Church Fathers Commentary John 11:54-57

"Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed thence into the country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there he tarried with the disciples. Now the passover of the Jews was at hand: and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the passover, to purify themselves. They sought therefore for Jesus, and spake one with another, as they stood in the temple, What think ye? That he will not come to the feast? Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given commandment, that, if any man knew where he was, he should show it, that they might take him." — John 11:54-57 (ASV)

Origen of Alexandria: After this resolution by the Chief Priests and Pharisees, Jesus was more cautious about showing Himself among the Jews. He retired to remote parts and avoided populous places, as the Gospel states: Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went from there into a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim.

St. Augustine of Hippo: This was not because His power had failed Him; for if He had wished, He could have still walked openly among the Jews, and they could have done nothing to Him. Rather, He wished to show the disciples by His own example that believers do not sin by withdrawing from the sight of their persecutors and hiding from the fury of the wicked, instead of inflaming that fury by their presence.

Origen of Alexandria: It is praiseworthy, when struggles are near, not to avoid confession or refuse to suffer death for the sake of the truth. It is, however, no less praiseworthy to avoid giving occasion for such a trial.

We should take this precaution not only because of the uncertain outcome for ourselves, but also to avoid increasing the impiety and guilt of others. For whoever is the cause of sin in another will be punished. If we do not avoid our persecutor when we have the opportunity, we make ourselves responsible for his offense.

Our Lord not only withdrew Himself, but to remove all occasion of offense from His persecutors, He took His disciples with Him: And there stayed with His disciples.

St. John Chrysostom: How it must have troubled the disciples to see Him save Himself by merely human means! While everyone was rejoicing and keeping the feast, they remained hidden and in danger. Yet they continued with Him; as we read in Luke, You are they which have continued with Me in My temptations.

Origen of Alexandria: Mystically, Jesus walked openly among the Jews when the Word of God used to come to them through the Prophets. But this Word ceased—that is, Jesus went away from there. He went to that town near the wilderness, of which Isaiah says, More are the children of the desolate, than the children of the married wife.

Ephraim signifies fertility. Ephraim was the younger brother of Manasseh; Manasseh stands for the elder people who were forgotten, as the word Manasseh means "forgotten." When the elder people were forgotten and passed over, an abundant harvest came from the Gentiles.

Our Lord left the Jews and went out into a country—the whole world—near the wilderness—the deserted Church—to Ephraim, the fruitful city; and there He continues with His disciples to this day.

St. Augustine of Hippo: He who came from heaven to suffer wished to draw near the place of His Passion, as His hour was now near: And the Jews’ passover was near at hand. That passover they had resolved to celebrate by shedding our Lord’s blood—the blood that consecrated the Passover, the blood of the Lamb.

The Law obliged everyone to go up to the feast: And many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover to purify themselves. But ours is the true Passover; the Jewish one was a shadow. The Jews held their passover in the dark, while we hold ours in the light. Their doorposts were stained with the blood of a slain animal; our foreheads are signed with the blood of Christ.

Theophylact of Ohrid: They went up before the Passover to be purified. For whoever had sinned, whether willingly or unwillingly, could not keep the Passover unless they were first purified by washings, fastings, shaving the head, and offering certain prescribed oblations. While engaged in these purifications, they were plotting our Lord’s death: Then they sought for Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That He will not come to the feast?”

St. John Chrysostom: They lay in wait for Him at the Passover and made the time of the feast the time of His death.

Origen of Alexandria: Therefore, the Evangelist does not call it the Lord’s Passover, but the Jews’ Passover, for it was then that they plotted our Lord’s death.

Alcuin of York: They sought Jesus with evil intent. We, however, seek Him while standing in God’s temple, encouraging one another and praying for Him to come to our feast and sanctify us with His presence.

Theophylact of Ohrid: If only the common people had done these things, the Passion might have seemed to be due to human ignorance. But it was the Pharisees who ordered Him to be taken: Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where He were, he should show it, that they might take Him.

Origen of Alexandria: Observe that they did not know where He was; they only knew that He had gone away. Mystically, they did not know where He was because, in place of the divine commandments, they taught the doctrines and commandments of men.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Let us, at least, show the Jews where He is. Oh, that they would hear, that they would come to the Church and take hold of Him for themselves!