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 11:47 mean?

Explanation

John 11:47 presents a snapshot of the tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities during His ministry.

In reaction to the miraculous signs Jesus performed, especially the raising of Lazarus from the dead, the leading religious figures of the day, the chief priests, and Pharisees, convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin, the supreme religious body in ancient Judaism.

They were grappling with what to do about Jesus, whose actions and growing following threatened the established religious and social order.

The verse highlights their concern over Jesus' miracles, which they recognize as genuine, but it also reveals their fear of the potential repercussions from both the Roman authorities and the shifts in power dynamics within their society.

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Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, Judea was a province under Roman control, governed locally by the Jewish authorities, including the Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin consisted of a group of 70 elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law.

It functioned as the highest religious and judicial council of the Jewish people.

The political environment was tense, with a constant undercurrent of resistance to Roman occupation and a strong desire among many Jews for political autonomy and the arrival of a messianic figure.

The miracle referred to is the resurrection of Lazarus, as described earlier in John's Gospel (John 11:1-44).

This particular miracle caused a considerable stir because it was a public and undeniable sign of Jesus' divine authority, raising anxiety among the Jewish leadership about the consequences of His growing influence.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological viewpoint, this verse is fundamental in showing the theme of unbelief and opposition to Jesus among the Jewish leaders. Despite the evident miracles that underscored His divine mission, they chose to resist Him out of self-interest and fear.

Other perspectives may interpret the verse as an indication of the religious leaders' genuine concern for the preservation of the Jewish faith and their fear of Roman reprisal, which could endanger the Temple and the nation.

Practical Applications

One practical application of this verse is the importance of evaluating one's responses to divine work or truth claims.

It is a reminder not to let personal interests or fears cloud judgment on spiritual matters. The leaders' reaction can serve as a cautionary tale of how institutional or personal power can distort spiritual discernment.

Cross-References

John 11:53: "Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death."
Matthew 12:14: "Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him."
John 9:16: "Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day.

Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them."

Language Study

"Chief Priests" (Greek: archiereis) refers to Jewish high priests, which included the current high priest, previous high priests, and members of influential priestly families.
"Pharisees" (Greek: Farisaios) were a sect known for strict adherence to Jewish law and traditions.
"Council" (Greek: synedrion) refers to the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish legislative and judicial body.
"Miracles" (Greek: sēmeia) in this context refers to the signs or works Jesus performed, which demonstrated supernatural power and divine origin.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison to other ancient myths and religions, Jesus' miracles resonate with stories where gods or divine beings perform extraordinary feats to validate their authority or messages.

However, in the context of Judaism, the acknowledgment of miracles by the religious leaders without accepting Jesus' divine mission sets His story apart from the typical divine validation seen in other traditions.

Scientific Perspectives

The scientific perspective generally does not affirm the possibility of miracles because they are not reproducible or explainable by natural laws.

The discussion of Jesus' miracles from a scientific standpoint often revolves around searching for natural explanations or suggesting that the accounts are metaphorical or allegorical.

Commentaries

Many experts analyzing John 11:47 agree that the verse captures a defining moment of confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish authorities.

Commentators like Matthew Henry or William Barclay often point out that the Sanhedrin's council was not merely a theological debate but also a politically charged meeting concerned about the loss of national identity and autonomy due to Jesus' influence.

Moreover, some commentators highlight that this verse sets the stage for the subsequent plot to put Jesus to death, a pivotal moment that leads directly to the passion narrative and the crucifixion.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:47 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 11:47 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?