⁵⁴ So Jesus no longer ·traveled [^Lwalked] openly among the ·people [Jews]. He ·left there [withdrew; departed] and went to a ·place [region] near the ·desert [wilderness], to a town called Ephraim and stayed there with his ·followers [disciples].

⁵⁵ It was almost time for the ·Passover Feast [^LPassover of the Jews; ^Cthe annual festival that celebrates God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt; Ex. 12; John 2:13]. Many from the country went up to Jerusalem before the Passover to ·do the special things to make themselves pure [^Lpurify/consecrate themselves; Num. 9:6–13]. ⁵⁶ The people ·looked for [sought] Jesus and stood in the Temple [courts] asking each other, “·Is he [^LSurely he is not] coming to the Feast? What do you think?”