The record in John 10:40 informed us that Jesus went to the east side of the river Jordan during the winter between 27/28 A.D. Here in chapter 11, John the writer of this book provides the following details of some events taking place on the west side of the river Jordan.
John 11:1 and 2:
11:1But there was someone being weak, Lazarus from Bethany, out-from the village of Mary and Martha her sister; .2and Mary was the (woman) having anointed the Lord with ointment and having wiped his feet with her hairs, whose brother Lazarus was weak.
During that past time, historically, there was someone being weak (without/lacking strength, infirm, feeble), and his name was Lazarus from Bethany, the village (the hamlet in the open countryside without walls) from which Mary and her sister Martha also originated, which was on the west side of the river Jordan close to Jerusalem on the east side of the Mount of Olives.
John the writer also explains to the readers of this writing that this Mary was the woman who anointed the Lord Jesus Christ with ointment (she smeared him with perfumed, sweet smelling balsam made from the sap of trees) and who wiped it off from his feet with the hairs of her head, whose brother Lazarus was weak.
In verse 2 the verb translated "anoint" means: to smear or spread oil or ointment upon someone. This verb is not the same as the word used regarding to anoint someone or something officially with oil being dedicated to God and which is also the root word for “Christ.”
The record about Mary anointing Jesus with ointment and wiping his feet is provided in John chapter 12 because it takes place after the events recorded here in chapter 11.
Verses 3-7:
.3Therefore the sisters apostled towards him saying, "Lord, look!, whom you love is weak." .4But having heard Jesus said, "This weakness is not towards death but in order that the son of God may be glorified by means of it on behalf of the glory of God." .5But Jesus loved1 Martha and her sister and Lazarus, .6therefore as he heard that he is weak then indeed he remained in which place he was two days, .7next after this he says to the learning-disciples, "Let us lead into Judea again."
Following-on logically from verses 1 and 2 above, the sisters apostled (they sent someone else forth/away on a specific mission or assignment) towards Jesus saying...
However, after Jesus heard the message, he said...
Jesus' response above indicates that he received information via his holy spirit from God his Father about this specific situation. This weakness was the action or agency by way of which the initiated progress would pass-through in order to reach its accomplishment of Jesus the son of God receiving glory on behalf of God. It was interposed between the start and the result of the son of God being glorified in the interests of God's glory ultimately. As we read on in this chapter we will see how Jesus brought this result to pass.
During that past time Jesus was continuing to love1 Martha and her sister and Lazarus (loving them with Godly-love, manifesting God's kind of love according to His will - this is not the same kind of love that is used in verse 3 above). Therefore as Jesus heard that Lazarus is weakening, at that time indeed he remained (emphatically he stayed) in the location where he used-to-be on the east side of the river Jordan for another 2 days.
Next after this (secondly, next sequentially, after that, following the end of those 48 hours) he says to the learning-disciples (students, the people who are learning from him regarding God and the things of God and who are interested in learning more)...
Jesus received more information via his holy spirit from God his Father regarding this situation - now is the time to go to Lazarus.
In verse 5 above, the verb "to love1" comes from the Greek word agape which is God’s kind of love. To love with His love means to love the same way as God loves, to manifest God's love towards another, whether it is towards God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, yourself, your neighbor, or towards anyone else. Before the day of Pentecost (which is recorded in Acts 2:1-4), God told His people how to Godly-love in His revealed spoken and/or written words (and at times certain individuals among His people received holy spirit from God temporarily whereby they received information from Him regarding how to love in different specific situations). It is the carrying out of God's commandments, His Word, which is the correct usage or way to manifest God's kind of love according to His will. It is not the same as the brotherly or friendly kind of love, nor is it the same as the emotional/feelings/sexual kind of love.
[Reference: John 1:34 and 49, 5:25, 9:3-5; Revelation 2:18. Also refer to the article Adam and Eve regarding death as it relates to mankind.]
