John 11:51 Commentary - Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

1 ) "And this spake he not of himself," (touto de aph' heautou ouk eipen) "However he did not speak (this) of himself," that he was to die for the nation, but that Christ was to do so, to save the nation from political oblivion. Yet his subtle advice, was in truth a prophecy, that Jesus should die, not for the nation only, but also for the sins of the whole world, Isa 53:8; 1Jn 2:2.

2) "But being high priest that year," (alla archeireuson ton eniautou ekeinou) "But being or presiding as high priest of that time," when the collusion against Jesus was being further hardened against Jesus, after He had raised Lazarus from the dead, and after many Jews who saw it had believed in Him, Joh 11:45.

3) "He prophesied that Jesus," (epropheteusen hoti lesous) "He prophesied (to them) that Jesus," the object of their malice and fears, whom they hated without a cause, Heb 7:26; Psa 35:19; Psa 69:4; Joh 15:24-25; Joh 17:14.

4) "Should die for that nation;” (emellen apothneskein) huper tou ethnou) "Was about to die on behalf of the nation," to be put to death, to save the nation from an insurrection, inferring that Jesus was building a political dynasty that if not destroyed, by these religious administrators themselves, would lead to their own demise, as a nation, by the Romans, Joh 11:48, Caiaphas was saying, accuse Jesus of ulterior political motives against both the Roman government and us. Beat Him at the game; File this complaint with Caesar, and ingratiate ourselves with him, and we will save our nation and our jobs, see? Jesus did die, not only for that nation, but also for the sins of the whole world, thus terminating the office of this Messiah-rejecting-Caiaphas, the high priest, Joh 3:16; 1Ti 2:4-6; 2Pe 3:9.