John 11 is a pivotal chapter in the Gospel of John, recounting the profound miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This event is not just a display of Jesus’s power over death, but also a significant revelation of his divine identity and mission. Delving into John 11 provides a deeper understanding of Jesus’s relationship with his followers, his emotional depth, and the escalating conflict with the Jewish authorities that ultimately leads to his crucifixion and resurrection.
The Sickness and Message to Jesus (John 11:1-3)
The narrative begins by introducing Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, who lived in Bethany. John’s Gospel subtly connects this Mary to the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet in a later chapter, establishing a close relationship between Jesus and this family. When Lazarus falls gravely ill, his sisters send a message to Jesus: “Lord, the one you love is sick.” This simple message speaks volumes about their faith in Jesus and their belief in his ability to heal. They don’t explicitly ask him to come, but the implication is clear – they trust in his love and power to intervene.
Jesus’s Purpose and the Delay (John 11:4-16)
Upon receiving the news, Jesus’s response is initially perplexing. He states, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” This statement reveals a purpose beyond mere healing; it hints at a greater divine plan. Despite his love for Lazarus and his sisters, Jesus deliberately delays his journey to Bethany for two days. This delay is not out of indifference, but rather a calculated move to allow Lazarus to die, setting the stage for an even more significant miracle – resurrection.
This delay becomes a point of confusion for his disciples. When Jesus finally announces his intention to go to Judea, the disciples remind him of the recent threats against his life there. Their fear is palpable, highlighting the growing danger Jesus faced. Jesus uses the metaphor of daylight and darkness to explain his actions, suggesting that as long as he is walking in God’s light (fulfilling his divine mission), he is safe. He then reveals the true situation to his disciples in simpler terms: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” The disciples misunderstand, thinking he refers to natural sleep, prompting Jesus to state plainly, “Lazarus is dead.” This clarification underscores the gravity of the situation and the magnitude of the miracle to come. Jesus also expresses that he is glad he was not there initially, “so that you may believe.” This highlights the pedagogical purpose of the miracle – to strengthen the faith of his disciples.
A representation of Bethany, the village where Lazarus and his sisters lived, setting the scene for the miraculous event in John 11.
Arrival at Bethany and Martha’s Faith (John 11:17-27)
When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. This detail is crucial because Jewish tradition held that after three days, the spirit fully departed the body, making resurrection seem biologically impossible. Martha, upon hearing of Jesus’s arrival, goes out to meet him while Mary remains at home, reflecting their contrasting personalities – Martha, proactive and outwardly expressive, Mary, contemplative and inwardly focused.
Martha’s greeting is a mixture of grief and faith: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” This expresses her belief in Jesus’s healing power, yet also a hint of lament. However, she immediately follows with a powerful statement of faith: “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” This indicates a belief that even in death, Jesus might still have power.
Jesus responds with reassurance, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha’s understanding of resurrection is limited to the general resurrection at the end of time. Jesus then makes a profound declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” This is a pivotal moment in John 11 and in the Gospel itself. Jesus claims to be the very source of resurrection and eternal life. He is not just promising a future resurrection; he is offering life in its fullest sense, beginning now, through faith in him.
Martha’s response is a powerful confession of faith: “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” She recognizes Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, affirming her belief in his divine identity, even before witnessing the miracle.
Martha going to meet Jesus outside of Bethany, illustrating her proactive nature as described in John 11.
Jesus and Mary’s Grief (John 11:28-37)
Martha then calls Mary, who comes to Jesus accompanied by mourners. Mary’s words echo Martha’s: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” However, Mary’s response is more emotionally charged. Upon seeing Mary and the accompanying mourners weeping, John describes Jesus as “deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” This is a significant moment revealing Jesus’s humanity and empathy. He is not detached or emotionless, but deeply affected by the grief of those around him.
He asks, “Where have you laid him?” and they lead him to the tomb. Verse 35 is famously concise: “Jesus wept.” This simple statement is one of the shortest verses in the Bible, yet profoundly impactful. It demonstrates Jesus’s genuine sorrow and compassion for human suffering and death, even though he knows he is about to overcome it.
The onlookers react in different ways. Some acknowledge his love for Lazarus, saying, “See how he loved him!” Others question why he didn’t prevent Lazarus’s death in the first place, considering his previous miracle of healing the blind man. This skepticism foreshadows the mixed reactions Jesus will continue to receive, even after this powerful miracle.
Jesus weeping at the tomb of Lazarus, a powerful depiction of his human empathy and sorrow in John 11.
The Raising of Lazarus (John 11:38-44)
Deeply moved again, Jesus arrives at the tomb, a cave with a stone sealing the entrance. He commands, “Take away the stone.” Martha objects, reminding him of the stench as Lazarus has been dead for four days. This practical concern highlights the seemingly impossible nature of what Jesus is about to do.
Jesus reminds Martha of his earlier promise, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” This emphasizes the importance of faith in witnessing God’s miraculous power. They remove the stone, and Jesus prays aloud to the Father, thanking him for always hearing him. He states that he speaks aloud “for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” This prayer is not for his own benefit but for the sake of those present, to witness and believe in his divine mission.
Then, with a loud voice, Jesus cries out, “Lazarus, come out!” And miraculously, “The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.” The description emphasizes that Lazarus is truly raised from the dead, still bound in his burial cloths. Jesus then instructs, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” This final command signifies Lazarus’s complete return to life, free from the bindings of death.
Lazarus emerging from the tomb, still wrapped in burial cloths, illustrating the climax of the miracle in John 11.
Reactions and the Plot Against Jesus (John 11:45-57)
The immediate aftermath of the miracle is divided. Many of the Jews who witnessed the event believed in Jesus. However, some went to the Pharisees and reported what Jesus had done. This division is a recurring theme in John’s Gospel, highlighting how Jesus’s miracles provoke both faith and opposition.
The Pharisees and chief priests convene the Sanhedrin, expressing their fear that if Jesus continues performing such signs, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will intervene, threatening their religious and national authority. Caiaphas, the high priest, unwittingly prophesies, stating that “it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” John clarifies that Caiaphas’s statement, though intended politically, is actually a prophecy of Jesus’s sacrificial death for the nation and for “the scattered children of God.”
From this point onwards, the Jewish authorities actively plot to kill Jesus. Jesus withdraws from public ministry in Judea, going to Ephraim with his disciples. The chapter concludes with the Passover approaching, and people in Jerusalem wondering if Jesus will come to the festival, while the chief priests and Pharisees have given orders to arrest him. This sets the stage for the final events leading to Jesus’s passion.
Conclusion: The Significance of John 11
John 11 is far more than just a miracle story. It is a profound theological narrative that reveals key aspects of Jesus’s identity and mission. The raising of Lazarus demonstrates Jesus’s power over death, fulfilling his claim to be “the resurrection and the life.” It highlights the importance of faith, as emphasized throughout the narrative. The emotional depth of Jesus, seen in his weeping, reveals his genuine humanity and compassion. The diverse reactions to the miracle foreshadow the ultimate division Jesus will cause, leading to both belief and rejection. Ultimately, John 11 serves as a powerful testament to Jesus’s divine authority and sets the stage for the climactic events of his passion, death, and resurrection, which are foreshadowed and illuminated by the raising of Lazarus. Studying John 11 provides invaluable insights into the core of Christian faith and the person of Jesus Christ.
