Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead and the Pharisees were plotting to seize Him and kill Him. So Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but retreated with His disciples from Bethany to Ephraim (which means “double fruitfulness.”).
How long were they there? Maybe up to six weeks. What did they do there? I’m just guessing…but I bet they did some of these things:
•Played games and laughed their heads off! They’d come from a very stressful situation and needed a stress reliever. Sometimes we forget they were very human and had fun together. Laughter is good medicine.
•Sang & prayed. They wanted to hear the Father. They NEEDED to hear the Father. And they met God as they worshiped Him.
•Rested. Things had been very intense. The time for ministry was over. Their bodies, minds, and emotions were spent. They needed deep rest.
•Embraced privacy. They needed alone time. People had clamored for their attention for three years. These were Jesus’ final days and He wanted to spend this time investing in His disciples. It was a time of intimacy.
I don’t think God tells us what they did during those six weeks for a reason. It was their time alone with Jesus, meeting their specific needs.
Have you been through a stressful season? Ask God to take you to Ephraim.