The Gospel of John: John 11.49-57

Read and meditate on John 11.53, 54.
This, it would seem, was Jesus’ moment of triumph. Surely now He would press on from Bethany to enter Jerusalem and take the city by storm? Well, no. Not just yet.

                                     ⁵³So then the Jews
from that day forward, plotted to put Him
to death. ⁵⁴So Jesus went to Ephraim,
the country near the wilderness, and no
more would He openly among them go.

- John 11.53, 54

Reflect
1.  It was not yet the hour for Jesus’ glory, so he turned north from Bethany and, as Luke records (Lk. 17.11), passed through Samaria into Galilee, the country of Ephraim. He still had much to do in preparing His disciples for their work, before He turned south again and began His final journey to Jerusalem (Lk. 18.31; cf. Matt. 20.17; Mk. 10.32; Jn. 11.55). We can see here some similarity to Joshua’s conquest of Canaan. After initial victories in Jericho, Ai, and the south, Joshua marched north to defeat the inhabitants of the land in what in Jesus’ day was Galilee. Look at Luke 17.11-37, which points to the shape of Jesus’ ministry en route to and while He was in Ephraim (Lk. 18, 19; Matt. 19, 20; Mk. 10). Is this similarity to the campaigns of Joshua merely coincidence? Explain. Complete the following prayer: Lord, Joshua secured the Promised Land for Israel, and You have secured the precious and very great promises of God for us, so that we…

2.  John records that, following their assembly in Jerusalem, and the prophetic words of Caiaphas, the Jews began to concoct and prosecute a plan to kill Jesus. No more confrontations. No more attempts to dissuade the people from hearing Him. No more meetings to discuss what to do. Jesus was to die. Why not at this time? Why did Jesus delay the inevitable (cf. Jn. 11.55; 12.1)? Lord, as Your life was in Your hand then, so my life is in Your hand now, and I rejoice that…

3.  Jesus deliberately evaded the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, although He would yet have several encounters with Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes during His campaign to and in Ephraim. We know He wasn’t afraid of them; He was simply forcing them to run on His schedule. Explain. Why would He continue engaging them, since He knew what they intended? What was the effect on the people as He took on these leaders? You are the Lord of all time, Jesus, including my time, and how I…

4.  John says Jesus “remained with His disciples” in Ephraim, but he omits to tell us the details of what Jesus and His disciples did during this period. Quickly scan Luke 17-19, Matthew 19, 20, and Mark 10. Why do you suppose John didn’t feel the need to include these significant events? Let Your Spirit teach me Your Word, or Lord, by comparing Scripture with Scripture to give me…

5.  What John omits to tell us in these two verses is that, while Jesus was in Ephraim, He thwarted the intentions of His adversaries, continued to challenge their authority, trained His disciples, plundered the holdings of the devil, gained additional followers, and pointed to the coming of His Kingdom. Jesus didn’t work the clock; the clock works for Jesus. Apply this to your own walk with and work for the Lord. Bring together your prayers from questions 1-4 into one prayer.

Summary
“Before they only looked for ways to kill him. Now they ratify their determination and get down to business in determining how to carry it out.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Jesus is Lord of time and timing. Is He Lord of your time?

Closing Prayer
O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
For God is my King from of old,
Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
You divided the sea by Your strength;
You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.
You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces,
And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
You broke open the fountain and the flood;
You dried up mighty rivers.
The day is Yours, the night also is Yours;
You have prepared the light and the sun.
You have set all the borders of the earth;
You have made summer and winter.
Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD,
And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.
Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!

Psalm 74.10-19a

Psalm 74.12-19 (Rockingham Old: O Lord Most High, with All My Heart)
Our God is King from long ago, Who works deliv’rance in the land;
He split the sea, He crushed His foes; against Him none can ever stand.

You opened the springs, fresh water flowed; to You belong both day and night.
You bound the seasons and the earth, and gave the sun its glorious light.

Remember this, O Lord, our God: a foolish people spurns Your Name;
Deliver not Your flock to them, nor leave Your holy ones to shame.

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.