Why did Jesus wait two days before going to help Lazarus?

Jesus’ delay was not coldness or lack of love. The passage clearly says He loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, yet He stayed two more days where He was. By waiting, Lazarus died and had been in the tomb four days, so no one could deny he was truly dead. This set the stage for a greater work. Jesus explains that the sickness and delay were “for the glory of God” and so that the disciples and the crowd “may believe.” God sometimes allows waiting and hardship so that our faith is strengthened and His power is seen more clearly.

What does Jesus mean by I am the resurrection and the life?

When Jesus says, “I am the resurrection, and the life,” He is telling Martha that resurrection is not just a distant event, but is found in Him as a person. He gives life to those who believe in Him. He adds that whoever believes in Him, even if they die, will live, and whoever lives and believes in Him will never truly die. Physical death is not the end for those who trust Him. This saying is tied to what He is about to do with Lazarus and also points to the future hope of believers being raised.

Why did Jesus weep at Lazarus’s tomb?

Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus, yet He still wept when He saw Mary and the others crying. This shows He is deeply moved by human sorrow. The passage says He groaned in His spirit and was troubled, then “Jesus wept.” People watching said, “Behold how he loved him!” His tears show real love and compassion. He does not rebuke them for grieving, but joins them in it. God does not ignore our pain. At the same time, His weeping comes just before He shows His power over death, so love and power appear together.

What is the significance of Lazarus being dead four days?

The detail that Lazarus had been in the grave four days underlines that he was truly dead. Martha even warns Jesus that by that time there would be a bad smell. This removes any thought that Lazarus was only asleep or fainting. When Jesus raises him after four days, it is a clear public sign that He can give life where death is settled and final. Many people from Jerusalem had come to comfort the sisters, so there were many witnesses. This strong proof led many to believe, but it also stirred the leaders to plan Jesus’ death.

Why does Jesus call Lazarus’s death “sleep”?

Jesus first tells His disciples that “our friend Lazarus sleepeth,” meaning he has died. The disciples misunderstand and think Lazarus is just resting, so Jesus then tells them plainly that Lazarus is dead. Calling death “sleep” shows that, in God’s hands, death is not final for His people. Just as a person can be awakened from sleep, Jesus can awaken the dead. This picture fits with what He later tells Martha about being the resurrection and the life. For believers, death is like a temporary sleep before God raises them to new life.

What does this passage teach about God’s timing in suffering?

This story shows that God’s timing may feel slow to us, but it is wise and purposeful. Mary and Martha wanted Jesus to come at once and heal their brother. Instead He waited, and Lazarus died. Yet Jesus explains that the sickness is for God’s glory and that He is glad He was not there, so the disciples may believe. God’s love and His delays are not opposites. He can love someone deeply and still allow pain for a time, using it to show His power and to grow faith. This helps believers trust Him when answers seem late.

Why did some people believe in Jesus and others plot to kill Him after this miracle?

After Lazarus was raised, many who had come to comfort Mary saw what Jesus did and believed in Him. The sign led them to trust that He truly came from God. Others, however, went to the Pharisees and reported what happened. The chief priests and Pharisees feared losing their position and their place with the Romans, so they gathered a council and began to plan Jesus’ death. The same miracle exposed hearts: some were drawn to faith, others hardened themselves and chose to oppose Him, even while admitting He did many works.

Who was Caiaphas and what did he mean about one man dying for the people?

Caiaphas was the high priest that year. In the council he says it is better that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish. On the surface, he is arguing that Jesus should be killed to protect the nation from trouble with Rome. But the passage explains that, without knowing it, he was speaking a kind of prophecy. Jesus would indeed die for the nation, and not only for that nation but also to gather together God’s children who are scattered. God used even the words of a hostile leader to point to Jesus’ saving death.

How can this passage comfort someone facing death or grief today?

This passage shows that Jesus both cares and can act. He loved Lazarus and his sisters, He was moved by their tears, and He wept with them. He did not shame them for grieving. At the same time, He showed that death does not have the last word by calling Lazarus out of the tomb. His words, “I am the resurrection, and the life,” are not only for Martha. They point to the hope of all who believe in Him. When facing death or the loss of a loved one, a believer can cling to His love, His tears, and His promise of life beyond the grave.

John.11.1

John 11:1

KJV

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

The Death of Lazarus

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

2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?

9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.

10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.

13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

Jesus Comforts Martha and Mary

17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.

21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.

30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the Spirit, and was troubled,

34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

Jesus Raises Lazarus

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.

55 And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.

56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?

57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.