Sunday 28th July
Read John 11:54-57
“Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. 55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, ‘What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?’ 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.” (NIVUK)
It is easy to forget that the trial Jesus eventually faces always had a foregone conclusion. There is no tension around the outcome. The Jewish leaders, from the very top, had resolved to kill Him. The ‘trial’ if that is what it could be called has already occurred. That is why Jesus made Himself scarce, not returning to where He was baptising, but, like David before Him, seeking the sanctuary of the wilderness with His followers.
The people were expecting Him in Jerusalem though. They were looking out for Him. Despite the instructions that anyone who knew where He was was to inform on Him immediately. As His followers in Australia today we face no such fears as yet. It is worth remembering though that many brothers and sisters all over the world face exactly the situation Jesus faced then. Only safe in hiding. At risk of being informed on at all times. Spend time this morning in prayer for them.
