John 11:56

“Here the Evangelist sets forth how Christ avoided their malice, and first he sets forth the manner of his avoidance on Christ's part; second, the effect of wonder on the part of the people, there where it says, "Now the Passover of the Jews was near." The manner of his avoidance was through hiding and Christ's withdrawal from the Jews. For after the council, observing himself more cautiously, he did not walk openly among the Jews, nor did he go to any populated city, but into a remote region, near the desert, to a city called Ephraim, and there he stayed with his disciples. But had his power failed, by which, if he had wished, he could have gone about openly among the Jews, and they would have done nothing to him? Far from it. But he did this not on account of a lack of power, but in order to show an example to his disciples. In this it appears that it is not a sin if his faithful withdraw themselves from the eyes of their persecutors, and by hiding rather avoid the fury of the wicked than, by showing themselves to them, inflame it the more: according to that word of Matthew 10:23, "If they persecute you in one city, flee into another." But Origen says that no one ought to thrust himself into dangers; nevertheless it is greatly praiseworthy that, when dangers are already imminent, one should neither avoid the confession of Jesus nor refuse to undergo death, for the sake of truth. And this for two reasons. First, because it is greatly presumptuous to thrust oneself into dangers on account of inexperience of one's own power, which is sometimes found to be fragile, and on account of the uncertainty of the future outcome; 1 Corinthians 10:12: "He who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall." Second, lest we, by thrusting ourselves upon persecutors, furnish them an occasion to become more impious and harmful; 1 Corinthians 10:32: "Be without offense to the Jews, and to the Gentiles, and to the Church of God." The effect of wonder in the people is set forth, and first the occasion of wondering is set forth; second, the wonder itself is set forth; third, the reason for the wonder. Now the occasion for seeking and wondering is set forth as twofold. The first indeed is from the condition of the time, because the Passover of the Jews was near, in which the memory of the passage of the Hebrews out of Egypt is recalled; Exodus 12:11: "For it is the phase, that is, the passage of the Lord." Now he adds "of the Jews," because the Jews themselves celebrated this Passover badly and unduly: for when we celebrate the Passover devoutly, then it is called the Passover of God; Isaiah 1:13: "Your solemnities I will not bear." The second, indeed, is from the concourse of the people, because many went up to Jerusalem out of the country: for, as we read in Exodus 23, three times in the year, or feasts, the children of Israel were bound to present themselves to the Lord, among which the first was the Passover, and therefore a great multitude went up to Jerusalem, where the temple was. But because it was not yet the time of the Passover, at which they were bound to go up, the Evangelist accordingly assigns the cause of their going up, adding "that they might sanctify themselves": for no one dared to eat the lamb unless he was clean, and therefore they anticipated the time of the Passover, so that, purifying themselves in the meantime, they might duly eat the lamb at the Passover. In this an example is given to us, that in the season of Lent we should purify ourselves by fasts and good works, so that at Easter we might duly receive the body of our Lord. Now the wonder is set forth from the cause of the Lord's absence: and this is what he says, "They sought Jesus therefore" — not indeed to honor him, but to kill him — and "they spoke among themselves, standing in the temple: What do you think, that he has not come to this feast day?" But it must be noted that when a feast day is kept in holiness, the Lord is always present on the feast day; Matthew 18:20: "Wherever two or three shall be gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." And therefore let us, gathered together in the house of God, seek Jesus, mutually consoling one another and entreating that he come to our feast day. But when the feast is not kept in holiness, then Jesus does not come; Isaiah 1:14: "My soul hates your new moons and your solemnities." Now the reason for the wonder and for Jesus' absence is added: that the chief priests and Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where he was, namely Jesus, he should tell it, so that they might seize him, namely, in order to kill him. Above, John 8:21: "You seek me, and you shall die in your sin." But, as Augustine says, let us who know where Christ is — namely, at the right hand of the Father — tell it to them, so that thus, would that they might seize him through faith.”

“Then sought they for Jesus,.... That is, the country people; some on one account, and some on another; some out of curiosity to see his person, others to see his miracles, and others to hear his doctrine; and some, it may be, to take him, and deliver him up to the sanhedrim, who had issued out a proclamation to that purpose, and doubtless offered a reward: and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple; whither they came to purify themselves, according to the law of the sanctuary: what think ye, that he will not come to the feast? it was a matter of dispute with them, whether Christ would come or not, to the feast; some might be of opinion that he would not, at least they very much questioned it, since the sanhedrim had published such an order for the discovery of him; and since upon it he was gone from Bethany, farther into the country; though others might be differently minded, and believe he would come, since all the males of Israel were obliged to appear at that feast, and it was his duty; and they could not persuade themselves that he would neglect his duty, for fear of the Jews.”

