John 11:55-56
Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "to purify themselves" is crucial here, highlighting that many people traveled to Jerusalem before the feast not just to attend, but to ritually cleanse themselves according to Levitical law. This emphasizes the deep importance of ceremonial purity for approaching God, even amidst the growing political tension surrounding Jesus.
With Jesus having retreated to Ephraim to avoid the escalating hostility, the narrative shifts to the approaching Passover festival, a pivotal Jewish observance. Many people, from various regions, began traveling to Jerusalem beforehand to undergo necessary ritual purification, a common practice to ensure they could properly partake in the feast. This influx of pilgrims into the city would soon lead to increased searching for Jesus, both by those eager to see Him and by those plotting His demise.
Did you know that getting ready for the Passover wasn't just about marking your calendar? It involved specific, sometimes lengthy, religious rituals.
The verse mentions many people traveling to Jerusalem before the Passover to 'purify themselves.' This wasn't just a casual cleanup; it referred to specific Levitical laws and ceremonies.
Legal Cleansing:
Some individuals might have become ceremonially unclean through various means, such as touching a dead body or other ritual impurities. To participate in the Passover, they needed to undergo prescribed purification rites. This could involve washing, offerings, and a waiting period, sometimes lasting several days.
Preparing to Meet God:
At its heart, purification was about presenting oneself as ritually clean before God, a fundamental principle in Israel's worship. It underscored the seriousness of the feast and the need for reverence when approaching the divine.
The timing was crucial: these purifications needed to be completed before the actual Passover observance to be considered fit for the feast.
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Why was Jerusalem the epicenter for this massive religious event? And what does that mean for Jesus' presence there?
The annual Passover pilgrimage meant Jerusalem swelled with visitors from all over. This verse paints a picture of the city buzzing with activity before the feast even began, as people arrived for their purification rituals.
A National Assembly:
The Passover was a central event in Jewish life, a time for national remembrance and communal worship. The requirement for all adult males to appear before the Lord in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16) created immense traffic and a unique spiritual atmosphere.
Jesus' Strategic Location:
Jesus, knowing His time was near and aware of the plot against Him (John 11:53-54), had withdrawn to Ephraim. However, the approaching Passover meant Jerusalem would be filled with people, including those seeking Him and those seeking to arrest Him. His earlier arrival (John 12:1) placed Him amidst this charged environment.
Imagine the scene: crowds preparing for a holy feast, while a deadly plot brews beneath the surface. What does this tension reveal?
This verse sets the stage for a critical moment where devotion and danger converge. While many people were focused on the sacred rituals of the Passover, a sinister plan was unfolding in Jerusalem.
Seeking Jesus, Seeking Danger:
The crowds arriving in Jerusalem were looking for Jesus, some with sincere curiosity, others perhaps with ill intent (as noted in the commentaries). This search occurred in the very place where the chief priests and Pharisees had issued orders to seize Him.
The Contrast:
There's a profound contrast between the religious devotion of the pilgrims preparing for Passover and the deadly conspiracy of the religious leaders. The city, filled with people seeking to honor God, also harbored those plotting the death of God's Son.
This highlights how even during times of intense religious activity, spiritual blindness and malice can be present, creating a dangerous environment for those who follow Christ.
Understand the original words
pascha · Greek Noun
The annual Jewish festival commemorating God’s deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, marked by the sacrifice of a lamb; it prefigures the sacrifice of Christ, the true Passover Lamb.
hagnizō · Greek Verb
The act of becoming ritually or morally clean before God through prescribed rites, repentance, or the application of the blood of a sacrifice.
hieron · Greek Noun
The central place of worship in Jerusalem, considered the dwelling place of God’s presence among His people. In the New Testament, it serves as the focal point for religious activity and conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leadership.
heorte · Greek Noun
The annual pilgrimage festivals mandated by the Law of Moses (e.g., Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles). These events were essential times of national gathering and religious observance for the Jewish people.
