John begins by explaining that there was a certain man name Lazarus who lived in Bethany who was sick. Bethany is about two miles east of Jerusalem and on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives on the road to Jericho and the Jordan River. The city of Bethphage was very close to Bethany. Today the city is called Aziriyeh.

           Jesus visited the home of Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha often when in Jerusalem was there three times in the six months prior to the end of His ministry. Jesus had no home or residence and was given the hospitality of John and James who lived in Capernaum when He was in Galilee. While in Judaea, He resided in Bethany at Lazarus's home. He was there during the Feasts of Lights (John 10), when He raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11), and finally for the Passover when Martha prepared the food and Mary anointed the Lord's feet with expensive ointment. (John 12:1-3).

          To properly identify Mary as the one who anointed the Lord's feet as John records in John 12:3. It seems clear that his purpose in mentioning her here and identifying her with the anointing of Jesus's feet was to show how deeply was their love for the Lord.

          What sickness Lazarus had is not mentioned but the concern of his sisters shows it was serious enough to send for the Lord. It was apparent that he was dying. The sisters sent word to Jesus simply saying that Lazarus was sick. By adding the modest statement "whom those lovest" places a subtitle urgency to their situation. They did not make a request, but simply informed the Lord of Lazarus' serious illness. It can be assumed they knew Jesus could heal him and fully trusted the Lord to respond and to help Lazarus as He desired.

           Jesus responded to the news saying the sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God. Jesus meant that although Lazarus would die, but his death was only temporary, in that Jesus brought him back to life. God was using Lazarus' sickness and death to proclaim the glory of God in that Jesus would be gloried when He restored life to His friend. When God is glorified He is praised, honored and worshiped. To glorify means to acknowledge God's love, mercy and grace. It is to recognize the excellency of His being and especially His benevolence toward man. However, in order to glorify, revere, or honor God, the knowledge of God's glory must produce action and have some result in the worshiper's life. God is not vain that He is honored in the words of men, but revered in their seeing His glory as they affect their lives to the result of righteous living. Often we see so-called worship in which the worshipers appear to be in something close to a trance. Their eyes are closed and they are waving their arms rhythmic in air to music.

          However, David defines how to worship and bring glory to God in his psalm in 1 Chronicles 16:7-36. He proclaims worship is giving thanks to God, telling others of His wonderful deeds, singing songs of God's wondrous works, letting one's heart rejoice in the Lord, seeking his strength and will continuously, remembering His works and words, being mindful of His word and promises, bring offerings to Him and being separated from sin. Worship is not some mystical mental exercise of the mind, but of the mind and heart knowing, believing and living as God desires in His righteousness. Worshiping God and bringing glory to Him is being a lighthouse through which God's truth shines before the word. "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." (1 Chronicles 16:29)

          Jesus said we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Matt. 22:39, quoting Lev. 19:19) Yet, we know there is love which is special because it is accompanied with friendship, and affection. Jesus was especially close to Martha, Mary and Lazarus. It is interesting that John mentions it was Mary who anointed the Lord's feet, but in verse five does not mention her name. It seems John mentions Martha by name here not to slight Mary or to show Jesus loved one sister more than the other.

          Instead of rushing to the home of His friends, Jesus remained by the River Jordan for two more days. After the two days had pasted, He told His disciples they were going to Bethany.

          The disciples knew of the danger of the Lord going to Jerusalem and apparently thought this could be the reason He did not immediately travel to Bethany. When Jesus told them they were now going to his friend's home they reminded Him of the threat to His life.

          Jesus then used a parable or illustration to show them that although He was certainly in danger by going to Judea when the scribes and Pharisee sought to kill Him, it was now the proper time. Jesus had stated this earlier when He healed the blind man. "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." (John 9:4) Clearly, God's timing and will were in view. The proper time to work was when the light shined in the day. Further His statement indicates that He was not at the mercy of the Jews, but He went forth in the light of the knowledge that what He was doing was according to God's will. The light He walked in protected Him from stumbling. The other side of this was that if one walks at night, not being able to see his circumstances, he would stumble. If one chooses to walk at night, Jesus said there was no light in them meaning no understanding of his situation. In other word Jesus told His disciples He knew what He was doing.

