John 11
BSASBJesus’ friend Lazarus falls ill and dies, and Jesus deliberately delays before going to Bethany. At the tomb He declares Himself the resurrection and the life, weeps with the grieving, and calls Lazarus out alive. The greatest of His signs then pushes the leaders to decide on His death.
John 11:1-2
John introduces Lazarus, a man from Bethany, the home of Mary and Martha. He mentions Mary’s anointing of Jesus, which he describes before it is told, because his readers already know the story. Jesus had real friends and a real home among them.
BSA: sick (“weak, feeble”): The word pictures a person without strength, helpless in the face of illness.
See also: John 12:1-3.
John 11:3
The sisters do not make a demand. They simply report the need and rely on His love. “The one You love” shows that Lazarus is known by Jesus’ love, not by his own merits. It is a model of simple prayer.
BSA: love (“have a strong affection for”): This is warm personal friendship, not distant goodwill.
John 11:4
Jesus says this sickness will not finally end in death. Its purpose is that God’s glory be seen and the Son glorified. Lazarus will die, yet death will not have the last word. Jesus sees suffering within a larger purpose.
BSA: glory (“honor, praise”): The illness becomes a stage on which God’s honor and power are displayed.
See also: John 9:3.
John 11:5-6
John stresses that Jesus loved the family, and then says He stayed two more days. The delay is not neglect. Love sometimes waits, because it has a greater good in view than immediate relief. This can steady anyone whose prayers seem unanswered.
BSA: loved (“showing esteem and goodwill towards”): His love for them is settled and active, even when His timing puzzles them.
Greek: ἠγάπα (ēgapa, G25) — “was loving.” The verb describes a steady, continuing love, not a passing feeling. It was true throughout the delay.
John 11:7-8
Jesus proposes going back to Judea. The disciples object, since the Jews had just tried to stone Him there. They fear for His life, and for their own. Jesus is heading toward danger knowingly.
See also: John 10:31.
John 11:9-10
Jesus speaks of a day with twelve hours of light. While God’s appointed time lasts, He can walk safely. Those who walk without the light stumble. He is the light of the world, and following Him means not stumbling.
BSA: stumble (“trip, fall spiritually”): Walking without the light brings more than a bruise; it is spiritual ruin.
See also: John 8:12.
John 11:11-13
Jesus calls death sleep. For Him, death is something He can wake a person from. Believers have long spoken of death this way because of Him. The disciples take Him literally and think sleep means recovery.
BSA: fallen asleep (“sleeping in death”): Death is described as sleep, a state from which Jesus can rouse a person.
Greek: κεκοίμηται (kekoimētai, G2837) — “has fallen asleep.” The word is a common picture of death in the New Testament. It suggests rest, with a waking still to come.
See also: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14.
John 11:14-15
Jesus now speaks plainly: Lazarus is dead. He is glad He was not there, not because He is unmoved, but because the coming miracle will strengthen their faith. Faith grows when we see Him act in what looked like loss.
BSA: believe (“trust, have faith”): The goal is deeper trust in Him, not just knowledge of a miracle.
John 11:16
Thomas speaks with grim loyalty. He expects death in Judea, yet he will go with Jesus anyway. His courage is mixed with gloom, but it is real. Jesus accepts such imperfect devotion.
BSA: die (“stop living, pass away”): Thomas truly expects to die, and still chooses to go.
John 11:17-19
Lazarus has been in the tomb four days, so his death is beyond doubt. Bethany is under two miles from Jerusalem, so many mourners had come from the city. Jewish mourning customs involved several days of visiting and comfort.
BSA: console (“to comfort, to encourage”): The visitors came to bring comfort, which shows how well-loved the family was.
John 11:20-22
Martha goes out to meet Jesus while Mary stays home. Her words are honest, half complaint and half faith. She says that even now she knows God will give Him whatever He asks. Honest grief and trust can be brought to Jesus together.
See also: Luke 10:38-42.
John 11:23-24
Jesus promises that her brother will rise. Martha affirms the common Jewish hope of a resurrection on the last day. It is true belief, but far off and for later. Jesus is about to bring it near.
BSA: rise again (“come to life again”): The promise is of real bodily life, not a vague survival.
See also: Daniel 12:2.
John 11:25-26
Jesus turns the hope into a person: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Those who trust Him will live though they die, and those living in Him will never ultimately die. Life beyond death is found in knowing Him, not just in a future event.
BSA: believes (“trusts, has faith”): The word means resting one’s whole weight on Him, not merely agreeing with facts.
Greek: ἀνάστασις (anastasis, G386) — “standing up again.” The word means a rising up from death. Jesus says He Himself is this rising, not just the one who brings it.
See also: John 5:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22.
John 11:27
Martha answers Jesus’ question with a clear confession. She names Him the Christ, the Son of God, the One who was to come. She may not grasp what He is about to do, but she knows who He is.
BSA: Christ (“Messiah, Anointed One”): She names Him God’s promised King, the One long awaited.
