45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. 47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. (John 11:45-48 KJV)
William Burkitt’s Commentary
Observe here, 1. The different effects which this miracle had upon those Jews who were present at the raising of Lazarus; some of them believed on Christ: but others, persisting in their unbelief, went to the Pharisees and informed against him. Notwithstanding all the evidence which our Saviour gave of his being the Messias, by the miracles which he wrought, yet many rejected him, and refused to believe in him, to their unutterable and inevitable condemnation.
Observe, 2. How greatly disturbed the Pharisees were upon the account of our Saviour’s miracles’ knowing how proper an argument they were to convince men, they concluded, that if Christ were suffered to go on and work miracles, he would draw all men after him.
Learn hence, That Jesus proved himself to be the true Messias by the miracles which he wrought, his enemies themselves being judges. For we find here, the worst of our Saviour’s enemies were afraid of his miracles, that by them he would draw all men after him; If we let him alone, all men will believe on him.
Observe, 3. What was the ground of the Pharisees fear, if they let Christ go on to work miracles, that he would have so many followers as would alarm the Romans, and awaken their jealousy, and cause them to come upon them with an army, to deprive them of the little liberty they indulged them, and take away their place and nation: their place: that is, their place of worship, the temple: and their nation: that is, bring the whole body of the Jewish nation to utter destruction.
Learn hence, How all the enemies and opposers of Christ and his kingdom do endeavour to colour their quarrel with some specious pretences, that they may hide the odiousness of their practices from the eye of the world, and may not be openly seen to fight against God. Thus the Pharisees here persecute our Saviour, not as the Messias (though the miracles he wrought were a sufficient evidence that he was such) but as one who would bring ruin upon their nation. If we let him alone, the Romans will come, and take away both our place and nation.