‏ John 11

The Death and Raising of Lazarus

This section tells the story of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, who becomes very sick. His sisters, Mary and Martha, send for Jesus, hoping he will come and heal their brother. But Jesus delays his visit, and Lazarus dies. Jesus uses this event to show his power over death and to strengthen the faith of his disciples and friends. The raising of Lazarus becomes one of the most powerful signs of Jesus' identity as the Son of God, and it also leads to greater opposition from the religious leaders.

v. 1: Lazarus, who lived in Bethany with his sisters Mary and Martha, became seriously ill (John 11:1 ^a). Bethany was a village near Jerusalem. Mary is the same woman who would later anoint Jesus’ feet with ointment and wipe them with her hair (John 12:3 ^b).

v. 2: The sisters sent a message to Jesus: "Lord, the one you love is sick" (John 11:3 ^c). They did not ask Jesus directly to come, but trusted in his love and care for Lazarus. Sometimes, when we pray, it is enough just to make our needs known to Jesus, trusting he knows what is best.

v. 3: When Jesus heard the news, he said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it" (John 11:4 ^d). Jesus knew the outcome and that God would use this situation for a greater purpose. Even in hard times, God can bring glory to himself and to Jesus.

v. 4: Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus (John 11:5 ^e). Even though he loved them, he chose to stay where he was for two more days before going to them (John 11:6 ^f). This shows that God's timing is not always the same as ours. Jesus sometimes waits to answer our prayers in order to do something greater.

v. 5: After two days, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea" (John 11:7 ^g). The disciples were afraid because the Jews there had recently tried to stone Jesus (John 10:31 ^h), but Jesus was not afraid because he knew he was doing God’s will.

v. 6: The disciples questioned Jesus, saying, "Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" (John 11:8 ⁱ). Jesus replied that those who walk in the light of God’s guidance do not stumble, but those who walk in darkness stumble because they have no light (John 11:9-10 ^j).

v. 7: Jesus told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up" (John 11:11 ^k). The disciples misunderstood, thinking Jesus meant regular sleep, but he was speaking about Lazarus’s death (John 11:12-14 ^l).

v. 8: Jesus explained plainly, "Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him" (John 11:14-15 ^m). Jesus allows difficult things to happen to help us grow in faith. Thomas, also called Didymus, boldly said to the other disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16 ⁿ), showing both his courage and his misunderstanding of what was about to happen.

In summary, this passage teaches us about the love and power of Jesus, his patience in waiting for God’s timing, and how he uses even sorrow and loss to bring about greater faith and reveal God's glory.

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Jesus Comforts the Sisters and Raises Lazarus

In this section, Jesus arrives in Bethany after Lazarus has been dead for four days. Many friends and neighbors have come to comfort Mary and Martha. Jesus talks with Martha about faith and resurrection, and then weeps with Mary. He goes to the tomb and raises Lazarus from the dead, showing his power over death and pointing to his identity as the Son of God. This miracle leads many to believe in him, but also causes the religious leaders to plot against him.

v. 17: When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days (John 11:17 ^o). This made the situation seem hopeless to everyone. The delay allowed the power of Jesus to be shown more clearly, because it would be obvious that Lazarus was truly dead.

v. 18: Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away (John 11:18 ^p). Many Jews had come from Jerusalem to comfort Martha and Mary about their brother. This shows how much Lazarus and his family were loved by their community.

v. 19: When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home (John 11:20 ^q). Martha was eager to see Jesus and talk to him about her grief, while Mary remained quietly in the house, sorrowful.

v. 20: Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask" (John 11:21-22 ^r). Martha had faith in Jesus’ power, even though her brother had died. She trusted that Jesus could still help.

v. 21: Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again." Martha replied, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die; and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:23-26 ^s). Jesus teaches Martha that he has the power over life and death. Believing in him brings eternal life that never ends.

v. 22: Martha answered, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world" (John 11:27 ^t). Martha confesses her faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah, even in her time of sorrow.

v. 23: Martha went to call her sister Mary and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." When Mary heard this, she quickly got up and went to Jesus (John 11:28-29 ^u). Mary was deeply moved and wanted to see Jesus.

v. 24: The people who were with Mary in the house followed her, thinking she was going to the tomb to weep there (John 11:30-31 ^v). When Mary reached Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (John 11:32 ^w). Mary, like Martha, believed that Jesus could have healed Lazarus.

v. 25: When Jesus saw Mary and the people weeping, he was deeply moved and troubled. He asked, "Where have you laid him?" They replied, "Lord, come and see." Jesus wept (John 11:33-35 ^x). Jesus showed his compassion by sharing in their sorrow. He truly cares about human suffering.

v. 26: Some of the people said, "See how he loved him!" But others doubted and asked, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" (John 11:36-37 ^y). Even in the middle of a miracle, some people found it hard to believe.

v. 27: Jesus came to the tomb, which was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. He said, "Take away the stone." Martha objected, saying, "Lord, by this time there will be a bad smell, for he has been dead four days." Jesus replied, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:38-40 ^z). Jesus encourages Martha to trust in God’s power, even when things seem impossible.

v. 28: They took away the stone, and Jesus looked up and prayed, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." Then he called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" (John 11:41-43 ^aa). Jesus prayed openly so that everyone would know the miracle was from God.

v. 29: Lazarus came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said, "Unbind him and let him go" (John 11:44 ^ab). Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, showing his divine power and giving hope to everyone who believes in him.

v. 30: Many of the Jews who saw what Jesus did believed in him. But some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done (John 11:45-46 ^ac). This miracle led some to faith, but also caused others to oppose Jesus.

