John 11 - King James Version Bible Commentary

Jn 11:1-2. The setting for this miracle is described. Lazarus had become ill; his sisters Mary and Martha send to Christ for help.

Jn 11:3. Note that they do not ask Christ to do anything. They simply make Him aware of their need, and know that because He loves and cares He will respond appropriately.

Jn 11:4. This sickness is not unto death. This means that the final result of Lazarus’ sickness will not be death. The final result will be for the glory of God. Sin is not the source of all sickness. Sometimes God permits sickness in order to reveal His glory. Greater glory was manifested in raising Lazarus from the dead than if Christ had simply healed him.

Jn 11:5-6. Jesus loved. In the hour of crisis and need, remember that God loves us. Christ delays His going to Bethany. This might seem strange since Lazarus had a great need; however, note again the previous verse. His waiting is based upon His love.

Jn 11:7-8. The disciples are alarmed when Christ wants to return to Judaea, because the last time He was there they tried to stone Him (Jn 10:31).

Jn 11:9-10. Are there not twelve hours in the day? Christ alludes to the fact that His time on the earth is a final period of time and it cannot be changed. A person who walks in the light of God’s will cannot be harmed, but the person who does not stumbleth.

Jn 11:11. Lazarus sleepeth. Death is often referred to as sleep (Gen 47:30; Mt 27:52; I Thess 4:13). However, in no way do these passages teach a state of soul-sleep or unconsciousness. Death for the saint is restful sleep from the problems of this world, but a full consciousness of another world (Phil 1:23).

Jn 11:12-13. The disciples thought that Lazarus was physically asleep and assumed that sleep would be good for his illness.

Jn 11:14. Finally, Christ clarifies His statements by telling them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

Jn 11:15. Christ is happy that He was not with Lazarus when he died. Had He been there, He would have healed him and prevented death. Now He must perform a greater miracle that will increase the faith of the disciples.

Jn 11:16. Thomas, called Didymus (Gr “twin"), encourages the disciples to go with Christ, that we may die with him. The outlook for safety in Judaea is dim and Thomas feels that Christ will be killed, and as a result they will be killed as well.

Jn 11:17. Four days. Lazarus probably died around the same time that the messenger came to Christ (Jn 11:3).

Jn 11:18-19. Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem. Many residents of Jerusalem had come to Bethany to comfort Mary and Martha.

Jn 11:20. Note the contrast in personalities. Martha is a woman of action, whereas Mary is a woman of quiet reflection (Lk 10:38-42).

Jn 11:21. This statement is not critical of Christ’s action, but it is a statement of grief that if Christ could have been with Lazarus he would not have died.

Jn 11:22. This verse displays great hope in Christ’s ability to ask from God; however, Martha did not have the resurrection of her brother in mind.

Jn 11:23-24. Christ assures Martha that her brother shall rise again. She interprets this to mean in the last day. Martha, like many Christians, does not appropriate the promises of God for now. God is able to meet our needs in the present as well as in the future.

Jn 11:25-26. I am. This is the fifth of the seven I am statements (Jn 6:35; Jn 8:12; Jn 10:9; Jn 10:11; Jn 14:6; Jn 15:5). Christ is the resurrection (He raises those who are dead in sin) and the life (He gives to them eternal life). Those who believe in Christ, though they may die physically, shall live. Beyond that, those who really have Christ’s life shall never die.

Jn 11:27. Yea, Lord: I believe (Gr perfect tense; emphasizes certainty, “I do believe”). Martha had accepted the I am (vs. Jn 11:25) as the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God.

Jn 11:28. Martha returns and quietly tells Mary that Christ has arrived.

Jn 11:29-30. Mary now goes out to meet the Master.

Jn 11:31-32. The Jews observing her haste, and assuming that she is going to the grave, follow her to comfort her. Note that the words of Mary were the same as Martha’s (Jn 11:21). How many times they had repeated these words to each other in the last four days.

Jn 11:33. He groaned in the spirit. The verb used here means to become angry. Christ was probably angry at the root cause of all this sorrow and grief, i.e., sin.

Jn 11:34-35. Jesus wept. Jesus broke out into tears. Here we are reminded of the humanity of Christ and His love and concern for His people.

Jn 11:36-37. The Jews saw the love of Christ, but some of them debated whether or not He could have prevented this tragedy by healing Lazarus.

Jn 11:38-39. Christ came to the tomb and ordered someone to roll away the stone. Martha objected to this strange request since Lazarus’ body would stink.

Jn 11:40. Christ reminded her of His previous statements (Jn 11:25-26).

Jn 11:41-42. Christ offered a prayer before He performed the miracle. The prayer was one of thanksgiving rather than requesting. He is thankful that the Father hast heard. Because He is in close communion with the Father, this miracle is possible. He prays so that the people may believe that thou hast sent me.

Jn 11:43-44. Lazarus, come forth. The voice of omnipotence speaks and the dead responds. Here is a picture of many Christians who are alive in Christ but are still bound by the graveclothes of the world. They cannot work because their hands are bound, they cannot walk because their feet are bound, and they cannot witness because their mouths are bound. Christ Jesus orders: Loose him.

Jn 11:45. The miracle brought results. First, many believed on him.

Jn 11:46. Second, some went back to Jerusalem to report this incident to the leaders.

Jn 11:47-48. Third, the Sanhedrin became angry and were afraid that if people continued to follow Christ, the Romans would think the Jews were planning a rebellion and would take their leaders into captivity.

Jn 11:49-50. Caiaphas presents a solution. He reasons that if Jesus lives, the nation will die. Therefore, in the interest of patriotism, Jesus must die so that the nation will live.

Jn 11:51-52. Little did Caiaphas realize the real truth of what he was saying. Christ would die to save the nation spiritually, whereas Caiaphas intended Him to die to save the nation politically. Again, the cosmopolitan nature of Christ’s death is emphasized (Jn 10:16).

Jn 11:53-54. The Sanhedrin had formally decided to kill Christ. Knowing about their plan, Christ removed Himself from the public view.

Jn 11:55-57. As the pilgrims came to Jerusalem for the Passover there was much excitement and enthusiasm over the ministry of Christ. Popular opinion among the common people was in His favor. However, the leaders made it clear that anyone who saw Christ should report it, that they might take him.

K. Christ as the Messiah.John 12:1-50

There are four separate sections in this chapter: (1) The anointing of Jesus (vss. Lk 12:1-11); (2) the Triumphal Entry (vss. Lk 12:12-19); (3) the Greeks seek Christ (vss. Lk 12:20-36); and (4) the Jews reject Christ (vss. Lk 12:37-50). In all these events, Christ emerges as the true Messiah.