Tyndale Open Study NotesJohn 11

The resurrection of Lazarus points to the future death and resurrection of Jesus. The description of Lazarus’s tomb is similar to the description of the tomb Jesus was placed in after he died (11:38, 44; 20:1, 7). Both accounts mention a cave and burial cloths. These details connect the two events and help us see that Lazarus’s story is a sign.

Soon after Lazarus was raised, a woman anointed Jesus for burial (12:3). This act prepared him for his coming death.

Then the time for his glorification began (12:23).

• In the Hebrew language, Lazarus is a shortened form of Eleazar, which means "God helps." In the first century, it was the fourth most common name for Jewish men (see also Luke 16:19–31).

• Bethany was a small village east of Jerusalem, just past the Mount of Olives (John 11:18). Jesus often stayed there when he visited Jerusalem. He likely traveled through Bethany on his way to Jerusalem. This was because most Jews from Galilee took a route going south to Jericho, then west to Jerusalem.

• Mary and Martha were sisters (see Luke 10:38–42). Martha was probably older. She was the host in Luke’s Gospel and represented the family. Mary later anointed Jesus with perfume (John 12:1–8).

The two sisters had a difficult choice to make. They knew Jesus was able to heal, but they also realized that his return to Judea would involve personal risk (11:8).

Jesus responded with words that were similar to his words about the man born blind (9:1–5). Jesus already knew Lazarus was dead (11:14). He was talking about Lazarus's resurrection, which would bring glory to God (11:43).

The trip to Bethany from where Jesus was staying would have taken only one day (see 10:40). However, Jesus followed his own timing and did not let others rush him (2:4; 7:5–9).

The disciples were rightly worried about the risk (see 7:25; 8:37, 44, 59; 10:31, 39).

• Thomas: See also 14:5; 20:24; 21:2; Mark 3:18.

• Let us also go, so that we may die: Thomas knew that earlier visits to Judea had been risky (John 5:18; 10:31, 39). Traveling to Jerusalem now would likely mean death for Jesus (compare 11:49–50).

In Jewish custom at that time, people were usually buried on the same day they died. Families placed the body in a tomb quickly, often within hours.

John tells us that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. This detail is important. It shows that Lazarus was truly dead.

Because four days had passed, this miracle was not a simple resuscitation (bringing someone back who only seemed dead). Jesus did not restore a weak person who might recover. He raised a man who had been dead and buried for several days.

Life in New Testament times was lived publicly. Lazarus’s large extended family, as well as the villagers, had arrived for a seven-day mourning period. To console the sisters in their loss, there was great wailing and crying (see 11:33 and corresponding study note).

Lord, if You had been here: Mary later repeated Martha’s words (11:32), because both sisters knew that Jesus had a reputation as a healer. They concluded that Jesus would have healed Lazarus, but they did not imagine that Jesus would restore him from death.

whatever You ask of Him: Martha believed Jesus could still help in some way. Despite this, she objected when Jesus wanted to open the tomb (11:39). She did not think Jesus would resurrect her brother from the dead.

rise again in the resurrection at the last day: Martha misunderstood Jesus because she thought he meant the general resurrection of all dead people at the end of time (compare 11:11–13).

• Jesus helped Martha believe in him not only as someone who heals, but as someone who defeats death.

• I am the resurrection and the life: Victory over death comes from living in union with Jesus. Although the followers of Jesus will one day die, they will have eternal life after death. For more on the I am statements of Jesus, see the study note on 6:35.

• Do you believe this?: Jesus was not simply asking Martha if he could bring Lazarus out of the grave. Martha already believed that Lazarus would rise again on the last day.

  Instead, Jesus asked a deeper question. Did Martha believe that life itself is connected to him?

• “Yes, Lord”: Even though she did not fully understand, she acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ, God's chosen one. But she was still surprised by his power.

Mary now joined the scene on the edge of the village, repeating her sister’s cry of misery. She fell at the feet of Jesus, not in worship but in desperate grief.

• Loud weeping and crying out were common public displays of grief in this culture, as was beating one's chest (Mark 5:38; Luke 18:13).

• The Greek word translated deeply moved in spirit describes strong human emotion, including outrage or anger. Jesus was not angry at Martha or Mary. Jesus was angry because the situation showed the people’s lack of belief, even though resurrection was real and near.

Lazarus was buried in a tomb cut from the rocky hillside; such tombs were common. The tomb was closed and opened for further burials with a rolling stone that covered the entrance. A central door led to a cave room where burial benches were carved in stone along the inner wall. Horizontal burial chambers were cut along the top edge of the benches.

News of the miracle quickly spread to Jerusalem (12:9, 17). Again, people had different opinions about who Jesus was (6:66–69; 7:43; 9:16; 10:19; 11:37). Jesus was famous in Galilee for healing and raising the dead (see Matthew 9:24–26; 10:8; 11:5). Now he had brought this power to Judea.

The council met to discuss what to do about Jesus. During their discussion, they revealed their fear. They were afraid that everyone would believe in him.

If many people believed that Jesus was the Messiah (God’s chosen one), this could cause political trouble. In that time, the Romans ruled over Judea. They did not tolerate leaders who claimed to be kings.

The Romans viewed Jewish messiahs with suspicion. They feared rebellion. The council worried that the growing movement around Jesus might lead the Romans to attack Jerusalem and destroy the temple.

So their concern was not only religious. It was also political. They feared losing their place, their authority, and even their nation.

Caiaphas was the ruler of the high council from AD 18–36. He worked for ten years alongside Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea (AD 26–36; see 18:29), keeping the peace with Rome.

it is better … that one man die: Caiaphas spoke with clear political intent. He argued that it was better for one man to die than for the whole nation to suffer. He meant that it was better for Jesus, whom he saw as a threat, to die than for Rome to destroy the Jewish people.

Caiaphas viewed Jesus as a possible revolutionary. He feared that Rome would crush the nation if unrest grew. From his point of view, sacrificing one man would protect many.

But his words carried a deeper meaning. Caiaphas did not understand this meaning. In a way he could not see, he spoke the truth. Jesus would die for the people. His death would bring salvation (rescue from sin and separation from God).

John explains that Caiaphas did not speak on his own authority. As high priest that year, he spoke prophetically (as one who speaks a message from God). God used his words to point to the saving purpose of the death of Jesus.

The rescue that God’s people needed was not mainly from Rome. It would come through the cross of Christ.

Christ’s death was not for Israel only, but for all, including people of other cultures all across the world (10:16; 12:32).

• When the Jewish leaders started planning to kill Jesus, Jesus responded carefully (11:54). He did not act in fear, but he acted wisely. He chose to leave the area for a time.

• Ephraim was a village about 19 kilometers (12 miles) north of Jerusalem. Jesus was safe there from the Sanhedrin but close enough to walk to the Passover feast that was happening soon (11:55).

As crowds arrived in Jerusalem on pilgrimage for Passover (see 2:13), the city was buzzing with talk about Jesus and his miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. People wondered if Jesus would be obedient to the law and come to the city to celebrate or play it safe in the countryside. The priests and Pharisees knew that Jesus was faithful to the law and would attend the festival, so they tried to make the city a trap for him.