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 11:19 mean?

Explanation

John 11:19 speaks to the Jewish customs of the time regarding mourning.

In the verse, many Jews come to visit Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus, after his death to offer condolences and comfort.

The presence of these visitors reflects the strong sense of community and obligation to support those who are grieving.

It also sets the stage for the events that follow, including Jesus' arrival and the subsequent miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead.

The deeper meaning here can be seen as reflective of the human need for companionship during times of sorrow and the acts of kindness that can bring solace in difficult moments.

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Historical Context

At the time of this verse, Jewish burial customs typically involved a mourning period.

When someone died, it was common for friends, neighbors, and relatives to come to the house of the deceased to mourn with the family.

This period of mourning typically lasted for seven days, known as shiva, during which the family would receive visitors who offered comfort.

The fact that "many of the Jews" came suggests that Lazarus and his family were well-regarded within their community and that their home in Bethany was close enough to Jerusalem to allow for an easy journey by these mourners.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse demonstrates the humanity of Jesus' followers and the ties that bound the Jewish communities of the time.

It also foreshadows Jesus' own death, resurrection, and the hope that is inherent in the Christian message , Jesus is about to demonstrate his power over death, prefiguring his own resurrection and thereby offering hope of eternal life to his followers.

Different theological viewpoints may interpret this verse as showcasing the virtue of empathy or suggest that it alludes to the importance of community in the life of believers.

Practical Applications

The verse can serve to remind individuals of the importance of being present for others during their times of grief.

It encourages the act of reaching out, being a source of comfort, and supporting friends and family in practical ways during their difficult moments.

The actions of the Jewish visitors can serve as a model for community support and empathy in modern society.

Cross-References

Romans 12:15: "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14: "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4: "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

Language Study

The key words in this verse from the original Greek text include “Jews” (Ἰουδαῖοι, Ioudaioi), which refers to the Jewish people or Judeans in a broader sense, and “to comfort” (παραμυθέομαι, paramytheomai), meaning to console or encourage.

These terms highlight the cultural identity of the visitors and their intention of providing solace and reassurance to Martha and Mary.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The practice of visiting those who mourn is not unique to Jewish customs but is found in various ancient cultures.

In many traditions, mourning rituals involve the community coming together in support of the bereaved.

In some ancient myths, death and resurrection themes are common.

Comparable stories in other religious practices include tales of gods or heroes who die and are brought back to life in some form, symbolizing cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

Scientific Perspectives

While this verse does not directly intersect with modern scientific understandings, the acts of visiting and comforting the bereaved have been shown to have psychological benefits in the grieving process.

Social support can be a critical factor in helping individuals cope with loss, emphasizing the importance of community as reflected in the historical and cultural practices of the time.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentaries often focus on the cultural significance of the mourning practices referenced in this verse. They note that these customs help to provide structure and community in the face of loss.

Commentators may also draw attention to the role of the Jewish mourners in the narrative, indicating the extensive network that Jesus and his followers had within the Jewish community and the widespread impact of the subsequent miracle on the beliefs of the eyewitnesses.

Some commentaries might explore how this verse sets up the dramatic moment when Jesus asserts his identity as the resurrection and the life, emphasizing the miracle that is to come.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:19 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 11:19 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?