Responding to the Truth: Embracing Jesus' Call
Summary
In John 11:45-57, we witness the aftermath of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead—a miracle so profound that it forces everyone who hears about it to respond in some way. Some are moved to faith, recognizing the power and truth of Jesus. Others, particularly the religious leaders, are gripped by fear and self-preservation, worried about what this new movement might cost them in terms of comfort, power, and status. The Sanhedrin, the highest council of Jewish leaders, sees Jesus not as the fulfillment of God’s promises, but as a threat to their fragile arrangement with Rome and their own positions of privilege. Their response is not to question the truth of the miracle, but to plot how to eliminate the perceived threat, even if it means sacrificing an innocent man.
This passage is a powerful reminder that the truth of Jesus always demands a response. The miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection is undeniable, but it divides people—some embrace Jesus, others resist, and some actively oppose him. The leaders’ fear of losing their status and security blinds them to the deeper reality: that Jesus’ death would not just be a political expediency, but the very means by which God would save not only Israel, but all who are scattered and lost.
There is a deep irony in Caiaphas’ words: “It is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” He speaks out of political calculation, but God uses even this for a greater purpose—Jesus becomes the substitute, dying in our place so that we might be reconciled to God. The truth of Jesus is not just information to be acknowledged, but an invitation to transformation. It exposes our own areas of resistance, the places where we cling to comfort, power, or old habits rather than surrendering to God’s will.
The challenge is clear: How will we respond to the truth of Jesus? Will we allow it to disrupt our status quo, to shine a light on our hearts, and to call us into deeper faith and surrender? The truth is not always comfortable, but it is always liberating. Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life, invites us to come as we are, to bring our doubts and struggles, and to let his love and sacrifice set us free. What we lay down in response to him is nothing compared to what we gain—peace, hope, and eternal life.
Key Takeaways
- Truth Demands a Response
Encountering the truth of Jesus is never a neutral experience. Just as those who witnessed Lazarus’ resurrection had to choose between faith, fear, or opposition, we too are confronted with the need to respond—either by embracing, resisting, or ignoring the call of Christ. The truth of Jesus unsettles our comfort and compels us to examine what we truly value. [35:38]
- The Cost of Clinging to the Status Quo
The Sanhedrin’s reaction reveals how easily we can prioritize our own comfort, power, or traditions over God’s will. Their fear of losing privilege led them to reject the very Messiah they claimed to await. We must ask ourselves what we are holding onto that keeps us from fully surrendering to God’s purposes in our lives. [43:35]
- God’s Sovereignty in Human Schemes
Caiaphas’ plot to sacrifice Jesus for the nation’s survival was meant for political expediency, yet God used it to accomplish salvation for all. Even when human motives are self-serving or misguided, God’s redemptive plan is not thwarted. The cross stands as the ultimate example of God turning human evil into divine good. [45:40]
- The Truth Exposes and Invites
The truth of Jesus not only reveals who he is, but also exposes who we are—our fears, our resistance, and our need for grace. Yet this exposure is not for condemnation, but for invitation: to bring our doubts, our brokenness, and our hidden struggles into the light, and to let Jesus set us free. [53:52]
- Transformation Requires Ongoing Surrender
While salvation is a gift received by faith, the process of becoming more like Christ—sanctification—requires daily surrender. The truth of Jesus calls us to continually lay down our resistance, habits, and idols, trusting that what we gain in him far outweighs what we give up. This is the path to true freedom and maturity in Christ. [55:15]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[32:28] - Scripture Reading: John 11:45-57
[33:25] - Jesus’ Miracle and Diverse Responses
[34:26] - The Sanhedrin’s Plot
[35:38] - The Power of Truth and Our Responses
[36:43] - Faith, Panic, and Plotting
[37:27] - The Threat to the Status Quo
[38:35] - The Sanhedrin’s Fears and Motives
[41:01] - Political and Religious Context
[42:39] - The Pharisees and Sadducees Explained
[43:35] - Power, Privilege, and Spiritual Blindness
[44:41] - Dramatic Irony and Historical Consequences
[45:40] - Caiaphas’ Prophecy and God’s Plan
[46:38] - Jesus Withdraws and Passover Approaches
[48:15] - Jesus as Outlaw and the Missed Truth
[50:14] - The Challenge: How Will We Respond?
