John 11:49 “And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.”
When the Jewish counsel met to decide what to do about “Jesus”, “the high priest that same year” upbraided them for being hesitant to make a clear and decisive decision. It was his view that it should be an easy decision to make to put “Jesus” to death, whether He was guilty of some crime or not, He was upsetting their whole way of life. He said, “it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not”; what he was really saying is, if “Jesus” lives, we will lose our preeminence and dominance among the people, lose our wealth and high positions, and may even lose our lives. They cloaked their lust for power and position in the robes of religious leadership; but, the true King and true High Priest dressed and lived and humbly behaved as a common everyday man and they absolutely hated Him. John went on to explain the truth, that yes “Jesus should die for that nation” and also “not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (John 11:51-52). Now we know that our Lord did indeed give His Precious Life to save all His People among both the Jews and Gentiles; as they were heard singing in Heaven, “for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9)! The Innocent freely gave His life for the guilty! The false religionists sought to murder the Innocent to save their carnal life; for, “from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death” (John 11:53). The wicked still hate Him, but we still lovingly revere Him!