By Dan Maines

John 11 Paraphrased
Introduction
† This chapter shows the raising of Lazarus, but it is not just about a miracle, it's about revealing Christ as the resurrection and the life in that generation (John 5:25)
† Jesus delays on purpose, showing that God's timing is tied to His glory, not man's urgency
† This event points forward to the greater resurrection reality fulfilled in that generation, when death as a covenant separation was removed (1 Corinthians 15:54)
John 11:1
A man named Lazarus was sick, he was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha
† This sets the stage, Lazarus represents more than an individual, he becomes a sign
† Bethany was close to Jerusalem, placing this event right near the center of coming judgment (John 11:18)
† God often uses real people to reveal spiritual truths
John 11:2
This was the same Mary who would later anoint the Lord with perfume and wipe His feet with her hair, her brother Lazarus was sick
† John connects this to a known act, showing continuity of witness
† This highlights devotion and recognition of Jesus' authority
† The family already had faith, yet still faced suffering
John 11:3
So the sisters sent word to Jesus saying, Lord, the one you love is sick
† Their appeal is based on relationship, not works
† They expected immediate help, but Jesus responds differently
† Love does not always mean immediate relief
John 11:4
When Jesus heard this He said, this sickness will not end in death, but is for God's glory, so the Son of God may be glorified through it
† Jesus reveals the purpose before the outcome
† Death here is not final, pointing to a greater reality
† Glory is the goal, not comfort
John 11:5
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus
† This confirms His delay is not lack of care
† Love sometimes allows hardship for a greater purpose
† God's love works through deeper plans
John 11:6
So when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was
† This delay is intentional
† Jesus is not reacting, He is directing events
† Timing is tied to revelation
John 11:7
Then after this He said to the disciples, let us go to Judea again
† Jesus moves toward danger willingly
† Judea is where opposition is strongest
† This shows His authority over fear
John 11:8
The disciples said to Him, Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone You, and You are going there again
† They are thinking naturally
† Fear of man clouds understanding
† Jesus is not governed by threats
John 11:9
Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in the day, if anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world
† Jesus speaks of divine timing
† Walking in the light means walking in God's will
† There is a set time for everything
John 11:10
But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him
† Darkness represents ignorance and fear
† Without Christ, people stumble
† This applies spiritually, not just physically
John 11:11
He said these things, and after that He said to them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go so that I may awaken him
† Jesus calls death sleep
† This shows His authority over death
† Awakening points to resurrection
John 11:12
The disciples then said to Him, Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover
† They misunderstand again
† Natural thinking misses spiritual meaning
† Jesus speaks beyond the physical
John 11:13
Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep
† Clarifies their confusion
† This shows how often spiritual truth is missed
† Understanding requires revelation
John 11:14
So Jesus then said to them plainly, Lazarus is dead
† Jesus removes ambiguity
† Death is real, but not final
† Truth is sometimes direct
John 11:15
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe, but let us go to him
† His absence served a purpose
† Faith is strengthened through what seems like delay
† Belief grows through revelation
John 11:16
Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, let us also go, so that we may die with Him
† Thomas shows loyalty mixed with fear
† They expected danger
† Their understanding was still limited
John 11:17
So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days
† Four days confirms death was certain
† There is no doubt about the situation
† This magnifies the miracle
John 11:18
Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away
† Close proximity to Jerusalem ties this to coming judgment
† Many witnesses would see this
† This is a public sign
John 11:19
And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother
† Large crowd increases the impact
† This is not hidden
† Witnesses matter in testimony
John 11:20
Martha then, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house
† Martha acts quickly
† Mary remains in grief
† Different responses to pain
John 11:21
Martha then said to Jesus, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died
† She believes in His power
† Yet she limits it to presence
† Faith is growing but incomplete
John 11:22
Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You
† She still has hope
† She recognizes His authority
† Faith is mixed with uncertainty
John 11:23
Jesus said to her, your brother will rise again
† Jesus speaks truth directly
† This points to resurrection
† But she misunderstands timing
John 11:24
Martha said to Him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day
† She holds a future expectation
† This reflects common belief
† But Jesus shifts it to present reality
John 11:25
Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life, the one who believes in Me will live even if he dies
† Resurrection is not just an event, it is a person
† Life is found in Him
† This is fulfilled in that generation
John 11:26
And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die, do you believe this
† This speaks of spiritual death
† Believers are no longer separated from God
† This is covenant life
John 11:27
She said to Him, yes Lord, I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who comes into the world
† She confesses truth
† Recognition of identity is key
† Faith is growing
John 11:28
When she had said this, she went away and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, the Teacher is here and is calling for you
† She shares the message
† Jesus calls individuals personally
† This reflects invitation
John 11:29
And when she heard it, she got up quickly and was coming to Him
† Mary's response is immediate
† Hearing leads to action
† Faith responds
John 11:30
Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him
† He remains outside
