John 11

Chapter Introduction

When we left chapter 10, Jesus was beyond the Jordan, out of reach of the authorities of Judea. Jesus was always in control of the timing, always moving toward the cross, but only at the pace determined by the Father. He would not die at their hands but would give His life and the perfect time in history.

Chapter 11 is a new narrative, linked only to the previous by the timeline and the bigger picture. The anger of the religious leaders carries over and is seen as a factor. Jesus permanently affixed Himself on the Pharisee’s radar when He said, “The Father is in Me, and I in Him” (John 10:38).

The raising of Lazarus is only told by John. The synoptic gospels do not mention it. Occasionally you encounter someone who wants to link this Lazarus with the Lazarus of Luke 16. Luke told of the beggar Lazarus who died and was taken to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died but was in torment. Between them was a great chasm. He cried out to Father Abraham to have mercy on him and send Lazarus might bring him relief. There is no connection between these two stories other than the name of Lazarus. There is no evidence we should combine these narratives and see this as the same man.

John 11:1-3

Bethany was about a half mile east of Jerusalem, on the other side of the Mount of Olives. Bethany was known as Jesus' Judean home. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are from Bethany. We know very little about these three.

Lazarus was likely an average Joe who did nothing of great consequence. Most folks in that day did not travel far, if ever at all. With the temple that close, it wouldn’t be strange if Lazarus had never been outside a five-mile radius from home in all his life. His moment of fame came while he was dead.

Luke told of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus. John will tell us about this anointing in chapter 12.

The sisters sent to Jesus to let Him know His friend Lazarus was sick. Visiting and praying for the sick was a pious obligation in Judaism. More importantly, they had heard of all the miracles Jesus had done. They sent a message to Jesus that He might come to heal their brother.

The phrase “he whom You love” in verse three is also the way John referred to himself. This has caused some to theorize that John and Lazarus are the same. There is just no evidence of this. John was a Galilean fisherman.

John 11:4-13

Jesus explains that there is a purpose in this sickness. It wouldn’t end in death. It would be used to bring glory to God by putting a spotlight on Jesus. Throughout Jesus’ life, we see Him speak of a higher purpose than we might normally see.

Whatever the nature of the sickness, it was leading to death. It may be that everyone understood that. Yet, Jesus said it wouldn’t end in death. He constantly said things that made people question whether He was paying attention. Then, later, it is seen that He knew a truth about the circumstances that those around Him could not know.

The same is true today. It calls for trust. Jesus can see the purpose and good that might come from a situation we see as extremely dark.

Jesus was close friends with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. By the time this message of sickness reached Jesus, Lazarus was already dead. Jesus stayed two more days in Perea, beyond the Jordan. This was about twenty miles from Bethany, a day's journey. Jesus would arrive at just the right time for His work to be done, which would bring glory to God through Him.

Jesus announced to the disciples they were going to Judea again. They felt it was necessary to point out that He’d nearly been stoned on the previous trip. There are several ways to view this reference to the “twelve hours in a day.”

First, Jesus likened His time on earth in ministry to the day. The light of the world was among men. The night was coming.
Second, Jesus’ time was appointed and nothing could change that. The daylight becomes symbolic of walking in God’s knowledge whereas walking at night is the absence of His knowledge.
Third, in the physical world there was safety and confidence in walking in the daylight as opposed to walking at night when you had to worry about thieves and the other works of wicked men. For these disciples, there could be no greater sense of purpose, as well as security and safety than to travel with Jesus.

Jesus’ response displays God’s providence over the situation. He would lead and guide – to walk in the light was to walk in the counsel of the Almighty. To walk in darkness was to stumble, to have no guide, but to feel your way along, hoping for the best.

Jesus announced to His disciples that Lazarus was dead by using the metaphor of sleep. Jesus was going to awaken Lazarus from that sleep. A Greek myth portrayed sleep and death as twin brothers (hard to tell them apart). The disciples were nervous about returning to Judea for good reason. Dying for no reason wasn’t logical to them. As good Jews, they would die for God and His Law. The disciples optimistically proclaimed Lazarus would get well if he was sleeping.

John 11:14-16

Jesus made it clear to them that Lazarus was dead. Sleep was but an idiom. Jesus was glad He wasn’t there. First off, He didn’t have to see His friend suffer and die. He didn’t have to experience the grief Mary and Martha would feel. But, more importantly, Jesus knew something good would come from this. Jesus’ power over death is an important part of our faith. If He had been there, He might have healed Him before death. The timing of the Lord is perfect, every time.

