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 11:32 mean?

Explanation

John 11:32 recounts an emotionally charged moment in the New Testament when Mary of Bethany encounters Jesus after the death of her brother, Lazarus.

Mary, who is depicted as deeply grieving, falls at Jesus' feet in a posture of respect and perhaps desperation.

Her words to Jesus express a mixture of regret, faith, and a subtle rebuke, suggesting that she believes Jesus could have prevented Lazarus' death if He had been present.

Though the verse primarily captures the personal and poignant grief of Mary, it also reflects the widespread belief in Jesus' healing power and sets the stage for the miracle that follows, Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

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Historical Context

The account of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus takes place in the Gospel of John, which is believed to have been written towards the end of the first century.

Bethany, which is the setting of this narrative, was a small village a few miles from Jerusalem.

During this period, the Jewish people had various beliefs about the afterlife and the power of God to perform miracles.

The response of Mary echoes the Jewish hope that the Messiah would have power over life and death, a hope that Jesus fulfills in this narrative by raising Lazarus.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is significant for several reasons.

Firstly, it shows Jesus' power over death, signaling Him as the source of resurrection and life, a central tenet of Christian belief.

Secondly, Mary's statement can be seen as affirming Jesus' Messianic identity and her understanding of His divine mission.

Lastly, the interaction between Mary and Jesus is interpreted by some as an example of Jesus' willingness to meet people in their suffering, demonstrating His compassion and empathy.

From different Christian traditions, the interpretation may vary slightly in emphasis. For some, the focus is on the emotional exchange representing Jesus' personal care and approachability. Others may emphasize Jesus' divine authority and ability to transcend human limitations.

Practical Applications

In the context of daily life, the verse highlights several applications:

The human need to seek solace in times of sorrow and turn to a higher power for comfort and hope. 2.

The encouragement to bring our grievances and disappointments to God in prayer, believing that He is able to intervene in our situations. 3.

The reminder to trust in God's timing and His ultimate plan, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges.

Cross-References

John 11:21 - "Then said Martha unto Jesus, 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?"

Psalm 34:18 - "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."
Hebrews 4:15 - "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Language Study

The language used in this verse is simple yet profound. Key words include:

"Fell down at his feet": This phrase denotes an act of profound respect and also of desperation, indicating both the cultural practice of honor and the depth of Mary's grief.
"Lord": The title "Lord" (Greek: 'kyrios') is significant, indicating Mary's recognition of Jesus' authority and possibly His divine stature.
"If thou hadst been here": This conditional statement reflects both faith in Jesus' healing power and a subtle lamenting over His absence during Lazarus' final moments.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparisons can be drawn with the ancient Egyptian and Greek myths where gods intervene in the lives of mortals, often in response to appeals or acts of devotion, such as Isis bringing Osiris back to life.

However, in the Christian context, Jesus is not just performing a miracle; He is asserting His identity as the Son of God, with authority over life and death, which is distinct from various mythologies where deities are depicted more as powerful beings rather than sources of life everlasting.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the account challenges the naturalistic understanding of death as a final and irreversible event.

While science has made advancements in understanding the process of dying and resuscitation techniques, the narrative of Lazarus' resurrection is beyond the scope of medical intervention as understood by modern science and is considered a supernatural event by believers.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have commented on this passage with different emphases:

Traditional commentaries often highlight Mary's deep faith and lament, suggesting that her statement is both a testament to her belief in Jesus' power and an expression of her profound grief.
Some modern scholars focus on the historical and cultural context of mourning in Jewish society, suggesting that Mary's actions reflect the customary practices of the time.
Other commentators might note the literary structure of John's Gospel, pointing out how this event is pivotal in revealing Jesus' divine authority and prefiguring His own death and resurrection.

The consensus among many commentators is that this passage provides a glimpse into the personal relationships Jesus maintained and how His miraculous works were intertwined with His teaching about life, death, and eternal life.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:32 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 11:32 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?