*John 11:37-57
Witnessed by doubters, Jesus raises Lazarus from the tomb four days after his death.
- Criticism and Approach to the Tomb:
- Some onlookers criticize Jesus, wondering why he didn’t prevent Lazarus’s death since he had healed the blind.
- Deeply moved again, Jesus approaches Lazarus’s tomb, which is sealed with a stone.
- Command to Remove the Stone:
- Jesus instructs that the stone be removed, but Martha expresses concern due to the smell after four days.
- Jesus reminds her that if she believes, she will see God’s glory.
- Prayer and Miracle:
- Jesus offers a prayer of thanks to God, acknowledging that his actions are for the benefit of those witnessing, so they may believe he was sent by God.
- He calls out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” and Lazarus emerges, still wrapped in grave clothes.
- Jesus instructs those around to remove the burial cloths and let Lazarus go.
- Reactions to the Miracle:
- Many who witnessed the miracle believe in Jesus.
- Others go to the Pharisees and report the event, leading to a meeting of the chief priests and Pharisees.
- Council’s Decision:
- The Sanhedrin, troubled by the rising influence of Jesus, fears that his following may provoke Roman intervention and jeopardize their nation and position.
- Caiaphas, the high priest, argues that it’s better for one man to die than for the whole nation to perish, unknowingly prophesying Jesus’s sacrificial death.
- From that day, they actively plot to kill Jesus.
- Jesus Retreats:
- Aware of the conspiracy, Jesus retreats to a region near the wilderness, staying in the village of Ephraim with his disciples.
- Anticipation of Passover:
- As the Jewish Passover approaches, people seek Jesus in Jerusalem, speculating whether he will attend despite the rising threat.
- The chief priests and Pharisees issue orders for anyone who knows Jesus’s whereabouts to report it, ensuring his arrest.
John 11:37-57 reminds us that God’s power is greater than anything we face. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, showing that nothing is impossible for Him. However, some people refused to believe, even after witnessing a miracle. This teaches us that faith is a choice—we can trust in Jesus or let fear and doubt keep us from Him. It also reminds us that following Jesus may not always be easy, but His truth and love are worth it. No matter what challenges we face, we can trust that God is in control and working for our good.
John 11:37-57 (WEB)
11:37 Some of them said, “Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?”38 Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?”41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me. 42 I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude standing around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth.Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.”45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. 47 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “What are we doing? For this man does many signs. 48 If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” 51 Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death. 54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples.55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. 56 Then they sought for Jesus and spoke with one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that he isn’t coming to the feast at all?” 57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him.