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 11:21 mean?

Explanation

John 11:21 conveys a moment of deep sorrow and implicit faith shared between Martha and Jesus.

The verse captures Martha's lament to Jesus after the death of her brother, Lazarus.

She expresses a belief that Jesus' presence could have prevented Lazarus' death.

There is a profound sense of both regret and faith in her words, regret that Jesus was not there in time, and faith that He had the power to heal the sick.

This expression underscores the human desire for the presence and intervention of a higher power, especially in times of distress.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of the narrative of Lazarus' resurrection found in John 11. The story is set in Bethany, a town near Jerusalem. During the time of Jesus, it was common for Jews to believe that teachers, prophets, or holy men could perform miracles, including healing.

Therefore, the expectation Martha had of Jesus was not unusual for that period. Jesus had already established a reputation for performing miracles, and Martha, being familiar with Jesus' works, naturally turned to Him in a time of need.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives offer varying interpretations of this verse:

Traditional Christian Theology: This perspective sees Martha's assertion as indicative of her belief in Jesus' divine ability to heal and prevent death, affirming Jesus' identity as the Son of God.
Liberation Theology: Might interpret this as a cry for justice, with Martha representing those who suffer, longing for the intervention of the divine in the face of systemic societal failings that lead to suffering and death.
Feminist Theology: May focus on Martha's role in this story, appreciating her direct and assertive communication with Jesus and her articulation of faith that defies traditional gender roles in a patriarchal society.

Practical Applications

This verse teaches the importance of faith during times of loss and the courage to express one's feelings, even in grief.

Drawing from Martha's actions, individuals can be encouraged to seek support in their communities and hold onto their beliefs, trusting that there can be hope beyond the apparent finality of death.

Cross-References

John 11:32: "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."
John 11:25-26: "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?"

John 11:37: "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?"

Language Study

The key phrase in this verse, "if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died," reflects a conditional statement expressing a belief in Jesus' power.

In the original Greek text, Martha uses the word "κύριε" (kyrie), often translated as "Lord," indicating a title of respect and authority.

The aorist verb form "ἀπέθανεν" (apethanen) translates to "had not died," indicating an action in the past that could have been prevented, reinforcing the belief in Jesus' healing capabilities.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, figures with miraculous healing powers were common in myths and religious narratives.

For instance, in Greek mythology, Asclepius was known for his ability to heal the sick and even raise the dead.

Comparatively, Martha's belief in Jesus' power to prevent death can be seen parallel to the trust placed in such divine or semi-divine figures in other cultural mythologies.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the miracle of preventing death is not supported by contemporary medical understanding; death is seen as a final and irreversible condition, except in cases where medical intervention can prevent imminent death.

However, the emotional and psychological aspects of this verse resonate with modern concepts of bereavement, underscoring the universal experience of seeking comfort amid grief.

Commentaries

Bible scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of this verse:

D.A. Carson suggests that Martha's statement is both a rebuke and an expression of faith; she recognizes Jesus' power, yet there is a subtle indication that she expected more from Him.
William Barclay understands this as Martha's declaration of unshakable faith, not just a reproach, that Jesus' mere presence could have changed the outcome.
R.C. Sproul emphasizes that Martha's words highlight the tension between disappointment and hope, showing a realistic portrait of human faith in crisis.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:21 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 11:21 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?