On April 14th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theater in Washington. It was a conspiracy by a group of men to kill President Lincoln, Vice-President Johnson, and Secretary of State Stewart. Booth was tracked down and killed eleven days later. Eight conspirators were convicted of their crimes. Four were hanged, including one woman, and others were sent to prison.
As tragic as this conspiracy was, it pales in comparison to the conspiracy by religious leaders to kill the Son of God. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the news spread quickly to the Pharisees who “convened a council” with the chief priests. “If we let him go on like this, all men will believe in Him,” they rationalized. “So from that day on they planned together to kill Him” (John 11: 47,48,53). Three months later, with the co-conspirator, Judas Iscariot, they would arrest, try, and crucify Him.
How shameful when men come together to plan evil deeds. Among the six things that the Lord hates is “Hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans” (Pro.6: 17-18). Such men will face the Lord in judgment.
Dennis Doughty