The verse places Jesus' ministry within the very specific and religiously charged atmosphere of the Passover pilgrimage, highlighting the tension between his growing fame and the authorities' desire to arrest him before the festival.
c. 27 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, calling disciples and performing miracles throughout Galilee and Judea.
c. 29 AD (Early)
Jesus Retreats to Ephraim
After the controversy surrounding his healing on the Sabbath and the subsequent plotting against him, Jesus withdraws to Ephraim, a town near the wilderness, to avoid immediate danger.
c. 29 AD (Spring)— this verse
Passover Festival Nears
The annual Passover festival, a central event in Jewish religious life, approaches. Many pilgrims begin their journey to Jerusalem for the observance.
c. 29 AD (Spring, approx. 6 days before Passover)
Jesus Arrives in Bethany
Jesus arrives in Bethany, near Jerusalem, just six days before the Passover, setting the stage for his final week.
c. 29 AD (Spring, during Passover week)
Jesus' Triumphal Entry and Ministry in Jerusalem
Jesus makes his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, teaches in the Temple, and engages with religious leaders, all during the Passover week.
c. 29 AD (Spring, shortly after Passover)
Jesus is Arrested and Crucified
Following a Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified in Jerusalem.
This passage shows God instructing Moses to have the people sanctify themselves and prepare for His appearance, mirroring the broader principle of ritual purification before encountering God's presence, which is relevant to the pilgrims preparing for Passover.
2 Chronicles 30:17-18This account describes a Passover celebration where many people were not ceremonially clean but were healed by King Hezekiah's prayer, highlighting the importance of purification for the feast and the mercy shown when it was lacking.
Numbers 9:6-11This passage describes a scenario where men were defiled by a dead body and could not celebrate the Passover at the appointed time, leading to a provision for a second Passover, underscoring the strictness of ceremonial cleanness for the feast.
Luke 2:41This verse mentions Jesus, as a boy, going up to Jerusalem with his parents for the annual Passover pilgrimage, showing the customary practice of families traveling for this significant feast.
John 18:28This verse mentions the religious leaders not entering the governor's palace to avoid ceremonial defilement before eating the Passover, demonstrating the continued emphasis on ritual purity for this feast even in Jesus' time.
bensonJohn 11:55: "And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves."
John 11:55-57 . And — Soon after this; the Jews’ passover was nigh — The last passover that Christ attended; and many — From all parts of the country; went up to Jerusalem — Some little time before the commencement of the feast; to purify themselves — By certain preparatory sacrifices and ceremonies, that they might be ready to eat the passover. Thos…
meyerJohn 11:55: "And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves."
John 11:55 . Ἦν δὲ ἐγγ . τ . πάσχα τ . Ἰ .] Comp. John 2:13 , John 6:4 . ἐκ τῆς χώρας ] as in John 11:45 ,—accordingly: out of the country (as opposed to Jerusalem), not: out of that district (Grotius, Bengel, Olshausen). ἵνα ἁγνίσ . ἑαυτ .] refers to the legal usages of self-purification, which varied greatly according to the degrees of the Levitica…
The phrase "to purify themselves" is crucial here, highlighting that many people traveled to Jerusalem before the feast not just to attend, but to ritually cleanse themselves according to Levitical law. This emphasizes the deep importance of ceremonial purity for approaching God, even amidst the growing political tension surrounding Jesus.
With Jesus having retreated to Ephraim to avoid the escalating hostility, the narrative shifts to the approaching Passover festival, a pivotal Jewish observance. Many people, from various regions, began traveling to Jerusalem beforehand to undergo necessary ritual purification, a common practice to ensure they could properly partake in the feast. This influx of pilgrims into the city would soon lead to increased searching for Jesus, both by those eager to see Him and by those plotting His demise.
With Jesus having retreated to Ephraim to avoid the escalating hostility, the narrative shifts to the approaching Passover festival, a pivotal Jewish observance. Many people, from various regions, began traveling to Jerusalem beforehand to undergo necessary ritual purification, a common practice to ensure they could properly partake in the feast. This influx of pilgrims into the city would soon lead to increased searching for Jesus, both by those eager to see Him and by those plotting His demise.
"Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That…" — The phrase "to purify themselves" is crucial here, highlighting that many people traveled to Jerusalem before the feast not just to attend, but to ritually cleanse themselves according to Levitical…
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