Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. (John 11:55 ESV)
Feasts
The Feasts were created by God for many worthwhile purposes. Here, as the time of Christ’s atoning death was nearly at hand, God providentially brought many faithful to Jerusalem to take part in the Feasts.
Those Feasts, all seven of them, were amazingly beneficial for God’s people. But here, unbeknownst to them, the Feasts were being used to get them ready for a most amazing event.
The author of this gospel is clever. He writes that they were coming to purify themselves (referring probably to the Feast of Unleavened Bread). But while they were celebrating that Feast, on a hill nearby, God’s people were being given an opportunity to be finally, truly, absolutely pure.
The Messiah was going to be killed for their impurity.
The irony and symbolism are rich.
They ate their Feasts, celebrating their celebrations, while Christ’s body was being broken, and their remembrance given meaning.
This year, their Feast was more healthy than they imagined!