John 11: The Resurrection and the Life
Exploring Faith and Miracles in the Gospel of John
John Chapter 11
The Raising of Lazarus
Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill.
So the sisters sent word to him, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.”
When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was.
Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?”
Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.”
So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.”
But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep.
So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died.
And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe. Let us go to him.”
So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him.”
Jesus the Resurrection and the Life
When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away.
And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother.
When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home.
Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
[But] even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.”
Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.”
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live,
and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
Jesus Weeps
When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The teacher is here and is asking for you.”
As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him.
For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him.
So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there.
When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and deeply troubled,
and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”
And Jesus wept.
So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.”
But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?”
Lazarus Raised to Life
So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me.
I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”
And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.
But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we going to do? This man is performing many signs.
If we leave him alone, all will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our land and our nation.”
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing,
nor do you consider that it is better for you that one man should die instead of the people, so that the whole nation may not perish.”
He did not say this on his own, but since he was high priest for that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation,
and not only for the nation, but also to gather into one the dispersed children of God.
So from that day on they planned to kill him.
So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples.
Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before Passover to purify themselves.
They looked for Jesus and said to one another as they were in the temple area, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast?”
For the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should inform them, so that they might arrest him.
Commentary on John Chapter 11
The Raising of Lazarus: This miracle is the climax of Jesus' signs in John's Gospel, demonstrating his power over life and death and foreshadowing his own resurrection. It reveals Jesus as the source of life and the one who brings God's glory to light.
Jesus the Resurrection and the Life: Jesus' declaration to Martha that he is the resurrection and the life is a profound statement of his divine identity and mission. It emphasizes that belief in Jesus brings eternal life, transcending physical death.
Jesus' Compassion: Jesus' weeping at Lazarus' tomb shows his deep compassion and humanity. It highlights his empathy with human suffering and his love for his friends.
The Plot to Kill Jesus: The raising of Lazarus intensifies the opposition to Jesus, leading to the plot to kill him. Caiaphas' unwitting prophecy about Jesus' death for the nation points to the salvific purpose of Jesus' mission.
Catechism References for John Chapter 11
CCC 994: Discusses the resurrection of the dead and Jesus' role as the source of resurrection and life, reflecting his declaration to Martha.
CCC 640: Reflects on the signs of Jesus' resurrection, including the raising of Lazarus as a precursor to Jesus' own resurrection.
CCC 1030-1032: Explores the concept of purgatory and the final purification, relating to the themes of life, death, and resurrection.
Applying John Chapter 11 to Daily Life
Trust in Jesus' Power: Reflect on Jesus' power over life and death and trust in his ability to bring new life to seemingly hopeless situations. Pray for the grace to believe in his promises and to experience his life-giving presence.
Embrace Compassion: Follow Jesus' example of compassion by showing empathy and love to those who are suffering. Be present to others in their times of need and offer support and comfort.
Live with Hope: Let the promise of resurrection and eternal life shape your perspective on life and death. Live with hope and confidence in Jesus' victory over death, and share this hope with others.
Stand Firm in Faith: Like Martha, profess your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. Be willing to witness to your faith, even in the face of opposition or misunderstanding.
Action Plan
Reflect on Faith in Difficult Times:
Read the account of Lazarus' illness, death, and resurrection (John 11:1-44).
Reflect on the faith demonstrated by Mary, Martha, and the disciples, even in the face of grief and uncertainty.
Consider how you can strengthen your faith during challenging times, trusting in Jesus' timing and power.
Contemplate the Promise of Resurrection:
Focus on Jesus' declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25-26).
Reflect on the significance of this promise and what it means for your understanding of life, death, and eternal life.
Meditate on how the hope of resurrection can influence your perspective on current struggles and future expectations.
Experience the Compassion of Jesus:
Observe Jesus' compassion and empathy, as shown in His interactions with Mary and Martha and His weeping at Lazarus' tomb (John 11:33-36).
Reflect on how you can embody this compassion in your relationships with others, offering support and empathy to those in need.
Identify specific actions you can take to show compassion and kindness in your community or personal life.
For a deeper exploration of this topic, check out the podcast where the hosts will dive into this article.