John 11:36-57

In John’s gospel this is a pivotal story. It is the last of the miracles that John includes, and it is so powerful that it turns the tide once and for all against Jesus.

Vv 36 – 44. Now we see why the delay and the fact that Lazarus has been dead for four days matters. In Jewish thinking the soul stayed near the body for three days but after that, as decomposition began, it would depart. There was no hope of resuscitation (Ps.16:10). This resurrection of the dead points to the final resurrection that is yet to come (John 5:28-29).

Vv 45-57 The miracle has two effects, for many who saw what happened it produced faith that Jesus was the Messiah, but for others it creates a determination that he had to die. The Sanhedrin  are afraid that everything could be lost if people follow Jesus. Caiaphas makes the extraordinary statement that it is better for one man to die for the nation, that all be destroyed. John comments that he didn’t know the truth of what he said. From here on Jesus is a marked man and tensions build as the Passover approaches.

Response: Choose a word, phrase, idea or action that strikes you as significant at this moment in your life and spend a few minutes reflecting on it. As we have now reached the half way point in our reflections it might be useful to go back and reflect on your thoughts on this journey so far.