John 11:54-57 ESV

54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

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54 Mula noon, si Jesus ay hindi na naglalakad nang hayagan sa gitna ng mga Judio, kundi pumunta siya sa lupaing malapit sa ilang, sa isang bayan na tinatawag na Efraim. Siya'y nanirahan doon kasama ng mga alagad. 55 Ang Paskuwa nga ng mga Judio ay malapit na, at maraming umahon tungo sa Jerusalem mula sa lupaing iyon bago magpaskuwa, upang linisin ang kanilang mga sarili. 56 Hinahanap nila si Jesus, at sinasabi sa isa't isa habang nakatayo sila sa templo, “Ano sa palagay ninyo? Hindi kaya siya pupunta sa pista?” 57 Ang mga punong pari at ang mga Fariseo ay nag-utos na sinumang nakakaalam ng kinaroroonan ni Jesus ay dapat ipagbigay-alam sa kanila upang siya'y kanilang madakip.

A WILDERNESS ESCAPE

The council, comprising primarily of religious leaders, was determined to arrest and kill Jesus. Thus, Jesus fled to the countryside. Was Jesus afraid to die? Definitely not. He isn’t governed by fear of man but fear of His Father. He came and is passionately devoted to do His Father’s will. His escape was not a sign of timidity but of wisdom and prudence.

Simply put, it was not yet time. Notedly, while He was evading the public, He spent time with His disciples. He did not vanish into the wilderness to be idle, did He? A time from hostile crowds became a fruitful ministry with His faithful few. It was a change of focus.

The feast was fast approaching and many people were looking for Him, mostly for the wrong reasons. Apart from a few who believed Him, the rest either sought Him for benefits from His miracles or to arrest Him. Jesus, in no doubt, was popular. However, he wasn’t carried away by the lure of popularity. His heart was locked in fulfilling the will of his Father. He said, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.”[John 6:38]

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