What is the meaning of John 11:55? Now the Jewish Passover was near • Scripture places us at the threshold of Israel’s greatest annual feast. John consistently marks his Gospel by the Passovers (John 2:13; 6:4; 13:1), so this time indicator matters. • Passover commemorates deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 12:1-14), and its nearness here foreshadows the greater deliverance Jesus will accomplish as “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). • The text reminds readers that God’s redemptive calendar is exact; this approaching feast becomes the stage for the Savior’s sacrificial death (John 19:14). and many people went up from the country to Jerusalem • “Went up” reflects both geography—Jerusalem sits high in the Judean hills—and spiritual aspiration (Psalm 122:1). • Pilgrimage to celebrate the feast obeyed God’s command for all males to appear before Him (Deuteronomy 16:16). Families came as well, echoing Jesus’ own childhood journey (Luke 2:41-42). • The crowds set the scene for the volatile mix of devotion, curiosity, and tension that will culminate in John 12:12-13 when multitudes welcome Jesus with palm branches. to purify themselves before the Passover • Ritual purity was required so worshipers could eat the lamb and participate fully (Numbers 9:6-14). People washed, offered sacrifices, and avoided anything that would defile (2 Chronicles 30:17-20). • This detail explains why religious leaders later avoid entering Pilate’s palace: “so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover” (John 18:28). • The act points to a deeper need: true cleansing comes through the Messiah who will “cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). • Bullet reminders: – Outward washing foreshadows the inward washing Jesus provides (Hebrews 10:22). – Purification underscores God’s holiness and humanity’s sinfulness (Isaiah 6:5-7). – The gathering crowds, eager for cleansing, unknowingly gather around the only One who can truly make them clean (John 13:8-10). summary John 11:55 ties history, geography, and heart preparation together. As Passover approaches, pilgrims surge toward Jerusalem seeking ceremonial purity, yet the spotless Lamb who alone can purify them is moving toward His appointed sacrifice. The verse sets an atmosphere of expectancy and highlights humanity’s need for cleansing that only Jesus will satisfy in the very feast the people have come to celebrate. |
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