          Upon finishing His statement Jesus told them that Lazarus slept and He would now go to awake him. Jesus had said Lazarus' illness was to bring glory to God. Now that Lazarus had died, it was time for Him to go to Bethany to accomplish God's will for the sickness. However, the disciples misunderstood Jesus using the term "sleep" for death. They responded, still with the dangerous situation for Christ in Judea on their minds, saying if Lazarus was now sleeping he was recovering so why should they leave. Jesus then plainly told them that Lazarus had died probably, by the word being in the Aorist tense, some time earlier.

          We can surmise that it puzzled the disciples that Jesus knew that Lazarus was dying and had not gone to him. Jesus knowing their thoughts explained that it was a good thing He had not gone earlier. What they were about to witness would strengthen their belief. John records that after they saw the miracle of Jesus restoring Lazarus' life many believed.

          Thomas' statement is puzzling. He is known best as "doubting Thomas" who would not believe Jesus had risen from the grave and said he would only believe until he had touch Jesus' nail scarred hands. Yet, here Thomas clearly shows his devotion to the Lord. He displayed great courage and boldness in committing himself to go to Judea with the Lord and be killed also. This contradiction in behavior is seen in Peter who also said he would die for the Lord and within a short time was vehemently denying he even knew the Lord. (Matt. 26:35, 69-75)

          When Jesus arrived he did not go directly to Mary and Martha's home. John states Lazarus had been buried four days which seem to indicate he died the day his sisters sent the message to Jesus. Lazarus was immediately buried as was the custom in Bible times of the Jews. The scriptures to not say but Lazarus was not embalmed in the sense of opening his body. John 19:39-40 records that Joseph of Arimathaea " . . . brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury." The embalming was only outward done to slow decomposition and the odor. This embalming had only a short period of effectiveness as shown by Martha' statement that Lazarus would be stinking after being in the grave four days. ( John 11:39) The timing of the events suggests that Lazarus died the day the notice was sent. The distance between Bethany and where Jesus was on the Jordan River was about twenty miles and would have taken the messenger a day to reach Jesus. Jesus then remained two more days by the Jordan and then left on the fourth day about a mile and a half outside Bethany (15 furlongs, in 665 ft).

          Many of the family's friends were at their home to comfort them in their lost when Martha heard that Jesus was coming. Although Martha went to meet Jesus, Mary remained in the house. This shows the difference in their personalities. Martha was outgoing, impulsive, and forceful, whereas Mary was more reserved and quiet. Martha rushed to see the Lord, but Mary sat in the house with the mourners seeking to comfort her.

          Both Martha and Mary had the uttermost belief in Jesus as the Messiah and of His power. John records that Mary also made the identical statement in John 11:32. Having lost their brother, they were naturally remorseful at his passing. They expressed their wishful thinking in stating that regretfully if Jesus had come earlier He could have saved their brother. No one should criticize them for their statements as losing a loved one is a difficult thing to bare.

          Martha further showed her faith in Christ stating her hope that Jesus would intervene. She subtlety and wishfully implied that even now the Lord could raise him if He would ask God. Jesus responded stating that Lazarus would rise again, but Martha did not understand that the Lord meant it would happen immediately. She again showed her faith in saying that she knew he would arise at the last day. The Old Testaments saints will be resurrected at Christ's Second Coming at the end of the seven year Tribulation. Martha understood that God's plan was that the present world would come to an end. It would be then that she would see Lazarus again. She absolutely believed in the coming resurrection.

          David knew of the resurrection and took comfort in it. "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalms 16:8-11) The word "hell" is the Hebrew word "sheol" which means the abode of the dead or the grave. In 2 Samuel 12:23 when David's son died he stated that his son could not be restored to him, but that he could go to the son. Clearly, David was speaking of seeing his son in heaven.

