11:38-57 “Lazarus, come out!”

March 24, 2021

Read John 11:38-57

Lazarus is raised, though not before we are reminded of Jesus’s deep feeling (38), of the certainty that Lazarus was dead and beyond hope (39), of the importance of believing (40), of the revelation of God’s glory (40), and of Jesus’s confidence that God would answer his prayer (41-42). The prayer was one of thanksgiving so that people would understand that Jesus had come from the Father (42). Similarly, he called Lazarus out of the grave with a loud voice so that all the listeners might know that Jesus is the one who gives life through his word (43-44; 1:1,4).

Many responded to this miracle with faith in Jesus (45) but others reported it to his enemies who recognised that their approach was not working (46-47). Unless some more definite action was taken the end-result would probably be a popular Messianic uprising which would not be tolerated (48; 6:14-15). They did not deny that Jesus had done many miracles but instead of believing in him they were more concerned that a Roman reaction would cause them to lose their own privileges. “Our place” refers to the temple but emphasises that they saw it as their own.

Caiaphas the high priest was in no doubt that Jesus had to die (49-50,53). There is a double irony here. This policy of expediency to save the nation resulted in the judgment that caused its destruction in AD 70. And though Caiaphas did not realise it, God was speaking prophetically through him – Jesus would indeed die for others, to bring people of all nations to God (51-52; 10:15-16; 1 Pet.3:18). But Jesus knew that the time for that would be at Passover, so until then he withdrew (54-57). The scene is set for a final public confrontation in which John will focus on the meaning of Jesus’s death.