(The Lord speaking is red text)
But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;
The head cohanim then decided to do away with El‘azar too,
So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well,
But the chief priests took counsel that they might put Lazarus also to death;
But{G1161} the chief priests{G749} consulted{G1011} that{G2443} they might put{G615} Lazarus{G2976} also{G2532} to death{G615};
John 12:10 is a verse set within the broader context of the Gospel of John, which recounts the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This particular verse is part of the narrative leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and reflects the growing hostility towards Jesus and His followers by the Jewish religious leaders of the time, particularly the chief priests.
The historical context of the verse is the period just after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead in the town of Bethany. This miraculous event is recorded in John 11 and is a pivotal moment in the Gospel narrative, as it demonstrates Jesus' power over life and death and significantly intensifies both the faith of some and the opposition of others. Lazarus' resurrection attracted much attention, causing many to believe in Jesus, while also provoking the chief priests and Pharisees, who saw their authority and the status quo being threatened.
In John 12:9-11, we see a large crowd gathering not only to see Jesus but also Lazarus, who had become a living testimony to Jesus' divine authority. The chief priests, already plotting to kill Jesus, extend their murderous intent to Lazarus as well. Their rationale is not explicitly detailed in the text, but it can be inferred that Lazarus' very existence posed a significant challenge to their power and influence. By eliminating Lazarus, they likely hoped to dispel the belief in Jesus' messianic claims and to quell the growing messianic fervor among the people that could lead to unrest or intervention by the Roman authorities.
The themes present in this verse include the tension between faith and unbelief, the rejection of Jesus by the religious establishment, and the lengths to which those in power will go to maintain their position. It also highlights the cost of discipleship, as being associated with Jesus carried the risk of persecution and death. Furthermore, it underscores the reality of spiritual blindness, where those who should have recognized God's work were instead hardened and sought to extinguish it.
In summary, John 12:10 captures a moment of escalation in the conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders, revealing their desperate measures to suppress the truth and the danger faced by those who dared to stand with Jesus. It is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of following Christ and the radical nature of His message and actions.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)