[51:31] - The Truth Will Set You Free
[53:05] - Invitation to Bring Doubts and Struggles
[55:15] - The Truth Reveals and Transforms
[56:21] - The Gospel: Sin, Grace, and Acceptance
[57:07] - Surrender and the Power of Truth
[57:45] - Final Challenge and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: John 11:45-57 – “Truth That Demands a Response”
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### Bible Reading
- John 11:45-57
(This was the main text for the sermon.)
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### Observation Questions
1. What were the different ways people responded after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? ([36:43])
2. According to the passage, what were the main concerns of the Sanhedrin when they heard about Jesus’ miracle? ([38:35])
3. What did Caiaphas, the high priest, say about Jesus, and what was his reasoning? ([45:40])
4. What actions did the religious leaders take as a result of their fears about Jesus? ([34:26])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did the religious leaders see Jesus as a threat, even though they didn’t question the truth of his miracles? What does this reveal about their priorities? ([43:35])
2. Caiaphas said, “it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” How does this statement have a deeper meaning in light of what Jesus came to do? ([45:40])
3. The sermon mentioned that the truth of Jesus unsettles our comfort and compels us to examine what we truly value. Why do you think truth can be so disruptive? ([50:14])
4. How does the passage show both human schemes and God’s greater plan at work at the same time? ([46:38])
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### Application Questions
1. The Sanhedrin clung to their comfort, power, and traditions, even when faced with the truth of Jesus. Are there areas in your life where you might be holding onto comfort or status instead of surrendering to God’s will? What might it look like to let go? ([43:35])
2. The truth of Jesus exposed the fears and motives of the religious leaders. When you think about your own life, are there places where you resist God’s truth because of fear or a desire to keep things the way they are? ([50:51])
3. The sermon said that the truth of Jesus is not just information, but an invitation to transformation. What is one area of your life where you sense God inviting you to change or grow right now? ([53:52])
4. Caiaphas’ words were meant for political survival, but God used them for salvation. Can you think of a time when God used a difficult or even wrong situation in your life for a greater good? How did that experience shape your faith? ([45:40])
5. The passage challenges us to bring our doubts, struggles, and hidden things into the light. Is there something you’ve been keeping hidden that you sense God wants you to bring into the open? What would it look like to take a step toward honesty and freedom? ([53:05])
6. The sermon reminded us that transformation is an ongoing process of surrender. What is one practical step you can take this week to surrender more fully to Jesus—whether it’s a habit, a relationship, or a mindset? ([55:15])
7. Jesus invites us to come as we are, with our doubts and struggles. How can you support someone else in your life who is wrestling with faith or struggling to respond to Jesus? ([53:05])
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Closing Thought:
The truth of Jesus always calls for a response. As you reflect on this passage and discussion, ask God to show you where He is inviting you to deeper faith, surrender, and freedom.
Devotional
Day 1: The Truth of Jesus Demands a Response
Encountering the truth of Jesus is never neutral; it calls each person to make a decision, whether to embrace Him, resist Him, or ignore Him. The passage shows that after witnessing the miracle of Lazarus being raised from the dead, some believed, some panicked, and others plotted against Jesus, revealing that the truth of who He is always provokes a response. Today, the truth of Jesus still presses on our hearts, challenging our comfort zones and inviting us to examine what we truly value. Will we allow the truth to transform us, or will we hold back out of fear or self-preservation? [50:14]
John 11:45-57 (ESV)
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.
Reflection: Where in your life is the truth of Jesus pushing you to make a decision, and how will you respond today?
Day 2: Jesus Is Our Substitute—He Died So We Might Live
Jesus willingly became the substitute for humanity, taking upon Himself the penalty of sin so that we could be reconciled to God and experience true freedom. Caiaphas’ words, though meant politically, were prophetic: it was indeed better for one man—Jesus—to die for the people than for all to perish, and in His death, Jesus accomplished what we could never do for ourselves. This truth is not just theological information; it is a personal invitation to receive grace, forgiveness, and new life through Christ’s sacrifice. [46:38]
John 11:49-52 (ESV)
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Reflection: What does it mean to you personally that Jesus became your substitute, and how might you live differently today in light of His sacrifice?
