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Gospel Reading for March 28, 2026 – John 11: 45-56
WARRIOR-SAVIOR
Many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what Jesus had done began to believe in him. But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs. If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing, nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.” He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God. So from that day on they planned to kill him. So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves. They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?”
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“This man is performing many signs. If we leave Him alone, all will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.”
The concern of the Jews—particularly their leaders—was rooted in their expectation of the Messiah. They had long awaited someone who would free them from Roman rule, a powerful deliverer who would restore their nation. Their hopes were so fixed on this vision that they lost sight of what it truly means to live.
Because of this, they struggled to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. His actions and teachings did not match their image of a WARRIOR-SAVIOR. Instead of leading a political revolution, he came to transform hearts and reveal a deeper way of living.
Jesus came to show them how to live according to the will of the Giver of Life and to focus on what truly matters. Yet they could not understand him—his message seemed foreign to them, as though he were speaking a different language.
In the same way, we too can fail to hear the Word of God. The burdens we carry and the desires we cling to can prevent us from aligning with his will. When our hearts are not attuned to him, his voice becomes difficult to recognize, and our lives grow more complicated.
Lord Jesus, teach us to be attentive to the Father’s will each day of our lives!
