John 11:51 (ASV)

Passage

Now this he said not of himself: but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation;

Nearby Context

John 11:49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

John 11:50 nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

John 11:51 Now this he said not of himself: but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation;

John 11:52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad.

John 11:53 So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "said", "himself", "high", "priest", "year", "prophesied", "jesus", and "should". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "said" and "himself", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 50's "nor do ye take account that it..." into verse 52's "and not for the nation only but...", so "said" and "himself" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "said" and "himself" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.