Verses 8-16:
.8The learning-disciples say to him, "Rabbi, now the Judeans sought-after you to stone and again you go there?" .9Jesus answered, "There are twelve hours of a day, aren't there? - (yes) - if-ever someone may walk in the day he does not stumble-against (something) because he observes the light of this world; .10but if-ever someone may walk in the night he stumbles-against (something) because the light is not in him." .11He said these-things; and after this he says to them, "Lazarus, our friend, slept2, but I journey in order that I may wake him from-sleep." .12Therefore the learning-disciples said to him, "Lord, since he slept2 he will be saved." .13But Jesus had said concerning his death, but those-people considered that concerning the sleeping of sleep he says. .14Therefore then Jesus said to them with boldness, "Lazarus died; .15and I joy that I was not there - because-of you in order that you may believe - but let us lead towards him." .16Therefore Thomas, the (person) being said (as) Didymus, to the learning-disciples-together, "Let even us lead in order that we may die with him."
The learning-disciples (students) say to him...
Jesus answered...
Jesus lays these things out to his students on a level that they should understand - the physical realm. Jesus is explaining that he knows what he is doing and he can see where he is going, even though he is fully aware of the fact that the Judeans are trying to kill him. Jesus is doing his Father's intention - God's will - and he is relying on the information he receives from his Father via the holy spirit within him (inside of him). God is the Light that Jesus relies on.
Following this, he says to them...
Following-on logically from what Jesus said to them, the learning-disciples (students) said to him, "Lord (Master), if/since it is a fact that he slept and continues to sleep he will be saved (when he wakes up he will be made safe from his weakness - in this context meaning that he will be healed so that his life will no longer be in jeopardy - he'll be better after a long sleep)."
However, Jesus had spoken this about Lazarus' death, but those learning-disciples supposed that he is speaking about the sleeping of sleep (being asleep, resting in sleep). Therefore at that time Jesus said to them with boldness (with freedom, frankness and openness of speech)...
Therefore Thomas (the Hebrew or Aramaic name meaning: twin), the man being called Didymus (the Greek translation also meaning: twin), to the learning-disciples together with him (to those who were learning in conjunction with him, joint students, co-students)...
Thomas' statement indicates that Jesus was correct in that the learning-disciples did not believe what Jesus spoke about this situation.
[Reference: Matthew 10:3; John 10:31 and 39, 15:14; Acts 1:13.]
Verses 17-19:
.17Therefore having gone, Jesus found him already having four days in the memorial-place; .18but Bethany was near Jerusalem as from fifteen stadiums, .19and many-people out-from the Judeans had come towards Martha and Mary in order that they may comfort them concerning the brother.
Following-on logically from the previous verses, after Jesus went to the location where Lazarus died, he found that by this time he was four days in the memorial-place (4 days ago his dead body was put into the sepulchral monument, tomb, a place hewn out of stone, so as to preserve the memory of Lazarus).
Bethany was close to Jerusalem, about fifteen stadiums away from it (15 stadia; one stadium is a measurement of 600 Greek feet, about 202 English yards which is almost a furlong; 15 stadiums are approximately 1.7 miles).
A lot of people from among the Judeans had come towards Martha and Mary and they continued being with them for the purpose and result that they would comfort them (speak in a soothing or tender manner to the sisters) about their dead brother, Lazarus.
Verses 20-27:
.20Therefore as Martha heard that Jesus comes she met him, but Mary sat-down in the house. .21Therefore Martha said towards Jesus, "Lord, if you were here my brother did not ever die; .22even now I knew2 that as-many-things-as ever you may ask God - God will give to you." .23Jesus says to her, "Your brother will resurrect." .24Martha says to him, "I knew2 that he will resurrect in the resurrection in the last day." .25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; the (person) believing into me even if-ever he may die will live, .26and every-person living and believing into me may never die into the age; do you believe this?" .27She says to him, "Yes, Lord; I believed2 that you are the Christ, the son of God, the (one) coming into the world."
Following-on logically from the previous verses, as Martha heard that Jesus is coming (going towards them) she met him (she came towards him without prior arrangement to meet him outside of Bethany), but during that past time Mary was sitting down in the house (at home, in the dwelling with the household of people waiting for his arrival).
Therefore Martha said towards Jesus...
Martha's opinion regarding Jesus had not changed as a result of her brother's death - and she was letting Jesus know that fact.
Jesus says to her, "Your brother will resurrect (at a future time he will stand-up alive - Jesus knew that he was going to raise Lazarus up alive during that situation; refer to verse 4 above)."
