51. He didn’t say this on his own. As high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would soon die for the nation—
52. and not only for the nation. Jesus would also die so that God’s children scattered everywhere would be gathered together as one.
53. From that day on they plotted to kill him.
54. Therefore, Jesus was no longer active in public ministry among the Jewish leaders. Instead, he left Jerusalem and went to a place near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.
55. It was almost time for the Jewish Passover, and many people went from the countryside up to Jerusalem to purify themselves through ritual washing before the Passover.
56. They were looking for Jesus. As they spoke to each other in the temple, they said, "What do you think? He won’t come to the festival, will he?"