John 11 - Life Application Study Bible

11:1 The village of Bethany was located about two miles east of Jerusalem on the road to Jericho. It was near enough to Jerusalem for Jesus and the disciples to be in danger, but far enough away so as not to attract attention prematurely.

11:1 When they heard that Lazarus was ill, the disciples may have wondered, Who sinned? or perhaps, What did he do wrong? like they had for the blind man (9:2). But Jesus clearly explained to his disciples that sickness and death do not indicate that God has rejected someone or that the afflicted person has done something wrong (9:3). Neither we nor our loved ones are exempt from pain and death. Lazarus, Mary, and Martha were Jesus’ very close friends and disciples. Jesus loved them, yet he did not rush to spare them grief. The presence of pain and suffering in the lives of both believers and nonbelievers can teach us that Christians do not have different experiences in life. Rather, we experience life differently. Our hope in Jesus does not insulate us from life’s difficulties, but it does provide a way through and beyond them. God can use difficult experiences for good in our lives in many ways, one of which is to make us more compassionate servants for him as we comfort others.

11:3 As their brother grew very sick, Mary and Martha turned to Jesus for help. They believed in his ability to help because they had seen his miracles. We, too, know of Jesus’ miracles, both from Scripture and through changed lives we have seen. When we need extraordinary help, Jesus offers extraordinary resources. We should not hesitate to ask him for assistance.

11:4 Any difficult situation a believer faces can ultimately bring glory to God because God can bring good out of any bad circumstance (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). When trouble comes, do you grumble, complain, and blame God, or do you see your problems as opportunities to honor him and grow in your spiritual maturity?

11:5-7 Jesus loved this family and often stayed with them. He knew their pain but did not respond immediately. His delay was not from lack of love; he had a specific purpose in mind. God’s timing, especially his delays, may make us think he is not answering or is not answering the way we want. God’s best plan for us is sometimes painful. But he will meet all our needs according to his perfect schedule and purpose (Philippians 4:19). Patiently await his timing.

11:9-10 “Daylight” symbolizes the knowledge of God’s will and reliance on his guidance, and “night” represents the absence of this knowledge combined with self-reliance. When we move ahead in darkness, we will likely stumble.

11:14-15 If Jesus had been with Lazarus during the final moments of Lazarus’s sickness, he might have healed him rather than let him die. But Lazarus died so that Jesus’ power over death could be shown to his disciples and others. The raising of Lazarus was an essential display of his power, and the resurrection from the dead is a crucial belief of the Christian faith. Jesus would not only be raised from the dead (10:18)—he also has the power to raise others.

11:16 We often remember Thomas as “the doubter” because he doubted Jesus’ resurrection (20:25). But here he demonstrated love and courage. The disciples knew the dangers of going with Jesus to Jerusalem, and they tried to talk him out of it. Thomas merely expressed what all of them were feeling. When their objections failed, they were willing to go, even though dying with Jesus was a real possibility. They may not have understood why Jesus would be killed, but they were loyal. Doing God’s work has unknown dangers. Will you remain loyal to Jesus when opposition increases?

11:16 Thomas was ready to do whatever it took to follow Jesus. Courage often boils down to trusting Jesus and being ready to go wherever he calls. Emotionally, the experience is much like the first time off a high dive or the first public speech. The stakes may be high, but so are the benefits. We don’t realize God’s power until we take the first step. Thomas was the first to step out in faith. Sooner or later, you will have the opportunity to take a step of courage. Your step may motivate others to take action as well. Ask God for the courage you need.

11:25-26 Jesus has power over life and death as well as the power to forgive sins. Because he created life (see 14:6), he can surely restore life. Whoever believes in Jesus has a spiritual life that death cannot conquer or diminish in any way. When we realize the power and the wonder of his offer to us, how can we not commit our lives to him? To those who believe, what wonderful assurance and certainty we have: “Since I live, you also will live” (14:19).

11:27 We know Martha best for being too busy to sit down and talk with Jesus (Luke 10:38-42). But here we see her as a woman of deep faith. As she worked to offer hospitality to Jesus, she obviously also listened to him and took his words to heart. Her statement of faith is exactly the response that Jesus wants from us. No matter how busy we are, we must listen to him, believe in him, and then follow him.

11:33-37 John stresses that God cares for us. When Jesus saw the weeping and wailing, he, too, wept openly. Perhaps he empathized with their grief, or perhaps he was troubled at their unbelief or at death’s destructive grip. Whatever the case, Jesus showed that he cares enough for us to weep with us in our sorrow. Here we see many of Jesus’ emotions—compassion, indignation, anger, sorrow, and even frustration. In his life on earth he often expressed deep emotion, and we must never be afraid to reveal our true feelings to him. He understands them, for he experienced them. Be honest, and don’t try to hide anything from your Savior. He cares.

11:38 Tombs at this time were usually caves carved in the limestone rock of hillsides. They were often large enough for people to walk inside. Several bodies would be placed in one tomb. After burial, a large stone would be rolled across the entrance.

11:44 Jesus had raised others from the dead, including Jairus’s daughter (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:42-43; Luke 8:40-56) and a widow’s son (Luke 7:11-15).

11:45-53 Even when confronted point-blank with the power of Jesus’ deity, some refused to believe. These eyewitnesses not only rejected Jesus—they plotted his murder. They were so hardened that they preferred rejecting God’s Son to admitting they were wrong. They wanted to fit God into their own plans instead of be open to his marvelous power. Beware of pride. If we allow it to grow, it can lead us into enormous sin and spiritual blindness.

11:48 The Jewish leaders knew that Jesus was becoming dangerous to their way of life. They feared that if they didn’t stop him, the Romans would misunderstand the kind of Kingdom Jesus had come to establish and lash out against them. Rome gave partial freedom to the Jews as long as they were quiet and obedient. But Jesus’ miracles often caused disturbances as people began to wrongly think he was a political leader who would lead a rebellion against Rome. The Jewish leaders feared that Rome’s displeasure would bring additional hardship to their people and nation.

11:51 John regarded Caiaphas’s statement as a prophecy. As high priest, Caiaphas was used by God to explain Jesus’ death even though Caiaphas didn’t realize what he was doing.

11:52 John highlights that Jesus wanted to unite the children of God scattered around the world, both Jews and Gentiles (see 10:11, 16). This began with Jesus’ ministry but took a giant leap forward at Pentecost, when people from many nations were converted and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4-8).