Easter Together, Day 24 - 'To Ephraim and More'

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. John 11:54

When Jesus left Bethany after raising Lazarus from the dead the time was likely only 60 - 90 days before the Feast of Passover AD29. In this year Passover fell on April 15. Of course scholars do not all agree on this date - as many have set it as late as AD 35 (with AD 33 and 34 the preferred - Sir Isaac Newton as example). But whatever the date, Christ was crucified in the spring (late March or early April) and Lazarus was raised the winter before (late December - January).

Beyond this, John tells us what we read above - that Jesus moves north to Ephraim, then skips in his next verse (paragraph in our translations) to narrative leading to Passover and Jesus' passion. As to the other gospels, they are silent about this period too, though each feature narrative regarding Jesus' 9th (or last) journey. To be specific, the gospel chapters dealing with this final journey are as follows - Matthew 19-26, Mark 10 and 14, Luke 17-22, and John 11 and 12. Beyond this, we piece together fragments that indicate his final route, and pick up events, stories and parables that give us final last glimpse of this 'teacher like no other'.

In reflecting upon the verse above this morning, I could not help but ask 'why.' Why did Jesus stop walking openly among his detractors? Plainly we can see that Christ was not afraid. Had this been so He would not have come back to Jerusalem to where they were later, and we know for a fact He did.

This makes me believe, first, that because the Jews wanted to kill Him – which He would later allow – it was just not yet His time. Simply put, Passover was the time meant for Christ's offering of Himself as a ransom for our sins. Secondly, I believe it might also lay in what was indicated by the last words from our verse 54… ‘and there he stayed with His disciples.’ For in those words much grace, teaching and love was yet to displayed and abound.

We should never forget that these disciples were disciples of Christ. To be a disciple means to follow – and the very best disciple will always be the one who spends quality time with their LORD. This is exactly what the disciples had opportunity to do. In this northward sojourn and the slow, final journey back, they sat at Christ feet and learned final lessons that might only be gotten this way.

As we reflect on these days before Easter, and as we ready ourselves to follow Him back to Jericho, Bethany, Jerusalem and the cross, may this be so of us. May we also take time to withdraw to ‘Ephraim’ – that place of just Christ and us – so that we might hear from Him once more. What does Christ say to us? What must we yet learn? Is it that He loves us? Is it that He expects more from us than an occasional glance and nod? Whatever it is, we will not know it till we follow Him there. For before Jerusalem comes Ephraim – and, as His disciples, we must be ready to go there too!

Pastor Sam