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A Wanted Man

John 11:54-57
Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, ‘What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?’ But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him. (NIVUK)

Everybody knew that Jesus would be arrested sooner or later.  The Council had agreed with the High Priest that Jesus should die (John 11:49-53), and although they did not know how to achieve their objective legally, the momentum of hatred against Jesus was unstoppable.  Then the leaders involved the ordinary people: they had to report His location so that He could be arrested.  

So, Jesus moved out of the village of Ephraim in the wild uncultivated Judean hills northeast of Jerusalem.  It would not be easy for the temple guards to search for Him there.  He was not hiding, and He was not afraid of them, nor would He eventually resist arrest.  But He, and not they, was in charge of the timetable of His death which was to come at the Passover festival, because He is the Passover Lamb who would atone for the sins of the world (Luke 22:7; John 1:29).
 
Meanwhile, people were travelling from all over the country to Jerusalem for the Passover festival.  Some of these really wanted to see Jesus, to hear Him and perhaps see a miracle.  They expected Him to be in the temple.  Indeed, every able-bodied Jewish man was commanded to join in the great pilgrimage celebration.  Jesus started going to the Passover when He was twelve years old (Luke 2:41-42) and had already attended two Passovers during His ministry (John 2:13-25; John 6:4-15).  There was every reason to think that He would not miss this next one.  The Chief Priests and Pharisees wanted Him to come, too ... but for very different reasons!
 
Today, some people want Jesus out of their lives, and some want Him in.  Wherever Jesus is known or talked about, He stirs people's opinions. Even those who care nothing about Him express their opinion that they do not want Him.  But Jesus is not yet another social or religious commodity - His power and authority does not depend on pleasing the crowd. He is not dependent on the people who want Him, nor is He frightened by anyone who wants Him out of their lives.  He chooses His time and place for everything.  So, when He calls you, respond.  When He sends you, go.  When He promises, believe.  When He commands, obey.  And when He chooses to hide His face, it is always for a very good reason - so keep on being obedient and trust Him to reveal His answer at the right time.

Prayer 
Lord God. Thank You that You always know the right time for everything, and that You are never swayed by those who follow Jesus or hate Him. I am sorry that I sometimes want Jesus for the wrong reasons. Please help me to work with You and Your plans, instead of wrongly assuming that Your role is to help me do what I want. May I grow in understanding that it is You who sets the agenda of life, and not human beings - however interested, powerful, warm or hostile they may be. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams