After the Feast of Tabernacles had ended in the evening, the council was defeated and crestfallen when condemnation without a hearing was blocked, and the assembly broke up with every man going to his own house. While the multitude sought retirement for the night and the disciples returned home for refreshment in sleep as the city was hushed in silence, Jesus instead went to the Mount of Olives. There in a retired place of stillness without interruption He spent the night in prayer with head bowed under dew and frost after a day of wearying labor, though Himself weary resting not while His followers slept. His divine pleadings ascended all night for His disciples that they might be kept from daily evil influences, and for strengthening of His own soul for the duties and trials of the next day. Though the sinless Majesty of heaven who could heal the sick, raise the dead and command the tempests, He bowed all night with strong crying and tears, identifying Himself with human needs and infirmities, and left an example rebuking prayerless, unconsecrated service and calling all to earnest retired intercession and daily surrender with power attending labor for souls.
Closing Scene at Feast
The verse places the scene in the evening, after the Feast of Tabernacles had ended. As evening came the people went to their homes, with the plots of the priests and rabbis against Jesus defeated and His opponents in Jerusalem having failed in their plot against Him. It belongs to the account of Jesus at Jerusalem during the feast, where the priests and rulers watched for ways to entrap, silence, and publicly humble Him. That account unfolded amid dispute over Jesus and divided reactions to Him, with failed efforts to seize Him, and the verse closes that account of divided reactions as part of an experience similar to what some of God's people would face.
The rulers attempted to condemn Jesus without a hearing, but the attempt was thwarted for the time. Nicodemus's protest stopped them from condemning Him without a hearing. So the council was defeated for the time, defeated and crest-fallen, and the assembly broke up and dispersed, with each man going to his own home.
While every man went to his own house, the multitude left for the retirement of the night and the disciples returned home for refreshment in sleep, and the city was hushed in silence at the close of the gathering and of a day of wearying labor. Jesus instead went to the Mount of Olives, withdrawing from the busy city to seek a retired place. There He spent the night in prayer for His disciples' protection and for strength to meet the next day's duties and trials.
Christ's Night of Prayer
While every man went to his own house, Jesus withdrew from the busy city and the noisy throng to the Mount of Olives, His favorite resort for devotion. He sought a retired place for prayer and chose the stillness of night, when there would be no interruption, though His disciples had learned His retreat and often followed Him there. After a day of wearying labor, when He Himself was weary yet rested not, He spent the whole night there in prayer while His followers slept, with His head bowed under the dew and frost of night.
His divine pleadings ascended all night to His Father for His disciples, that they might be kept from the evil influences they would daily encounter and be protected. He prayed also that His own soul might be strengthened and braced for the duties and trials of the next day. The Majesty of heaven, though Himself a source of blessing and strength who could heal the sick and raise the dead and command the tempests, unsullied with corruption and a stranger to sin, prayed much and often bowed all night with strong crying and tears for His disciples and for Himself. In this He identified Himself with human needs and weaknesses and failings and infirmities, as one tempted in all points even as humanity is.
His example is left for His followers, rebuking double-minded ministers who are no more successful because they are not unselfishly devoted but serve God a little and themselves more, pray but little, and complain of darkness and unbelief because they are not right with God and not fully consecrated. It calls all to take to heart earnest conversing with the Infinite, daily surrender, retirement for intercession, and power attending labor for souls. The verse closes an account of divided reactions to Christ and serves as part of an experience similar to what some of God's people would face.
After the Feast of Tabernacles had ended in the evening, the council was defeated and crestfallen when condemnation without a hearing was blocked, and the assembly broke up with every man going to his own house. While the multitude sought retirement for the night and the disciples returned home for refreshment in sleep as the city was hushed in silence, Jesus instead went to the Mount of Olives. There in a retired place of stillness without interruption He spent the night in prayer with head bowed under dew and frost after a day of wearying labor, though Himself weary resting not while His followers slept. His divine pleadings ascended all night for His disciples that they might be kept from daily evil influences, and for strengthening of His own soul for the duties and trials of the next day. Though the sinless Majesty of heaven who could heal the sick, raise the dead and command the tempests, He bowed all night with strong crying and tears, identifying Himself with human needs and infirmities, and left an example rebuking prayerless, unconsecrated service and calling all to earnest retired intercession and daily surrender with power attending labor for souls.
Closing Scene at Feast
The verse places the scene in the evening, after the Feast of Tabernacles had ended. As evening came the people went to their homes, with the plots of the priests and rabbis against Jesus defeated and His opponents in Jerusalem having failed in their plot against Him. It belongs to the account of Jesus at Jerusalem during the feast, where the priests and rulers watched for ways to entrap, silence, and publicly humble Him. That account unfolded amid dispute over Jesus and divided reactions to Him, with failed efforts to seize Him, and the verse closes that account of divided reactions as part of an experience similar to what some of God's people would face.
The rulers attempted to condemn Jesus without a hearing, but the attempt was thwarted for the time. Nicodemus's protest stopped them from condemning Him without a hearing. So the council was defeated for the time, defeated and crest-fallen, and the assembly broke up and dispersed, with each man going to his own home.
While every man went to his own house, the multitude left for the retirement of the night and the disciples returned home for refreshment in sleep, and the city was hushed in silence at the close of the gathering and of a day of wearying labor. Jesus instead went to the Mount of Olives, withdrawing from the busy city to seek a retired place. There He spent the night in prayer for His disciples' protection and for strength to meet the next day's duties and trials.
Christ's Night of Prayer
While every man went to his own house, Jesus withdrew from the busy city and the noisy throng to the Mount of Olives, His favorite resort for devotion. He sought a retired place for prayer and chose the stillness of night, when there would be no interruption, though His disciples had learned His retreat and often followed Him there. After a day of wearying labor, when He Himself was weary yet rested not, He spent the whole night there in prayer while His followers slept, with His head bowed under the dew and frost of night.
His divine pleadings ascended all night to His Father for His disciples, that they might be kept from the evil influences they would daily encounter and be protected. He prayed also that His own soul might be strengthened and braced for the duties and trials of the next day. The Majesty of heaven, though Himself a source of blessing and strength who could heal the sick and raise the dead and command the tempests, unsullied with corruption and a stranger to sin, prayed much and often bowed all night with strong crying and tears for His disciples and for Himself. In this He identified Himself with human needs and weaknesses and failings and infirmities, as one tempted in all points even as humanity is.
His example is left for His followers, rebuking double-minded ministers who are no more successful because they are not unselfishly devoted but serve God a little and themselves more, pray but little, and complain of darkness and unbelief because they are not right with God and not fully consecrated. It calls all to take to heart earnest conversing with the Infinite, daily surrender, retirement for intercession, and power attending labor for souls. The verse closes an account of divided reactions to Christ and serves as part of an experience similar to what some of God's people would face.