Episode 81 - The Passover and the Passover Lamb - John 11:54-57

John 11:54   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. John 11:55   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.

Once again, I think the context of these events helps us understand and appreciate what is going on. The proceeding verse reveals how the chief priest and other religious leaders were plotting to kill Jesus. There is an irony here that the people considered “most religious” were intentionally planning to violate the sixth of the ten commandments given by God at Mount Sinai to the Jewish nation; “Thou shalt not kill.” The chief priest had justified it, however, and this group bought into it. So, once again, Jesus leaves Jerusalem. 

Then, John records that the time of the Passover had come. This is not an unimportant matter in the events that are unfolding. Passover was instituted during the Exodus as the tenth and final plague upon Egypt. The Jews who had been enslaved were given instructions by God through Moses on how they could escape the effects of this plague. God would send an angel of death to pass over the land of Egypt and strike dead the firstborn of all families and animals. In order to not experience this, they had to take a lamb without blemish and sacrifice it and apply some blood of the lamb on the outer frame of the door to the home. Then they had to enter into their homes (through the blood) and roast and eat the lamb. It was on the basis of obedience and a perfect sacrifice that the life of the sacrifice represented the life of the firstborn, and they would be spared. 

Earlier in this Gospel of John, John the Baptist points to Jesus and says, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” It would appear that John is drawing a connection from the Passover lamb to Jesus as the true perfect lamb from God who would truly act as a perfect lamb to spare the lives of others through his blood. The benefit is appropriated in the same manner as during the first Passover; through faith (obedience) in God’s revelation about Jesus. 

This mob wanted to kill the true Passover lamb, but not out of faith and obedience. This reminds me of the Israelites journey into Egypt in the first place. Joseph’s brothers sold him as a slave. They wanted to get rid of him. Their motives were self-serving and evil. Yet, God super-intended their actions for good. God’s motives were to save them. What is happening here is no different. The mob means to do evil. But, God intended the sacrifice of Jesus for the good of the people. That includes us as well.