“Then sought they for Jesus - Probably those of Ephraim, in whose company Christ is supposed to have departed for the feast, but, having stayed behind, perhaps at Jericho, or its vicinity, the others had not missed him till they came to the temple, and then inquired among each other whether he would not attend the feast. Or the persons mentioned in the text might have been the agents of the high priest, etc., and hearing that Christ had been at Ephraim, came and inquired among the people that came from that quarter, whether Jesus would not attend the festival, knowing that he was punctual in his attendance on all the Jewish solemnities.”

“He had not then arrived, because He would not expose himself to the fury of his enemies before his own time. (Bible de Vence) Bible Text & Cross-references: Christ raises Lazarus to life. The rulers resolve to put him to death. 1 Now there was a certain man sick, named Lazarus, of Bethania, of the town of Mary, and of Martha, her sister. 2 (And Mary was she *that anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair: whose brother, Lazarus, was sick.) 3 His sisters, therefore, sent to him, saying; Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest, is sick. 4 And Jesus hearing it, said to them; This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God: that the Son of God may be glorified by it. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, Mary, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard, therefore, that he was sick, he still remained in the same place two days. 7 Then after that he said to his disciples; Let us go into Judea again. 8 The disciples say to him; Rabbi, the Jews but just now sought to stone thee: and goest thou thither again? 9 Jesus answered: Are there not twelve hours of the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world: 10 But if he walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him. 11 These things he said: and after that he said to them; Lazarus, our friend, sleepeth: but I go that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 His disciples, therefore, said; Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 But Jesus spoke of his death: and they thought that he spoke of the repose of sleep. 14 Then, therefore, Jesus said to them plainly; Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad, for your sake, that I was not there, that you may believe: but let us go to him. 16 Then Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow-disciples: Let us go also, that we may die with him. 17 Jesus therefore came: and found that he had been four days already in the grave. 18 (Now Bethania was near Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off.) 19 And many of the Jews were come to Martha, and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Martha, therefore, as soon as she heard that Jesus wast come, went to meet him: but Mary sat at home. 21 Martha therefore said to Jesus: Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died: 22 But now also I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23 Jesus saith to her: Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith to him; I know that he shall rise again,* in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said to her; I am the resurrection, and the life: *he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live: 26 And every one that liveth, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever. Believest thou this? 27 She saith to him; Yea, Lord, I have believed that thou art Christ, the Son of the living God, who art come into this world. 28 And when she had said these things, she went, and called her sister, Mary, secretly, saying; The master is come, and calleth for thee. 29 She, as soon as she heard this , riseth quickly, and cometh to him. 30 For Jesus was not yet come into the town: but he was still in that place where Martha had met him. 31 The Jews, therefore, who were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary that she rose up speedily and went out, followed her, saying; She goeth to the grave to weep there. 32 When Mary, therefore, was come where Jesus was, seeing him, she fell down at his feet, and saith to him: Lord; if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus, therefore, saw her weeping, and the Jews that were come with her weeping, he groaned in the spirit, and troubled himself. 34 And said; Where have you laid him? They say to him; Lord, come and see. 35 And Jesus wept. 36 The Jews, therefore, said; Behold how he loved him. 37 But some of them said: *Could not he that opened the eyes of the man born blind, have caused that this man should not die? 38 Jesus, therefore, again groaning in himself, cometh to the sepulchre: Now it was a cave: and a stone was laid over it. 39 Jesus saith; Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to him; Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he is now of four days. 40 Jesus saith to her; Did not I say to thee, that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God? 41 They took, therefore, the stone away: And Jesus, lifting up his eyes, said; Father, I give thee thanks that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always; but because of the people who stand about, have I said it: that they may believe that thou hast sent me. 43 When he had said these things, he cried with a loud voice: Lazarus, come forth. 44 And presently he that had been dead came forth, bound feet and hands with winding-bands, and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said to them; Loose him, and let him go. 45 Many, therefore, of the Jews, who were come to Mary and Martha, and had seen the things that Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees, and told them the things that Jesus had done. 47 The chief priests, therefore, and the Pharisees, gathered a council, and said; What do we, for this man doth many miracles? 48 If we let him alone so, all men will believe in him: And the Romans will come, and take away our place and nation. 49 *But one of them, named Caiphas, being the high priest that year, said to them; You know nothing at all. 50 Neither do you consider that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this he spoke not of himself: but being the high priest of that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation. 52 And not only for the nation, but to gather together in one the children of God, that were dispersed. 53 From that day, therefore, they devised to put him to death. 54 Wherefore Jesus walked no more openly among the Jews, but he went into a country near the desert, unto a city that is called Ephrem, and there he abode with his disciples. 55 And the Pasch of the Jews was at hand: and many from the country went up to Jerusalem before the Pasch, to purify themselves. 56 They sought, therefore, for Jesus: and they discoursed one with another, standing in the temple: What think you, that he is not come to the festival day? And the chief priests and Pharisees had given a commandment, that if any man knew where he was, he should tell, that they might apprehend him.”