"If we let him continue like this, everyone will believe in him ..." (Giovanni 11: 45-56)

Biblical reflections by Mauro Leonardi*, priest and writer

Shortly before Easter, just before Jesus' death, when the Pharisees decide to kill him, it is moving to see a part of the Jews convert. It is wrong to think that responsible for the death of Jesus are "the Jews": many of them - the apostles for example - believed in him; And the Romans and Herods are also guilty.

From the Gospel according to John 11: 45-56

At that time, many of the Jews who had come from Mary, at the sight of what Jesus had accomplished, [that is, the resurrection of Làzzaro,] believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and reported to them what Jesus had done.

Then the heads of the priests and the Pharisees gathered the Sinédrio and said: «What do we do? This man performs many signs. If we let him continue like this, everyone will believe in him, the Romans will come and destroy our temple and our nation ».

But one of them, Caifa, who was high priest that year, said to them: "You don't understand anything! You do not realize that it is convenient for you that one man die for the people, and the whole nation does not go in ruins! ». However, this did not say it from himself, but, being the high priest that year, prophesied that Jesus had to die for the nation; And not only for the nation, but also to bring together the children of God who were missing. From that day therefore they decided to kill him.

So Jesus was no longer in public among the Jews, but from there he retired to the region close to the desert, in a city called èfraim, where he remained with the disciples.

Easter of the Jews was close and many from the region climbed to Jerusalem before Easter to purify themselves. They sought Jesus and, according to the temple, said among them: «What do you think? Will not come to the party? ».

* Mauro Leonardi (Como 1959) has been a priest since 29 May 1988 and has been inhabited in Rome since then. He spends many hours of his day to make the priest and prefers to build bridges rather than raising walls. For years he has been writing stories, articles, essays and books that revolve around the relationship between man and God. Author ofblogLike Jesus. Abelis(Lindau) is his latest novel. the Volunteers of theJonathan ProjectThey thank him for wanting to share these reflections with us on the word.