William Burkitt on John 11:53

Observe here, 1. How baneful and destructive evil counsel is, especially out of the mouths of leading men, and how soon embraced and followed. Caiaphas no sooner propounds the putting of Christ to death, but from that day forward they lie in wait to take him. The high priests had satisfied their consciences, and now they make all possible speed to put their malicious designs and purposes in execution.

Observe, 2. The prudential care and means which our Lord used for his own preservation: to avoid their fury, he withdraws himself privately into a place called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

Learn, As Christ himself fled, so is it lawful for his servants to flee, when their life is conspired against by their bloody enemies, and the persecution is personal.

Observe, 3. When the time was come that he was to expose himself, when the time of the passover drew near, in which he, being the true Paschal Lamb, was to be slain, to put an end to that type, he withdraws no more, but surrenders himself to the rage and fury of his enemies, and dies a shameful death for shameless sinners, as the next chapter more at large informs us.