John 11: “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”
1. The Illness of Lazarus
“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.” (Jn 11:1)
Bethany means “house of affliction,” a fitting stage for divine compassion.
The family of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary symbolises the household of faith — friendship with Christ made personal and domestic.
St Bede the Venerable writes:
“In Martha’s service, Mary’s contemplation, and Lazarus’s sickness, we see the active, contemplative, and suffering states of the Church.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.17)
The friendship of Christ with this family teaches that sanctity begins in relationship, not in performance.
2. “Lord, He Whom You Love Is Ill”
“So the sisters sent to Him, saying, ‘Lord, he whom You love is ill.’” (v. 3)
They appeal not to Lazarus’s merits but to Christ’s love.
Prayer should rest upon God’s goodness, not our worth.
St Augustine comments:
“They did not say, ‘He who loves You,’ but ‘He whom You love,’ for healing depends more on His mercy than our affection.”
(Tractates on John 49.5)
Intercession becomes pure when it invokes love rather than entitlement.
3. “This Illness Is Not Unto Death”
“When Jesus heard it He said, ‘This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’” (v. 4)
Christ speaks not denial but prophecy: death will occur, yet it will not have the last word.
The sickness becomes stage for revelation.
St Bede remarks:
“Christ delays that He may increase faith; He allows death that He may show resurrection.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.17)
Every suffering in the believer is meant for glory, not waste.
4. The Divine Delay
“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that Lazarus was ill, He stayed two days longer in the place where He was.” (vv. 5–6)
Love delays — a mystery that tests faith.
What seems neglect is divine preparation.
St Augustine writes:
“He loved, therefore He delayed; for greater miracles require greater patience.”
(Tractates on John 49.7)
God’s timing sanctifies desire: hope stretched becomes mature faith.
5. The Return to Judea
“The disciples said to Him, ‘Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?’” (v. 8)
Fear counsels caution; love commands courage.
Christ walks knowingly into danger because salvation demands it.
“Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble.” (v. 9)
St Bede interprets:
“The twelve hours are the fullness of divine will; whoever walks within God’s appointed time cannot fall.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.17)
Christ, the true Light, never stumbles; He moves within the Father’s hour.
6. “Our Friend Lazarus Has Fallen Asleep”
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” (v. 11)
Death is called “sleep” in the mouth of the Lord — because for Him, it is reversible.
The disciples misunderstand literally; Christ reveals spiritually.
St Augustine says:
“To men he was dead; to the Lord he was asleep. To the One who could awaken him, death was but slumber.”
(Tractates on John 49.11)
In the Christian vocabulary, death loses its finality.
7. “Let Us Go to Him”
“Then Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’” (v. 16)
Thomas, often remembered for doubt, here shows devotion.
His courage foreshadows martyrdom.
St Bede observes:
“Love, though imperfect, urges Thomas to die with his Master; later, perfected by faith, he confesses Him as Lord and God.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.17)
Even imperfect courage pleases Christ when directed toward Him.
8. Martha Meets Jesus
“Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’” (v. 21)
Faith mingled with reproach — yet still faith.
Martha believes in Christ’s power but limits it to presence.
“But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” (v. 22)
Hope persists beyond disappointment.
St Augustine notes:
“Martha’s words are the prayer of the tried soul — not despairing, but uncertain how God will help.”
(Tractates on John 49.14)
Faith that questions is still faith when it clings.
9. “Your Brother Will Rise Again”
“Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’” (vv. 24–25)
Christ turns future hope into present reality.
He does not merely promise resurrection; He is it.
St Ambrose writes:
“He says not, ‘I will be the resurrection,’ but ‘I am’; for the life that raises is already within Him.”
(On the Holy Spirit II.11)
Resurrection is not an event but a Person.
“He who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (v. 25)
Faith unites the soul to immortal life now.
10. “Do You Believe This?”
“She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.’” (v. 27)
This is one of the fullest confessions of faith in the Gospel, second only to Peter’s.
