True Words; False Conclusion

TODAY'S READING: John 9, 10, 11

SCRIPTURE: John 11:49-53

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. ⁵³ So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

OBSERVATION: This scripture is very interesting because it is one of the few places where a person prophesies truth but comes to the completely wrong conclusion. Caiaphas prophesied earlier in the year that Jesus would die for the nation of Israel and for all "the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one". This was a true prophecy. However, Caiaphas believed Jesus was a blasphemer and an evil person. He believed it was right for the Jewish religious leaders to plot to kill Jesus because he believed Jesus' death would bring about unity among the Jews that were in Israel and those that lived abroad. His prophecy was true but his interpretation was not; it was from the pit of hell.

APPLICATION: Why is it that we are so completely enamored with those who give prophecies or move in the other gifts of the Spirit? Jesus makes it clear that there are those who will prophesy and even perform miracles in his name who do not have a relationship with him (see Matt. 7:21-23). It is the character of a person we need to look at in order to assess whether they are godly or not. A person who is not living in relationship with God can prophesy or pray for the sick and have them recover, but without the Spirit speaking to them the conclusions they come to may be very false. If we listen to someone because they can move in the miraculous but they do not have communion with God, we risk being deceived. Satan uses anyone he can to deceive, including religious people who are not following God. He will take truth and twist the interpretation into something false and misleading. We need to look for the fruit of the Spirit in others and keep our spiritual "antennae" attuned to the Spirit.

PRAYER: Father, may I recognize and discern immediately when someone who seems to be spiritual and moving in the gifts is being used by the enemy to mislead and deceive. And help your people to have the awareness to recognize truth from error as well. Keep your Church healthy and holy, circumspect and cautious. In Jesus' Name, Amen.