This story teaches that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He cares about our pain, and he has the power to give life, both now and forever. His miracles are meant to grow our faith and show that he truly is the Son of God.

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Jesus Shares in Our Sorrow and Raises Lazarus

This section shows Jesus’ deep compassion when he sees the grief of Mary, Martha, and their friends over Lazarus’s death. Jesus is moved to tears, prays to the Father, and performs the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. This reveals both his humanity and his divine power, and leads many to believe in him, though some report him to the religious leaders.

v. 33: When Jesus saw Mary weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled (John 11:33 ^ad). Jesus was not cold or distant; he felt real sorrow when he saw the pain of his friends. He shares in our grief and understands our emotions.

v. 34: Jesus asked, “Where have you laid him?” They replied, “Lord, come and see” (John 11:34 ^ae). Jesus wanted to go to the tomb himself, showing that he cared personally and was ready to help.

v. 35: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35 ^af). This is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it shows so much. Jesus, the Son of God, cried at the tomb of his friend. He was not ashamed to show his feelings. He shares in our sadness and is close to us when we are hurting (Isaiah 53:3 ^ag).

v. 36: The Jews said, “See how he loved him!” (John 11:36 ^ah). People saw Jesus’ tears and understood that he truly loved Lazarus. Jesus’ love is strong and real for his friends.

v. 37: Some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:37; John 9:6-7 ^ai). Some doubted or questioned why Jesus did not prevent Lazarus’s death. They did not understand that God had a bigger plan.

v. 38: Jesus, still deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance (John 11:38 ^aj). Jesus was filled with emotion as he faced the reality of death and the sorrow it brings.

v. 39: Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “Lord, by this time there will be a bad smell, for he has been dead four days.” . Martha hesitated because she knew Lazarus had been dead for days, but Jesus asked for the stone to be removed, showing he was about to do something miraculous.

v. 40: Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40 ^ak). Jesus reminded her to have faith. God’s power would be shown in what was about to happen.

v. 41: So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me” (John 11:41 ^al). Jesus prayed openly, showing his trust in God the Father and teaching the people to believe that his power comes from God.

v. 42: “I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:42 ^am). Jesus wanted everyone there to understand and believe that he was sent by God.

v. 43: When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43 ^an). With a powerful command, Jesus called Lazarus back to life, showing his authority even over death.

v. 44: The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him and let him go” (John 11:44 ^ao). Lazarus was truly alive again, and Jesus told the people to remove the grave clothes and let him be free.

The Plot Against Jesus After Raising Lazarus

This section explains what happened after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Many people believed in Jesus because of the miracle, but some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. The religious leaders became afraid that everyone would believe in Jesus, and then the Romans would destroy their temple and nation. Caiaphas, the high priest, said it was better for one man (Jesus) to die for the people than for the whole nation to perish. This was a prophecy about Jesus' death. From that day, the leaders began to plan how to kill Jesus. Jesus stopped walking openly among the people and went away with his disciples to a town called Ephraim. As the Passover approached, people wondered if Jesus would come to Jerusalem. The leaders gave orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should report it so they could arrest him.

v. 45: Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him (John 11:45 ^ap). The miracle of raising Lazarus led many people to trust in Jesus as the Messiah. This event was a powerful sign that confirmed Jesus’ identity and inspired faith in many (John 11:45 ^aq).

v. 46: But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done (John 11:46 ^ar). Instead of believing, these people reported the miracle to the religious leaders, which increased opposition against Jesus. Their actions contributed to the growing plot to arrest and kill Jesus (John 11:46).

v. 47: The chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. They said, "What are we accomplishing? Here is this man performing many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation" (John 11:47-48 ^as). They were afraid Jesus would cause a movement that would threaten their power and bring Roman punishment on them.

v. 48: The leaders were more concerned about losing their position and their nation than about the truth. They worried more about politics and their own interests than about doing what was right in God's eyes (John 11:48 ^at).

v. 49: Then Caiaphas, the high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish" (John 11:49-50 ^au). He argued that it would be better for Jesus to die than for all the people to suffer. He did not realize he was speaking a prophecy.

v. 50: Caiaphas’s words were meant as a political solution, but God used them as a prophecy. Jesus would die not only for the Jewish nation, but for all God's children scattered around the world, to bring them together (John 11:51-52 ^av).

v. 51: Caiaphas did not speak on his own, but as high priest, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for them, but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one (John 11:51-52 ^aw). This showed that Jesus' death would have a worldwide impact.

v. 52: From that day on, the leaders plotted to take Jesus’ life (John 11:53 ^ax). This was the beginning of their final plan to arrest and kill Jesus.

v. 53: Because of this, Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews. Instead, he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples (John 11:54 ^ay). Jesus knew the danger and avoided unnecessary risks until the right time.

v. 54: When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the festival. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts, they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?" (John 11:55-56 ^az). People were curious and wondered if Jesus would come, knowing the leaders were looking for him.

v. 55: The chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so they could arrest him (John 11:57 ^ba). The religious authorities were determined to capture Jesus.

In summary, after the miracle of raising Lazarus, many believed in Jesus, but the religious leaders became more determined to kill him. Caiaphas unknowingly prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and for people all over the world. Jesus withdrew for a time, but the stage was set for his arrest and crucifixion at Passover.