John

Oh heavens but I am tired today.  I worked hard all day!   BUT I wanted to spend time with God today yet, so we are.  We’ve finished off John 12 and now move on to John 13, the first 20 verses.

13 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Last time we talked, Jesus was talking to the people that were gathering for the Passover. It is still pre-Passover feast, and Jesus knows that his hour has come. He would soon leave this world to go  to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Tonight we were reading from our catechism and it talked about the suffering of Jesus… from the very moment he came to earth, leaving his infinite life for a finite one with all the cares and concerns that brings.   But he came and in his coming is LOVED this own who are in this world.  He loved them until the end.

See what Jesus does in the love that he has for his own.  He knows that Judas Iscariot is going to betray him, he knows what the future holds for him.  He holds these things that he knows.  See what he does.   He takes up a towel, ties it around his waist and takes up a basin and fills it with water.

Can you imagine what the disciples must have thought?

The Shock

Peter tells us plainly. “Lord, do you wash my feet?”

When I read these lines, especially with the follow up… It’s like shock and horror mixed together.  How could Jesus do this?  Jesus was not a servant, he was a leader, a teacher, a master.  Servants wash feet.

Jesus attempted to reassure Peter (and ergo the rest of the disciples). “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

Peter rejects that idea.  The idea of his master washing his feet!  I DON”T THINK SO!  Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.”

But watch Peter’s response to Jesus’ answer, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Oh, that eagerness makes me smile!  Peter is so in love with Jesus, and he simply won’t risk not being part of him. He immediately back tracks. 

I love Jesus’ response.  I can almost see him smiling as he responds to Peter’s enthusiasm.  10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” Jesus makes it clear though that he knows that not all of those present are good folk.  

Jesus’ Explanation

Jesus went all to explain what he did.  He gave them “legs” on the table he had set.   12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Jesus is clear though… his words are not for everyone.  They are for those who has chosen.   He is telling them now so when it comes time for them to know and understand, they will understand. He tells them that one of them among them has lifted his hand against him. (This is a fulfillment of scripture).

17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”.

I wonder if that was a comfort to them.   Afterwards, to know that Jesus wasn’t surprised by the betrayal of Judas. Followed by the reassurance about the reciprocity of receiving Christ is receiving God and vice versa. Judas wasn’t chosen, other disciples were, and Jesus knows the difference between the two. 

Did you notice though?  Jesus washed the feet of all the disciples, not just the clean ones. 

 

Last time we met we saw Jesus with a troubled heart, but a determination to fulfill his purpose.   Today we see unbelief in John 12:37-43.

When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. 37 Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, 38 so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39 Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
40
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”
41 Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. 42 Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.

This section starts with the worlds “when Jesus had said these things“

What things?  The previous verses have these words : “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.”

Anyways, he said those words and then he disappeared, we are told he left and hid himself.   We read the sad words that even though Jesus had done many signs, people still didn’t believe in him.   This was to be expected since Isaiah had foretold this. 

“Lord, who has believed what he heard from us,
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

and

40
“He has blinded their eyes
and hardened their heart,
lest they see with their eyes,
and understand with their heart, and turn,
and I would heal them.”

Do you see it?   God blinded eyes, and hardened hearts.   God’s choice.   I have to admit, I don’t quite get it.  Why would God do that?  Why wouldn’t he want people believe in him?   I know that he is gracious, kind, and loving to his children that he calls by name. He heals our wounds and eases our sorrows.   So why wouldn’t he let eyes be open and hearts be soft? 

I had to ponder this for a while so I went and did some dishes and laundry.  Busy hands help my mind to settle and think. 

Perhaps the reasoning is found in verse 42 where many did believe in him but didn’t make any sign of it because they were afraid of the Pharisees. They valued their positions and the opinions of others over God.  God wants people that believe in him fully, that don’t let fear stop them from declaring their faith. 

It leads me to the question.   Whose glory is more important?

God knows whose glory we will seek.  So hearts are hardened who won’t truly seek after his glory. Eyes are closed for those who won’t put God first in their lives. He knows long before we even think about it.

What a reason to praise God eh?   Those who believe in him.  He knew even before we did that our hearts would seek after him and his ways.  That we would want to God’s glory known more than the opinions of others. 

The question left for me then is this: Do I act in a way that shows what God knows?   Do I seek after God’s glory or do the opinions of those around me matter more than God?   Am I letting him down?  He knows my heart and so called me to him, is my heart showing forth to the world, honouring God’s glory?