Thomas wasn’t one to find “good” amid this horrible loss. He was quite the opposite of that. He saw all the bad things that could happen. He wasn't a “cup half full” type of guy. Was Thomas committed to dying with Jesus or was He being sarcastic to point out the danger? Some see Thomas as a natural-born skeptic with the spiritual gift of sarcasm. It's as if he said, "Let's all go chase after a dead guy so we can die also!" In noting the doubt that Thomas experienced, we should also note that he remained loyal. He was right in what he said and he went anyway.

As the skeptic, we can rely on Thomas to be on the lookout for any trickery. He would spot any opportunity to doubt. In the end, this will solidify the miracle Jesus did. His presence there puts his signature of authenticity on this story.

In noting that Thomas was a twin, Harry Ironside said, "I wonder who the other twin was. Perhaps if you look into the mirror, you will see the other one." Is Thomas the doubter standing in our place?

John 11:17-22

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, He found that Lazarus had already been dead for four days. This wasn't a surprise to Jesus. The messenger had taken a day to get to Jesus, Jesus waited two days before leaving. Then spent a day traveling. Lazarus was already dead when the message got to Jesus. This corroborates Jesus saying that Lazarus was sleeping and that this would be to glorify God.

Four days is significant. Upon death, the Jews believed the soul left the body and wandered around in confusion looking for an opportunity to re-enter the body. Restoration or resurrection was possible up to the 3^rd day. While decomposition began immediately upon death, it would have become quite obvious by the third day. At that point, healing was no longer possible and the soul moved on.

The body was always buried immediately after death. Over the next few days, friends and family would come to pay their respects and console the bereaved. It was customary for the mourners to remain seated in the home and guests would then come by and sit with those grieving.

The first week of deep grief after a close relative’s burial would be spent mourning in one’s house, sitting on the floor and visited by friends. This custom, called shivah (for “seven” days), is still practiced in Judaism today and is very helpful for releasing grief. Mourners abstained from adornment for the next three weeks and from common pleasures for the next year.

Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary:

New Testament (Jn 11:20). InterVarsity Press.

It wasn't uncommon to hire professional mourners for the first three days. The hired mourners would then offer periodic crying or moans to identify with the grieving survivors. From time to time one of the mourners might get up and walk to the grave.

It wasn't unusual to visit the grave for those first three days. The spices used to prepare the body for death were not for embalming. The aromatic spices were to mask the smell of decomposition. Everyone knew not to visit the grave after the third day. On the fourth day, lamentation began and continued for 4 more days. This involved loud weeping and crying out.

Martha ran to meet Jesus. Mary remained in the house in Shiva. In this, we might see that everyone deals with death and grief differently. It’s easy for us to be critical of others who don’t deal with loss as we do. It causes problems when families gather during the passing of a family member.

Martha wasn’t placing blame on Jesus for not being there. It was as much a statement of her faith in His ability to heal. The “even now” may just be that her faith wasn’t damaged. Verse 22 may have been:

A general statement noting Jesus’ relationship with the Father
A veiled request for resurrection.
A request for comfort, peace, and healing in the time of their suffering.

For Mary and Martha, the loss of their brother left them wondering about their future. Women could not inherit, so a near relative might end up with their home and property. Lazarus might have also been their source of income. We don’t know why these three were unmarried.

John 11:23-25

Martha knew she would see her brother again. He would be resurrected on the last day.

The resurrection was a common belief among many (but not all). Jesus claims that He is the resurrection with an “I AM” statement. The “I AM” links Jesus to the voice of the burning bush. His claim though is to be the one with power over life and death.

To believe in Jesus was to possess life eternal. This wasn’t something that was coming, but it was present in Jesus right then. Believers die to themselves and live in Him. To then live and believe in Him is the assurance of overcoming death.

Jesus asked if she could believe this. Amid her grief, with mourners all around, and her brother lying in the grave stinking of decomposition, how could she truly believe?

People say strange things in their attempt to comfort the grieving. Did Martha hear words to comfort or did she comprehend Jesus' ability to raise her brother?

He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24)

John 11:27-31

Martha believed. She took the words of Jesus as a declaration of being the Messiah. She confirmed her belief that He was indeed the Son of God, sent to the world.

Martha went away and called Mary. The presence of a religious teacher like Jesus was a source of comfort. Mary needed to welcome Him and spend some time with Him. Mary was going to meet Jesus who had not entered town yet. The mourners ministering to Mary thought she was headed out to the grave.

