Jesus; Festivals; Temple

In Jesus' final week he was often in the Temple. Only by day he frequented Jerusalem, except for the last night.. What about the other Jerusalem Temple mentions - was there a pattern? Did Jesus visit Jerusalem and its Temple regardless of danger? He would not put God to the test, would he?

We may have the impression Jesus was in the Temple a lot? Or that he mostly travelled about the land? So then, let me look at that.

Here is an old map of the historical land; it is meant to cover the period up to 70 AD. 

 

The map has its own digital address: https://lccn.loc.gov/2009579463

Herod's Temple was central in their community life. Jesus' presences in Jerusalem for festivals must have incidentally marked him in his community as an observant man. If he had remained remote in safer locations could that have counted against him?

The earliest mention of a Jerusalem visit comes from Luke's account of Jesus' infancy: And when the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were finished, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every firstborn male will be dedicated[a] to the Lord[b]) and to offer a sacrifice (according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons[c]) Luke 2:22-24 CSB). I assume the journey was from Bethlehem, since Matthew shows us the family there for some period after the birth.

After escaping a deadly plot by King Herod and living in Egypt as refugees, Joseph and family eventually re-settled in Nazareth. That location was almost 140 km north of Jerusalem. Google says it would be 1 day and 8 hours of walking, via what today is called the West Bank. Of course the Romans did not use that modern segmentation of Palestine. (I wonder if Joseph's route was direct or it avoided Samaria?)

The family had a regular pattern of Temple and Festival participation. However, as we see below, the pattern was once uniquely disrupted. Every year Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem for Passover. And when Jesus was twelve years old, they all went there as usual for the celebration. After Passover his parents left, but they did not know that Jesus had stayed on in the city. They thought he was traveling with some other people, and they went a whole day before they started looking for him. When they could not find him with their relatives and friends, they went back to Jerusalem and started looking for him there. Three days later they found Jesus sitting in the temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions (Luke 2:41-46 CEV). We can imagine the relief and puzzlement of the parents, and even anger from the fright they must have felt. Strangely, Jesus also was puzzled - by their concern! Was he oblivious to anything except his own thirst for knowledge of God? Whatever, doubtless young Jesus had clear instructions to follow thereafter!

That mention of the "parents" is the last we hear of Joseph. It seems reasonable to guess that sometime in the next 18 years (or so), Mary became a widow dependent on others.

It seems to me that once Jesus had come under adverse notice by the powerful in Jerusalem he went there only for festivals. Was that a change for the Galilean unknown? (He seems to have been a "regular".)

The festivals meant there was a population increase. There were more from Galilee and from less populated parts of the land. More ordinary, decent folk. As far as he could, Jesus may have identified, assessed, anticipated and controlled the increasing risks he encountered from his powerful rejectors. Did Jesus have options?

It is obvious the Jerusalem authorities wanted to maintain the status-quo of the day and retain their positions (John 11:47-48 - see below). Their concern had been stirred when John the Baptiser appeared on the scene, causing a ripple through the community. They sent investigators. And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” (John 1:19-22 ESV). Jesus presented himself to John and was evidently aware of the messenger's impact. Evidently, when Jesus came to notice, the authorities were already alert for threat. (There were other historical individuals who "rose up" to stir the people.)

After himself coming to John the Baptiser, Jesus had remained in the south for a time and, thanks to him, there were new disciples and baptisms, facts which came to the notice of the religious elite. Jesus departed for Galilee (that was the time when John the Baptiser was arrested). He himself had said that a prophet is not honored in his own hometown. Yet the Galileans welcomed him, for they had been in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration and had seen everything he did there (John 4:44-45 NLT). Jesus had been in Jerusalem for Passover (no detail) and now a welcome in Galilee meant open doors at that time and a lot happened. But referring back to the Passover:

In John's text we find previously: After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money (John 2:12-14 NIV). Thus we have Jesus and disciples in Galilee and Jesus going up to Jerusalem, evidently early for Passover. (Did the disciples go at the same time?) Jesus' acted very emphatically against the commerce within the temple (courts). This would doubtless quickly raise questions with the authorities and not be easily forgotten. The Synoptic Gospels later recount (Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19) a very similar happening at the start of Jesus' final visit to Jerusalem for the later Passover. Or, did John place that actual pericope here to suit his purpose? (What seems likely to modern eyes [some] may not hold in the actual times of Jesus.)

We find this note relating to that first time: Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[a] But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people (John 2:23-24 NIV). A response, but Jesus was aware of the deeper issues below the surface.