 

Last time we met we learned how the disciples remembered events from Jesus’ life and then once they understood them later, told others what they knew.  Today we study from John 12: 20-26.  The Greeks come to talk to Jesus.

²⁰ Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. ²¹ So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” ²² Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. ²³ And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

So we know that Jesus was at the Passover preparations/feast.  We know that people had been looking for him.   We’ve also seen him being welcomed with hosannas, a trail of coats and a young donkey to ride in on.   Today we learn that Greeks were part of the crowd… they came to worship at the feast.  

You know what that tells me?  They were converts to Judaism…otherwise why would they come?   Greeks wouldn’t show up at a Jewish event to take part, to worship, unless they had converted to Judaism.    Therefore we have these Greek Jews on a mission.  They came to Philip and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”

Philip went to Andrew and then together they went and told Jesus. 

Jesus’ answer seems a bit odd to me.  It wasn’t sure… bring them on over, rather it was more total end game.    His response:  “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

I gotta wonder, did the disciples take that response back to the Greeks?

Or did they wonder… what is Jesus talking about?   I know they didn’t really understand that Jesus came to die, so these references probably had them shaking their heads a bit.  In retrospect we understand what he says.   Jesus’ time to die was fast approaching.   But his death would bear much fruit just like a wheat kernel dying to produce a new plant with many seeds.   It’s important to realize this truth you know?  Especially in light of his next lines. 

Then we get the reference to those who follow after Christ.  They need to be willing to die for him.  But that death would yield eternal life.  Service to Christ requires that we follow him, and since we are following him we are with him.   Christ’s servants are honoured by God the Father.   Jesus’ death lead to much fruit.  We need to be willing to follow Christ…even to the point of death.  What might our deaths bring in terms of fruit borne?  Do we even really ever think about that?

I know that I don’t tend to. In fact most days I have to admit I often don’t think of my relationship with Christ in those terms… of dying to myself so that I might serve Christ better?   I rarely wonder about how I might die to myself as I follow the Lord… and that’s not a great thing you know?   I shows how very self-centred I can be.  That is SO not a good thing.  How can I follow the Lord well if I mostly see myself and my own needs/desires?   Here the Lord reminds me well what my calling in… service, willingness to follow him regardless because where I am… so is he.  

What a word for the Greek Jews eh?  To hear Jesus say to follow him and be honoured by God?  

What a word for us now.  To be reminded on just who we follow… a glorified Jesus.  The Son of God and how through following him and serving him, God the Father will honour us. 

 

Yesterday we learned of the plot to kill Lazarus, our next reading is from John 12:12-19.

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,
15
“Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
sitting on a donkey’s colt!”
16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

In the ESV this section is called the Triumphal Entry, yet in this passage we don’t read of a triumphal entry, we only read that Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it. We know from other scripture that it is the time when Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey and we get to hear the whole story of the donkey colt, but in John we aren’t given all that detail.  

We are given these facts:

• a large crowd heard that Jesus was coming
• They took palm branches and went to meet him
• they called out “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel”
• Jesus sat on a young donkey thus fulfilling scripture.

I wondered at the palm branches, why choose them?

I found this article that told me the following: There are a couple of explanations. One is that it was common practice in the ancient world to welcome home a king or war hero by laying out a path of branches for him to ride/walk on – similar to rolling out the red carpet today in English-speaking countries. Others suggest that Romans honored champions of the games and the military with palm branches Another explanation is that it is a reminder of the Festival of the Booths commanded in Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

This tells me the crowd thought that Jesus was pretty important.  Can you imagine the stir it would have caused?  People climbing up these palm trees to get the branches.   From what I can tell a mature Judean palm tree would be at least 9 feet tall.  So it’s not like you could just reach up and pull a frond off! 🙂  And oh…the noise they would have generated as they called out their hosannas. Combine that with the regular noise and bustle of people coming into Jerusalem to prepare for Passover. It would have been a madhouse.

The excitement over Jesus was helped along by the people who saw Lazarus raised from the dead.  They kept talking about it, it was the news of the day for them!

It’s no wonder that the Pharisees saw the futility in working against Jesus.  They “said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”  I wonder if they just felt overwhelmed by the support that Jesus was being given.  Would it have made them more determined to see their plans to kill him come to fruition?  Perhaps some of them would have questioned the decision seeing this popularity among the populace.   I don’t know, I just hope for the latter eh?