John 11:32-39

Mary fell at Jesus’ feet expressing the same feelings as her sister. She grieved the loss of her brother. There’s no reason to think she was blaming Jesus but simply expressing her sorrow that He wasn’t there to heal him. Both were unaware that Jesus waited two extra days before leaving so that He could raise Him on the fourth day.

Mary wept and the mourners wept. Jesus responded to this groaning in the spirit. He was troubled. There are a few possibilities here. Even though Jesus was going to bring Lazarus back, the pain and sorrow associated with death was real. The penalty of sin is death. The sin-fallen world was under a curse of sin and death. While Lazarus would be brought to life, the thousands of others who died that day would not. Their eternities would have been established. Every hour of every day, across the years, people pass into eternity. Most will enter eternity without thought or consideration beforehand; without comprehension of sin and death, and the atonement offered by Jesus.

The groan of verse thirty-three is a restrained rebuke. Deep in his spirit rose a rebuke. The NIV translated this to “deeply troubled.” Was it a rebuke of the mourners? Of Mary who wept? Was it the rebuke of death because of the sorrow it brought to the creation? Jesus was also troubled. The word means to shake or tremble.

From this groan and trouble, Jesus went to where Lazarus was buried. The tomb would have been closed up at the end of the third day. Jesus wept.

John tells us that people were wondering what happened. This entire scenario seemed like a failure. After all, Jesus was able to heal a man blind from birth. He had healed so many. He’d even healed from a distance. Why couldn’t he heal Lazarus?

In verse thirty-eight we see the same groaning as Jesus came to the tomb and told them to remove the stone. Martha had faith, but opening a tomb on the fourth day was not done. She thought maybe Jesus didn't know it had been four days.

The body would be wrapped and left lying on the floor in the tomb’s antechamber; only after a year, when the flesh had rotted off, would family members return to collect the bones into a box, which they would then slide into a slot on the wall. After four days, decomposition was well under way, especially because it was no longer winter. Whatever spices they may have used to delay the stench would no longer be effective.

Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary:

New Testament (Jn 11:39). InterVarsity Press.

John 11:40-44

The glory of God would not be impeded by the corruption of the grave or in any numbering of days. Martha would see God’s glory if she would only believe. And she did believe, but this was beyond her imagination!

The stone was rolled away. Jesus lifted his voice, not so God could hear, but so the people present would hear as they witnessed this incredible miracle. The prayer wasn’t a petition to the Father. He was giving thanks for what the Father had already done. He gives thanks to the Father for hearing Him like He always does. The purpose of the prayer was for all to know that Jesus was sent by the Father.

He cried out in a loud voice, calling forth Lazarus.

The sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

(John 10:3)

The dead can hear the voice of Jesus. Lazarus came forth.

The deceased would be wrapped in long cloth strips. This wrapping was thorough, binding the limbs to keep them straight and even the cheeks to keep the mouth shut; the facecloth may have been a yard square. This tight wrapping would have made it hard enough for a living person to walk, not to mention a formerly dead person coming forth from the entrance to the tomb; this difficulty further underlines the miraculous nature of this event. Men could not wrap women’s corpses, but women could wrap both men and women, so Lazarus may have been wrapped by his sisters.

Keener, C. S. (1993).

The IVP Bible background commentary:

New Testament (Jn 11:43–44). InterVarsity Press.

Many have noted the caution with which Jesus must have used. If He had just yelled, "Come Forth!" every grave would have been opened and every believer would have come forth. Jesus will do this someday. And we won’t be called back to this life, but we’ll be given a new body, fit for eternity.

Lazarus came out wrapped in his graveclothes. He would have looked like a mummy. This would have been a frightening thing, would it not? Imagine being there and witnessing this. Jesus said, "Loose him, and let him go." I would probably have left that to others. "No way! Not me!" Someone with more guts than me went forth and unwrapped Lazarus. He lived again. In today's world, he could have written a book, sold a million copies, and went on a speaking tour. However, we never hear of Lazarus again after this.

I think we can be sure Lazarus didn't worry about dying like some of us might. I think Mary and Martha didn't look at death the same way either. Remember doubting Thomas was present. What do you suppose was going through his mind?

This isn’t a resurrection like Jesus would be resurrected, or ike we will someday. Lazarus was brought back to this life, in the same flesh. It was appointed to man to die once and then the judgment. Lazarus was the exception only to the degree that he would die again someday. This was Jesus showing His authority over death. It is a glimpse of what was to come. However, there are obvious differences we are to notice.

