Today’s passage is one that can be read on two levels. In narrative terms, it forms a ‘quiet moment’ between the two emotional peaks of the dramatic raising of Lazarus (ch11) and the even more dramatic return to Jerusalem, which ultimately led to his arrest, trial, death and resurrection (ch12 onwards). Knowing that a very powerful group now wants to kill him (v53), not surprisingly Jesus withdraws from the public gaze (v54).
He finds a village about 13 miles from Jerusalem – far enough away to be out of sight, but close enough to be able to return in one day’s walk – where he stays with his disciples. And just as well: although Jesus is keeping a low profile, the crowds are still desperately looking for him: (v56) ‘Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?’ Moreover, the Pharisees have spies ready to pounce on any sighting of the notorious rabbi from Nazareth (v57).
Even when Jesus returns, he stops first in Bethany to see his great friends (12:1-2). Bethany is on the same side of Jerusalem as the village where he was staying, so Jesus doesn’t need to enter the city and can therefore retain a low profile until it’s time to ‘go public’ again.
That’s the practical explanation of what’s going on… but there’s a deeper meaning here, too. John calls the village ‘Ephraim’. This word has powerful connotations: it was the name of the patriarch Joseph’s second son, and it means ‘fruitful’ – so named because God had made him fruitful in Egypt, the ‘land of his affliction’ (Genesis 41:52). The actual name of the village was Ephron – mentioned in 2 Chronicles 13:19 – but I don’t think John is making a mistake, he knows what he’s doing. He wants us to understand two things: first, Jesus is recharging spiritually. So goes to the village called ‘fruitful’ to prepare himself for what is to come. It begs the question for us: where is your fruitful hideaway – the place you go to recharge?
Second, Ephraim is often used as the name for the whole northern kingdom of Israel. This village is not in that area – it’s in Judea, in the land of the tribe of Benjamin – but again, this is not a mistake. John is saying, in effect, that Jesus dwells for a season in ‘Ephraim’ (equating to the northern kingdom), before fulfilling his mission in Jerusalem (the southern) – in other words, he brings the two together, just as the great prophets foretold. Ephraim nourishes Jesus before he saves the world on a rocky outcrop in Judea. Jesus redeems the whole people of God as part of his mission to rescue all of humanity.
It turns out that there’s much in a name! As we begin our week, may the Lord grant us all times in ‘Ephraim’ – fruitful renewal – that we may also be fruitful in all that the Lord has for us: this day, and every day. Amen.