John 11:53 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

NIV: So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

NASB: So from that day on they planned together to kill Him.

CSB: So from that day on they plotted to kill him.

NLT: So from that time on, the Jewish leaders began to plot Jesus’ death.

KJV: Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

NKJV: Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.

This is the ultimate verdict of the council which gathered to discuss Jesus' latest miracle: the raising of Lazarus (John 11:39–44). This decision corresponds with Scripture, countering the claim that non-believers only need more evidence (Romans 1:18–20; Luke 16:31). Many of these same men were accused of "refusing" to accept the truth (John 5:39–41). Now, in response to a blatant miracle, they respond with deeper commitment to wipe that evidence away! In fact, their desperation will even extend to seeking death for the man Jesus brought back (John 12:9–11).

Prior to this, Jesus' critics have made efforts to arrest or even kill Him (John 7:44–46; 10:39). The moment described here is notable because it's an official ruling. Prior attempts have been half-hearted or arranged by a few angry leaders. This death sentence, as stated here, is now the goal of the entire religious leadership of Jerusalem. Among them are dissenters, either too afraid (John 19:38) or lacking influence to intervene (John 7:50–52). In an official sense, though, this means Jesus' fate has been sealed. The Council is only interested now in finding a way to capture Jesus away from crowds (Mark 12:12; Matthew 21:46). The "trials" He will experience after His arrest are shams: the sentence of death has been pronounced, here, long before He's even arrested.

John 11:45–57 follows Jesus' seventh and most spectacular miraculous ''sign,'' the resurrection of Lazarus. Amazingly, Jesus enemies are so hardened against Him that this miracle only inspires them to have Jesus killed even more quickly. This is one of many examples disproving the claim that non-believers merely lack sufficient evidence. Critics claim Jesus may incite rebellion and invite destruction from Rome. For the most part, however, Jesus is a threat to their pompous arrogance and positions of power. When Jesus maintains a low profile, the religious leaders give orders to find Him so He can be arrested. This sets in motion the critical events completing Jesus' sacrificial death.

Jesus has left the vicinity of Jerusalem to avoid hostile religious leaders. While gone, He receives word that a good friend, Lazarus, is sick. In fact, Lazarus has died by the time this message reaches Jesus. He purposefully waits a few days before returning to Bethany, arriving four days after Lazarus' burial. In front of Lazarus' mourning sisters—who Jesus weeps with—and an assembled crowd, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in a stirring and spectacular miracle. This is the seventh of John's seven ''signs'' of Jesus' divine power. In response, religious leaders coordinate in their effort to have Jesus murdered.

After giving sight to a man born blind (John 9), Jesus sparred with religious leaders on at least two occasions (John 10). After another failed arrest attempt, Jesus left the area and went out where Jerusalem's politics had little influence. In this chapter, He returns to resurrect a recently-departed friend, Lazarus. That results in a renewed commitment from Jerusalem's religious leaders to have Jesus murdered. As the crucifixion draws near, Jesus will stage His triumphal entry in chapter 12, and then begin His final teachings to the disciples.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.