Lazarus had to have someone remove the stone. The stone was rolled away from Jesus’ tomb only to let others in to see that He was not there.
Lazarus needed others to remove the grave clothes. Jesus left the grave clothes where they lay, as though he had evaporated.
Lazarus was restored to the flesh of this world. Jesus would be the firstfruits of the grave. He would be the first with a resurrected body. Lazarus had to die again. Jesus would never die.

The grave will not hold those who trust in Jesus. Paul said death has no victory, it has no sting. Death is defeated. Death is a defeated servant, serving the Lord. Death is the steward that leads us from this life into eternal life.

John 11:45-48

Word had spread of all that Jesus had done. My, how fast it must have spread. Those witnessing this would never forget that day. They would have told anyone that listened. Many of those folks had come to mourn with Mary over the loss of Lazarus. They left with an understanding of Jesus and a new view of death.

Some went to the Pharisees and informed them of this miracle. This would have been a very normal thing. They looked to the religious leaders to sort these things out and explain them. The chief priests were in power, making up most of the Jewish council. The Pharisees were in the minority but had great influence.

“What shall we do?” It was a valid question. The city and region would be in an uproar. This miracle would be added to the list of the many folks were talking about. Healing men blind from birth, healing paralytics and lepers while also feeding thousands. Jesus was a threat to their power and authority over the people.

The people would desire to make Jesus a political leader, a king over the people. These rulers couldn’t have that. If Judea was seen as unstable, Rome would step in to fix it. Josephus testified of a priestly aristocracy in Israel. The reason Caiaphas held office as long as he did was because he kept the peace for Rome.

If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” (John 11:48)

Don’t let John’s irony escape you. Rome did come and destroy the temple and take control in _AD70.

John 11:49-52

The high priest presided over the Sanhedrin (the ruling council). He informed the entire council they knew nothing. In this, we get another dose of John’s irony.

Sacrificing the few for the many makes good politics but bad religion: Josephus claimed that King Agrippa II urged his people to forego vengeance for injustice for the sake of peace; but Jewish teachers said not to betray a single Israelite to rape or death even if the result would be the rape or execution of all.

Keener, C. S. (1993).

The IVP Bible background commentary:

New Testament (Jn 11:50–53). InterVarsity Press.

The high priest saw expediency that one would die to keep the peace in the nation. Regardless of His claims and His miracles, Jesus was upsetting people and destabilizing the region. He had to go to maintain the status quo and keep Rome at bay. Caiaphas spoke with sacrificial language, though not in the Christian sense.

There was a prophetic sense to what Caiaphas said. Jesus would go on to die for all of mankind so that they might have forgiveness of sins and eternal life. How incredible and ironic that Caiaphas would utter such a timeless truth. Caiaphas was right, but that council would not establish the timing of the death of Jesus.

John notes the prophetic imagery of God gathering His elect from the four winds, across time and geography. They would be one people under the One Shepherd.

And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:16)

John recorded what was said in the council meeting. This tells us that some on the council were believers in Jesus and had passed this information, by way of first-hand account, to John for recording in the scripture.

John 11:53-54

This was the turning point. They were not going to try Him, question Him, or investigate His claims. They had found Him guilty and sentenced Him. As far as they knew they were in control of circumstances and they were working to keep it that way. The evil they intended to bring about would be used for good by the Father.

Jesus would have heard this from the faithful among the Pharisees or Sanhedrin. He knew not to walk openly. He left and went to a nearby city near the wilderness. He wasn’t hiding, He was controlling the timing.

John 11:55-57

Passover was approaching. They would purify themselves by ritual washing in one of the many pools in Jerusalem. John characterizes the crowd as preparing for Passover but taking advantage of being in Jerusalem to seek Jesus. They wondered if He would make an appearance at the feast.

The chief priests and Pharisees were sure this pious Jew would show up for Passover.

The priests would be getting busy in preparation for Passover. They would pre-approve many lambs to be killed for Passover. It was nearing the time when the head of the family would select his lamb. At the same time, the chief priests and Pharisees put out an APB on Jesus. Anyone seeing Him should report His presence to the leaders immediately.

Wanted: Thirty-three-year-old male, Nazarene carpenter. The suspect is a known threat to religion as you know it, frequently takes sins away, and dares to heal on the Sabbath. Do not approach this man, you will never be the same. Last seen walking north Any sighting of this man must be reported immediately to the priests and Pharisees.

God would be glorified by the sickness of Lazarus. The raising of Lazarus would lead to the arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. He would be glorified and in His work the Father is glorified.

John