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 11:27 mean?

Explanation

John 11:27 features a declaration of faith by Martha, the sister of Lazarus.

This verse records her conversation with Jesus Christ shortly before the resurrection of her brother Lazarus from the dead.

Martha affirms her belief in Jesus as the Messiah ("the Christ"), and the Son of God, recognizing Him as the one promised to come into the world according to Jewish expectations of a savior and redeemer.

This statement is significant because it is a direct confession of Jesus' divine identity and mission.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of John was composed in a first-century Greco-Roman world, with John traditionally considered the author.

By this time, the promise of a Messiah was a deep-seated hope among the Jewish people, who were under Roman rule and longed for deliverance.

Prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures spoke of a coming individual who would be anointed (the meaning of "Christ" in Greek and "Messiah" in Hebrew) to deliver Israel.

During Jesus' lifetime, there was heightened messianic expectation, and various figures claimed or were purported to be the Messiah.

Martha’s confession reveals that she distinguishes Jesus from these other claimants.

Theological Insights

The confession of Martha is a cornerstone for Christian theology as it encapsulates foundational beliefs about Jesus' identity: 1.

Christology: Martha’s statement affirms the central Christian belief in Jesus as the Christ, implying His anointing and fulfilling the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. 2.

Incarnation: Referring to Jesus as the Son of God reflects the understanding of Jesus' divine nature, which Christians believe coexists with His human nature. 3.

Eschatology: The phrase "which should come into the world" suggests an expectation of Jesus' role in final events and God's salvation plan.

Different Christian traditions have expanded on these core tenets in various ways but uniformly recognize the importance of Jesus' divine identity as essential for salvation.

Practical Applications

This verse encourages individuals to make a personal confession of faith, recognizing Jesus' identity and authority, much like Martha did.

It serves as a reminder to acknowledge and reaffirm one’s beliefs in the midst of hardship, as Martha did, not only for personal edification but also as a public declaration that may influence and strengthen others in their faith.

Cross-References

Matthew 16:16: "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."
John 20:28: "And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God."
John 1:49: "Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel."

Language Study

The key words in their original languages (Greek) are:

"Christ" (Greek: Χριστός, Christos) - meaning "anointed one."
"Son of God" (Greek: υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, huios tou Theou) - a phrase indicating a special relationship with God.
"should come" (Greek: ἐρχόμενος, erchomenos) - present participle form of ἔρχομαι (erchomai) meaning "to come or arrive," often with an eschatological or future anticipatory significance.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Martha’s confession of Jesus as the Son of God contrasts with ancient myths wherein gods often had complex hierarchies and relationships with humans.

In Greek mythology, for example, divine beings have children with mortals, but these demigods are not saviors in the same sense as Jesus is preached in Christianity.

Additionally, the monotheistic view of God in Judaism and subsequently Christianity differs from the polytheistic pantheon of gods found in various ancient religions.

Scientific Perspectives

Science generally does not comment on matters of faith or theological assertions such as those found in John 11:27.

The concept of Jesus as the Christ or Son of God is beyond empirical scientific analysis and is a belief held by those who practice Christianity based on spiritual, historical, and scriptural evidence.

commentaries

Many Bible scholars and commentators have remarked on this verse, noting its theological significance:

D.A.

Carson considers Martha's confession as a significant acknowledgment of Jesus' identity that aligns with the central message of John's Gospel.

F.F.

Bruce emphasizes the import of this confession in light of Jewish messianic expectations and sees Martha's declaration as insightful given the circumstances she faced.

William Barclay suggests that Martha's statement is a dramatic leap of faith, as it was made while her brother was still dead, thus showcasing her belief in Jesus' power over life and death.
Matthew Henry interprets Martha's words as evidence of the Holy Spirit enlightening her soul, leading her to a profound understanding of Christ's nature and mission.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:27 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 11:27 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?