How does John 11:56 connect with other instances of seeking Jesus in Scripture? John 11:56 in Context “ They kept looking for Jesus and asking one another as they stood in the temple courts, ‘What do you think? Will He come to the feast at all?’ ” (John 11:56) • Passover is approaching; tensions are high after Jesus raised Lazarus (11:43-44). • The crowd’s question captures a larger biblical theme: people actively looking for the Messiah—sometimes in faith, sometimes in fear. Varied Motives for Seeking • Curiosity – many hoped to watch a miracle. • Opposition – leaders planned to seize Him (11:57). • Genuine hunger – others longed for the Savior they’d heard about. These mixed motives mirror other scenes where Jesus is sought. Gospel Snapshots of People Seeking Jesus • Shepherds hurry to Bethlehem (Luke 2:15-16). • Wise men ask, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:1-2). • Crowds cross the lake after the feeding of the 5,000 (John 6:24). • Blind men cry out on the roadside (Matthew 20:30-31). • Zacchaeus climbs a tree “to see who Jesus was” (Luke 19:3). • Greeks at the feast plead, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus” (John 12:20-21). Every account shows movement—people leaving comfort zones just to get near Him. Echoes within John’s Gospel • “What are you seeking?” (John 1:38). Jesus asks this of the first disciples—setting the tone for the entire book. • “Everyone is looking for You!” (Mark 1:37 parallels John’s theme). • “The Jews were looking for Him at the feast” earlier (John 7:11). • Promise and warning: “You will look for Me, and you will not find Me” (John 7:34)—spoken to unbelievers. John 11:56 therefore sits amid a pattern: each festival heightens the question, “Will I find Him—and on what terms?” Old Testament Background: The Call to Seek • “Seek the LORD while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6). • “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). These prophetic invitations are fulfilled in Jesus, the incarnate Lord standing in the temple courts. Thread That Ties Them Together • Scripture consistently portrays seeking Jesus as decisive; the heart’s motive determines the outcome. • Wherever people genuinely sought Him—shepherds, Greeks, Zacchaeus—they found grace and revelation. • Those who sought Him to oppose Him—Herod, certain leaders—fulfilled prophecy of rejection yet still served God’s redemptive plan. • John 11:56 reminds today’s reader that the decisive question remains: not merely “Will He come?” but “When He does, how will I respond?” |
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