Day 39 – Ephraim: The Only Safe Place

“Therefore, Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead, He withdrew to a region near the desert, to a village called Ephraim, where He stayed with His disciples” (John 11:54)

Lazarus’ resurrection led many to believe. The Sanhedrin and the Pharisees, the religious leaders, called a meeting to put Him on trial.

He must die!

Partly, they were trying to cover themselves with the Roman Government, and they didn’t want things to get out of hand, partly because they were worried about His growing popularity among the ordinary people. The only option left was to kill Him.

Jesus retreated to Ephraim, a small village about 12 miles from Jerusalem. There, He would rest and prepare for the tumult that would lead up to His own crucifixion.

In all of this, we see several factors at work: First, Jesus will not rush ahead of God’s plan. He knew with perfect certainty that He would die in Jerusalem. This had to happen according to God’s sovereign plan. Second, all things work toward Jehovah’s predetermined plan. From the outside, it appears things were happening haphazardly and were not coordinated. But the perfect plan of God was at work. The retreat to Ephraim was part of the plan, so that in a few days He might meet His predetermined fate on a bloody cross outside the city walls.

The cross has always been the plan. It was not an accident; nothing about it was accidental. The wicked and cowardly men carried out the shocking sovereign plan of God, accomplishing the plan for the redemption of creation through the burial and cruel murder of His Son, by the hands of wicked and evil men.

Meanwhile, Jesus waits in Ephraim until the time comes for His final journey to Jerusalem.

Our Father, how great is Your love, how vast is Your wisdom that you should design the death of Your Son so that through His sacrifice we might be saved. All Your ways are perfect, always. Amen.