† Timing and movement are intentional
† Everything unfolds by design
John 11:31
Then the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, when they saw that Mary got up quickly and went out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there
† The crowd continues to follow
† More witnesses are gathered
† This is building toward revelation
John 11:32
Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him and fell at His feet, saying to Him, Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died
† Same words as Martha
† Shows shared belief
† Yet still limited understanding
John 11:33
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled
† Jesus enters into human sorrow
† He is not detached
† Compassion is real
John 11:34
And He said, where have you laid him, they said to Him, Lord, come and see
† He invites them into the moment
† Action follows compassion
† He engages directly
John 11:35
Jesus wept
† Short but powerful
† Shows true humanity
† He shares in grief
John 11:36
So the Jews were saying, see how He loved him
† They recognize His love
† His emotions are visible
† Love is demonstrated
John 11:37
But some of them said, could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind, have also kept this man from dying
† Doubt enters
† People question His power
† Unbelief is present
John 11:38
So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb, now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it
† The tomb represents death
† The stone represents finality
† Jesus approaches both
John 11:39
Jesus said, remove the stone, Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days
† She focuses on decay
† Natural thinking again
† Jesus moves beyond it
John 11:40
Jesus said to her, did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God
† Faith precedes sight
† Glory is revealed through belief
† Trust is required
John 11:41
So they removed the stone, then Jesus raised His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me
† Public prayer
† Shows unity with the Father
† This is for the witnesses
John 11:42
I knew that You always hear Me, but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me
† This is for their faith
† Jesus reveals His mission
† Belief is the goal
John 11:43
When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out
† Authority over death
† His voice gives life
† This is a command, not a request
John 11:44
The man who had died came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth, Jesus said to them, unbind him, and let him go
† Life restored
† Others participate in freeing him
† This shows transition from death to life
John 11:45
Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him
† The sign leads to belief
† Witness produces faith
† This fulfills purpose
John 11:46
But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done
† Others reject
† Truth divides
† Opposition grows
John 11:47
Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, what are we doing, for this man is performing many signs
† They acknowledge the signs
† Yet refuse to believe
† Hardness of heart
John 11:48
If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation
† Fear of losing power
† Self-interest drives rejection
† This reveals their motives
John 11:49
But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, you know nothing at all
† Leadership speaks arrogantly
† They think politically
† Not spiritually
John 11:50
Nor do you take into account that it is better for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish
† He unknowingly prophesies
† Christ would die for the people
† This is substitution
John 11:51
Now he did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation
† God uses even enemies
† Truth comes through unexpected means
† This confirms purpose
John 11:52
And not for the nation only, but also in order that He might gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad
† This includes the nations
† Unity in Christ
† Fulfillment of gathering
John 11:53
So from that day on they planned together to kill Him
† Decision is made
† Rejection is complete
† Judgment is coming
John 11:54
Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there He stayed with the disciples
† He withdraws
† Timing continues
† The final moments are approaching
John 11:55
Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves
† The setting is Passover
† This connects to His sacrifice
† Timing is exact
John 11:56
So they were seeking for Jesus, and were saying to one another as they stood in the temple, what do you think, that He will not come to the feast at all
† Expectation builds
† The people are watching
† Tension rises
John 11:57
Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where He was, he was to report it, so that they might seize Him
† Opposition is organized
† The plot is set
† This leads directly to the cross
Historical References
† Josephus records the tension in Jerusalem leading up to its destruction, showing how leadership rejected truth and sought control
† Eusebius wrote that the signs of Jesus were widely known and contributed to both belief and opposition
† Irenaeus affirmed that Christ's works revealed life overcoming death, pointing to the greater fulfillment
† Clement of Alexandria taught that Christ's works were signs of spiritual truths, not just physical events
How It Applies To Us Today
† We trust God's timing even when it seems delayed
† We understand that life in Christ means no separation from God
† We walk in the light, not fear
† We see that belief brings life now, not just in the future
† We recognize that Christ already fulfilled resurrection life
Q & A Appendix:
Q: What does Lazarus represent
A: He represents the power of Christ over death and points to the greater resurrection reality fulfilled in that generation (John 5:25)
Q: Why did Jesus delay
A: To reveal God's glory and strengthen belief (John 11:4, 15)
Q: What does it mean that Jesus is the resurrection
A: It means life is found in Him, not in a future event (John 11:25-26)
Q: Why did some believe and others reject
A: Because truth reveals hearts, some respond in faith, others in fear (John 11:45-46)
Q: What does this teach about death
A: That in Christ, death is no longer separation from God (1 Corinthians 15:54)
† This is the fulfilled perspective we proclaim at Fulfilled Prophecies †
© Fulfilled Prophecies - Dan Maines.
Source Index
† John 11
† Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
† Irenaeus, Against Heresies
† Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History
† Clement of Alexandria, Stromata