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Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs." (John 11:47)
I am noticing a number of compelling clues throughout this passage that I want to explore a bit.
Early in this story John speaks of a group identified as Jews.
...and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. (v. 19)
What is quite interesting is the later reference to this same group of Jews.
Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him. (v. 45)
Did you catch the difference here? The first time it says they came to see both Martha and Mary. The next time it is only Mary that they came to see. I don't think this is just incidental but I don't yet see enough of the implications to know what to make of it yet. But I am confident that there are other clues in the text that connect with this.
Parallel to this are references to the people who make up this group who begin to polarize in their opinions as this story progresses. In reference to these Jews, John begins to note that some of them seem to have a different motive and agenda. These people are mentioned in both verses 37 and 46. And the hidden agenda of these some is flushed out by what they say and do.
But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?" (v. 37)
But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. (v. 46)
Immediately the religious leadership convenes a crisis meeting to discuss their concerns about this growing threat to their power and position that is becoming so intimidating for them. But what I find revealing is what they say when they get together. What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs.
Now isn't that interesting! How many times throughout the gospels do we find these very men demanding more signs before they are willing to believe in Jesus and what He is saying about Himself and God. They try to give the impression that if they just had more signs that somehow they could be convinced to switch their opinions about Jesus and embrace what He stands for.
Yet in their own confession to each other in these verses they admit that Jesus is in fact performing many signs, too many signs as far as they are concerned. The core problem is not that there weren't enough signs to convince them but that they did not like the implications of what those signs were proving. Their hearts were not changed at all by the signs except to become more and more hardened against believing in the goodness and grace of God.
Because of this mindset of demanding signs while at the same time resenting and trying to discredit those very signs, these men proved beyond all doubt the ineffectiveness of miracles to be a reliable foundation for the kind of belief that Jesus is seeking to induce in the hearts of sinners. The history of these men whom we find here deciding it is time to eliminate Jesus rather than believe Him is a stark warning to everyone about craving miracles to motivate belief.
There is a place for miracles in the work of God but it is often not the place that we tend to assume. Miracles can often get people's attention and challenge their thinking, but only those who are willing to make positive choices about moving from unbelief to belief aside from dependence on those miracles will be benefited by the effects of those signs.
A dangerous mistake in religion is to think that miracles prove that someone is from God. Simple-minded and intellectual doubters alike often think that if they could just see something spectacular, some stimulating display of supernatural power that it would be sufficient to compel them to move into saving faith in God. The enemy of souls is keenly aware of this penchant in our thinking to depend on our emotions more than careful reasoning and objective analysis based on evidence and Scripture. People addicted to miracles and signs suffer the same effects from addiction as anyone else with more obvious destructive addictions. Addictions inherently are destructive as they cause us to look to other sources away from God for life, value, satisfaction and identity.
Miracles may be from God or they may not be. The miracles that Jesus performed were all assuredly from God yet they did not compel many to actually come into belief in Jesus as the true representative of what God is like. In the case of these religious Jews it ended up doing the very opposite.
But the good news is that not all chose to be effected in this way. This story notes that a number of the many of the Jews who had shown up at this mourning event ended up believing in Him (v. 45). I suspect these were the same ones who had earlier commented on the compassion of Jesus in verse 36 when they saw Him weeping. Even though they had little clue as to why He was weeping they did not have the predisposed antagonism toward Him that the some seemed to cherish in their hearts.
Some time ago when I first began exploring the book of John I remember looking at this issue of belief and signs and how these are so heavily emphasized in John's gospel. I could see that these two things were intimately related and that John was going to invest the entire book seeking to get across the importance of these and how they relate to each other. John wanted to help us 'get it', to not be satisfied with a shallow, counterfeit belief that is addicted to signs and displays of power. What is needed is a heart-based belief that involves true repentance inspired by revelations of the kindness of God.
It is only as I catch a glimpse of the heart of Jesus for me personally and respond by choosing to trust His heart and allowing Him to come in and transform the way I perceive God that signs may have their intended effect. To do any less than this is to set myself up to follow in the example of unbelief as demonstrated by these unbelieving Jews who ended up rejecting and finally killing the very God who had come to save them.
There is much more that can be learned from this that I don't currently have time to explore. But I want this to soak into my own heart and be careful not to slip into the addiction of depending on constant infusions of supernatural intervention as the basis for my belief. I am starting to see the ruinous end result of that following that path in the lives of these pious, religious leaders and I realize that is very easy to do.
I have noticed that religion can often be one of the greatest hindrances to a true spiritual connection with God. But at the same time turning away from religion can lead down a similar road ironically. I am learning that it is only as I focus my attention often, repeatedly and intentionally to the Word of God and seek the guidance of His Spirit to convict and guide and transform me that I can receive the nourishment that is needed to keep my vital connection with God alive.
Father, I don't want to be one of the 'some' that are always finding fault with Your works and words. Criticism is such a subtle and even pious-appearing habit at times and I am well trained in that field. But I want to be set free of this terribly destructive habit and be transformed into a real Christian who reflects the spirit and disposition and character that You demonstrated when You lived out these stories I am reading. Forgive me for turning to other sources so easily every day to seek satisfaction when I know full well that they are only counterfeit gods. Save me from my own internal cravings that invite temptations so easily. Heal my heart and soul and mind and imagination. Revive and reform me and have Your way in my life. I again give myself to You to do whatever it takes to save me and make me fit to be an effective channel of Your grace and love and truth to others.
