Lesson 47
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Lesson
Text:
John 11:47-54
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council together because they were upset about Jesus. Many people were following Jesus because of the signs He was doing. They were afraid the Roman government was going to be breathing down their necks if they didn’t get the situation under control. After they had gathered the High Priest stood up to speak but, instead of speaking his concerns about Jesus, God put His own words into his mouth. The High Priest spoke a prophecy concerning Jesus, saying that He would die to save all the people. Do you think they were baffled, or afraid, or convinced to believe in Jesus? The Bible certainly doesn’t indicate that they were. The very next line tells us that, from that day forward, they plotted to kill Him. They were going to make Caiaphas’s prophecy come true!
Family
Discussion Question:
Who were the children of God mentioned in today’s lesson text who were scattered abroad? Find other passages that give a similar prophecy. Hint: If you do a Keyword Search at Bible Gateway on line, “nations” would be a good keyword to use.
*CHOOSE THE CORRECT*ANSWER*
1. He was the High Priest that year:
A) Caiaphas
B) Zacharias
C) Aaron
2. The High Priest told them that they know:
A) Everything.
B) Nothing at all.
C) Only a little.
3. He told them that it was expedient that one man should:
A) Call the council together.
B) Plot to kill Jesus.
C) Die for the people.
4. He did not speak:
A) By his own authority.
B) In their language.
C) A prophecy about Jesus.
5. Caiaphas told them that Jesus would gather the children of God:
A) Into an ark.
B) Under a tree.
C) Who were scattered abroad.
6. The men in the council plotted to:
A) Tell the Romans about Jesus.
B) To trick the people.
C) Kill Jesus.
7. After that Jesus stopped:
A) Walking openly among the Jews.
B) Doing miracles.
C) Attending council meetings.
8. Jesus went into the country near:
A) The wilderness.
B) The new Wal-Mart.
C) The Red Sea.
9. Jesus remained with:
A) His parents.
B) Lazarus and his sisters.
C) His disciples.
^__Match__^
10. Caiaphas ___ Put Him to Death
11. You know ___ Walked openly
12. One man should die ___ The Jews
13. Gather ____ Near the wilderness
14. Children ____ Called Ephraim
15. Scattered ____ With His disciples
16. Plotted to ___ Of God
17. No longer ___ High Priest
18. Among ___ Nothing at all
19. Country ___ Abroad
20. City ___Together
21. Remained ___ For the people
TRUE OR FALSE
22. Jesus called together the council.
23. The men in the council asked, “What shall we do?”
24. They accused Jesus of tricking the people and pretending to do many signs.
25. They thought that if they left Jesus alone everyone would believe Him.
26. Caiaphas said, “It is expedient for us that one man should die for the people..”
27. After the council heard the prophecy about Jesus they made plans to give Him money to help in His ministry.