What Shall We Do?

John 11:45-58 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.
 
“WHAT shall we do?” asked the Pharisees. How would you answer? You could respond, “You can love him. Enjoy and experience his miracles and glorify him with your faithfulness to his commands. You can love others in his name. And yes, you can worship him!” Control and power were on the Pharisees’ minds, and they did not know what to do when the Lord of Life encountered them. Do you want to reach back through the centuries and awaken these faithless hearts?
    But with some grace in our own hearts, let’s consider the ruling Jews were not the only ones confused about Jesus. Several times the gospels tell us our Lord’s closest disciples were confused: Luke 18:34 The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.
    Jesus’ incarnation was a mystery to nearly everyone who encountered him. “What shall we do?” was often accompanied with, “Who are you?” (John 8:25) “Where are you going?” (John 13:36) The disciples were even confused about what to do as the resurrected Jesus prepared to ascend: So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) Why did the Jews’ leaders and  the disciples have so much difficulty knowing what to do about Jesus?
    God demonstrates throughout Scripture he reveals himself to particular people at certain times with what they need to know. He told Noah, Abraham, Moses, Rahab, the prophets and others what they needed to do with him. Sin’s curse has hidden God from our spiritual vision. It is impossible to know what to do in response to God until he grants you the right eyes to see him.
    Amid the disciples’ confusion at Jesus’ ascension, Jesus then told them: Acts 1:7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  
    God withholds and gives knowledge according to  his will. He willed the Son to die. The Jews’ response to their question was to crucify Jesus. In contrast God’s will was that the Spirit revealed to the disciples the answer to, “What shall we do?” They proclaimed the good news to the nations.
    Do you know Jesus? Then praise God today that you have God’s full counsel – his Bible – so you can know your answer to, “What shall we do?”