New Testament Commentary - John 11

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 11 Jesus testifies he is the resurrection and the life—Mary and Martha testify of him—He raises Lazarus from the dead—Caiaphas speaks prophetically of the death of Christ.
1 NOW a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister ^aMartha. 2 (^aIt was that Mary which anointed the ^bLord with ^cointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the ^aglory of God, that the Son of God might be ^bglorified thereby. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?		1^a D&C 128:20; 2^a Mark 9:2 (2-13); Luke 9:29 (28-36); John 1:14; 2 Pet. 1:16 (16-19); TG Jesus Christ, Glory of;
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man ^awalk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may ^aawake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall ^ado well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may ^abelieve; nevertheless let us go unto him. 16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with ^ahim. 17 Then when Jesus came, ^ahe found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen ^afurlongs off: 19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will ^agive it thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the ^aresurrection, and the ^blife: he that ^cbelieveth in me, though he were ^edead, yet shall he ^elive: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never ^adie. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the ^aSon of God, which should come into the world. 28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. 32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he ^aloved him!
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a ^astone lay upon it. 39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the ^aglory of God? 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I ^athank thee that thou hast heard me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast ^asent me^a.	42^a that they may believe that thou hast sent me Now many of the Jewish leaders had been demanding of Jesus a sign that he was who he purported to be. Now then this was the time and the sign to be given conspicuously before all present that he indeed had the power of God over death. But as is the nature of signs, some would believe because of it but many would have eyes and ears and still not yet see nor hear. That is to say they would still reject even that sign which they had supposedly sought after of him. And they would against all logic, continue to harden their hearts against him to seek his life in death.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, ^aLazarus, come forth. 44 And he that was ^adead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a ^bnapkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
47 ¶ Then gathered the chief ^apriests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many ^amiracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, *all men* will believe on him^a: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation^b**.	*48^a all men* will believe on him So great were the miracles and works of Jesus now that all would come to believe on him if he were allowed to continue. It did not matter to the Pharisees in respect to the truth of the matter, but they were more concerned with their own status, living and existance and what how it did threaten them. 48^a the Romans shall come and take away borth our place and nation The men of 'priestcraft', the governing and ruling of the people to gain their own position and living rather than to the giving of true service, would proceed to do whatever they thought it would take to maintain the status quo of their positions held and ruler over the people. In this they did hold the Jews in that rut of captivity to a corrupt form of Jewish government to the ends of their own benefit with no concern for the true and real benefit of the people. They saw in it that 'their place**' would be taken away and the nation of the Jews as they had come to rule over it. Thus to their own design and benefit, they would seek to remove the threat, Jesus, whether or not he indeed was the promised Messiah, the Son of God; for they of themselves had chosen to ignore the 'signs' of the marvelous works which did testify so plainly concerning him.
49 And one of them, named ^aCaiaphas, being the ^bhigh priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should ^adie for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should ^agather together in one the ^bchildren of God that were scattered abroad.
53 Then from that day forth they took ^acounsel together for to put him to ^bdeath. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
55 ¶ And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to ^apurify themselves. 56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? 57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.