John 11:45-56 NRSVue

⁴⁵Many of the Jews, therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did believed in him. ⁴⁶But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. ⁴⁸If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” ⁴⁹But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” ⁵¹He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, ⁵²and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. ⁵³So from that day on they planned to put him to death.

⁵⁴Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness, and he remained there with the disciples.

⁵⁵Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. ⁵⁶They were looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?”

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Reflection on John 11:45-56

Inspiration from 2026-03-28 Daily Prayer

Caiaphas, the high priest, was both a religious and a political force among the Jews. He could see how things were proceeding and ascertained that trouble was likely to descend upon them in the near future. He was pragmatic by nature and wondered what tribulations Jesus might produce if left free to roam at will. The status quo was being challenged, and something needed to be done, so Caiaphas stated that ‘it was better that one man died for the people’ rather than that disaster beset them all. To Jesus, however, every individual mattered, for he called each of us by name. He also wants us to call him by name to ensure that the Kingdom becomes a reality in our world.

Further reflection

With dramatic irony, Caiaphas the high priest, a cynical and pragmatic Saducee, spoke wiser than he knew. As one of the rich establishment, he feared that Jesus would disturb the status quo, so he had to be eliminated.

Lord, this prophecy touches me too, as one of the dispersed children of God for whom you died.