See in your mind’s eye a city that has doubled in population almost overnight. The city is Jerusalem and faithful Jews have converged upon the holy city from great distances to celebrate the Passover. They have come from every country district and all the lands of the Diaspora. The Jewish historian, Josephus, recorded that as many as 1,000,000 pilgrims came annually to the feast. Families were reunited, friends renewed acquaintances, spirits were high, and from the Temple priests down to the simplest peasant, anticipation heightened as each made their own preparations. The Gospel according to John tells us, "Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand ... many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves" (11:55). On this particular occasion, however, there …