John 11

King James Version

Full text for John Chapter 11

1¶ Now a certain [man] was sick, [named] Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

2(It was [that] Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

4When Jesus heard [that], he said, ‹This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.›

5Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

6When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

7Then 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?

9Jesus answered, ‹Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk 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.›

11These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, ‹Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.›

12Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14Then 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 believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.›

16Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

17¶ Then when Jesus came, he found that he had [lain] in the grave four days already.

18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

19And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat [still] in the house.

21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give [it] thee.

23Jesus saith unto her, ‹Thy brother shall rise again.›

24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25Jesus said unto her, ‹I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:›

26‹And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?›

27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

28And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

29As soon as she heard [that], she arose quickly, and came unto him.

30Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

31The 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.

32Then 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,

34And said, ‹Where have ye laid him?› They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

35Jesus wept.

36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

37And 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?

38Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39Jesus 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.

40Jesus saith unto her, ‹Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?›

41Then they took away the stone [from the place] where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up [his] eyes, and said, ‹Father, I thank 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 sent me.›

43And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, ‹Lazarus, come forth.›

44And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. 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.

46But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

47Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

48If we let him thus alone, all [men] will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

49And one of them, [named] Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

53Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

54Jesus 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.

55And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

56Then 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?

57Now 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus, upon hearing of his friend Lazarus's sickness, intentionally delays his arrival in Bethany. When he finally comes, Lazarus has been dead for four days. After comforting Martha and Mary and declaring himself "the resurrection, and the life," Jesus miraculously calls Lazarus forth from the tomb, raising him from the dead. This profound sign leads many to believe, but also prompts the chief priests and Pharisees to plot Jesus's death.

Medium Summary

Lazarus of Bethany, a beloved friend of Jesus, falls ill, prompting his sisters Martha and Mary to send for the Lord. Jesus, however, delays his journey for two days, stating that the sickness is for God's glory. Upon arriving in Bethany, Jesus finds Lazarus has been in the grave for four days. Martha confronts Jesus, expressing her belief in his power, to which Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection, and the life." Mary also expresses her grief, and Jesus, deeply moved, weeps. At the tomb, despite Martha's concern about the stench, Jesus commands the stone to be removed, prays to the Father, and then calls Lazarus forth alive. This astonishing miracle causes many Jews to believe, but it also incites the Sanhedrin to convene, where Caiaphas prophesies that one man should die for the nation, leading to a decision to put Jesus to death.

Long Summary

The chapter begins with Lazarus of Bethany, brother to Mary and Martha, falling gravely ill. His sisters send word to Jesus, emphasizing his love for Lazarus. Jesus, upon hearing the news, declares the sickness is "not unto death, but for the glory of God," and deliberately remains where he is for two more days. He then proposes returning to Judea, despite his disciples' concerns about the Jews seeking to stone him. Jesus explains his purpose metaphorically, speaking of Lazarus "sleeping" before plainly stating, "Lazarus is dead," and expressing gladness for his disciples' sakes that he was not there, so they might believe. Upon Jesus's arrival in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead and buried for four days. Martha, meeting Jesus outside the town, expresses her sorrow that he was not present to prevent her brother's death, yet affirms her belief in his power. Jesus proclaims, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." Mary, called by Martha, likewise falls at Jesus's feet, repeating her sister's lament. Witnessing her grief and that of the accompanying Jews, Jesus is deeply moved and weeps. At the tomb, a cave with a stone, Jesus commands its removal, despite Martha's protest about the body's decay. Lifting his eyes to heaven, Jesus thanks the Father for hearing him, stating he speaks for the sake of the bystanders, that they might believe. He then cries with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth," and the dead man emerges, still bound in graveclothes, which Jesus commands them to loose. This extraordinary miracle leads many Jews to believe in Jesus, but others report it to the Pharisees. The chief priests and Pharisees convene a council, fearing that all men will believe in Jesus and the Romans will intervene. Caiaphas, the high priest, prophesies that it is expedient for one man to die for the nation, and not only for that nation but also to gather God's scattered children. From that day, they plot to kill Jesus, who consequently withdraws to Ephraim, avoiding public appearance as the Passover approached, while authorities sought to apprehend him.

Core Concepts

  • Lazarus's ResurrectionJesus intentionally delays his arrival, allowing Lazarus to die and be buried for four days, demonstrating his power over death by raising him to life through a miraculous command.
  • Jesus as the Resurrection and the LifeJesus declares himself the source of life and resurrection to Martha, asserting that belief in him grants eternal life, even in the face of physical death.
  • The Glory of GodJesus states that Lazarus's sickness and death are ultimately for the glory of God, to be revealed through the Son, which is fulfilled in the miraculous raising of Lazarus.
  • Jesus's CompassionDespite knowing he would raise Lazarus, Jesus is deeply moved by the grief of Mary and the accompanying Jews, groaning in spirit and weeping, demonstrating his profound empathy.
  • Belief and DoubtThe miracle of Lazarus's resurrection prompts many to believe in Jesus, while others, witnessing the same event, report him to the authorities, leading to increased opposition.
  • Caiaphas's ProphecyThe high priest, Caiaphas, unwittingly prophesies that it is expedient for one man to die for the nation, and not only for that nation but also to gather God's scattered children, leading to the Sanhedrin's decision to put Jesus to death.
  • The Sanhedrin's PlotFearing the political implications of Jesus's growing popularity and miracles, the chief priests and Pharisees convene a council and conspire to kill Jesus, believing it necessary to preserve their nation and position.