Jesus weeps at Lazarus's tomb despite knowing he will raise him, creating the Bible's most paradoxical display of divine foreknowledge paired with genuine human grief.
John 11
The Raising of Lazarus
1Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha.
2It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
3The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, “Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick.”
4But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God’s Son may be glorified by it.”
5Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was.
7Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let’s go into Judea again.”
8The disciples asked him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
9Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
10But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him.”
11He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.”
12The disciples therefore said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
13Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.
14So Jesus said to them plainly then, “Lazarus is dead.
15I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him.”
16Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s also go, that we may die with him.”
17So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.
18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away.
19Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
20Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house.
21Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.
22Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
26Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”
28When she had said this, she went away and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, “The Teacher is here and is calling you.”
29When she heard this, she arose quickly and went to him.
30Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.
31Then the Jews who were with her in the house and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
32Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”
33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled,
34and said, “Where have you laid him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.”
35Jesus wept.
36The Jews therefore said, “See how much affection he had for him!”
37Some of them said, “Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?”
38Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
39Jesus 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.”
40Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?”
41So 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.
42I 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.”
43When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44He 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.”
The Plot to Kill Jesus
45Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did believed in him.
46But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done.
47The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “What are we doing? For this man does many signs.
48If 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.”
49But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
50nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”
51Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
52and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
53So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death.
54Jesus 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.
55Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
56Then 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?”
57Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him.
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Theme
Jesus receives word that his beloved friend Lazarus is gravely ill, but deliberately delays his journey to Bethany for two days, allowing Lazarus to die. When Jesus finally arrives, he comforts the grieving sisters Martha and Mary, declaring himself 'the resurrection and the life' before miraculously raising Lazarus from the dead after four days in the tomb. This extraordinary sign leads many to believe in Jesus, but also prompts the religious authorities to intensify their plot to kill him, with Caiaphas unknowingly prophesying that Jesus must die for the nation.
Context
This pivotal miracle serves as the climactic sign in John's Gospel, directly precipitating the events leading to Jesus's crucifixion in the following chapters.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-6 Jesus Delays Despite Lazarus's Illness Jesus receives news of Lazarus's sickness but intentionally waits two days before departing.
- 7-16 The Journey to Bethany Despite the disciples' fears about returning to Judea, Jesus announces Lazarus's death and their mission.
- 17-27 Jesus Comforts Martha Martha meets Jesus and expresses faith, leading to Jesus's declaration as the resurrection and the life.
- 28-37 Jesus Weeps with Mary Mary and the mourners meet Jesus at the tomb, where he is deeply moved by their grief.
- 38-44 Lazarus Raised from the Dead Jesus commands the stone to be removed and calls Lazarus forth from the tomb alive.
- 45-57 The Plot Against Jesus Intensifies The miracle leads many to believe, but the Pharisees and chief priests plot Jesus's death.
The Raising of Lazarus
11:1–11:44 gospel narration triumphant
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead after four days in the tomb, demonstrating his power over death and revealing his glory. This miracle strengthens the disciples' faith and serves as a sign of Jesus' divine authority.
person_contrast
Jesus weeps at Lazarus's tomb despite knowing he will raise him, creating the Bible's most paradoxical display of divine foreknowledge paired with genuine human grief.
The Plot to Kill Jesus
11:45–11:57 gospel narration
The religious leaders plot to kill Jesus after witnessing his miraculous works, with Caiaphas unknowingly prophesying about Jesus' sacrificial death for the nation. Jesus withdraws from public ministry as the Passover approaches.
person_contrast
Caiaphas's unwitting prophecy transforms Jesus from miracle-worker into sacrificial lamb, marking the only passage where divine authority explicitly merges with substitutionary death.
Insights
Caiaphas's unwitting prophecy transforms Jesus from miracle-worker into sacrificial lamb, marking the only passage where divine authority explicitly merges with substitutionary death.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
John 11:1 2 references
John 11:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
John 12:3 Lexical
Therefore Mary took a pound of ointment of pure nard, very precious, and anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with he…
Luke 7:38 Lexical
Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her h…
Luke 7:44 Lexical
Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for…
Luke 7:46 Lexical
You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
James 5:14 Lexical
Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil i…
John 11:4 2 references
John 11:5 1 reference
John 11:6 2 references
John 11:8 5 references
Lexicals 5
John 10:31 Lexical
Therefore the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
John 8:21 Lexical
Jesus said therefore again to them, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sins. Where I go, y…
John 13:33 Lexical
Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am goin…
Mark 16:7 Lexical
But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He goes before you into Galilee. There you will see him, as he said to you.’”
