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 11:22 mean?

Explanation

John 11:22 is a part of the narrative surrounding the death and resurrection of Lazarus.

In this verse, Martha, the sister of Lazarus, speaks to Jesus after her brother has died.

Her words signify a profound faith in Jesus and his connection with God.

She expresses her belief that whatever Jesus asks of God will be granted, even after the passing of her brother.

This indicates her hope and faith in Jesus's divine authority and the miraculous possibilities that could stem from his intervention.

Despite her grief, Martha’s statement also reflects an early Christian understanding of the relationship between Jesus and God the Father, embodying trust in Jesus’ intercessory power.

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Historical Context

John 11:22 is set in the context of Jesus's ministry in Judea.

The death of Lazarus is a significant event that precipitated one of Jesus’s most remarkable miracles – the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

It takes place in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem, where Jesus had spent time with Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus, who were his close friends.

The account of Lazarus’ resurrection, of which this verse is a part, is exclusive to the Gospel of John and serves to highlight Jesus’s power over life and death and to foreshadow his own resurrection.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse offers several insights:

Faith in Jesus: Martha’s statement testifies to the faith she and others placed in Jesus as more than a teacher or healer, but as one intimately connected to God.
Intercession: The belief that Jesus could intercede with God on behalf of individuals reflects early Christian views on the nature of Jesus’ ministry and his role as a mediator.
Divinity of Jesus: It subtly marks the Christian claim of Jesus's divinity, as it implies that his requests to God are honored, setting him apart from ordinary humanity.
Foreshadowing of Resurrection: It presages the possibility of Jesus performing miracles, implying that death is not a final barrier for him, which foreshadows his own resurrection as well.

Practical Applications

The teachings of John 11:22 can apply to daily life in various ways:

Maintaining Faith in Adversity: Like Martha, individuals can strive to maintain faith and hope even in the worst of circumstances, such as the loss of a loved one.
Intercessory Prayer: The verse supports the practice of intercessory prayer, encouraging believers to pray not just for themselves but also for others in need.
Trust in Divine Will: It suggests that believers should trust that God’s will is ultimately for the good, even if immediate circumstances seem dire.

Cross-References

John 11:41-42 - Jesus thanked God for hearing Him before asking for Lazarus to come out, demonstrating that God hears Jesus’ prayers.
John 9:31 - “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
Hebrews 7:25 - “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the key phrase “whatsoever thou wilt ask of God” translates to “ὅ τι ἂν αἰτήσῃς τὸν Θεόν,” where:

αἰτήσῃς (aiteō) - commonly means to ask, beg, call for, or earnestly desire.

It is in the subjunctive mood, indicating a possibility or potentiality.

Θεόν (Theos) - means God and is the common term used in the New Testament to refer to the God of Israel.

This language emphasizes the potential power of Jesus's petitions to God while maintaining a sense of reverence and earnest supplication.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient myths and religious interpretations, Martha’s declaration of faith in Jesus’s ability to petition God reveals a personalized, close relationship between the divine and human realms that is distinct to Christianity.

In many polytheistic mythologies, such as those in Greek or Roman traditions, the gods were often capricious and distant from human affairs.

The Jewish tradition, however, emphasized a singular, personal God who is concerned with the lives of his people, which Christianity inherited and expanded with the notion of Jesus as a mediator.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives generally do not intersect directly with theological beliefs about prayer and miraculous events like the resurrection of Lazarus.

However, contemporary discussions on the power of belief and prayer in the psychological and medical well-being of individuals can parallel the comfort and hope that Martha might have experienced through her faith.

Commentaries

Scholars and theologians offer various interpretations of John 11:22:

Some see Martha's declaration as a statement of her personal belief in Jesus, which underscores her remarkable faith.
Other exegetes focus on the implicit christology in the verse, suggesting that Martha’s recognition of Jesus’ unique relationship with God demonstrates an early acknowledgment of his divine status.
Additional commentaries delve into the narrative function of this encounter, highlighting how it sets the stage for the dramatic miracle of Lazarus's resurrection and reveals the believer's role in participating in the unfolding of God's plan through faith and dialogue with Christ.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:22 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 11:22 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?