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 11:54 mean?

Explanation

John 11:54 describes a strategic decision made by Jesus after raising Lazarus from the dead, an event that precipitated the Jewish authorities' resolve to arrest Him.

The "no more openly among the Jews" phrase suggests that Jesus became more cautious and avoided public places where the Jewish leaders, particularly the Sanhedrin, had influence.

He withdrew "unto a country near to the wilderness" to a city called Ephraim.

This city is thought to be a secluded area, providing a respite and a place for Jesus and His disciples to prepare for the coming Passover and His eventual crucifixion.

This verse signifies a shift in Jesus' ministry from public teaching to private preparation with his disciples.

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Historical Context

The Gospel of John was written in a historical context where the early Christian community faced both internal and external challenges.

The external threat came from Jewish authorities who viewed Jesus' teachings and claims as blasphemous and a threat to the established order.

Ephraim, believed to be located in the region of Judea, near the desert, provided a strategic retreat from the growing hostility.

This verse emphasizes Jesus' awareness of the danger and His intentional avoidance of conflict until the appointed time for His Passion.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, John 11:54 reflects the sovereignty of God in the ministry of Jesus.

Jesus' withdrawal to Ephraim can be seen as fulfilling His mission on God's timeline, not man's.

This move away from public ministry to a time of private teaching underscores the importance of discipleship and preparation for God's work.

Different theological traditions might emphasize various aspects of this verse.

Some might see it as an example of prudence in the face of danger, while others as an illustration of obediently following God's plan for the right time for everything under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Practical Applications

John 11:54 can teach several practical lessons:

The importance of strategic withdrawal for rest, preparation, and focus on God's will. 2.

Recognizing the value of privacy and confidentiality in sensitive situations. 3.

Trusting in God's timing, even when it requires temporary retreat or inaction. 4.

The need for discernment when faced with opposition or danger.

Cross-References

John 11:53: "Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death."
Matthew 12:14-16: "Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;"

Ecclesiastes 3:1: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"

Language Study

The original Greek text provides subtle nuances:

"Walked no more openly" (οὐκέτι περιεπάτει μετὰ τῶν Ἰουδαίων): The Greek suggests a cessation of public activity among the Jewish leadership.
"Ephraim" (Ἐφραίμ): Refers to the name of the town.

The exact location is uncertain, but it is presumed to be secure and secluded.

The language reflects careful decisions by Jesus concerning His movements to fulfill His mission at the proper time.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, it was not uncommon for religious and philosophical leaders to retreat for strategic, safety, or contemplative reasons. Examples include Elijah's retreat to the wilderness (1 Kings 19) and Buddha's retreat under the Bodhi tree.

In other myths and religions, retreats often precede significant events or revelations, implying a period of preparation or transformation that aligns with the theme in John 11:54.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the concept of a leader removing themselves from stressful environments to a more tranquil setting aligns with current understandings of stress management and psychological well-being.

Modern psychology would likely support the idea of retreat for the purpose of maintaining focus and preventing burnout.

Commentaries

Most biblical commentaries on John 11:54 note the following:

Jesus' withdrawal was a calculated move to avoid premature arrest.
Most scholars identify Ephraim with the archaeological site of Taybeh or el-Aiy, located northeast of Jerusalem.
There's a recognition that this period of seclusion allowed Jesus to teach His disciples crucial lessons without the distractions of a public ministry.

Commentators often highlight the contrasting responses by Jesus and the Jewish authorities following the raising of Lazarus, reflecting the rising tension that leads to the Passion narrative.

John 11

John 11

What does John 11:54 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 11:54 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?