Changes

===The onlookers===

The man who suggested the [[death of Jesus ]] was the [[high priest]], Caiaphas. To me, there are two points of special interest. Firstly, Caiaphas was a Sadducee. This meant he wouldn’t have believed in resurrection. The Sadducees believed that when the body died, the soul also died. Caiaphas should have been bowled over that someone who had died had been brought back to life. He should have been changed by it, ready to re-examine his beliefs. But there is no suggestion of that here. I find it quite remarkable that he couldn’t look past his hatred of Jesus to see that he, Caiaphas, might just be wrong.

SecondlyFirstly, isn’t it interesting that God still used this man. Caiaphas was not a [[Sadducee]]. This meant he wouldn’t have believed in tune with resurrection. The Sadducees believed that when the living Godbody died, the [[soul]] also died. Instead, he Caiaphas should have been bowled over that someone who had died had turned his been brought back completely on Godto life. And yetHe should have been changed by it, God still used him ready to re-examine his beliefs. But there is no suggestion of that here. I find it quite remarkable that he couldn’t look past his hatred of Jesus to make a prophecysee that he, Caiaphas, might just be wrong. In verses 49 and 50

Then one of themSecondly, named isn’t it interesting that God still used this man. Caiaphas, who was high priest that yearnot in tune with the living God. Instead, spoke uphe had turned his back completely on God. And yet, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perishGod still used him to make a [[prophecy]].”In [[John 11:49|verses 49]] and [[John 11:50|50]]

:''Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”'' It’s strange how words like those of Caiaphas can be at the same time so beautiful and yet so terrible. And of course, they became true. Just a little time later, Jesus was hung on the Cross [[cross]] to die. His death was to save the nation. To save Lazarus and Martha from death. To save the crowd of onlookers from death. To save even Caiaphas from death. And today, to save me and you from death.

Firstly, if we are really to imitate Christ’s [[love]], then we can’t watch someone suffer and not weep with them. When sin and death hurt a neighbour, it will hurt us too if we have God’s love in us. And what better way to show God’s love than by weeping with our neighbour. And secondly, I think it is a call to [[evangelism]]. We know that Jesus brings [[life]] – that he is the resurrection and the life. And so, we can’t stand by and watch a family member or a friend not have had a chance to hear this [[good news]]. Our thinking and [[pray]]ing needs to be consumed with the desire to display the [[gospel]] to everyone we know, and everyone we meet. I’d like to return to the beginning of the sermon, to the man who started the “Jesus wept” advertising campaign. He has this desire to spread God’s love and to preach the gospel. You might wonder though if his method has born any fruit. Well, this is story I found on the internet :''It seemed to me that every bus in front of me or across the road from where I was standing had 'Jesus wept' on it. After seeing this day after day, it began to seem like God was 'on my case' to go and check out Jesus. It seemed like the messages were meant for me personally. So recently I have been 'checking out' Christianity and seeing what it's all about, and I like what I see''