John 11:57 — Community Reflections

JOHN 11:57 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.”

But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, they should report it, so that they might arrest him — the death-sentence decision from verse 53 is now operationalized: official orders are issued to report Jesus' location so He can be arrested and tried. This creates an atmosphere of danger and surveillance, establishing the context for Jesus' final week.

Church Fathers on John 11:57

After this resolution of the Chief Priests and Pharisees, Jesus was more cautious in strewing Himself among the Jews, and retired to remote parts, and avoided populous places: Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went from there into a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim.
Origen · 3rd century

Not that His power had failed Him; for, had He pleased He might still have walked openly among the Jews, and they done nothing to Him. But He wished to show the disciples, by His own example, that believers did not sin by retiring out of the sight of their persecutors, and hiding themselves from the fury of the wicked, rather than inflame that fury in their presence.
Augustine · 4th century

How must it have troubled the disciples to see Him save Himself by merely human means? While all were rejoicing and keeping the feast, they remained hidden, and in danger. Yet they continued with Him; as we read in Luke, You are they which have continued with Me in My temptations.
Chrysostom · 4th century

Read all 13 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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