However, Martha took what Jesus said as referring to the future time of resurrection, and she says to him, "I knew and continue to know (perceive) that he will resurrect in the resurrection in the last day (at the time of the standing-up alive of people who have previously died during the more remote, uttermost, final or extreme day)."
Jesus said to her...
Martha says to Jesus...
It is worth noting here that people who die (dead-people) remain dead until the time of their resurrection. Dead-people are dead (they are not alive in any form) until they are resurrected from being dead. At that point they will be judged and either receive eternal life or their second/final death being completely destroyed.
Between Revelation 20:15 and Revelation 21:1, all the people who will be judged righteous (just, justified) to receive eternal life, which includes those who were alive at the time of resurrection and those who were resurrected from death - will have their natural, physical, fleshy, soulish bodies changed into new spiritual bodies like the Lord Jesus Christ already has and like the holy-people/Christians will receive at the time of their gathering together away from the earth by the Lord Jesus Christ.
[Reference: Genesis 3:15; John 1:34, 41 and 49, 5:24-30, 6:14, 33-48 and 54, 8:12, 10:36; Romans 1:3 and 4; I Peter 1:3; I John 5:11; Revelation chapters 19-22. Also refer to the articles Adam and Eve, and Hope and Resurrection.]
Verses 28-37:
.28And having said this she went-away and sounded (to) Mary her sister unnoticeably having said, "The teacher is present and sounds (for) you." .29And that-person, as she heard, was raised-up quickly and went towards him. .30But Jesus had not-yet come into the village but he was yet in the place where Martha met him. .31Therefore the Judeans, the (Judeans) being with her in the house and comforting her, having seen Mary that quickly she stood-up and went-out, followed her having considered that she goes into the memorial-place in order that she may cry there.
.32Therefore Mary, as she went where Jesus was, having seen him, fell towards his feet saying to him, "Lord, if you were here my brother did not ever die." .33Therefore Jesus, as he saw her crying and the Judeans having come-together with her crying, was grave with spirit and disturbed himself, .34and he said, "Where did you put2 him?" They say to him, "Lord, you must come and see." .35Jesus was tearful. .36Therefore the Judeans said, "Look!, how he loved him"; .37but some-people from them said, "This-person was able, the (one) having opened the eyes of the blind-man, to make in order that also this-person should not have died, wasn't he?" - (yes.)
After Martha said what is recorded in verse 27 above, she went away from Jesus going back to her house and sounded (she used her voice, voiced) to Mary her sister in a manner that was not noticeable saying (she spoke secretly by stealth so others would not notice exactly what she said to her)...
As she heard what Martha told her, specifically Mary was raised up quickly (with speed, swiftly) from where she had been sitting down and was going towards him. However, Jesus did not come and still had not gone into the village of Bethany (as verse 1 above), but on the contrary during that past time he was still in the location where Martha met him (as verse 20 above).
Therefore the Judeans - emphatically and specifically the Judeans being in company and association with Mary in the house and comforting her (speaking in a soothing or tender manner to her, as verse 19 above), after they perceived Mary that she stood up speedily and went out from the house...
Therefore Mary, as she went where Jesus was continuing to be during that past time, after she perceived him, fell towards his feet (demonstrating her respect for him and her willingness to be under his authority) saying to him...
Mary said as Martha had spoken to him in verse 21 above. Mary's opinion regarding Jesus had not changed as a result of her brother's death - and she was letting Jesus know that fact.
Therefore Jesus - as he perceived her crying (weeping, shedding tears, expressing grief, mourning) and the Judeans who came in conjunction with her crying (audibly, just as Mary was expressing her grief)...
They say to him, "Lord (Master), you must come and see (it is imperative that you go and perceive with your eyes and understand the object-of-sight - the place where dead Lazarus was put - in your mind's thoughts)."
Jesus was tearful. This verb in Greek is not the same as the verb "to cry" used of Martha, Mary, and the Judeans weeping out loud above in the previous verses. This Greek verb "to be tearful" refers to the fact that Jesus had teardrops in his eyes in a quiet or silent manner evidencing his strong emotion regarding this situation as he was carrying-out his assignment - not being all 'emotional' about it, but as a teacher would earnestly admonish others putting them in mind of his teaching, or as someone praying intensely to God.
