And the Jews' passover was near at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
All Commentaries on John 11:55 Go To John 11
Cornelius a Lapide
AD 1637
And the Jews" Passover was nigh at hand: viz, the last Passover to Christ, at which He Himself, as the Paschal Lamb, was sacrificed for the salvation of the world; and therefore He eagerly waited for it. The Syrians for Pascha say Pezcho, which is interpreted gladness; because this feast was more joyful than the others, even as to Christians it is so in the highest degree, because of our redemption made upon the Cross, and because of the resurrection.
And many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves; i.e, to cleanse themselves by sacrifices and ceremonies from all actual uncleanness, and to prepare themselves by prayers and sacrifices to celebrate and eat the Passover rightly, as says S. Thomas and Jansen.
