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 11:16 mean?

Explanation

John 11:16 is a statement by Thomas, one of Jesus' twelve disciples, in response to Jesus' decision to return to Judea.

Jesus had been informed that His dear friend Lazarus was ill and had died, and after a delay of two days, He told His disciples of His intention to go back to Judea to visit him.

The disciples were aware that Jesus had recently been threatened with stoning in that region (John 10:31), making it dangerous to return.

Thomas, known as Didymus, which means "twin," expresses a somewhat fatalistic but loyal willingness to accompany Jesus, even if it leads to their death.

This statement displays his devotion to Jesus but also suggests a lack of understanding or hope regarding the situation with Lazarus or the full scope of Jesus' mission.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of John was written in a context of Roman rule over Judea and a period when the followers of Jesus were defining their beliefs in contrast to traditional Judaism.

The tension between the Jewish leaders and Jesus is a recurring theme in the Gospel, often culminating in physical threats or attempts on Jesus' life.

Thomas' statement reflects the real fear among Jesus' followers that returning to Judea could lead to violence and death.

This moment in the narrative underscores the risks Jesus and his disciples faced as they moved towards the climax of His ministry, which would ultimately lead to Jesus' crucifixion.

Theological Insights

Thomas' exhortation contains a mix of courage and resignation.

Theologically, his words can be interpreted from several perspectives:

Resoluteness in Discipleship: Thomas demonstrates a willingness to follow Jesus despite the potential consequences.

This example challenges believers to consider their own commitment to Christ.

Human Fear and Doubt: Thomas' words may also reflect the human elements of fear, doubt, and misunderstandings about Jesus' power and purpose.
The Foreknowledge of Jesus: The fact that Jesus proceeds despite knowing the dangers that await could be seen as an example of His willingness to embrace the Father’s will for the sake of humanity's salvation.

Practical Applications

The declaration made by Thomas to his fellow disciples can be seen as a model of steadfastness in one’s beliefs. In contemporary life, this can translate to:

Being committed to one’s values and principles even when faced with opposition.
Supporting others through difficult times as an act of loyalty and courage.
Recognizing that following a path of truth might lead to challenging or even perilous situations.

Cross-References

John 20:24-29: Again mentioning Thomas, also known as Didymus, which deals with his doubt and belief post-resurrection.
Matthew 8:19-22: Jesus' statement to "follow me, and let the dead bury their dead" speaks to the cost of discipleship.
Mark 10:32-34: The disciples were amazed and afraid as Jesus led them up to Jerusalem, where he had foretold his death.

Language Study

In the original Greek, Thomas is referred to as "ὁ λεγόμενος Δίδυμος" ("ho legomenos Didymos"), combining his Hebrew name with its Greek equivalent meaning "twin." The word for "let us also go" is "ἀγωμεν και ἡμεῖς" ("agomen kai hēmeis"), expressing a determined decision to join in the action.

"That we may die with him" is "ἵνα ἀποθάνωμεν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ" ("hina apothanōmen met' autou"), showing Thomas's willingness to suffer the same fate as Jesus. The sense of shared destiny and solidarity in Thomas' words is clear, even if his understanding of the situation is not.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The expression of loyalty unto death has parallels in various ancient cultures and religious contexts.

For instance, in ancient Rome, soldiers were expected to demonstrate unwavering allegiance to their commander even unto death.

Similarly, in some strands of Jewish tradition, martyrdom was sometimes exalted as the highest form of fidelity to God's law, as seen in the stories of the Maccabean martyrs.

Scientific Perspectives

The declaration of Thomas does not intersect directly with scientific understandings.

Still, modern psychological research on group dynamics, allegiance, and the influence of charismatic leadership might provide insight into the disciples' behavior and sacrificial commitment in the face of risk.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have given different interpretations of Thomas's statement:

Some view Thomas as pessimistic or lacking faith in Jesus' power, expecting the worst outcome from their journey to Judea.
Others see this moment as showcasing Thomas's complex character, one who is often labeled as "doubting," yet here reveals a side that is fiercely loyal and courageous.
Commentators sometimes contrast Thomas's willingness to die with Jesus with his later doubt after the resurrection, demonstrating a journey from skepticism to belief.
The New Testament commentator William Barclay points out that this statement is one of courageous loyalty, even if it is uttered in a moment of darkness and despair.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:16 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 11:16 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?