John 11

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,

And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

Jesus wept.

Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

What does John 11:1 mean?

Explanation

John 11:1 introduces the story of Lazarus, a man who lived in Bethany and was ill.

This verse sets the scene for a significant miracle by Jesus: the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

Literally, the verse tells us the name of the sick man, Lazarus, and his place of residence, Bethany, which is also noted as the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

The deeper meaning begins to unfold as we understand that Lazarus is not just any man, but someone Jesus loved, as will become apparent in later verses.

The mention of Mary and Martha immediately connects Lazarus with the two sisters known for their interactions with Jesus in other passages of the New Testament.

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Historical Context

The mention of Bethany places this event in a small village about two miles east of Jerusalem on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives. During the time of Jesus, Bethany was a place where Jesus found friendship and respite with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

It was a society under Roman occupation, and the Jewish people were looking for a messianic figure.

This context is crucial as Jesus' miracle with Lazarus would serve as a significant point in his ministry, showcasing his divine authority and stirring the tension between Him and the religious leaders.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, the story of Lazarus serves multiple viewpoints:

For traditional Christian theology, it is a testament to Jesus' power over death, prefiguring his own resurrection and exemplifying his identity as the Son of God.
From a more metaphorical viewpoint, some theologians might interpret the sickness and revival of Lazarus as the transformation one undergoes when receiving the Gospel – a passage from spiritual death to life.
Liberation theologians might focus on Jesus' preference for the marginalized, as he often interacted with those suffering or ostracized.

Practical Applications

This verse invites several practical applications:

Compassion in action, as Jesus responds to a friend in need, Christians are encouraged to do the same for those in their community.
It can motivate believers to have faith in difficult situations, trusting that Jesus is aware of and responds to our struggles.
It inspires individuals to value friendship and community, recognizing that Jesus, too, cherished personal relationships.

Cross-References

John 11:3-4: "Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."

John 11:21-22: "Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek language of this verse are:

"ἀσθενέω" (astheneō): This translates to "was sick," indicating a state of physical weakness or illness.
"Ἰουδαία" (Ioudaia): Refers to Judaea, the surrounding region of Bethany and the area of Jesus' ministry.
"Βηθανία" (Bēthania): The town of Bethany, indicating the place where Lazarus and his sisters resided.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In cultural and religious comparisons, the concept of a miraculous healing or resurrection is not exclusive to Christianity.

Ancient myths, such as those of Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, contain stories of bringing the dead back to life.

Similarly, in Egyptian mythology, the god Osiris is resurrected, symbolizing regeneration and life after death.

These comparisons highlight a common human fascination with conquest of death and the yearning for an afterlife.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the concept of someone being restored to life after being clinically dead is a topic of interest. Near-death experiences and modern resuscitation techniques have opened conversations on the boundaries between life and death.

However, the account of Lazarus in John 11 surpasses these discussions as it concerns a man who had been dead for four days, an interval wherein biological decay would typically prevent resuscitation, thus presenting a direct challenge to scientific understanding and indicating a supernatural event.

Commentaries

Commentaries on John 11:1 vary among biblical scholars:

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the friendship between Jesus and the family of Lazarus, suggesting this is why Lazarus is mentioned specifically by name.
The Expositor's Greek Testament underlines the literary significance of introducing Lazarus and his sisters, setting the stage for the dramatic events to follow and the theological implications of Jesus' miracle.
The New Interpreter's Bible offers insight on the geography of Bethany, the significance of its proximity to Jerusalem, and how this miracle would precipitate the events leading to Jesus' crucifixion.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 11:1 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?