Part of what I find interesting in this passage is this didn’t all make sense to the disciples at the time.  The whole thing with the donkey, fulfilling scripture, the palm branches.   They didn’t understand it but they remembered it, for we are told “when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.“

My Take Home:

People kept talking about what they saw what Jesus had done.  They kept talking long after it had happened and because of it, others came to believe.   Oh that I would open my mouth more often so that people could know the things Jesus has done in my life.  I know.. Nothing earth-shattering like being raised from the dead, but God, oh, I know he has been active in my life. But I find myself shying away from wanting folks to know or to try to have them understand how shattered I was in my past and it is totally by God’s grace that I write to you today.  But everyone who is a person of faith has stories. Things we’ve seen, things we know deep in our hearts, and things we’ve experienced personally.   We need to talk about those things (and yes I say that boldly while inwardly cringing!). 

Perhaps I just need to find the right mode and therein grow my comfortableness with speaking out more of the truths of God eh?  What say you?

Perhaps I just need to find the right mode and therein grow my comfortableness with speaking out more of the truths of God eh? What say you? Share on X

The other thing that I am drawn to is this: The disciples remembered and then later on put all the pieces together.  Don’t you find that so true in your life.  Things happen, and you don’t get it, and then afterwards you go AH! >>>  That was a GOD moment.  DO you see how I was delayed from leaving for my appointment and then I avoided that accident?   Or… God put me here so I could help that lady who fell down, or hold the door open for that fellow who needed my help, or like today, we got to the grocery store just in time to take a cart from an older fellow who honestly didn’t look like he had it in him to take it over to the grocery corral.  If only you could have heard his heart-felt thank you.  Warms the soul to be there at just the right time. 

We need to remember, we need to see these things, we do.  It’s good for us and it’s good for the gospel of Christ. 

Yesterday we saw Jesus’ Acceptance of Mary’s offering, today we continue learning in John 12:9-11.

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

I read these words and I was stunned. How have I missed these verses all my life?  I KNOW I’ve read them before but I was stunned to read that the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus because too many people were believing in Jesus as a result of Lazarus’ resurrection. 

I can totally see people heading out to see Jesus and Lazarus.  After-all that kind of news is a bit of a stunner eh?  Therefore crowds would be drawn in.   They’d want to see the living proof and they’d want to know what Jesus was up.

But the chief priests?  There sole desire… stop people from believing in Jesus.  Ergo… kill Lazarus, that will help solve the problem. 

It’s horrible you know?  Even though I’m understanding their reasoning, it’s still horrible that men sworn to serve God their whole lives are plotting to kill people. it just sets wrong you know?

My Take Home?

Honestly I dunno.  I’m just stunned here is all.  The murderous chief priests… I just want to slap them all, I want to remind them of their first calling. 

Oh hold on… maybe that’s my take home.

Do I remember my first calling?  Do I ever get distracted or sidetracked from remembering the Lord?  I’m shamed to admit it, I do.  I get sidetracked.  I forget my first love, my first calling and I start seeing all these other things.

Like the chief priests forgetting their service to the Lord in the quest to save the Israelite nation from the Romans all because of the threat of one man…the Son of God.    Stop that threat, save the nation, return to serving God.  That would be the order of the day for them.  (at least in my eyes).

But God’s order is a bit different isn’t it?

Remember him first and then let the rest play out as it should.  Easier said then done, but doing what is good and right isn’t for the faint of heart is it?

Last time we met we learned about the plan to kill Jesus. Today we learn from John 12:1-8.

 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. ³ Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” ⁶ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. ⁷ Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. ⁸ For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Do you remember that Jesus had retired to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim. His fellow Jews wondered if he was going to show up for the Passover.  Today we learn that six days before the Passover Jesus traveled to Bethany.  He spent time there with his friends, gathered there with his disciples.

We learn that Martha served the meal, Lazarus sat with them, and Mary…oh Mary.   Mary took a pound of expensive ointment (a oil) of pure nard.  Nard comes from the Spikenard plant and is an expensive oil normally used for anointing people on the head.   Usually only a bit is used at a time due to the expense and the nature of it’s use.   

Mary took a full bottle and poured it over his feet and wiped it with her hair. The whole house smelled of the perfume.

