John 11:50 Commentary and Bible Study

‘Nor consider’ – and this is the way he frames the motion – ‘it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.’ Why, that almost makes it sound moral! He has found a formula. They can sell this to the people. This will look reasonable in the minute book. We are acting for the good of the people. It is unavoidable that one man who is going to bring catastrophe upon us should perish rather than all the people perish. At last, the council have made themselves feel noble in their ignoble act to do away with Jesus Christ. They did not have the best man as high priest, but they had the brightest. They are his words, and he meant them, and he had so little morality in him that he can justify a wrongful arrest and trumped up charges. But he makes it sound good.