John Calvin Commentary John 11:53

"So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death." — John 11:53 (ASV)

They consulted to put him to death. The Evangelist relates that Christ fled again, knowing that his enemies sought him with such great rage. Yet let us remember that he did not flee in order to withdraw from his Father’s calling, for he had no other intention than to present himself to undergo voluntary death at the time God had appointed. This consultation, which the Evangelist mentions, related not so much to slaying Christ as to finding some method of crushing him. They had already determined to put him to death; it only remained to consider how they could carry out their resolution.