Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary (sister of Martha), and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”
And one of them—Caiaphas—being high priest that year, said to them:“You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.”
Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.
The Gospel of John 11:45-55
Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews….And the Passover of the Jews was near…
So Caiaphas proposed by the sacrifice of Jesus to save the guilty nation, not from transgression, but IN TRANSGRESSION, that they might CONTINUE in sin...
At this council Christ’s enemies had been deeply convicted. The Holy Spirit had impressed their minds. But Satan strove to gain control of them. He urged upon their notice the grievances they had suffered on account of Christ. How little He had honoured THEIR righteousness. He presented a righteousness far greater, which all who would be children of God MUST possess.
Taking no notice of their forms and ceremonies, He had encouraged sinners to go directly to God as a merciful Father, and make known their wants.
Thus—in their opinion— He had set aside the priesthood. He had refused to acknowledge the theology of the rabbinical (or religious) schools. He had exposed the evil practices of the priests, and had irreparably hurt their influence. He had injured the effect of their MAXIMS and TRADITIONS…. All this Satan now brought to their minds.
Satan told them that in order to maintain their authority, they must put Jesus to death. This counsel they followed. The fact that they might lose the POWER they then exercised, was, they thought, sufficient reason for coming to some decision. With the exception of a few who dared not speak their minds, the Sanhedrin received the words of Caiaphas as the words of God.
They had come wholly under the sway of Satan…
Jesus had now given three years of public labor to the world. His example of self-denial and disinterested benevolence was before them. His life of purity, of suffering and devotion, was known to all.
Yet this short period of three years was as long as the world could endure the presence of its Redeemer.
The Desire Of Ages pg. 540-541
It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ—from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point and let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing ones of His earthly life.
Volume 4 Testimonies for the Church pg. 374
Beloved, contemplate the life of Christ, especially the closing scenes of His earthly ministry, for “that which has been, is that which shall be — there is no new thing under the sun“— says Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:9.
Christ’s experience will be our experience in these latter days.
Because of His faithful ministry, He was hated by the apostate leaders in the Church of His day. He called sin by its right name; He was a Man of principle, not of policy—He called a spade, a spade. His words of truth broke down the forms and traditions that were set up by the apostate church leaders of the day. It was for this very reason that they sought to kill Him.
With this being said, must we not expect in these last days to be “hated by our own brethren” who continue to live in apostasy, especially those in positions of leadership—“The Pharisees and chief priests of today” ? To those who call out the apostasy of those living in sin, the ire of the dragon shall be against us, for the time will come when those who persecute and mistreat us will think that they are “doing God’s service.”
This phenomenon is not new Beloved; history is replete with illustrations of the faithful being maligned and persecuted by those who are entrenched in erroneous beliefs. The very ones who should be shepherding the flock often turn against those who shine light on sin and darkness, leading to an environment where truth is overshadowed by complacency and apostasy.
The Church is in dire need of revival and reformation in these final stages of earth’s history. Many unbiblical practices are finding their ways into the Church because the watchmen have become “dumb dogs”, and the devil likes it so. They have fallen asleep, lulled into a false sense of security by the whispers of a culture that prioritises acceptance over truth. But friends, Christ has called us to cry aloud, to lift up our voices like trumpets, and to call sin by its right name. Therefore, let us not rest on our laurels but arise; whether they hear or whether they forbear, we have a duty to proclaim sound doctrine and to gently restore those who have wandered from the truth.
It is imperative that we understand the significance of our mission during these turbulent times. The moral decay we witness around us serves as a reminder that the Church must stand firm against the tide of APOSTASY. Each one of us has a role in this divine mandate, whether it involves teaching, evangelism, or simple acts of righteousness. Let our resolve be unwavering, and may we remain steadfast, emboldened by the hope of His return. For it is written that His words shall not return void; they will accomplish what He has purposed. Thus, we hold fast to our commission, knowing that even in adversity, our labor is not in vain.
Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet;
Isaiah 58:1
Tell My people their transgression, And the house of Jacob their sins.
Loud Cry Compendium
Loud Cry Compendium 