          Jesus' statement is profound in that His deity could not be proclaimed in any greater way. He not only states He has the power over life and death, but hat He was the resurrection and life. Only Almighty God has power of life and death as He is the giver and taker of both. In Him is true life and those that believe and receive Him in faith will have everlasting life. This is not simply referring to being alive. The unsaved dead are alive, but they reside in eternity in the everlasting state of death. Only those whom God's gives life can be said to have true life and only those who believe receive life in heaven with the Savior. Paul explains this aspect of the resurrection of believers in 1 Corinthians 15:53-55 "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" (1 Corinthians 15:53-55)

          Jesus asked Martha if she believed this? Her response shows her absolute faith in Jesus. She replied that yes, she believed that He was the Messiah, the Son of God that would come into the world. She affirmed the truth of Jesus' statement by proclaiming He was the Son of God, which meant He had that power because He was their Person.

          Martha, being confident and relieved in Jesus' presence goes to their home and privately telling Mary that Jesus had come and was asking for her. Martha calls Jesus "The Teacher" (didaskalos) which is a title that bestows honor and respect. Mary immediately jumped up and hurried to Jesus.

"Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 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. 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." (John 11:30-32)

          Jesus had not yet gone into the town and Lazarus' home. He remained just outside the town in the same place where H had met Martha. When the mourners saw Mary quickly arise and leave the house they followed her assuming she was going to the grave site to weep. How often have we seen those who mourned for their loved ones kneeing by the grave in deep sorrow?

          When Mary came to Jesus, in an act of humility and love, fell down at His feet. One can picture the scene as she on her knees looks up into Jesus' face, with tears streaming down her cheeks, expresses the hopeless she felt in her brother's death. As did Martha she certainly with compassion expressed her disappointment in telling Jesus if He has been there He could have healed Lazarus.

          The humanity of Jesus' is plainly seen in His response to the scene around Him as too felt the deep hurt and dispar of the mourners in losing their friend and loved one. Grief is the emotion that is hardest to bear. It absorbs the mind and heart and only the pasting of time brings relief. The tragedy of death is overpowering when the one who is passed away was a friend who was deeply loved. The reality of death itself can grip the ones left behind with a deep loneliness that is accompanied a lost of hope. Only in salvation received by faith in Jesus Christ can the soul be truly calmed and hope restored. What a wonderful thing is the death of one of God's saints when we understand they now reside in the very presence of our Lord in heaven.

          The writer of Hebrews reveals the humanity of our Lord saying "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)

          The word "groaned" is the Greek word that refers to "to snort in anger like a horse." The scene of the tragedy of death which is the result of sin brought into the world caused Jesus to react with disdain. Some have suggested that Jesus groaned in His spirit because of His disappointment in His friends seemingly thinking He did not show His love for them in letting Lazarus die. Yes, certainly He was moved by the lack of hope He saw in the mourners. It could also be He was seeing and feeling the pain that sin causes in bringing death. He saw and felt the deep helplessness that those around Him were experiencing. He was " . . . feeling their infirmities." God hates sin and death and it seems it grieved and stirred His heart to witness this despair in the mourners.

          He simply asked "Where have you laid him?" In His compassion and love He moved swiftly to end the pain and turn the mournful scene into one of joy. The word wept means that Jesus burst into tears. Robertson says there is no short verse in scripture but no verse carries more meaning with it. What a compassionate Savior we have when we understand the depth of His love for man. He suffered the shame and torment that we cannot fathom to pay our sin debt that man could be redeemed and delivered from sin and death. His love has no bounds or limits and should bring great comfort to those who believe and are His children.

          The compassion of Jesus was plain to all who were there. As they observed His weeping they said "Behold how he loved him!" Some of them probably responding to the comments of the others made the negative statement that seems to imply Jesus did not love Lazarus enough to save him from death. They if He opened the eyes of the blind couldn't He have healed Lazarus? Always there are those who only see the negative and are quick to point out any failure they see in others. Their comments again cause the Lord to groan in Himself as He came to the grave. The more wealthy Jews buried their dead in caves hewn from the sides of hills made of sandstone. Jesus Himself was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea who was a wealthy man and His tomb was closed with a large stone.

