53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
Having made his own comments about Caiaphas, John now resumed his statement about the Sanhedrin.
11:53
Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.
The council formally accepted the argument of Caiaphas. From this point the Sanhedrin took actions to put Jesus to death. They came to this conclusion even before Jesus’ trial, showing the façade of the trial itself. Caiaphas’ words clarified their purpose to kill Jesus.
11:54
Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples.
Jesus withdrew from Bethany to Ephraim because He understood the significant danger He and His disciples faced at this point. Ephraim was near Jerusalem, but the exact location is unknown. It was an isolated enough place so that Jesus’ team could have privacy and be undisturbed.
The purpose of Jesus withdrawing from Bethany to Ephraim with His disciples was to wait for the right timing to go back to Jerusalem.
PRINCIPLE:
God operates by His own timing.
APPLICATION:
There was no trial for Jesus; His enemies unilaterally made a declaration to put Him to death. Jesus’ death would be in God’s and not the nation of Israel’s timing. God would allow the death of Christ in the appointed time (Jn 12:23).
