Study the Bible with Pastor Gregory

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1. The Sign of the People’s Subjugation – 11:54
   
   
1. The Scheme against Christ
   
   
1. As we saw last time, the Jewish leaders and their followers were completely committed to killing the Lord Jesus – cp. v. 53
2. The sinful hearts of men had completely rejected Christ and had become possessed of an intention that now drove them as a master would his slave.
3. Because they had willingly yielded to the wicked hearts and impulses within them, they were every bit as enslaved to their reprobate plans as Israel ever was to any physical oppressor.
4. Their pitiful state was all the more tragic because it was dressed in the guise of religious or spiritual fervor.
5. Throughout the ages, some of the most wicked pursuits and atrocities have been performed in the name of religion – cp. the English Crusades, or the Spanish Inquisition.
6. The resurrection power exhibited by Christ had so infuriated those in darkness that the long prophesied enmity of the Serpent working against the woman’s Seed came to clear plan – he must die! – cp. Genesis 3:15
   
   
2. The Seclusion of Christ
   
   
1. In response to this prevailing intention of those in league with Satan, "Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim."
2. Jesus withdraw is an indication of how totally independent they were of God – that they were under the dominion of something totally hostile to Christ.
3. Jesus didn’t withdraw in fear of death – when the time was right he would face death down as fearlessly as the joy that was set before Him could produce – cp. Hebrews 12:2
4. It was a matter of timing – that Jesus had to die at the right time – something that had not yet come – cp. John 7:8
5. Rather, he goes to "a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples."
1. It is interesting that the name Ephraim means "fruitfulness" – a tremendous contrast to the condition of the people.
2. Perhaps Jesus goes here for the weeks immediately prior to the week of Passion to prepare – a place far away from the hostility of the Jews where He can ponder the "joy set before Him" or the "fruitfulness" of what He was about to do.
6. All of this points to the great slavery to sin that the Nation of Israel was in – cp. John 8:31-36.
   
   
2. The Search of Potential Sanctification – 11:55
   
   
1. The Esteem for the Holiday
   
   
1. We are told that "the Passover of the Jews was near."
2. Passover an event that provided redemption for the people of God – cp. Exodus 12:21-23.
3. Not only was Israel delivered from the bondage of Egypt, but it was also the event that brought them spiritual redemption as well.
4. It began the seasonal festivals that were to be perpetual feasts before the Lord to celebrate the deliverance from bondage to Egypt.
5. "… and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country …" - it was one of the 3 times each year that God required that all the men of Israel (12 years old and up) come to Jerusalem and bring a sacrifice.
   
   
2. The Engrossment with "Holiness"
   
   
1. Here we are informed that people were so concerned about defilement (a condition that rendered a person disqualified to participate in Passover – cp. Numbers 9:10-11) that they would come early to have time to be cleansed.
2. We are told that "many went up to Jerusalem … before the Passover to purify themselves."
3. This was the essentially the same crowd that participated in what is commonly called the Triumphal Entry only days later.
4. They were interested in only one thing – political deliverance from Rome.
5. Hence their concern for purity somehow excluded their need for spiritual cleansing – and extended only to the ceremonial.
6. This is the tragedy of the Jewish religious system – they had become so engrossed in form and features of their religion that the function of their faith had been lost – bringing them to God’s Savior of men.
   
   
3. The Selection of a Proper Sacrifice – 11:56-57
   
   
1. The Search for the Lamb – v. 56
   
   
1. In reality, the lamb that would be offered in commemoration of the great redemption provided in Egypt was the Lord Jesus – the One who would die to redeem the people
2. We are now to the point in time when Jesus is preparing to offer Himself as the sacrifice – as the Lamb of God – cp. John 1:29
3. Here we are oriented to the interest that the people have in whether Christ is going to "show up" for Passover – "So they were seeking for Jesus, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, ‘what do you think; that He will not come to the feast al all’?"
4. Without considering the relevance of Caiaphas’ prophecy, their own responsibility to partake by faith of what is offered through the genuine Passover Lamb of God, or their own curiosity of how much fortitude Jesus actually had – they were eager to find out whether he would come.
5. Interesting, search out the special "unblemished" lamb was one of the responsibilities leading up to the Passover.
   
   
2. The Selection of the Lamb – v. 57
   
   
1. We are told that "the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him."
2. The spiritual leadership (the Sanhedrin) had already decided that Jesus was to die.
3. It is interesting that the Passover observance – the event that involved the shedding of blood that caused the deliverance from death – all pointed to the event that was underway on this, the final feast of Jesus’ life.
4. It was by means of all the treachery and animosity toward the Lord Jesus at this feast that He is clearly identified as the Passover Lamb – cp. 1 Corinthians 5:7
   

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