John 6:4

4 Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near.

John 6:4 Meaning and Commentary

John 6:4

And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
] This was the third passover, since our Lord's baptism, and entrance on his public ministry; see ( John 2:13 ) ( 5:1 ) . Whether Christ went up to this feast is not certain; some think he did not; but from what is said in ( John 7:1 ) , it looks as if he did: how nigh it was to the feast, cannot well be said. Thirty days before the feast, they began to talk about it; and especially in the last fifteen days, they made preparations for it, as being at hand ^F2; and if there was now so long time to it, there was time enough for Jesus to go to it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 T. Bab. Pesach. fol. 6. 1. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Shekalim, c. 3. sect. 1.

John 6:4 In-Context

2 And a huge crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was performing on the sick.

3 So Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with His disciples.

4 Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near.

5 Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, "Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?"

6 He asked this to test him, for He Himself knew what He was going to do.