Prophesying, Planning, and Pivoting – John 11:45-57

So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews. (John 11:53-54a ESV) The end of John 11 is another turning point in the narrative of the life of Christ. Having just performed a glory-revealing miracle by raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus now pivots his direction, by no longer walking openly among the Jews, because their authorities are determined to arrest him and kill him. Of course, we know that Jesus was not averting death, for Jesus came to die. Rather, he was waiting for the time appointed by his Father. He well knew that soon, he would need to appear in Jerusalem again, publicly again, and journey to the cross. The hour had not yet come, but that hour would come soon. In the meantime, our passage finds the Jewish council planning to arrest and kill Jesus. The high priest Caiaphas says, “It is better for you that one man should die for the people, not