What is the meaning of John 10:40? Then Jesus went back across the Jordan • Jesus had just slipped from the hostile crowd in Jerusalem (John 10:39, “Again they tried to seize Him, but He escaped their grasp,”). Crossing the Jordan shows deliberate movement—He is never driven by fear but by purpose. • Similar strategic withdrawals appear throughout His ministry, each time furthering the Father’s timing (Luke 4:30; John 7:30). • The return across the Jordan recalls Israel’s own crossings under Joshua and Elijah, highlighting the Lord’s sovereignty over both geography and history (Joshua 3:17; 2 Kings 2:8). to the place where John had first been baptizing • John 1:28 pinpoints this site near Bethany beyond the Jordan. By revisiting the scene of John the Baptist’s earliest testimony, Jesus underlines the trustworthy foundation already laid: “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). • This move invites those who had heard John to now decide about Jesus themselves, fulfilling John 5:33–36 where Jesus says John’s witness was sent “so that you might believe.” • Returning to a humble, riverside location contrasts sharply with Jerusalem’s grandeur. It reminds us the Lord often chooses simple settings to advance His redemptive plan (1 Corinthians 1:27–29). and He stayed there • Instead of a quick visit, Jesus “stayed”—indicating ongoing ministry, rest, and teaching. The next verses show crowds coming: “And many came to Him and were saying, ‘John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true’” (John 10:41). • Remaining there allowed genuine seekers, unpressured by hostile leaders, to weigh John’s testimony against Jesus’ works. As a result, “many believed in Him there” (John 10:42). • His staying also models the Shepherd’s care: He provides a safe pasture for His sheep (John 10:14-15) and invites weary minds to linger with Him (Matthew 11:28-29). summary John 10:40 shows Jesus’ purposeful withdrawal, His affirmation of John the Baptist’s witness, and His patient availability to those ready to believe. Crossing the Jordan was not retreat but redirection, guiding honest hearts back to the river where truth had first echoed. There, away from mounting opposition, many discovered that every word John spoke about Jesus was indeed true—and they placed their trust in the One who still faithfully stays with all who come. |
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