Judas, who was all about the money, challenged her decision to do so, saying this perfume could have been sold for 300 denari and used to help the poor.  Now we’re told his challenge was not based in his concern for the poor, but for his own pocketbook. “He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. “

Jesus denied his challenge though, saying, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. ⁸ For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Jesus acknowledged specialness of what Mary had done.  She anointed his feet.  She spent time just for him.  The poor would always be there, but for right now, the focus was on Jesus.  Afterall, he would not always be with them.  His time with them was not permanent. 

My Reaction:

I read Judas’ reaction and I have two thoughts in my head.  One… YEAH.. huge waste of money and TWO.. JUDAS!!!   Don’t be a jerk!

The latter tends to be my stronger reaction especially once I read Jesus’ response, but for me, the first is still there too. And then she puts it on his feet!   I wonder why Mary chose to wipe his feet?  Putting pretty smelling oil on someone’s feet (especially in a day and age when people walked everywhere) seems like a waste of resources.  It makes me wonder why Mary chose to do his feet? 

This, of course, made me think of the song “How beautiful are the feet of him who brings good news” and I wondered if that was part of it.  This song comes from Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!“  We can’t know Mary’s thinking, but I can’t help but wonder.  Jesus had saved Lazarus, he always talked about the good news of God, and Mary knew he spoke truth, she believed in him.  So expensive oil on his feet… totally makes sense don’t you think? 

And Jesus acknowledged what she did.  Her anointing of his feet was accepted. And if Jesus accepted her action, so should we.  That’s enough reason for me to reject thinking like Judas and to just see the good of it.

I’m feeling off-set that I haven’t spent time with the Book of John lately, so on this dreadly rainy day when I should be planning out my world war study with the lad, I find myself instead drawn to spending time in John.  Last time we met Lazarus was raised from the dead.  In John 11:45-57 we see a plot to kill Jesus. 

⁴⁵ Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, ⁴⁶ but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷ So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. ⁴⁸ If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” ⁴⁹ But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. ⁵⁰ Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” ⁵¹ He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, ⁵² and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. ⁵³ So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

⁵⁴ Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

⁵⁵ Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves.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?” ⁵⁷ Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Do you recall the people that had followed Mary out when she went to see Jesus?  All those Jews who had come to comfort her and Martha in their time of loss.

Well, you know they saw what Jesus did eh?   They saw Lazarus called forth out of the tomb, they saw him weep, they saw him pray (not in the order mind you).   But they saw ALL that Jesus had done.   Some of those people, seeing this, believed in Jesus.  Isn’t that awesome?

But some of them didn’t.  Instead they went running to the Pharisees and “told them what Jesus had done.”  Therefore the chief priests and Pharisees called a council and asked this: “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. ⁴⁸ If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” Do you see their fear?  The leadership walked a fine line eh?  Knowing the Romans left them free to practice their religion yet not being masters of the land they lived on.  How do they maintain their peace and status?   How do they prevent Jesus from running amuck, running against what they believed, raising folk from the dead and basically causing a stir?   They were so uncertain until…..

Caiaphas, the high priest that year, said “You know nothing at all. ⁵⁰ Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”   Verse 51 puts a different spin on it, without it you’d think he was just a nasty man.  BUT it was a prophesy that spoke saying the Jesus would die for the nation, but not just the nation but all of God’s children around the world.  Reading that it was a prophesy, I wonder what Caiaphas thought after he said those words.  Did they ring true for him, or was he horrified at what he just said?   I know we aren’t told, but we don’t see him saying no no, that’s not what I meant instead we see the following…

The Jewish leadership was no longer uncertain about what to do.  Their plans were simple, centered around this solution: how do we put Jesus to death?

The end result is that Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, instead went to Ephraim where he stayed with the disciples. 

Passover was coming, Jewish folks came from all over to Jerusalem to prepare themselves, as they did so, they looked around for Jesus.  Word would have spread about him, and the curiousity of people would bring out the wondering.  “Where is Jesus, will he show up, what do you suppose he’ll do, will he do Passover at all you suppose?”   Those questions would have been stirred up by the news the Pharisees and chief priests wanted him arrested.   All the more reason for people to be curious. 

What’s my take home?

God’s word is met in ways unexpected.  Like Caiaphas’ prophesy of Jesus’ death.  The fears of the Jewish leadership that made taking Caiaphas’ prophecy and turning into something they could use for their own benefit (and supposedly for the benefit of Israel).  

AND YET, people believed in Jesus.  Despite the turmoil and upset, people believed in Jesus.   And that is so very very awesome, isn’t it?