caiaphas may have been to the work of God, his own words could not have been more true. It was better that one Man – Jesus – would be put to death so that the whole nation… no, the whole of mankind … could avoid destruction!
14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.
17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