Day 3: The Truth Reveals and Challenges Our Hidden Resistance
The truth of who Jesus is shines a spotlight into our hearts, exposing areas where we resist God’s will—whether out of fear, pride, or a desire to maintain control. Like the Sanhedrin, we may know the truth but hesitate to surrender certain parts of our lives, clinging to comfort, habits, or status. Yet, Jesus invites us to bring these hidden places into the light, trusting that what we surrender is nothing compared to what we gain in Him: peace, hope, and freedom. [53:52]
Ephesians 5:13-14 (ESV)
But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Reflection: What is one area of your life you sense God’s truth is exposing today, and how can you take a step to bring it into the light?
Day 4: The Truth of Jesus Sets Us Free
Jesus not only teaches the truth—He is the truth, and He promises that those who embrace Him will experience true freedom from sin and shame. This freedom is not just a one-time event but an ongoing process of transformation, as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, growing us in love, patience, humility, and self-control. The invitation is to let the truth of Jesus move from head knowledge to heart transformation, trusting that His freedom is deeper and more lasting than anything the world can offer. [51:31]
John 8:31-36 (ESV)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Reflection: In what area of your life do you most need to experience the freedom Jesus offers, and what is one practical step you can take today to walk in that freedom?
Day 5: The Truth Is an Invitation to Come Home
The truth of the gospel is not just information to be understood but an invitation to come home to the Father, no matter our doubts, failures, or past. Jesus welcomes us as we are, offering love and acceptance beyond what we could ever hope for, and calls us to let His truth change us—even if it costs us everything. What we lay down for Him is nothing compared to the peace, hope, and eternal life we gain in His presence. [56:21]
Luke 15:20-24 (ESV)
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
Reflection: What is holding you back from coming home to the Father or surrendering more fully to Him, and how can you respond to His invitation today?
Quotes
My prayer is that we let the truth of who Jesus is change us, even if it costs us a lot. Even if it costs us everything. Because I believe that what we surrender, what we lay down in the process of that is nothing compared to what we gain. Peace, love, hope, and eternal life. [00:56:57] (28 seconds)
Here is the truth. That Jesus came for you. He left heaven to come and seek and save the lost. He left heaven to come and save the lost. He left heaven to come and save the lost. All of us were dead. We were dead in our sin, having turned away from God. But the truth is that Jesus died in our place. Better was it for one person to die than for many to perish. Jesus is the outworking of that scripture. He is the substitute for us. Why? So that we could do what we could never, ever accomplish on our own, that we could be right with God. Jesus took our sin upon himself on the cross. He died to bring us back into relationship with the Father. [00:52:22] (48 seconds)
Truth has power. It reveals who we are, who we truly are. It threatens to disrupt the status quo. But it is also the power to save. It ultimately leads us to the person of Jesus. The one who is the way, the truth, and the life. [00:57:25] (24 seconds)
The thing is the truth of who Jesus is reveals who we are. It shines a light in a spotlight into our heart. It's not just designed to be information. The truth of Jesus helping us to know who we are is also an invitation to come to the cross and let him free us. [00:55:46] (29 seconds)
Back in John 8, Jesus stated, The truth will set you free. And then he goes on to elaborate. He tells us, I tell you the truth. Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. But if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. [00:51:38] (20 seconds)
I invite you to come as you are, with your messy life and your honest struggles. Because Jesus thought that it was better to die in your place than to miss out on having you come home to the Father. [00:53:34] (18 seconds)
The truth is more than just information. It's an invitation to come home to the father. It's an invitation that no matter where you've been, that there is a place for you. [00:56:42] (15 seconds)
I love this quote by Tim Keller. He tells us the gospel is this, we are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe. And yet at the same time, we are more loved and accepted in Jesus than we ever dared hope. [00:56:21] (21 seconds)
Well, I would challenge us that here we see that the truth of Jesus also demands a response from us. Just like it demanded a response from those who encountered Jesus then. What will your response be to the truth of Jesus? [00:50:05] (22 seconds)
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