          Jesus then commanded the stone be taken away which was alarming to Martha. She quickly said to the Lord that Lazarus had been dead now for four days and was surely stinking. This again reveals the character of Martha as she seemingly without thinking informed the Lord of what was surely obvious to everyone. She apparently was rebuking the Lord for commanding the stone to be removed. Clearly, she had not understood what Jesus had told her when He said that Lazarus would rise again. Further, though she professed that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah she did not fully comprehend the full reality of the One who stood before her.

          Jesus then reminded her of His earlier statement that He was the resurrection and the life. Martha had not responded directly to His statement, but declared she believed in who He was. Yet, like so many, she did not comprehend the magnitude of who Christ was and of what His statement meant. Jesus said He was the resurrection and life. He was rebuking Martha for not appreciating what this meant in their present circumstances. Yes, Lazarus was dead and his body was in the process of decomposition, but was this too great a matter for the Lord to remedy?

          Further Jesus states the greater purpose of the pending miracle in that in Lazarus' death they would see the glory of God. He had earlier by the Jordan explained to His disciples that his friend's death was for the purpose of glorifying the Son of God. In John 11:4 Jesus says the miracle would glorify the Son of God and in verse 40 that it would glorify God. This again is a plain statement of Jesus' deity and that He was God, come in the flesh.

          Jesus' presence was commanding and those there obeyed His instructions and removed the stone from the cave. He then, standing before this open sepulcher, he lifted His eyes to toward heaven and prayed to the Father. He thanked the Lord that He has heard Him as He always did. It is revealing that Jesus' prayer proclaims an important truth. God always hears our prayers. Jesus said He was praying out loud so the people gathered at the tomb could hear Him and know that what He was about to do showed God the Father had sent Him. Jesus wanted them to fully understand that He did miracles in the power of God the Father, the God they professed to believe and follow.

          Jesus then in a loud voice so everyone there could hear Him, He cried out "Lazarus, come forth." John does not state the details, but simply states that Lazarus came forth bound hand and foot. Lazarus was completely wrapped like a mummy. The word "graveclothes" is the word for a winding sheet. Israel had learned this method of burying the dead the four hundred years they were in Egypt. John mentions that his face was bound with a napkin. It means the napkin was a separate coth that was wrapped around the head. John 20:7 records that Jesus was also bound in graves clothes the same as was Lazarus. Certainly, he could not walk being wrapped completely in sheets. Whether he floated out or how he was transported is not mentioned, but he came forth alive and well.

          The raising of Lazarus could not be disputed. He had died, was buried and was four days wrapped and bound hand and foot in a sealed tomb. Those who where there knew absolutely that they had witnessed a miracle that only God could do. Yet, the miracle done in the power of God was preformed by a man that stood before them. There could be no question that God was directing Him, thus Jesus was glorified before them. Further the miracle authenticated Jesus' message. He was the resurrection and the life and those that believed in Him, though he were death, shall live. (John 11:25) Jesus had the power over death and over life.

          As Jesus had predicted, many then came to Mary and said they believed Jesus was the true Messiah. Paul record of the Jews, "For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom" (1 Corinthians 1:22). Yet, few people witnessed the miracles of the Lord, but down through the Centuries they believed and were saved. Peter proclaimed, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:7-9) Though not present to see the miracle those who have believed God's word have accept the truth and believed on Christ to the saving of their souls.

          How could a person witness this great demonstration of the power of God and then turn and "go their way?" The heart of a man can be most wicked indeed in that no matter what proof they see of the power of God, or understand the great love of our Savior for them, they turn away and do not accept God's grace. Certainly the believed what they saw, but they refused to acknowledge God in doing it. Although some believed, these who rejected the truth they saw and with sin hardened hearts loved their sin more than the "light" they had seen. (See John 3:19-21) To accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, as their true Messiah , would be to have their sins rebuked. Their pride would not allow that so they went to the false teachers and men like themselves to plot how to destroy this Jesus who exposed their hypocrisy and sin.

