Necessary Death

Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. (John 11:50)

He said that in a successful attempt to convict. The next verse tells us why:

And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; (John 11:51)

Thus, Caiaphas was a man doing his job – prophesying as Israel’s high priest. Had he been in prayerful contact with God would he have realized the rest?

And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (John 11:52)

So much of the New Testament reflects this prophecy:

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:8-10)

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3)

For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)

When we come face to face with physical death, we are comforted through our sorrow with the sure and certain hope written for us:

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; (Hebrews 6:18-19)