Jesus was grave with spirit and physically disturbed evidencing it with tears as he continued doing God's intention regarding this situation, which he referred to in verse 4 above - even though those around him did not believe what he said about his activities on this occasion.
Following-on logically from the Judeans noticing Jesus' tears, during that past time they were saying...
...but some of the people from among those Judeans with Mary said...
It is also interesting to note that so far in this passage John the writer uses two words in Greek which are sometimes used to refer to resurrection:
Further details on resurrection are provided in the article Hope and Resurrection.
[Reference: II Kings 20:5; Isaiah 25:8, 38:5; Lamentations 2:9-11; Matthew 9:30; Acts 20:31; II Corinthians 2:4; Hebrews 5:7; Revelation 21:4.]
Verses 38-45:
.38Therefore Jesus again being grave in himself comes into the memorial-place, but it was a cave and a stone was-laid on it. .39Jesus says, "You must lift the stone." Martha, the sister of the (person) having completed2 (his life), says to him, "Lord, already he has-odor for it is the fourth-day." .40Jesus says to her, "I said to you that if-ever you may believe you will see the glory of God, didn't I?" - (yes.) .41Therefore they lifted the stone; but Jesus lifted the eyes upwardly and said, "Father, I thank You because You heard me, .42but I had known that always You hear me; but because-of the crowd, the (crowd) standing-around2, I said in order that they may believe that You apostled me." .43And having said these-things, with a great sound he cried-out, "Lazarus, come-this-way outside." .44The (person) having died2 came-out, having been bound2 the feet and the hands with wrappings and his sight had been bound-around with a handkerchief. Jesus says to them, "You must loosen him and leave him to go." .45Therefore many-people from the Judeans, the (Judeans) having come towards Mary and having gazed-upon which-things he did, believed into him.
Following-on logically from verses 36 and 37 above, Jesus - again being grave in himself (a second, another, further time, once again being intense and deeply moved within himself with/by the holy spirit in him; as verse 33 above) - goes into the memorial-place, but during that past time it was a cave (cavern) and a stone was laid (caused to lie) upon it.
Jesus says, "It is imperative that you lift the stone (take it up from the entrance to the cave)." Jesus knew that Lazarus would not be able to walk through the stone after he was resurrected during this situation.
Martha - specifically the sister of the person (man, human-being) who completed his life (whose life ended, Lazarus had died) and who continues being dead at that time - says to him, "Lord (Master), by this time he has odor (he smells) for it is the fourth day since he died (refer also to verse 17 above)."
Jesus says to her...
Following-on from what Jesus said, Martha and Mary then gave permission for the removal of the stone and it was taken up from the entrance to the cave.
Jesus took his eyes in an upward direction and said...
After Jesus said these things, with a great sound he cried-out (with a large voice or uttered-tone, loudly - he made an outcry, clamor, scream, he intensely shouted, and in this context it was in controversy against the death of Lazarus and so that the crowd could hear him)...
The person who already died went out from the cave, and he was still bound (tied, fastened) at his feet and at his hands with wrappings (the strips of cloth that were put on his dead body for burial, the coverings around the body). When he went out from the grave the wrappings were not binding both of his legs together tightly because then he would not have been able to walk out from the cave. Also, his sight had been bound around with a handkerchief (his appearance/face had been tied around by a napkin, a face-cloth).
Jesus says to them...
Following-on logically from this event, a lot of people from among the Judeans - emphatically and specifically the Judeans who went towards Mary, and after they gazed upon (looked at with a purpose, purposefully saw) the things that Jesus did - believed into him (they had faith-in, trusted into, directed-to, or regarding him whereby he was the object of their believing, trusting what he was saying and doing; refer to verses 15, 40 and 42 above).
Lazarus had been raised up (resurrected, caused to stand up) alive from being dead - he was brought back to life receiving the same body/soul that he had prior to his death (he did not receive a spiritual body). Since that time, Lazarus has died again and he remains dead; but in the future he will receive eternal life with a spiritual body at the time of resurrection (refer to Revelation chapters 20-22).
