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Survival Instinct
Scripture: John 11:45-57
Therefore many of the Jewish people who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 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 signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.
Consider:
Our need for self-protection is very strong. In fact, we have no greater natural drive and motivator than to stay alive - even in very harsh and difficult circumstances.
Just think about those post-apocalyptic movies where Keanu Reeves (or Brad Pitt or whomever you’d like to picture!) are wondering across the desert, ashes smeared on their cheeks, searching for food/shelter/water/enemies to destroy. We love those movies - and I think that’s because we admire their ability to make it through the wastelands and survive at all costs.
Maybe, then, we can slow down on our judgement of the Pharisees in this story. We’ve been taught to hate the Pharisees for trying to destroy the innocent, peace loving followers of God, and for being the ones to “kill Jesus”. But in John’s story, it’s clear the Pharisees motivation is self-protection.
Which doesn’t make it right, just makes it more understandable.
After all, isn’t that what motivates us most of the time? We don’t try new things because we are protecting ourselves from the blow to our ego failure provides. We insulate ourselves from different ideas and opinions to avoid the painful work of changing our minds. We stockpile cans of soup for the day when the stores close forever so we won’t go hungry.
Our sin causes us to look towards our own self-protection first. Maybe the reason we dislike the Pharisees so much is because we understand them and, in our heart of hearts, don’t necessarily disagree.
Respond:
Ask yourself: “If I did this and no one—not the recipient, not my peers, and not social media—ever found out I was responsible, would I still do it with the same level of effort?” If your enthusiasm drops when the “credit” is removed, your primary driver is likely self-interest instead of generosity.
When you are making a choice, consider: Am I doing this for the outcome or for the identity of being the person who does these things?
Pray:
In the quiet where no eyes watch, I search my heart. If my hands serve and no voice speaks my name, let that be enough. Strip away the hunger for praise and the mask of virtue. May I love for the sake of love, finding joy in the hidden seed. Amen.
These posts will always be free, however, if you find them meaningful and would like to consider supporting our online outreach, you can donate using this link.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wfpc.substack.com
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By Wake Forest PresbyterianScripture: John 11:45-57
Therefore many of the Jewish people who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 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 signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.
Consider:
Our need for self-protection is very strong. In fact, we have no greater natural drive and motivator than to stay alive - even in very harsh and difficult circumstances.
Just think about those post-apocalyptic movies where Keanu Reeves (or Brad Pitt or whomever you’d like to picture!) are wondering across the desert, ashes smeared on their cheeks, searching for food/shelter/water/enemies to destroy. We love those movies - and I think that’s because we admire their ability to make it through the wastelands and survive at all costs.
Maybe, then, we can slow down on our judgement of the Pharisees in this story. We’ve been taught to hate the Pharisees for trying to destroy the innocent, peace loving followers of God, and for being the ones to “kill Jesus”. But in John’s story, it’s clear the Pharisees motivation is self-protection.
Which doesn’t make it right, just makes it more understandable.
After all, isn’t that what motivates us most of the time? We don’t try new things because we are protecting ourselves from the blow to our ego failure provides. We insulate ourselves from different ideas and opinions to avoid the painful work of changing our minds. We stockpile cans of soup for the day when the stores close forever so we won’t go hungry.
Our sin causes us to look towards our own self-protection first. Maybe the reason we dislike the Pharisees so much is because we understand them and, in our heart of hearts, don’t necessarily disagree.
Respond:
Ask yourself: “If I did this and no one—not the recipient, not my peers, and not social media—ever found out I was responsible, would I still do it with the same level of effort?” If your enthusiasm drops when the “credit” is removed, your primary driver is likely self-interest instead of generosity.
When you are making a choice, consider: Am I doing this for the outcome or for the identity of being the person who does these things?
Pray:
In the quiet where no eyes watch, I search my heart. If my hands serve and no voice speaks my name, let that be enough. Strip away the hunger for praise and the mask of virtue. May I love for the sake of love, finding joy in the hidden seed. Amen.
These posts will always be free, however, if you find them meaningful and would like to consider supporting our online outreach, you can donate using this link.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wfpc.substack.com