John 11
John 11 marks a crucial turning point in the Gospel of John, serving as the climax of Jesus' public ministry and the seventh major miracle or 'sign' recorded in the narrative. Positioned right before the Passion narrative, this chapter bridges Jesus' public teaching and His path to the cross. The story centers on the death and resurrection of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus who lived in Bethany with his sisters Martha and Mary. Rather than responding with immediate travel upon hearing of Lazarus' severe illness, Jesus intentionally waits, declaring that the sickness will ultimately display the glory of God and glorify the Son.
1. The Sickness and Death of Lazarus
John 11:1-16
1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha. 2 It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, “ Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “ This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God ’s Son may be glorified by it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “ Let ’s go into Judea again.” 8 The disciples asked him, “ Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you. Are you going there again? ” 9 Jesus answered, “Aren’ t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’ t stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’ t in him.” 11 He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “ Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.” 12 The disciples therefore said, “ Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep. 14 So Jesus said to them plainly then, “ Lazarus is dead. 15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let ’s go to him.” 16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “ Let ’s also go, that we may die with him.”
Commentary
- An Urgent Plea from Beloved Friends: The narrative begins in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, where Lazarus falls ill. Mary and Martha send word to Jesus, referring to Lazarus as 'he for whom you have great affection.' Their message is a humble request rooted in personal relationship rather than a demanding command.
- Sickness for the Glory of God: Jesus announces that Lazarus' sickness will not end in permanent death, but serves a higher divine purpose: to reveal God's glory and glorify the Son. Divine delays are often misunderstandings on the human side; God's timing operates according to eternal purposes.
- Intentional Delay Rooted in Love: Although the text emphasizes that Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, He remains where He is for two additional days. His delay is not indifference, but a deliberate choice to allow a greater display of God's power through resurrection.
- Walking in the Light and Courageous Faith: When Jesus announces His plan to return to Judea, the disciples express fear due to recent threats against His life. Jesus uses the metaphor of daylight to show that fulfilling God's assigned mission provides spiritual safety. Thomas reveals courageous devotion by inviting the disciples to go and die with Him.
Insight: God's delays are never denials of His love; He often allows human helplessness so that His divine glory and power may be fully revealed.
2. Jesus the Resurrection and the Life
John 11:17-27
17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away. 19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house. 21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “ Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’ t have died. 22 Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “ Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “ I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “ I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this? ” 27 She said to him, “ Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God ’ s Son, he who comes into the world.”
Commentary
- Arrival after Four Days: Jesus arrives in Bethany after Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. In Jewish cultural belief of the time, four days signified that death was absolute and irreversible, ruling out any natural revival.
- Martha's Honest Expression of Faith: Martha goes out to meet Jesus, expressing grief alongside faith: 'Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn't have died.' She acknowledges Jesus' power while holding onto hope that God will answer His prayers.
- The Key I Am Declaration: Jesus redirects Martha's future hope in the end-times resurrection to Himself: 'I am the resurrection and the life.' Eternal life is found not merely in a doctrine or future event, but in a living relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Martha's Confession of Christ: When Jesus asks if she believes this, Martha makes a grand Christological confession, affirming Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God who comes into the world.
Insight: Resurrection is not merely an event at the end of history, but a Person available right now to give spiritual and physical life.
3. Jesus Weeps with the Mourners
John 11:28-37
28 When she had said this, she went away and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, “ The Teacher is here and is calling you.” 29 When she heard this, she arose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “ She is going to the tomb to weep there.” 32 Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, “ Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’ t have died.” 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled, 34 and said, “ Where have you laid him? ” They told him, “ Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 The Jews therefore said, “ See how much affection he had for him! ” 37 Some of them said, “Couldn’ t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying? ”
Commentary
- Mary's Grief at Jesus' Feet: Mary comes to Jesus upon hearing He is asking for her. She falls at His feet, echoing Martha's words of grief. Her posture shows deep reverence even in the midst of sorrow.
- Jesus' Deep Emotional Distress: Seeing Mary and the mourners weeping, Jesus groans in the spirit and is troubled. The Greek verb express deep outrage and intense emotion against the tyranny and devastation of death.
- Jesus Wept: The shortest verse in the Bible (John 11:35) captures the genuine humanity and compassion of Jesus. He enters into human pain and weeps with those who weep, proving He is a compassionate High Priest.
- Divided Opinions Among Onlookers: The Jewish mourners witness His tears, noting His deep affection for Lazarus. Others question why He, who healed the blind, did not prevent Lazarus' death.