In verse 41 above, Jesus addressed the only true God as “Father” – he knew who he was (God’s son) and he knew who God was (his Father). A 'father' is literally one who has begotten a child with/by his own seed/sperm, and so the son/daughter has originated from his father's seed, and this fact cannot be changed. The father is strong and he protects, feeds, etc, his family. God gave Jesus the permission and authority to use the name of "Father" when talking to/with Him and when referring to God while speaking with others. Refer to Matthew 1:18-25, 3:13-17; John 5:19 and 43, 10:29 and 30, 17:6, 11, 12, and 26.
In verse 42 above, it is interesting to note that the verb “I said” is in the aorist tense in the Greek texts, which is why it may be translated as a past event – however, this tense can refer to any time past, present, or future emphasizing that once this event is accomplished - Jesus saying something specific in this situation - it is done, finished, it will not need to be done a second time! Jesus spoke out loud so that others could hear him and have the opportunity to believe what he said; also refer to verse 45 above.
[Reference: John 5:36, 6:57, 7:29, 8:42, 10:36; Hebrews 2:14. Also refer to the articles The Name of God and Hope and Resurrection.]
Verses 46-53:
.46But some-people from them went-away towards the Pharisees and said to them which-things Jesus did. .47Therefore the chief-priests and the Pharisees gathered-together a council and they said, "What do we do, because this man does many signs? .48If-ever we may leave him thus, all-people will believe into him, and the Romans will come and they will lift both the place and the nation of us." .49But some one from them, Caiaphas being chief-priest of that year, said to them, "You did not know2 nothing, .50neither do you calculate that it contributes to you in order that one man may die on behalf of the people and the whole nation may not destroy-itself." .51But he did not say this from himself but being chief-priest of that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die on behalf of the nation, .52and not on behalf of the nation only but in order that also the children of God, the (children) having been scattered-throughout2, may be gathered-together into one. .53Therefore from that day they counseled in order that they may kill him.
However, instead of believing into Jesus, some of the people from among the Judeans went away - from the event of Lazarus being raised up alive from being dead - towards the Pharisees (one of the leading religious groups of Judah/Israel claiming to know and teach others about God and the old covenant writings) and told them the things which Jesus did (performed).
Therefore the chief/high priests and the Pharisees gathered-together a council (they assembled a meeting of the Sanhedrin which was Israel's ruling religious council) and during that past time they were saying...
Some one (individual) from among those in this council meeting, Caiaphas being chief/high priest of that year (28 A.D.), said to them...
John the writer of this book informs the readers that Caiaphas did not say this from himself (this information was not away from his own intellectual thought process seeking his own glory; refer to John 7:18) - but on the contrary - being chief/high priest of that year Caiaphas prophesied (he spoke-forth for God to the people in this situation, even though he did not understand the full meaning of what he said nor its outcome).
The chief/high priest was the ruling priest who represented all of the people before God. He was the only priest who was permitted by God to offer sacrifice for the sins of all the people including himself and make atonement once a year entering into the Holy of Holies; refer to Leviticus chapter 16, Hebrews 2:17, and chapters 9 and 10.
In this record of John chapter 11, the chief-priest Caiaphas prophesied that during that past time...
Following-on logically from what the chief-priest Caiaphas said in verses 49 and 50 above, from that day they counseled (gave themselves counsel, deliberately determined, purposefully willed, as members of a council taking counsel from one-another) for the purpose and result that they would kill Jesus.
In verse 47 above, the "council" refers to the "Sanhedrin", the supreme or ruling religious council of the Judean/Israeli nation located at that time in Jerusalem. It was composed of 70 members (including Pharisees and Sadducees), besides the chief/high priest(s), which were selected from former chief/high priests and the heads of the 24 courses of priests.
Caiaphas was the chief-priest appointed by the Romans at that time. He was son-in-law to Annas who had been the chief-priest before the Romans deposed him from that position. Even though Caiaphas was the official chief-priest, from the Judeans’ viewpoint Annas was still the chief-priest, and so they had two (refer to Luke 3:2, John 18:13, and Acts 4:6).
It is true that Jesus died in the place of (instead of) all of mankind dying. He gave himself as the sacrifice required in order to redeem mankind. After God raised him up alive from being dead giving him his new spiritual body with its holy spirit-life - this new life was made available for mankind to receive on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2.
