John 11:48

John 11:48 says, If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. One of the real reasons the chief priests and Pharisees were concerned about Jesus was a fear of Rome.  Though they continued to persecute Him for religious reasons, they were more concerned with their position in the world.  They said if they left Him alone, that He would draw all men to Him, and the Romans would come and take away both their place and their nation.  They still thought Jesus was going to set up an earthly kingdom.  As His followers today, are we afraid that we will have to give up our place if we follow Him too closely?  Do we still view following Jesus to be for worldly power?  Verse forty-nine adds, And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,  A man named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year asked them if they knew nothing at all.  Verse fifty continues, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.   He was willing to kill a fellow Jew Who was doing great miracles for God in order to preserve his own power.  He also implied that he knew better how to deal with the situation than the other chief priests and Pharisees.  Today, if we begin to believe that it is okay or even better that innocent people die to protect our position in the world, we need to examine our motives.  We are to be a light to all people, even those who hate us.  Verse fifty-one states, And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation.  Even though he didn't realize it, Caiaphas stated what Jesus would do.  Jesus would die that all might live.  Verse fifty-two adds, And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.  He would die not only for the Jews, but for all people everywhere.  When we begin to regionalize God, to feel that He loves us more than any other people and that we should be more materially blessed than others, we miss the full truth of the gospel.  The chief priests and Pharisees thought Jesus was planning to establish an earthly kingdom and take away their power and position.  We today at times seem to feel that He came to give us power and position in the world, but He came as a Servant and expects us to be the same. Verse fifty-three adds, Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. From that day forward, they took council together to put Him to death. The world today takes council together to put God to death, but we can rest assured that it will never happen.