THE HELMET, SWORD&SHIELD

"A Matter of Expediency”

“And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not."

John 11:49-53

From their point of view, their plan had worked. Among his own disciples, the Sanhedrin had found one whose heart had not been transformed by His words. They had found one like themselves, selfish, greedy, a glutton for money and prestige. Their pre-arranged plan had been executed without hitch, without error.

They had taken him in the garden without resistance; his disciples had scattered like a flock of frighten sheep. He had fallen into their grasps and they made the most of their opportunity.

Under the cloak of the night hours, they had taken Him to be interrogated by Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the High Priest. Then, they took him before an unlawfully and secretly convened assembly of Sanhedrin council members who were led by the High Priest. Though in their hearts, they had already declared that he was guilty, they went through the formality of the trial so that their sentence might be executed lawfully.

In a previous gathering of the Sanhedrin council, Caiaphas, the High Priest, had declared that it was expedient that Jesus be sacrificed for the sake of national stability. Unknown to him, however, the proclamation statement that he so confidently announced did not originated from his own depraved heart but was imparted by inspiration. (John 11:47-53 contains the detailed record of the account).

It was expedient that Jesus die, but for a much different reason.

A Matter of Expediency

The word 'expedient' simply means 'profitable.' It describes that which is beneficial or advantageous. Members of the Sanhedrin council had declared that the death of Jesus was necessary in order to retain and secure their position and rank among the people. The effect of his Ministry of Truth had severely embarrassed them, spotlighted their spiritual incompetence and exposed their treacherous villainy to point where they had to find a means to dispose of him.

But, from the vantage point of the Court of Heaven, more importantly, the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus was expedient because it was the foundation upon which rested the eternal destiny of humanity. From the very beginning, the angel Gabriel had announced, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (MATT. 1:21)

He came to deliver mankind from the condemnation and the dominion of sin. He came to bare the judgment of the sentence of condemnation (eternal death) that is allotted to all men as a result of our depraved condition. This condition is vividly described in Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:10-12; 5:12,"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

As the Scriptures declared, it was expedient "that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad." (John 11:51b-52)

Head-Bruising the Serpent

The death of the Lord Jesus was expedient because it was the means by which the "head of the serpent" would be bruised by the "seed of the woman."

As he pronounced judgment upon Satan embodied in the serpent, God prophetically declared in Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

The Lord Jesus Christ was the promised "seed" of the woman that was destined to apply the fatal blow that would destroy the work of Satan and affirm the certainty of his eternal demise.

Regarding the enormous impact that the Lord's death had in regard to Satan, and his kingdom the Scriptures declares in Colossians 2:15, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

In Hebrews 2:14, the Scriptures explained: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." 1 John 3:18b further affirms, " For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."

Humanity is greatly indebted to the beloved and only begotten Son of God. He freely chose to accept the divine penalty of sin, in our stead, and suffered the full fury of the wrath of divine justice.

Regarding this crucial redemptive matter, Isaiah 53:4-6 foretold long ago, "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

Romans 4:25 explains, "Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

And, Galatians 3:13 explains, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:"

In light of the marvelous feat of redemption He has secured for us, let us re- affirm our commitment to our Lord and Savior. And, too if we are listening to these words, and know that we are standing "on the wrong side of the fence" having thrown our lot in with the enemies of Christ and the hallowed matter of the Cross, let us hastily change our position by believing the saving message of the Gospel.

The key message of holy invitation plainly explains to us in Romans 10:9-10, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Most assuredly, it is one thing to have repeatedly listened to the message of the Christ, however, it is an entirely different matter to have been transformed by it.

This practical point is stressed in 1 John 3:3 that affirms to every professing Christ follower, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."

Moreover, as we live in expectation of His imminent second coming, let us fervently work and strive to be the servants he has called us to be.

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"A Matter of Expediency”

“And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not."

John 11:49-53

A Matter of Expediency

Head-Bruising the Serpent

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