Too Late Smart

Is it right to sacrifice one to save many?

Many of the Jews who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. So 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. If 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.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to put him to death. - John 11:45–53

I have heard the war in the Ukraine described as a Battle between two men.  One wants to eliminate the other and is willing to kill everyone in the nation to get him, while the other wants to keep his nation together, but knows if he sacrifices himself, the nation will be lost.

Caiaphas made an argument that many have made since.  It is better, he says, to sacrifice one to save many.

One might even believe he cared about the people, but it was his own welfare and position he was most worried about.  If the Romans saw insurrection under his reign, he would be removed from power.

So, he really favors sacrificing someone else t o save himself.

Isn't that how we feel most of the time?

We send people out to fight on our behalf.  But would we do that if we had to be sent as well?

The Ukrainian people are taking up arms to fight themselves.  They are not willing to give up their homeland, their freedom, their way of life.

They would rather die.

So, for them, the sacrifice is not all for one or one for all.  It is all in.

When Jesus stood up and revealed himself, he knew he was making himself a target.  And once he was the target, he knew they would eventually get him.

The salvation he offered though was more than being protected from Roman destruction.  This sacrifice was for eternal life.

If only Caiaphas understood that, he might have found a way to fight for Jesus to stay alive.

Sometimes, we learn too late.

More to come...