John 11:56
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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This verse reveals a subtle but important tension: while the religious leaders plotted Jesus' death, the common people were actively searching for Him at the Temple, openly discussing His potential attendance. Their anxious question, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?", shows their genuine, though perhaps unarticulated, desire for Jesus, highlighting the stark contrast between the elite's hostile intentions and the people's eager expectation.
With Jesus having just raised Lazarus from the dead and the religious leaders now actively plotting his death, he withdraws to a city near the wilderness. As the Passover feast approaches, crowds arriving in Jerusalem from all over are buzzing with questions, not seeing Jesus in their travel groups and aware of the danger he's in, they wonder if he'll dare to show up at the temple. The authorities have also issued an order for his arrest, intensifying the tension surrounding his potential appearance.
Imagine the bustling Temple courts during Passover. Amidst the crowds, a murmur rises – people are looking for Jesus, but not with joy. What's behind their urgent, hushed questions?
The people in John 11:56 are not just casually curious; they are anxious.
A Dangerous Absence
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Their seeking isn't a joyful anticipation of seeing Him, but a tense inquiry fueled by fear and uncertainty. They're caught between the compelling power of His ministry and the deadly opposition He faces.
The people are debating Jesus' potential absence due to danger. But what was Jesus Himself doing, and how did He navigate this perilous situation?
While the crowds debated whether Jesus would or would not come to the feast because of the danger, Jesus made a deliberate choice.
Strategic Withdrawal, Determined Purpose
Jesus' decision models how we can be aware of threats and opposition without letting fear dictate our obedience to God's calling.
Understand the original words
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 tension between religious duty to attend the Passover and the real danger posed by religious authorities creates uncertainty about Jesus's public appearance, fueling the discussions in the Temple.
c. AD 30— this verse
Jesus Retreats to Ephraim
Following the raising of Lazarus and a plot against him, Jesus withdraws to the town of Ephraim near the wilderness, no longer openly ministering in Judea.
c. AD 30
Passover Feast Approaches
The annual Jewish Passover festival is drawing near, a time when Jewish males were required to travel to Jerusalem.
c. AD 30
Official Edict Against Jesus
The chief priests and Pharisees issue an order to seize Jesus, prompting them to seek information about his whereabouts.
c. AD 30
Pilgrims Gather in Jerusalem
Many Jews from surrounding regions travel to Jerusalem to prepare for and observe the Passover feast, purifying themselves according to tradition.
c. AD 30
Whispers in the Temple Courts
As crowds gather in the Temple, people discuss Jesus's whereabouts and debate whether he will risk coming to the feast, given the danger.
This passage reflects a similar longing and lament over Jerusalem's rejection of divine presence, mirroring the people's anxious searching for Jesus and their uncertainty about His presence at the feast.
Matthew 21:11This verse describes the crowds asking about Jesus' identity in Jerusalem, highlighting the widespread curiosity and speculation about Him, much like the questions asked in John 11:56 about His attendance at the feast.
John 7:11This passage speaks to the same feast and the same people searching for Jesus, showing a repeated pattern of expectation and inquiry concerning His movements and presence among them.
Psalm 27:13This psalm expresses a deep yearning to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living, which resonates with the people's earnest seeking of Jesus, the embodiment of God's goodness, during the feast.
meyerJohn 11:56: "Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?"
John 11:56 . The people, owing to the sensation which Jesus had in so many ways already aroused, and the edict of their spiritual superiors against Him ( John 11:57 ), have taken a lively interest in the question, whether He will venture, as heretofore, to come to the feast. Their anxious question is a double question ; What think you? (do you thi…
ellicottJohn 11:56: "Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?"
(56) Then sought they for Jesus, and spake . . . —The words imply a continuance of seeking and speaking. They describe the scene as it took place ay after day as they stood in the Temple courts. They had heard rumours of recent events in the various parts from which they had come. Many of them had seen and heard Him at earlier feasts at Jerusalem,…
This verse reveals a subtle but important tension: while the religious leaders plotted Jesus' death, the common people were actively searching for Him at the Temple, openly discussing His potential attendance. Their anxious question, "What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?", shows their genuine, though perhaps unarticulated, desire for Jesus, highlighting the stark contrast between the elite's hostile intentions and the people's eager expectation.
With Jesus having just raised Lazarus from the dead and the religious leaders now actively plotting his death, he withdraws to a city near the wilderness. As the Passover feast approaches, crowds arriving in Jerusalem from all over are buzzing with questions, not seeing Jesus in their travel groups and aware of the danger he's in, they wonder if he'll dare to show up at the temple. The authorities have also issued an order for his arrest, intensifying the tension surrounding his potential appearance.
With Jesus having just raised Lazarus from the dead and the religious leaders now actively plotting his death, he withdraws to a city near the wilderness. As the Passover feast approaches, crowds arriving in Jerusalem from all over are buzzing with questions, not seeing Jesus in their travel groups and aware of the danger he's in, they wonder if he'll dare to show up at the temple. The authorities have also issued an order for his arrest, intensifying the tension surrounding his potential appearance.
"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?”" — This verse reveals a subtle but important tension: while the religious leaders plotted Jesus' death, the common people were actively searching for Him at the Temple, openly discussing His potential a…
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