See also: Matthew 16:16.
John 11:28-30
Martha quietly tells Mary that the Teacher is calling for her. Mary rises at once. Jesus waits outside the village, where Martha met Him. He calls His own by name and they come.
BSA: quickly (“without delay, swiftly”): Mary responds immediately, with no hesitation, to His call.
John 11:31-32
The mourners think Mary is going to weep at the tomb and follow her. She falls at Jesus’ feet and says the same words as Martha. Her grief is raw and her place is at His feet, as it has been before.
BSA: fell (“prostrated herself”): She casts herself down in grief and reverence at once.
See also: Luke 10:39.
John 11:33
Seeing the weeping, Jesus is deeply stirred and troubled. The words suggest strong inward emotion, even a kind of anger or shuddering, probably at the pain and ruin death brings. He enters fully into human sorrow.
BSA: deeply moved (“troubled, stirred up”): A strong inner stirring, deeper than polite sympathy.
Greek: ἐνεβριμήσατο (enebrimēsato, G1690) — “snorted, was stirred with strong feeling.” The word was used for the snort of a horse or a stern rebuke. It shows deep, intense emotion, not calm sorrow.
John 11:34-35
Jesus asks where they laid Lazarus, and they invite Him to come and see. Then comes the shortest verse in many English Bibles: Jesus wept. The Son of God is not detached from our grief. He shares in it.
BSA: wept (“shed tears”): This is quiet weeping, with tears running down, unlike the loud wailing of the others.
Greek: ἐδάκρυσεν (edakrusen, G1145) — “shed tears.” This word is different from the loud wailing used of the mourners. It points to quiet tears.
See also: Hebrews 4:15.
John 11:36-37
Some onlookers see His love in His tears. Others ask why the One who opened a blind man’s eyes did not prevent this death. The question is fair, and Jesus is about to answer it in a way no one expects.
See also: John 9:1-7.
John 11:38-40
Jesus again is deeply moved as He comes to the cave tomb sealed with a stone. He orders it removed. Martha objects that the body will smell. Jesus reminds her of His promise that believing leads to seeing God’s glory.
BSA: stone (“a literal rock, a barrier”): The stone stands for the final barrier that seems to close every door.
John 11:41-42
Jesus looks up and thanks the Father for hearing Him. He speaks openly so that the crowd will know the Father sent Him. His constant union with the Father is the source of His power. He does not strain to pray; He thanks.
BSA: sent (“appointed, dispatched”): He comes as the Father’s representative with a commission.
See also: John 5:19-20.
John 11:43-44
Jesus calls Lazarus by name in a loud voice, and the dead man walks out, still wrapped. Jesus tells those standing by to unwrap him and let him go. He gives life, and then His people share in setting others free.
BSA: bound (“tied, restricted”): The grave clothes hold Lazarus even after he lives, a picture of what still clings to those given new life.
Greek: δεῦρο ἔξω (deuro exō, G1204) — “come here, outside.” It is a short, direct command, like calling someone to come out of a room. Death must obey the voice.
See also: John 5:28-29.
John 11:45-46
The same miracle divides people. Many who saw it believed. Others hurried to the Pharisees to report. Clear evidence does not force belief; hearts respond differently to the same sign.
BSA: believed (“trusted, had faith”): Many put their trust in Him after seeing the sign.
John 11:47-48
The council gathers and admits Jesus is doing many signs. They do not deny the miracles. They fear that popular belief in Him will provoke Rome to destroy their temple and nation. Political worry blinds them to the truth.
BSA: signs (“miracles, supernatural tokens”): They are pointers to who He is, not just wonders.
John 11:49-50
Caiaphas, the high priest, speaks bluntly. He means that it is useful to sacrifice one man to save the nation from Rome. His motive is political and cold, but his words carry a meaning he does not intend.
BSA: die (“to stop living, pass away”): He speaks of Jesus dying in place of the people, though he means it as political convenience.
John 11:51-52
John explains that, as high priest that year, Caiaphas spoke more truly than he knew. Jesus would die for the nation, and also to gather God’s scattered children from everywhere into one. God can work His purpose even through hostile words.
BSA: scattered (“dispersed, spread abroad”): God’s children are found far apart, and He will gather them into one. gather (“bring together, unite”): His death creates one people out of many.
See also: John 10:16; Ephesians 2:14-16.
John 11:53-54
From then on the leaders plot His death. Jesus withdraws with His disciples to Ephraim, near the wilderness. He does not flee in fear; He waits for His appointed hour.
BSA: plotted (“took counsel”): They made a formal decision to put Him to death.
See also: John 7:30.
John 11:55-57
Passover is near and pilgrims gather in Jerusalem to purify themselves. They wonder whether Jesus will dare appear, while the leaders have ordered that anyone who knows where He is must report it. The stage is set for the true Passover Lamb.
BSA: purify (“make clean, cleanse”): Pilgrims prepared ritually before the feast, while the true cleansing was about to come through Jesus.
See also: John 1:29.