A major shift for Jesus, meant for us

By John Pearring

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent
Ezekiel 37:21-28
John 11:45-56

The scripture in John's Gospel today — where the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin court of judges to discuss the dangerous man, Jesus — follows directly after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Note the beginning verses to the scene where the Pharisees plot what to do with this outlier rabbi.

“Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.” (John 11:45-46)

The Pharisees did not approach Jesus. They went to Martha’s sister, Mary, and checked her witness testimony. It must have been convincing, especially when she pointed out her brother back from the dead. Jesus no longer makes himself available through emissaries from the Sanhedrin. For the rest of John's gospel, Jesus spoke directly to his disciples, and thereby, us.

As we know, Jesus is not called to the Sanhedrin. They speak about, but not with him. the result of their parlay about Jesus ends with, “So from that day on, they planned to kill him.”

The next verse in John begins the shift for Jesus. John the Apostle has a wonderful witness for us, a primer by Jesus for how to live out the life of a disciple. “So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.”

We might conclude that Jesus’ wandering about Jerusalem would be done, but this shift isn’t his disappearance from view. It’s a change. The years of ministry and forming his church are coming to a close. Jesus, now labeled for death, has an essential list of tasks to complete before his martyrdom. He must conclude the fulfillment of the scriptures in full view of his enemies. All this to secure his followers with testimony and teaching for the rest of the age.

He soon leaves Ephraim for Bethany to meet with Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Mary prepares Jesus for his death, unbeknownst to her fully. She anoints the feet of Jesus. Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.

From Bethany, Jesus, with his entourage of believers who had seen him raise Lazarus, enters the streets of Jerusalem on a donkey. By this, Jesus fulfills his claim as the Messiah, the divine King.

Jesus then speaks to a crowd, including some visiting Greeks, who are present for the Jewish feast day, and proclaims that his hour has come. This claim is sealed in their view by an appearance of God, in full view of witnesses. Like at his baptism and transfiguration, God speaks publicly to his Son again.

Jesus exclaimed “Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

Jesus does not hush anyone. He said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. Now is the time of judgment on this world; now, the ruler of this world will be driven out. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

However, once more, Jesus must hide from the crowds. The authorities must be zeroing in on him, and it’s not yet time.

John inserts a prophecy from Isaiah at the end of Chapter 12: “Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him . . .” John adds a summary of Jesus’ admonitions to his followers, ending with, “. . . because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.”

In his final few days, drawn out by John in great detail in the next seven chapters — which comprise fully one-third of the entire Gospel —Jesus unpacks every vital detail about who he is. From the Passover meal with the apostles to his crucifixion, Jesus confirms that all history belongs to him.

“From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Jesus’ descriptions of the restored creation are clear. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.

He informs them of the coming Holy Spirit.

I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live.

His believers are told that the way he lived and died is what they, and we, must all be prepared to do. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this; to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

But there is more we must do to prepare for a life of martyrdom. They and we must testify to all of this. “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.”

These are not his final words but the words that end his teaching to the disciples, specifically his apostles. If we are his current disciples, they are also for us.

Jesus answered them, “Do you believe now? Behold, the hour is coming and has arrived when each of you will be scattered to his own home and you will leave me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”