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 11:28 mean?

Explanation

John 11:28 records a moment in the New Testament of the Bible where Martha, one of the sisters of Lazarus, discreetly informs her sister Mary that Jesus has arrived and is calling for her.

This takes place after Jesus has been told of Lazarus's illness and death, and upon his arrival to the village of Bethany, where the siblings lived.

The term "Master," used by Martha, demonstrates her recognition of Jesus' authority and revered status.

The use of "secretly" suggests discretion, possibly to avoid drawing attention from mourners and onlookers, or to create a private moment between Mary and Jesus.

This scene unfolds in the larger narrative of Lazarus' resurrection, showcasing themes of faith, the power of Jesus, and his compassion toward his followers.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of John was written against the backdrop of 1st-century Judaism in Roman-occupied Palestine.

During this time, religious leaders and Jewish communities maintained various expectations regarding the Messiah and his coming.

The Gospel of John demonstrates an awareness of these Messianic expectations and often addresses them through the actions and teachings of Jesus.

Bethany, the setting of this scene, was a small village near Jerusalem and played a significant role in the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse reinforces the idea of Jesus as someone who has an intimate connection with his followers.

Martha's statement, "The Master is come, and calleth for thee," could imply that Jesus' presence brings forth a personal call to each individual, extending an invitation to experience his transformative power.

Different Christian denominations might also emphasize the role of Martha as an active participant in God's plan, showcasing the importance of service, discipleship, and the recognition of Jesus’ authority.

Practical Applications

This verse emphasizes themes of responsiveness to spiritual calling and attentive listening for God's voice.

In a practical sense, believers might interpret this as an encouragement to stay vigilant for how God might be calling them in their own lives, urging them to respond with the same haste as Mary.

It can also serve as a reminder of the value of personal, intimate moments in one's spiritual journey, away from the noise of the crowd.

Cross-References

John 11:1-44 – The entire narrative of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
John 10:3 – “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.”
Luke 10:38-42 – The account of Jesus at the home of Martha and Mary, highlighting their different responses to Jesus’ visit.

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word translated as "Master" is "διδάσκαλος" (didaskalos), which means teacher or instructor and conveys a sense of authority and wisdom.

The term "calleth" comes from the Greek verb "φωνέω" (phōneō), which can mean to call aloud, to invite, or to summon. This choice of words implies a direct and personal communication from Jesus to Mary.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient mythologies and religions, there are stories of gods or divine beings interacting intimately with humans.

In contrast to the Greek or Roman gods who often seem capricious in their dealings with mankind, the narrative of Jesus’ calling to Mary showcases a personal and caring relationship with individuals. This reflects a key difference between Christian belief and other ancient religious practices.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives would typically not directly relate to this verse as it deals primarily with personal interaction and religious experience.

However, some might explore the psychological phenomenon of how people respond to perceived personal calls to action or leadership, which could be tangentially relevant to the idea of responding to a divine call.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse often focus on the emotional and spiritual dynamics at play.

Notably, Matthew Henry's commentary emphasizes the respectful urgency with which Martha addresses Mary, suggesting she did not want to make a scene but still recognized the gravity of the moment.

Commentaries commonly reflect on this passage as a narrative illustration of Jesus’ closeness to his followers and how personal and community crises provide opportunities for Jesus to demonstrate his love and power.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:28 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 11:28 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?