Insight: Jesus does not stand detached from human pain; He enters our grief directly, feeling the weight of suffering while possessing the power to overcome it.
4. The Raising of Lazarus
John 11:38-44
38 Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “ Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’ t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God ’s glory? ” 41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “ Father, I thank you that you listened to me. 42 I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude standing around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “ Lazarus, come out! ” 44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “ Free him, and let him go.”
Commentary
- Command to Remove the Stone: Jesus approaches the cave tomb and orders the stone to be rolled away. Martha hesitates due to the practical reality of decay and stench after four days, but Jesus reminds her of faith and God's glory.
- Prayer of Thanksgiving and Trust: Before performing the sign, Jesus prays aloud to the Father. He gives thanks in advance, demonstrating His unbroken unity with God so that the crowd may believe He was sent by the Father.
- The Powerful Command to the Dead: Jesus shouts with a loud voice, 'Lazarus, come out!' His word possesses creative power to conquer death and call the deceased back into physical life.
- Unbinding the Living Man: Lazarus emerges bound in burial wrappings. Jesus commands the bystanders to free him and let him go, illustrating the transition from death to freedom.
Insight: The voice of Christ carries authority over death itself; where human hope ends, His resurrection power begins.
5. The Sanhedrin Plot and Caiaphas' Prophecy
John 11:45-57
45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. 47 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “ What are we doing? For this man does many signs. 48 If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “ You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” 51 Now he didn’ t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples. 55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought for Jesus and spoke with one another as they stood in the temple, “ What do you think — that he isn’ t coming to the feast at all? ” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him.
Commentary
- Divided Reactions to the Miracle: While many who witnessed the sign believed in Jesus, others immediately reported the event to the Pharisees, showing that miracles alone do not soften hard hearts.
- Fear of Political Disruption: The Sanhedrin convenes out of fear that Jesus' growing popularity will draw Roman intervention, threatening their religious status, temple, and nation.
- Unwitting Prophecy by Caiaphas: Caiaphas, the high priest, argues that it is advantageous for one man to die for the people rather than the whole nation perishing. John explains that Caiaphas spoke prophetically about Christ's substitutionary death.
- Official Decision and Jesus' Withdrawal: From that day, the council determines to execute Jesus. Jesus temporarily withdraws to Ephraim until the appointed Passover hour.
Insight: God sovereignly works even through the selfish motives of human enemies to accomplish His grand plan of redemption through Jesus Christ.
Theological Significance
- Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life: Jesus reveals that resurrection power is personified in Him. Salvation and life eternal are not abstract concepts but personal benefits received through faith in Christ.
- Divine Sovereignty over Death: The raising of Lazarus shows that death is not the final authority. Christ holds absolute power over physical and spiritual mortality.
- Substitutionary Atonement Prophesied: Caiaphas' statement highlights the substitutionary nature of Jesus' death—dying on behalf of the nation and gathering God's scattered children into unity.
- The Dual Natures of Christ: This chapter vividly portrays both the divine power of Jesus (raising the dead) and His true humanity (weeping with grief and experiencing emotional distress).
Major Themes
- Resurrection and Eternal Life
- God's Timing and Divine Delays
- Compassion in Suffering
- Belief versus Unbelief
- Substitutionary Sacrifice
- God's Sovereignty in Human Plots
Practical Applications
- Trust God in Seasons of Unexplained Delay: When prayers seem unanswered, trust that God operates on a divine timeline to maximize His glory and deepen our faith.
- Bring Honest Sorrow to Jesus: Follow Mary and Martha's example by coming directly to Christ with grief, knowing He cares deeply and enters into our sorrow.
- Unbind Those Released from Sin: As the crowd was told to unbind Lazarus, Christians are called to disciple and support new believers as they leave behind old habits.
- Stand Firm in the Hope of Resurrection: Face death and loss with confident faith, knowing that Christ has conquered death and promises eternal life to all who believe.
Final Insight
John 11 demonstrates that Jesus Christ is supreme over death, grief, and human opposition. By raising Lazarus, Jesus offered an unmistakable picture of His power to bestow new life upon spiritual and physical graves. His tears demonstrate His compassionate heart for suffering humanity, while His victory over the tomb anticipates His own ultimate resurrection. In every season of sorrow or delay, believers can place complete trust in the One who is the Resurrection and the Life.
