Takeaways

In the verses that conclude chapter 11 and those that begin chapter 12, we see the continuing theme of 

There are four reactions to Jesus:

1. Seeing and believing (i.e. the disciples.)

2. Seeing and not believing (i.e. the Pharisees)

3. Hearing and believing – without necessarily seeing miracles (i.e. the woman at the well)

4. Hearing and not believing – (i.e. various Jews and religious leaders.) 

John 11:45-57

• The religious leaders, led by the High Priest Caiaphas, seek to destroy Jesus.
• Despite evil intent, the plan Caiaphas wants to implement corresponds to the overall plan of a sovereign God.  
• Sometimes God uses evil people, or non-believers, in His plan. They can even speak the truth in situations.  God is the author of all truth, even if we notice or receive it from unexpected sources.

John 12:1-8

• Mary is drawn to Jesus and expends her resources to simply worship Him.
• Judas is a thief. A  He was in the inner circle, but this reminds us to be wise – sometimes, some appear to be speaking the truth and carrying out God’s plan, yet they are not and are a danger to other believers. 
• Hard truth: Despite who Judas was, God included him in His plan. Judas was doing what the Father wanted to carry out His plan of salvation.  This is both mystifying and redemptive.

It’s hard to understand/accept how God’s sovereign plan often includes unbelievers and/or evil people.  How do we keep our wits about us when living in a world that seems to be spiraling out of control, and full of many who oppose Jesus?

We ask ourselves these questions:

1) If God was intricately involved in all the details of the life of Jesus, including His crucifixion, why would He not be involved in the details of the world and our lives today?

2)  Why are we shocked that people oppose Jesus?  They did to His face, they do today and will continue to do so.  While we can be saddened by this, we do not have to exert a high level of energy toward opposing it.  Instead, we simply scatter the seeds of the gospel and let God draw people to Himself.

We can trust that our sovereign Father is in the midst of the chaos and ugliness we see in the world, and personally experience.

Reflection Prompters

1. God sometimes uses unbelievers or evil people to carry out His plan. Ponder the idea that Judas was used by God. How is this mystifying? How is this redemptive?

2. In what area of life do you need to surrender your worries and unsettledness, or even chaotic circumstances, to your sovereign Father and trust that He is in the middle of it?

3. Ask God to give you great wisdom to discern those in your life who may appear to be believers, but who may distract you from following Jesus fully, or to have eyes to see those who are sharing false teaching.

4. Do you spend much time and energy (i.e. on social media or in conversations) trying to fight evil or argue about matters with people who have chosen not to see or believe? Ask God to help you prioritize Gospel seed-throwing and live with the peace that He draws other people to Himself. He sees the evil in the world and is still in full control of the ultimate plan of HIStory.

5.  Truths to pray over, meditate on, or write out:

• God is sovereign in the world and my personal life. I can trust Him.
• I can cooperate with God’s plan by graciously sowing seeds of the Gospel rather than angrily fighting those who oppose Him.
• God sometimes uses non-believers or evil people to carry out His plan.
• Lord, give me wisdom to discern false teaching.
• From the worship set:  If I have you, I have everything. But without You, I have nothing.