John 11 with explanation of its verses

If there is one passage that speaks to us about hope in the midst of despair, it is John 11. Here we see Jesus facing death head-on, not only with power but with love and compassion. The story of Lazarus is not just another miracle in Jesus’ ministry; it is a profound declaration of who He is and what it means to trust in His timing and plans.

Join me on this journey, where we will experience this story as if we were there—feeling the pain of Martha and Mary, the astonishment of the disciples, and the glory of the moment when death bows before the voice of Christ.

John 11 Complete

John 11

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

(It was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”

When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Now Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus.

So when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.

Then after this, He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and You are going there again?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.”

“But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

After saying these things, He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to wake him.”

Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”

However, Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought He was referring to natural sleep.

So Jesus then told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”

“And I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Then Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

When Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away.

And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.

Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went out to meet Him, but Mary stayed 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 again.”

Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.”

“And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.”

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him.

Now Jesus had not yet come into the town but was in the place where Martha had met Him.

Then the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, when they saw that Mary quickly rose and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”

Then when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying, “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 also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled,

and He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

But some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

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.”

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.”

“I knew that You always hear Me, but because of the people standing here I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

Now when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”

And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him.

Explanation of John 11

A News That Changes Everything

“Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.” (John 11:1)

Here, we are introduced to the main characters: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha—a family close to Jesus. This is important because it shows us that Jesus was not a stranger to their pain; He truly loved them.

Lazarus’ illness was not just a physical problem; it was a test of faith that his sisters never expected to face. How many times have we found ourselves in situations we didn’t ask for or understand?

A Plea with Faith, But Urgent

“The sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, ‘Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.'” (John 11:3)

How beautiful. They don’t say, “Lazarus is sick,” but “the one You love.” Martha and Mary were not only trusting in Jesus’ power, but in His love.

When we pray, we often think we need to give God details and explanations. But this verse teaches us something crucial: when we come to Him, we do so as His beloved children.

God Always Has a Greater Plan

“When Jesus heard this, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.'” (John 11:4)

Jesus already knew what He was going to do. But imagine being Martha or Mary at that moment. From their perspective, everything was falling apart.

This verse reminds us that God sees beyond the present moment. We see the storm, but He already sees the rainbow after the rain.

When God Seems to Be Late

“So when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” (John 11:6)

Jesus waits. He doesn’t rush, He doesn’t panic. And this must have been confusing for everyone. Why wait if He could heal Lazarus instantly?

Here’s the message: God is never late, even when it feels like He is. His timing is perfect, even when it’s hard for us to understand.

If you’ve ever felt like God isn’t answering your prayers right away, it doesn’t mean He has forgotten you. It means He is working in a way that is even greater than you imagine.

Jesus, the Only One Who Can Change Everything

“Then after this, He said to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judea again.'” (John 11:7)

Jesus decides to go, despite the danger ahead. Here, we see His courage, His commitment to His mission, and His love for Lazarus and his family.

When God acts in our lives, He doesn’t do it halfway. He isn’t afraid to face chaos, pain, or even death itself. He steps into our battles and gives us victory.

Final Reflection: What John 11 Teaches Us Today

The story of Lazarus is more than just an astonishing miracle. It carries a powerful message for us when we face loss, doubt, and seasons of waiting.

1. Jesus loves us deeply.

When we suffer, we are not alone. Jesus weeps with us, walks with us, and holds us up.

2. His timing is not our timing.

Even when we don’t understand why God delays, we can trust that His plan is greater.

3. No situation is impossible for God.

Lazarus had been dead for four days, yet Jesus called him back to life. If He could do that, there is no problem in our lives too big for Him to handle.

4. Faith is strengthened in trials.

Martha and Mary learned something even greater than witnessing a miracle: they learned to trust Jesus even in their pain.

How Do We Apply This to Our Lives?

If today you are waiting for a miracle, if you feel like God is not responding, don’t lose faith. John 11 reminds us that the story is not over yet.

Jesus still has the power to bring life where there is death, hope where there is despair, and light where there is darkness.

Trust Him. Even when it seems like everything is lost, God has the final word.