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In this lesson:
Jesus arrives in Bethany and consoles two grieving sisters. Study Tip: The Bible can be complex, so it helps to study more than one translation. As you read each lesson, scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below. Also check the margin notes in blue and click on the links. |
"Jesus wept." (11:35)
By the French artist Jacques Joseph Tissot (1836-1902). |
The Gospel According to St. John
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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John 11:17-37
"I am the resurrection." 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? |
Margin notes:
"Four days." (11:17) - Ancient Jewish belief held that the soul stayed with the body for three days after death. By the fourth day, the body would begin to decompose, and the soul would move on. "Nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off." (11:18) - Means, "near Jerusalem, about two miles away " "Mary sat still in the house." (11:20) - "Mary stayed at home." "Whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee." (11:22) - Spoken by Martha out of faith that Jesus can do anything. "He shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day." (11:24) - Just as Jesus promised in John 5:28-29 and confirmed in Acts 24:15; Philippians 3:21; and 1 Thessalonians 4:14. "I am the resurrection." (11:25) - Proclaiming His deity, this is the fifth of seven times Jesus declares Himself "I Am." The first was "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35) followed by "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12), "I am the door" (John 10:7), and "I am the good shepherd" (John 10:11). Look for the remaining two coming up in John. "He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." (11:25) - Here, Jesus is telling us that we are saved through faith. "I believe that thou art the Christ." (11:27) - "Martha believed in the power at the disposal of Jesus Christ, she believed that if He had been present He could have healed her brother; she also believed that Jesus had a peculiar intimacy with God and that whatever He asked of God, God would do." (My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio) "Groaned in the spirit." (11:33) - Means "was deeply moved." "Jesus wept." (11:35) - This is the shortest verse in the Bible and one of the most poignant. But this was not the only time Jesus wept (Luke 19:41; Hebrews 5:7). |
New Living Translation
John 11:17-37
17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.
18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem,
19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss.
20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.
21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask."
23 Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day."
25 Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.
26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?"
27 "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God."
28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, "The Teacher is here and wants to see you."
29 So Mary immediately went to him.
30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him.
31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus's grave to weep. So they followed her there.
32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.
34 "Where have you put him?" he asked them.
They told him, "Lord, come and see."
35 Then Jesus wept.
36 The people who were standing nearby said, "See how much he loved him!"
37 But some said, "This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?"
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.
18 Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem,
19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss.
20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house.
21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.
22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask."
23 Jesus told her, "Your brother will rise again."
24 "Yes," Martha said, "he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day."
25 Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.
26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?"
27 "Yes, Lord," she told him. "I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God."
28 Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, "The Teacher is here and wants to see you."
29 So Mary immediately went to him.
30 Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him.
31 When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus's grave to weep. So they followed her there.
32 When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died."
33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him, and he was deeply troubled.
34 "Where have you put him?" he asked them.
They told him, "Lord, come and see."
35 Then Jesus wept.
36 The people who were standing nearby said, "See how much he loved him!"
37 But some said, "This man healed a blind man. Couldn't he have kept Lazarus from dying?"
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (11:25-26)
"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." (11:32)
"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." (11:32)
Today's Question:
1. Did Jesus weep over Lazarus' death? (11:35)
"The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible."
American evangelist and publisher Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899).
1. Did Jesus weep over Lazarus' death? (11:35)
"The Bible will keep you from sin, and sin will keep you from the Bible."
American evangelist and publisher Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899).
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. No, there was no need for Jesus to cry over Lazarus' death. He knew that in a few minutes, Lazarus would live again. Jesus wept because the tears of the mourners moved Him. Jesus cares for us and hurts when we hurt. He is not a detached God unfazed by our sorrow, disappointment, distress, or problems. Because Jesus is God and was born human, He understands us. He feels and wants to ease our suffering (Hebrews 4:15-16). When we cry, Jesus cries.
Application thought for the day:
What does this segment teach about the resurrection and eternal life?
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