The Passover Setting
"Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near." (John 6:4)
Jesus gave his discourse during the time of Passover. Passover, perhaps the very next year, would be the setting for Jesus' Last Supper and Passion. The night before his discourse, "After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone." (Matthew 14:23) It is easy to imagine that this time of year put much on Jesus' heart and mind.
I believe that both the Last Supper and the sorrowful suffering to follow occupied his thoughts and prayers that evening. Jesus would say at the Last Supper, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." (Luke 22:15) I believe this night was one of those times he "earnestly desired" it, yet dreaded what would follow. Jesus reflected that night on both of these events and they would surface together in his discourse the next day.
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(Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE�, Copyright � 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.)
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