John 2:13
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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John 2:13
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
While the other Gospels only mention one Temple cleansing at the end of Jesus' ministry, John places it here, at the beginning. This highlights Jesus' immediate, zealous concern for the sanctity of God's house, signaling His mission from the very start.
Fresh off his initial encounters and a wedding miracle, Jesus heads to Jerusalem as the important Passover festival approaches. This annual pilgrimage drew vast crowds, and this year, it marked Jesus' first public visit to the Temple since beginning his ministry, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation with the marketplace that had taken over God's house.
Every year, millions of Jewish people made a significant journey. What made this feast so important that Jesus' first public act happened during it?
The Passover wasn't just a holiday; it was a central pillar of Jewish life and faith. It commemorated God's mighty deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt.
A Sacred Remembrance
This feast was a time to remember God's power, His faithfulness, and His covenant with His people. It was a yearly reminder that God intervenes in history to set His people free.
A National Gathering
Every Jewish male was required to travel to Jerusalem to participate in the Passover sacrifice and celebrations. This meant Jerusalem swelled with people from all over, creating a unique atmosphere and a massive audience for Jesus' ministry.
Jesus wasn't just going with the crowd; His trip up to Jerusalem was purposeful. What was He about to reveal in the heart of Jewish religious life?
Jesus' decision to go to Jerusalem for the Passover wasn't accidental. It was a deliberate step into the public arena, right into the center of Jewish worship and national identity.
A Public Declaration
By going to Jerusalem during this major feast, Jesus was making a public statement. He was presenting Himself in the most significant religious setting possible, drawing attention to His mission.
A Father's House
His immediate actions upon arriving – cleansing the Temple – reveal His deep connection to God the Father and His concern for the sanctity of worship. He was asserting His authority in His Father's house.
Understand the original words
pesach · Hebrew Noun
The annual Jewish festival commemorating the deliverance of Israel from slavery in Egypt, foreshadowing the ultimate deliverance from sin through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.
John's Gospel uniquely places the cleansing of the Temple at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, occurring at His first Passover in Jerusalem as a public figure. This highlights that Jesus' mission to purify worship and establish God's authority began immediately and was intrinsically linked to the major feasts of Israel.
c. AD 27
Jesus' Baptism and Temptation
Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist and subsequently spends forty days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, marking the beginning of His public ministry.
c. AD 27— this verse
First Passover of Jesus' Ministry
Jesus attends the Passover feast in Jerusalem for the first time since beginning His public ministry, where He cleanses the Temple. This event is unique to John's Gospel and occurs early in His ministry.
c. AD 28
Second Passover
Luke records Jesus attending another Passover feast, during which He performs miracles and teaches.
c. AD 30
Third Passover
John records Jesus attending a Passover feast where He miraculously feeds a large crowd and teaches about the Bread of Life.
This passage describes the institution of the Passover, highlighting its significance as a commemoration of God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, which Jesus was now on his way to observe.
Deuteronomy 16:1-8This text lays out the command for all Israelite males to go up to Jerusalem to keep the Passover, explaining why Jesus, as a devout Jew, would be making the journey.
Psalm 69:9Jesus' disciples later recalled this verse, 'The zeal of your house has consumed me,' in connection with his actions at the temple, showing how this Passover journey set the stage for his passionate cleansing of the temple.
Matthew 21:12-13This parallel account shows Jesus cleansing the temple upon his *final* arrival in Jerusalem, whereas John's Gospel places a similar, though perhaps distinct, event at the *beginning* of his ministry during this Passover.
John 11:55This verse also mentions the approach of the Passover, marking the final one of Jesus' ministry, which provides a chronological framework and highlights the significance of the Passover throughout his public life, starting with the one mentioned here in John 2:13.
ellicottJohn 2:13: "And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,"
(13) And the Jews’ passover was at hand. —Here, again, we are on common ground with the earlier Gospels. They place a cleansing of the Temple at the close of our Lord’s ministry at the only Passover which comes within the scope of their narrative. The subject has been dealt with in Notes on Matthew 21:12 et seq. (Comp. also Introduction: The Chronological Harmony of the Gospels, p. 35) The careful reader will not f…
vincentJohn 2:13: "And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,"
The Jews' passoverOn John's use of the term Jews, see on John 1:19. So it is used here with an under-reference to the national religion as consisting in mere ceremonies. The same hint underlies the words in John 2:6, "after the Jews' manner of purifying." Only John mentions this earliest passover of Christ's ministry. The Synoptists relate no incident of his ministry in Judaea, and but for the narrative of John, it…
While the other Gospels only mention one Temple cleansing at the end of Jesus' ministry, John places it here, at the beginning. This highlights Jesus' immediate, zealous concern for the sanctity of God's house, signaling His mission from the very start.
Fresh off his initial encounters and a wedding miracle, Jesus heads to Jerusalem as the important Passover festival approaches. This annual pilgrimage drew vast crowds, and this year, it marked Jesus' first public visit to the Temple since beginning his ministry, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation with the marketplace that had taken over God's house.
Fresh off his initial encounters and a wedding miracle, Jesus heads to Jerusalem as the important Passover festival approaches. This annual pilgrimage drew vast crowds, and this year, it marked Jesus' first public visit to the Temple since beginning his ministry, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation with the marketplace that had taken over God's house.
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c. AD 30
Final Passover and Crucifixion
Jesus attends His final Passover in Jerusalem, institutes the Lord's Supper, is betrayed, and is crucified, fulfilling the Passover's symbolic meaning.
"The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem." — While the other Gospels only mention one Temple cleansing at the end of Jesus' ministry, John places it here, at the beginning. This highlights Jesus' immediate, zealous concern for the sanctity of…