But another consideration came up: If they should execute Jesus, and Lazarus should remain as a witness of his miraculous power to raise from the dead, the very fact that a man existed who had been four days in the grave, and whose body had begun to decay, yet had been called to life and health by a word from Jesus, would sooner or later create a reaction and bring disaster upon themselves for sacrificing the life of Him who could perform such a miracle for the benefit of humanity. They therefore decided that Lazarus must also die. They felt that if the people were to lose confidence in their rulers, the national power would be destroyed. {2SP 374.1}

Men der var en anden sag, som nu måtte komme i betragtning. Dersom de dræbte Jesus og lod Lazarus leve, som var et vidne om Jesu underfulde magt til at oprejse de døde, så ville den kendsgerning, at et menneske levede, som havde været fire dag i graven, et menneske, som havde fået liv og sundhed ved et eneste ord af Jesus, efter at hans legeme allerede havde begyndt at gå i forrådnelse, sener eller tidligere frembringe en forandring i folkestemningen og bringe ulykke over dem, fordi de havde ihjelslået den, som kunne udføre et sådant mirakel til menneskenes gavn. De besluttede derfor også at dræbe Lazarus. De mente, at dersom folket mistede tilliden til deres øverster, så ville det ruinere hele nationen.