John recounts another visit: After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew[a] Beth-zatha,[b] which has five porticoes. In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people.[c] One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:1-6 NRSVUE). The healing that followed had happened on the Sabbath. Without knowing the "Sabbath-breaker" was Jesus, the religious elite were disturbed. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well (John 5:14-15 NRSVUE). Now there were grounds for greater concern in their eyes.

 "A Festival" - was that the one called Purim I wonder?

John recounts that Jesus eventually returned to Galilee, where again he could receive a hearing (though not without rejections). Jesus decided to leave Judea and to start going through Galilee because the leaders of the people wanted to kill him. It was almost time for the Festival of Shelters, and Jesus' brothers said to him, “Why don't you go to Judea? Then your disciples can see what you are doing (John 7:1-3 CEV). Jesus' location was his deliberate choice. Were the brothers being spiteful or helpful? Jesus delayed leaving Galilee. (They were free to go.) Note why Jesus had left Judea - I wonder if he ever returned to the broad area?

However, Jesus was not deflected from going to Jerusalem for Shelters (Tabernacles). But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders. Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach (John 7:10-14 NLT). Jesus was being hunted. He was staying out of public view until amongst the hearers in the Temple. Already people could tell that Jesus was unacceptable to the leaders. (Perhaps they had observed the fruitless search happening and knew what it meant!)

Note here (again) the various translations of "the Jewish leaders". More conservative versions render the single (plural) word in the original as "Jews". That is, of course, grammatically correct, but unhelpful in everyday thinking. I take the word as referring to the religious elite, or actually, a large component of that elite. That fits with this stated surprise at the content of Jesus' words to the Temple attenders. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, “How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?” (John 7:15 NRSVUE). This question was apparently uttered loudly in public by Jesus' critics. Why, would that be so, do you think? They, the ruling religious leaders, would correctly know Jesus' lack of academic qualifications... He had not been to Rabbi-school. (I would rather call them "the religious unbelievers" than "the Jews", to distinguish the important people who were friends and followers of Jesus from those set on his destruction.)

I can not be certain but the impression from the other Gospels is that Jesus left Jerusalem after "Shelters" and spent time in Judea. The next clear Jerusalem Temple pericope comes from John: It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. The people surrounded him and asked, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly" (John 10:22-27 NLT). I have a previous post on the Hanukkah (Temple Dedication).

https://biblereaderone.blogspot.com/2025/12/jesus-at-hannukah.html

Evidently Jesus left Jerusalem for a time. However, that momentus Passover comes next.

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for[a] Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him (John 11:55-57 ESV). If you read through the events of the Jesus arrival and final week you will see many interactions between Jesus and various segments of the elite Jews. From the above text I take to mean they were wanting opportunity; opportunity away from prying eyes, away from those from "the country"..

They were looking. They had good reason to expect Jesus to be there (see above). I wonder what watchers were in place.

The ongoing hunt is made clear: Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot” (Mark 14:1-2 NIV). Luke (22:2) tells us that the elite Jews were afraid of the people.

So they were looking for the right time. So, soon, was another: Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand him over to them. They were glad and agreed to give him silver.[a] So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray him to them when the crowd was not present (Luke 22:3-6 CSB). The "crowd" surely represented followers who would not want Jesus arrested.

So, on the final night, Jesus and 11 friends went to the Garden of Gethsemane. (He had been there before with the 12.) The scene was set for Jesus to be taken when that worriesome "crowd" was not present: Jesus had often met there with his disciples, and Judas knew where the place was.

Judas had promised to betray Jesus. So he went to the garden with some Roman soldiers and temple police, who had been sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees. They carried torches, lanterns, and weapons. Jesus already knew everything that was going to happen, but he asked, “Who are you looking for?”

They answered, “We are looking for Jesus from Nazareth!”

Jesus told them, “I am Jesus!”[a] (John 18:2-5 CEV). And so Jesus lost all freedom of movement. The conclusion was foregone. It unfolded as Jesus had said it would. 

Dispersion of his message now is in the hands of his people. He died and was buried. He rose from the dead. He will return again with glory and power. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:30-31 ESV). That is how the story actually ends.

May you be blessed by God

Allen Hampton

Public Temple observances

Observances (Passover; Weeks; Booths) had been laid down in the OT books of the Torah; we see them in the pages of the New Testament. Our equivalent would be our public holidays.

Another annual festival previously added to the Jewish calendar was called Purim. The story of the introduction of that festival comes from the brutal book called "Esther" (see especially chapter 9.).

Hanukkah was a (then) modern addition, dating to events in BC164. At that time the previously desecrated Temple was restored to its intended use.

“Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev” (1 Maccabees 4:59 NRSVUE). In our canonical Bibles the word "Dedication" is found only here and at Nehemiah 12:27 (when the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem were celebrated). The word can be translated as "rededication".

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