John 11

The Death of Lazarus

1-3 Jesus receives a plea from Martha and Mary (who had wiped his feet with her hair – John 12:3) to come to Bethany because their brother Lazarus (“whom you love”) is ill.

4-6 Jesus replies that the illness won’t end in death but is for God’s glory, and even though he loves them, he stays in Perea for two more days. Coffman points out something I had never thought of before:

The journey from Bethany to where Jesus was would have required at least a day; and thus Lazarus died when the message came. Jesus knew already of Lazarus' death and did not wait for it, using the next two days to finish the work at hand.

Note that when Jesus arrives in Bethany (verse 17), Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days.

7-16 Jesus (to his disciples after two days): Let us return to Judea.

Disciples: But the Jews there tried to stone you!

Jesus: Those who walk in daylight do not stumble; only those who walk at night. Our friend Lazarus is asleep; I go to wake him up. In doing what he needed to do while he still had life, Jesus was walking in the daylight. Matthew Henry:

If a man keep close to his duty, and mind that, and set the will of God before him as his rule, with an impartial respect to all God’s commandments, he does not hesitate in his own mind, but, walking uprightly, walks surely,and with a holy confidence. As he that walks in the day stumbles not, but goes on steadily and cheerfully in his way, because he sees the light of this world, and by it sees his way before him;

Disciples (not knowing this meant Lazarus was dead): If he’s asleep, he’ll be okay.

Jesus: Lazarus is dead. I’m glad I was not there, because this will help your belief.

Thomas: We’ll all go and die with him. Notice he doesn’t say this to Jesus, but to the other disciples. John Wesley calls this “the language of despair.”

Jesus the Resurrection and the Life

17-19 When Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. Many Jews from Jerusalem have gathered to comfort Mary and Martha. Throughout the book this term Jews has meant the religious leaders -- those who don’t believe in Jesus. This would be a test of their willingness to accept the obvious – that Jesus was who He said He was – the Son of God.

20-27 Martha comes out to meet him.

Martha: If you had been here, Lazarus would not have died. But I know God will do whatever you ask.

Jesus: Your brother will rise again.

Martha: I know he will – on the last day.

Jesus: I am the resurrection and the life, those who believe in me will never die? Do you believe this?

Martha: “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” Most of the time, we hear of Martha as the sister who is anxious about things that don’t matter. This clearly shows her faith. Is there another confession like it in this book? The closest is Peter’s confession in 6:69, where he calls Jesus “the Holy One of God.”

Jesus Weeps

28-37 Mary goes back to the house to get Mary, telling her Jesus is asking for her. The Jews in the house follow her. Mary kneels at Jesus’ feet.

Mary: If you had been here, Lazarus would not have died.

Jesus (“deeply moved” by her sorrow and of those with her, and beginning to weep): Where have you laid him?

Some Jews: How he loved him!

Other Jews: Then couldn’t he have kept him from dying?

Jesus Raises Lazarus to Life

38-44 Jesus (“greatly disturbed,” at the tomb): Remove the stone.

Martha: But the smell! He’s been dead four days!

Jesus: I told you that if you believed, you’d see God’s glory.

Jesus: (As they take away the stone and looking upward): Thank you for hearing me, for the sake of the crowd here.

Jesus: Lazarus, come forth. (Then after he comes out) “Unbind him and let him go.”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45-48 Some of the Jews believe; others go to the Pharisees, who with the chief priests, are afraid that if everyone begins to believe in Jesus, the Romans will take their temple and their nation. The Pharisees and the chief priests could not deny the miracle. They were just afraid that if Judean citizens proclaimed Jesus as their king, the Romans would see this as rebellion against Caesar.

49-53 Caiaphas, high priest “that year,” suggests that it would be better for Jesus to die “for the people,” than for the whole nation to be destroyed. (He doesn’t realize he is prophesying that Jesus will die not only for the Jews but for all children of God.) From that day they plot Jesus’ death.

54 Jesus retreats with his disciples into Ephraim, a wilderness town.

55-57 As Passover approaches, Jews come to Jerusalem, many looking for Jesus and wondering if he will appear. The chief priests and Pharisees want to be told where he is so they can arrest him.