The apostle John wrote how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and afterward the chief priests and Pharisees asked, “What do we? for this man does many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, You know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation. And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death”, and in chapter eleven and verse fifty-four of his book John shared how, “Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews” where we read:
Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went then unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
The verse reads, “Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews;” John began with the words, “Jesus therefore” which means “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation wherefore, then, consequently and on this account” “walked no more openly” or “no longer ambled, tread and made His way frankly and without concealment, ambiguity or circumlocution” “among the Jews” which means “with the people from the Jewish nation by origin, birth or religion”. John shared from the time the “religious leaders” wanted to put Jesus to death, He did not make His way without concealment alongside the Jewish people.
The verse continues, “but went then unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.” John added the words, “but went then” which means however, nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover Jesus left and departed “unto a country” which means “to a region or surrounding areas” “near to the wilderness” or “close in proximity to the solitary, lonely, desolate and uninhabited desert place”, “into a city called Ephraim” which means “to a town or habitation which was named Ephraim which means double fruitfulness”, “and there continued with his disciples” or “and in Ephraim Jesus remained, stayed, tarried and spent time alongside His students, pupils and attendants”. John shared how Jesus departed to a “region” near the “town of Ephraim” where He spent time with His “students and pupils”.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus lingered no longer in the Jerusalem and Bethany area, but went secretly to a “desert place” near the town of “Ephraim” where He spent time with His “disciples”. The intention of the “Jewish religious leaders” was to “kill” Him, and Jesus did not make Himself easily available to them. God's plan of salvation for mankind through His Son Jesus was according to His timing, and everything was with to be done when He meant for it to happen. God loves people, and each detail in Jesus' life, even going to a solitary place was part of God's plan to provide the forgiveness of the sins of mankind and eternal life with Him in Heaven.
Next time John shares how, “the Jews' passover was near at hand”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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