John 16:17 Lexical
Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t se…
John 11:9 1 reference
John 11:10 1 reference
John 11:13 2 references
John 11:16 2 references
John 11:18 2 references
John 11:19 2 references
John 11:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
John 15:16 Lexical
You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should r…
John 16:23 Lexical
“In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he…
John 4:10 Lexical
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked…
Matthew 7:11 Lexical
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven g…
Luke 11:13 Lexical
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the…
John 11:24 4 references
Lexicals 4
John 6:44 Lexical
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up in the last day.
John 6:54 Lexical
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:39 Lexical
This is the will of my Father who sent me, that of all he has given to me I should lose nothing, but should raise him up…
John 6:40 Lexical
This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; an…
John 11:31 5 references
Lexicals 5
John 20:11 Lexical
But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
John 19:42 Lexical
Then, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day (for the tomb was near at hand), they laid Jesus there.
Mark 6:10 Lexical
He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.
Luke 9:4 Lexical
Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.
Mark 6:33 Lexical
They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and cam…
John 11:32 5 references
Lexicals 5
Mark 6:3 Lexical
Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us…
Matthew 28:6 Lexical
He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying.
Revelation 19:10 Lexical
I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and wi…
Mark 5:22 Lexical
Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet
Revelation 1:17 Lexical
When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me, saying, “Don’t be afraid. I am the fir…
John 11:37 3 references
Lexicals 3
John 9:17 Lexical
Therefore they asked the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a pr…
John 9:32 Lexical
Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.
John 10:21 Lexical
Others said, “These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn’t possible for a demon to open the eyes of t…
John 11:38 1 reference
John 11:40 1 reference
John 11:42 1 reference
John 11:44 4 references
Lexicals 4
Luke 19:30 Lexical
saying, “Go your way into the village on the other side, in which, as you enter, you will find a colt tied, which no man…
Acts 21:11 Lexical
Coming to us and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘So the Jews at J…
Matthew 22:13 Lexical
Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That…
John 13:3 Lexical
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God and was going to God,
John 11:47 2 references
John 11:48 3 references
Lexicals 3
Acts 21:11 Lexical
Coming to us and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “The Holy Spirit says: ‘So the Jews at J…
Romans 4:18 Lexical
Against hope, Abraham in hope believed, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that whic…
Matthew 18:35 Lexical
So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
John 11:49 1 reference
John 11:50 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 5:30 Lexical
If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that…
Matthew 5:29 Lexical
If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that…
John 18:14 Lexical
Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should perish for the people.
Romans 14:15 Lexical
Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Ch…
2 Corinthians 5:14 Lexical
For the love of Christ compels us; because we judge thus: that one died for all, therefore all died.
John 11:51 5 references
Lexicals 5
Hebrews 9:7 Lexical
but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the…
John 18:13 Lexical
and led him to Annas first, for he was father-in-law to Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
Hebrews 9:25 Lexical
nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with blood not hi…
Romans 14:15 Lexical
Yet if because of food your brother is grieved, you walk no longer in love. Don’t destroy with your food him for whom Ch…
Romans 5:8 Lexical
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
John 11:52 2 references
John 11:54 5 references
Lexicals 5
Matthew 14:13 Lexical
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, the…
John 19:20 Lexical
Therefore many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was writte…
Matthew 11:1 Lexical
When Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Matthew 26:18 Lexical
He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Pa…
Matthew 14:15 Lexical
When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send th…
John 11:55 5 references
Lexicals 5
John 2:13 Lexical
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
John 6:4 Lexical
Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.
John 2:23 Lexical
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he…
Acts 25:9 Lexical
But Festus, desiring to gain favor with the Jews, answered Paul and said, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and be…
John 5:1 Lexical
After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
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Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Passover
c. 1446 BCGod's final plague on Egypt, killing the firstborn while 'passing over' Israelite homes marked with lamb's blood. This event secured Israel's freedom and prefigured Christ's sacrificial death.
Religious leaders plot Jesus' death as Passover approaches, timing his sacrificial role.
The Plot to Kill Jesus