          When told of this another undeniable proof of the deity of Jesus Christ and that He was the Messiah the chief priests and the Pharisees called the Sanhedrin together in council to determine what they would do. They openly admitted if they did not stop the Lord the people would believe and accept Him as the Messiah. Note their justification offered as to why they must prevent Jesus from continuing. They said that if the Jews received Him as the Messiah the Romans would come and take their "place" away and also their nation. They were obviously not concerned for their nation, because if Jesus was the Messiah He would throw off their Roman oppressors the free Israel. He had healed the lame, the blind and now raised Lazarus from the dead. He had power over the very elements and of the weather and sea. Nothing was too powerful for Him, so would it not be logical that it would be a small thing for Him to destroy the Romans? But they were not interested in being liberated, but rather in maintaining the status quo ("our place") with its privileges which included power and financial gain. It is a sad but a true fact, that most political today are just like these wicked men. They "serve" for the power and wealth it brings them.

          Caiaphas, the high priest's statement in verse 49-10 has been puzzling to many. The understand his statement we must take into consideration the context. The chief priests and the Pharisee of the Sanhedrin under pressure from the people and were worried about the consequences of Jesus' miracles and message as it related to them. They were afraid of the problem Jesus might cause them as they held their positions at the discretion of their Roman conquerors. Israel was looking for a civil Messiah and not a spiritual One. In John 6:15 states this saying "When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone." (John 6:15) The Jews and even His disciples did not see Him as God come to suffer and die for the sins of the world. They saw Him as a national hero with great power and many hoped He would be their liberator and free Israel from its enemies. (Read John 7:1-5)

           Therefore seeing Jesus as a civil Messiah and not really believing He could overcome Roman rule of Israel, they concluded Jesus should be destroyed before He could bring down the wrath of Rome on them. Other "messiahs" had arisen, but the Romans quickly crushed their rebellion. Thus John in verse 51 states Caiaphas predicted that they (they Jewish rulers) would sacrifice Jesus to appease the Romans and thus spare the Jews from Roman reprisals.

          It was John, not Caiaphas who made the statement of verse 52. John inserted this comment, which explain that this would be the result of the high priest's prediction. In other word, John said that Caiaphas' and the Sanhedrin's decision was to put Jesus to death and that His death would be for the Jews in Jerusalem, and those who would believe around the world. (AT Robertson says "The meaning here is not the Diaspora (Jews scattered over the world), but the potential children of God in all lands and all ages that the death of Christ will gather "into one" (eis hen).") In verse 53, the Jewish rulers from that day made the decision to put Jesus to death and in their minds were doing so to save Israel from the Romans."

          "Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 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. And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 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? 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." (John 11:53-57)

          It was the decision of the Sanhedrin was to destroy Jesus and obviously that mean falsely accusing Him and turning Him over to the Romans. Jesus knew of their plot to kill Him and stopped walking openly among the Jews. All things must be done as the Father willed and it was not yet the time. John 7:1 recorded that because of the danger in Galilee He no longer openly walked there and now the same thing had happened in Jerusalem so Jesus left with His disciples to a city named Ephraim. There has been much speculation as to where the city was and some think it was located near Bethel which is to the north of Jerusalem. This area was given to Joseph's son Ephraim as an inheritance and the city was likely located there. However, it is not known sure where the city was, but obviously it was a small out of the way place in the desert. where Jesus would not be exposed to threat of capture by the Jewish leaders.

          Jesus remained there with His disciples until it was the time of the Passover. This was the fourth Passover after Jesus began His public ministry. At the time of the Passover, Jews from all Israel were up to Jerusalem to celebrate this important feast. John mention that they were "up of Jerusalem" noting the detail that Jerusalem was higher in altitude than the rest of the land. One reason for going early was to purify themselves before the actual Passover. These people who lived some distance from Jerusalem did not have the ability to go through the cleansing ceremonies which could not take place at the temple in Jerusalem. There were numerous things that could have deemed them unclean during the time before the Passover such as touching the dead and other things as presented in the Law of Moses. They were required to purify themselves before the participated in the Passover.

          As they had in the past when it was time for the feasts the rulers sought to find Jesus because they knew as a faithful Jew He would come to the Temple for the feast. It seems they waited in the Temple watching and speculating if He would come and ignore the threat against His life. They rules had issued orders, like a warrant that if anyone saw Him they must report where He was.

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