Will Jesus Come to the Feast? - John 11:56

The apostle John wrote how “the Jews' passover was near at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves”, and in chapter eleven and verse fifty-six of his book John shared how people asked concerning Jesus, “what do you think, that he will not come to the feast?” where we read:

Then sought they for Jesus, and spoke among themselves, as they stood in the temple,

What do you think, that he will not come to the feast?

The verse reads, “Then sought they for Jesus, and spoke among themselves, as they stood in the temple, ...” John began with the words, “then sought they for Jesus” which means “at that time the Jewish people were looking for and seeking Jesus who is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation”, “and spoke among themselves” or “and uttered, declared, proclaimed and questioned”, “as they stood in the temple” which means “while the Jewish people were standing and fixed within the sacred worship place in Jerusalem”. John shared how the “Jewish people” began to search for Jesus and asked the following question among themselves as they were “standing” in the “sacred worship place” in Jerusalem.

The verse continues, “... What do you think, that he will not come to the feast?” John added the words, “what do you think” which means “what opinion do you Jewish people have or suppose”, “that he will not come” which means “whether Jesus will not arise and appear” “to the feast” or “at the paschal feast”. John shared how the Jewish people were wondering whether or not Jesus would “appear” at the “passover feast”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how people were aware of Jesus. They knew He could “come” to the “passover festival”, but they wondered whether He would. Jesus had His purpose, plan and timing for everything He did on the earth, and His ultimate goal was to die on the cross for the sins of mankind and be raised from the dead three days later. Salvation is available to everyone through Jesus because He followed His Father God's plan, and all who believe and trust in Him will be forgiven of their sins and granted everlasting life. Let all who read these words understand, the “paschal lamb” was a symbol of Jesus who not only would attend the “feast”, but also be the “appeasing sacrifice” that gains access to God.

Next time John shares how people declared concerning Jesus, “if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him”, 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".