John 8:1-11
Jesus Forgives The Adulterous Women
John 8:12-30
Jesus Predicts His Death
John 8:31-38
The Truth Will Set You Free
John 8:39-47
You Are of Your Father The Devil
John 8:48-59
Jesus’ Claims To His Identity
John 9:1-12
Contentment in Any Circumstance
John 9:13-23
Trouble with the Jewish Leaders
John 9:24-34
The Testimony of the Healed Man
John 9:35-41
The Pharisees Blindless
John 10:14-30
The Good Shepherd Knows His Sheep
John 10:22-30
Rejected by the Religious Leaders
John 10:31-42
Renewed Efforts to Stone Jesus
John 11:1-6
News of Lazarus’ Death
John 11:7-16
The Disciples Warn Jesus About Going to Judea
John 11:17-27
Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha
John 11:28-37
Emotions of Jesus
John 11:38-44
Jesus Calls Lazarus Forth From the Grave
John 11:45-52
The Sanhedrin plot to kill Jesus
John 11:53-57
The People arrive for the Passover
John 12:1-11
Mary Anoints Jesus’ Feet
John 12:12-19
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
John 12:20-26
Some Greeks Seek Jesus
John 12:27-36
Jesus Predicts His Death
John 12:37-50
Hardened Hearts and the Fear of Man
John 13:1-11
Humbleness, Holiness and Happiness
John 13:12-20
Happiness Comes by Serving Others
John 13:21-30
Jesus Prediction of His Betrayal
John 13:31-38
Christ’s Farewell Sermon to His Disciples
John 14:1-7
Jesus Encourages the Troubled Disciples
John 14:8-14
The Measure, Means, and Might of Prayer
The People arrive for the Passover
John 11:53–57
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Nothing seemed more important to the crowd than the outcome of a hotly-contested championship basketball game being played in O. C. Lewis Gymnasium in Anderson, Indiana. With three minutes to go and the visitors leading by two points, a foul was called on one of the hometown play … More
From this point on, the Sanhedrin had reached their final verdict concerning Jesus. They wanted to find a way to have him killed (v. 53). Jesus was later tried before the religious leaders 3 times. These “trials” however were only a formality, meant to give the appearance of justice. He was always going to be found worthy of death in their eyes.
Jesus, knowing their intentions, withdrew himself to Ephraim, about fifteen miles north of Jerusalem, where He stayed with His disciples (v. 54). This little village provided a place for rest, and it was close to the wilderness of Judea in case it was necessary to escape. At the same time the pilgrims were coming to Jerusalem for the Passover. The Law of Moses required any who were ritually unclean to purify themselves for one week before participating in the feast (Num. 9:6-14). It’s estimated that the population of Jerusalem on a normal day was around 25,000 people. During the Passover feast, however, there would have been an additional 85,000 to 125,000 people.
There was much excitement over the ministry of Jesus (v. 55). As the crowd was gathering in Jerusalem, the people wondered if Jesus would attend, even though his life was in danger. The last time Jesus had been to Jerusalem, the religious leaders had threatened to stone him. The common people liked Jesus, but the religious authorities had made it clear that any who saw Him must report it so they might arrest Him (vv. 56-57).
Application
Do we get excited for the right reasons? Are we happy to associate with Jesus only on our own terms? It’s easy for me to look back and judge the people of Jesus’s day, thinking that if I had been there, I would have reacted differently. Except for Grace, however, I would be just like them, focusing on the wrong things and missing the real message of Jesus.
John 11:53-57 (English Standard Version)
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