[Reference: Matthew 26:3, 31 and 57; John 1:12 and 13, 6:51, 7:18 and 32, 10:12, 15 and 16, 18:14; Acts 4:6, 10:22; Romans 5:6, 8 and 12-21, 9:8; I Corinthians 12:12-14; Galatians 3:13 and 14; Ephesians 2:15; I Timothy 2:6; Hebrews 2:9, 10:12; I Peter 3:18; I John 2:2, 3:1.]
Verse 54:
.54Therefore Jesus no-longer walked with boldness among the Judeans but he went-away from-there into the country near the desert-place, into a city being said (as) Ephraim, and-there he remained with the learning-disciples.
Following-on logically from what is written in verse 53 above, during that past time Jesus was not walking anymore with boldness (with freedom, frankness and openness of speech) among the Judeans, but on the contrary, he went away from that location into the country (space, area) close to the desert-place (desolate place, wilderness)...
Verses 55-57:
.55But the Passover of the Judeans was near, and many-people ascended into Jerusalem out-from the country before the Passover in order that they may purify themselves. .56Therefore they sought-after Jesus and said with one-another having stood2 in the temple, "What is considered by you - that he may never come into the feast?" .57But the chief-priests and the Pharisees had given commandments in order that if-ever someone may know where he is - he may disclose so-that they may apprehend him.
During that past time, historically, the Passover of the Judeans was close. This Passover is not the same as the one referred to in John 2:13-16 which took place the previous year in 27 A.D. Here in John chapter 11, Jesus knew that he was going to be killed this year 28 A.D. being the sacrificial offering, the Passover Lamb of God - and that God would raise him up alive in 3 days. The time of year that the Passover was sacrificed was on the 14th Nisan in the Judean calendar (some scholars indicate that this date in the year 28 A.D. corresponds to Wednesday, from sunset April 27 to sunset April 28).
A lot of people went up into Jerusalem originating from the country (the surrounding space or area) before the Passover (prior to, in front of, in advance of that feast) for the purpose and result that they would purify themselves (cause themselves to become uncontaminated from God's viewpoint by any bad-thing which may be near-by, in this context it is referring to the Judean rite of purification according to the law of Moses).
Therefore they were looking for Jesus and they were saying in company and association with each other after they stood and continued standing within the temple, "What do you suppose - that he would never come into the feast (again the double negative of the word "never" emphasizes the point – he would not ever go directed to Jerusalem for the celebration of this festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread)?"
The reason for such questions among the Judeans was because the chief-priests (Caiaphas and Annas) and the Pharisees (refer to verses 49 and 50 above) had already given commandments, and the things that were enjoined or commanded by them were still in effect - for the purpose and result that...
Note: Passover
During the old covenant times God instructed the children (sons, descendants) of Israel/Jacob regarding the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (refer to Exodus chapter 12). Usually the people would bake their bread with a small piece of leaven in it, but from the killing and offering in sacrifice of the Passover lamb and during the whole time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread they were not allowed to put any leaven in the dough to make their bread. All of this was a type (pattern) to God's people at that time that the promised seed would redeem and save them from the sin and its consequences as promised by God initially in Genesis 3:15.
Therefore, after the one true and complete sacrifice was made (by the Messiah/Christ giving himself as the sacrifice receiving the right/just consequences of the sin and sins against the only true God), then God's people would no-longer need to offer any other sacrifice because nothing would need to be added-to or taken-away-from them in order to make them acceptable to God. They themselves would not at some future time be permanently killed and burned-up by God’s fire, as their physical sacrifices were when God accepted those physical sacrifices in their place so that they could stay alive.
The true and complete Passover sacrifice, which would be offered once by the Christ, would permanently redeem and save them by making them new – as a new loaf of bread having already been raised-up and therefore not in need of any leaven to raise them up. They would at a future time-period be raised-up by the Christ and given new spiritual bodies. Of course, it is only the people who believe what Jesus said and did who actually receive the blessing.
[Reference: Numbers 9:6-14, 19:11-22; II Chronicles 30:17-20; Matthew 26:2. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (2) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]
