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 11:40 mean?

Explanation

John 11:40 hails from the narrative of Lazarus's resurrection.

Jesus speaks to Martha, the sister of Lazarus, after she expresses concern about opening her brother's tomb four days after his death.

Jesus had previously assured Martha that her brother would rise again and trying to bolster her faith, He reminds her of the importance of belief.

On a literal level, He is suggesting that faith will allow witnesses to see God's divine power at work.

On a deeper level, the verse connects to the Christian idea that faith is a precondition to understanding and experiencing the manifestations of God's glory.

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Historical Context

The verse is set in the context of Jesus's ministry in the Jewish region of Judea during the Roman occupation. This event happened in Bethany, near Jerusalem, at a time when Jesus's teachings and miracles were drawing attention, both favorable and unfavorable.

The cultural context is deeply rooted in Jewish customs, including those concerning death and burial. The act of Jesus raising Lazarus is significant as it occurs shortly before Jesus's own crucifixion and emphasizes His power over death.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse illustrates the relationship between faith and miracles.

In the context of Johannine theology, belief is often a precondition for understanding and experiencing divine works.

The miracle of raising Lazarus would reveal Jesus's divine authority and serve as a sign of the coming resurrection of Christ.

From a theological standpoint, some interpret this as a foreshadowing of the promise of eternal life to believers and the ultimate victory over death through Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, this verse can inspire individuals to maintain faith in the face of adversity, trusting that God's plans are purposeful and that His power can be manifested in all situations.

For those facing loss or difficult experiences, the encouragement to believe in the possibility of positive outcomes may provide comfort and strength.

The idea of witnessing "the glory of God" can translate into recognizing and appreciating moments of transformation and support that may not be immediately apparent.

Cross-References

John 11:25-26 – Jesus speaking to Martha about the resurrection and the life.
John 20:29 – Jesus's words to Thomas about believing without seeing.
Hebrews 11:1 – A definition of faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Romans 8:24 – The association between hope and faith, emphasizing that faith involves trust in things not seen.
Mark 9:23 – Jesus asserts that all things are possible to those who believe.

Language Study

The original Greek language of this verse includes key words that merit exploration:

"Believe" (πιστεύσῃς, pisteusēis) – This is from the root πιστεύω (pisteuō) suggesting trust, faith, or belief in something or someone.
"Shouldest see" (ἴδῃς, idēs) – Comes from the Greek verb ὁράω (horaō) meaning to see or perceive, and indicates experiencing or recognizing with one's eyes or mind.
"Glory" (δόξαν, doxan) – Refers to the high renown or honor made manifest, often used in reference to divine majesty or the splendor of God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparing to other ancient religions, the resurrection miracle can be juxtaposed with myths of deities or heroes defying death in some way, such as the Egyptian god Osiris or the Greek hero Heracles.

However, in the Christian context, this event is singularly tied to the person and work of Jesus, serving a salvific purpose rather than merely showcasing divine power.

Scientific Perspectives

The intersection of this verse with science primarily involves the concept of death and the possibility of resurrection.

Modern science acknowledges brain death as a point of no return, and medically, a resurrection like that described would be considered impossible.

Nonetheless, within a scientific framework, the verse may be interpreted metaphorically, suggesting the transformative power of belief in changing one's understanding or approach to the world.

Commentaries

Various Biblical scholars and theologians offer interpretations of John 11:40:

William Barclay notes that Jesus is essentially saying faith must precede the miracle, emphasizing Jesus’s desire for individuals to believe in his divine mission.
Matthew Henry highlights the need for patience and faith in divine timing, suggesting that Jesus's delay served to augment the eventual glory seen by the witnesses.
The New International Commentary on the New Testament underscores the idea that Lazarus's resurrection is a sign that points to Jesus's messianic identity and foreshadows the resurrection that awaits believers.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:40 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 11:40 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?