Martha’s theology outstrips her understanding — she speaks greater truth than she knows.
St Bede comments:
“The confession of Martha equals that of Peter; both confess the same faith, one at the tomb, the other by the sea.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.17)
The same Spirit speaks through every believer’s “Yes, Lord.”
11. Mary’s Tears
“When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw Him, she fell at His feet, saying, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’” (v. 32)
Mary’s words echo Martha’s, but posture transforms them — she falls at His feet.
Grief becomes worship.
“When Jesus saw her weeping… He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” (v. 33)
St Augustine writes:
“He who made Mary weep weeps with her; for He is both God who raises and man who pities.”
(Tractates on John 49.20)
Compassion is the glory of the Incarnation.
12. “Jesus Wept”
“Jesus wept.” (v. 35)
The shortest verse, yet the deepest theology.
Here is divine sympathy in human tears.
St Bede remarks:
“He wept not for Lazarus, whom He would raise, but for all mankind dead in sin.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.17)
Christ’s tears baptise human sorrow; grief becomes prayer when shared with Him.
13. “See How He Loved Him”
“The Jews said, ‘See how He loved him!’ But some said, ‘Could not He who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’” (vv. 36–37)
Love is misunderstood when measured by prevention rather than purpose.
The miracle is delayed not for lack of power but for revelation of glory.
St Augustine notes:
“They judge by healing, not by resurrection; but the Lord delays that He may give greater proof of love.”
(Tractates on John 49.22)
Divine love often appears weakest when it is working most powerfully.
14. “Take Away the Stone”
“Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to Him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odour, for he has been dead four days.’” (v. 39)
The command to remove the stone demands faith’s cooperation.
Christ could have rolled it away Himself, yet He invites human obedience.
St Bede explains:
“He who will raise the dead asks men to remove the stone, that our part may be faith and His part power.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.17)
Faith removes obstacles; grace brings life.
15. “Did I Not Tell You That If You Believed You Would See the Glory of God?”
“So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.’” (vv. 41–42)
Christ prays aloud not for Himself but for us.
His thanksgiving reveals perfect union with the Father.
St Augustine writes:
“He prays as man, commands as God; thanksgiving is His humanity, command is His divinity.”
(Tractates on John 49.24)
The miracle is dialogue between Son and Father, overheard by the world.
16. “Lazarus, Come Out!”
“He cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’” (v. 43)
The Word that made the world now calls a dead man by name.
This command anticipates the final resurrection.
St Ambrose teaches:
“He called one by name, lest all should rise; for such power lay in that voice that, had He not named Lazarus, the graves would have opened everywhere.”
(On the Mysteries 31)
The voice of Christ penetrates death itself.
17. “Unbind Him and Let Him Go”
“The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth.” (v. 44)
The miracle is complete, yet participation continues: the community must unbind.
Grace raises; the Church releases.
St Bede the Venerable remarks:
“He raises the dead, but He gives to the Church the ministry of loosing; the sacraments untie what the voice has raised.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.17)
Confession and absolution fulfil this command in every age.
18. Belief and Plot
“Many of the Jews who had seen what He did believed in Him, but some went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.” (vv. 45–46)
Miracle divides: faith and fear respond differently.
The raising of Lazarus leads directly to the decision to kill Christ.
St Augustine notes:
“They plot His death for giving life; envy is the tomb of the living.”
(Tractates on John 49.27)
The sign that proves divinity provokes hatred.
19. Caiaphas Prophesies
“It is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation should not perish.” (v. 50)
Unwittingly, the high priest speaks divine truth: Christ’s death will save all.
Human malice becomes instrument of redemption.
St Bede comments:
“The priest spoke of political safety; the Spirit spoke of eternal salvation.”
(Homilies on the Gospels, I.17)
The prophecy of murder becomes prophecy of mercy.
20. Theological Summary
| Theme | Revelation |
| Lazarus’s illness | Suffering permitted for glory |
| Christ’s delay | Love tested and faith deepened |
| “I am the Resurrection” | Divinity revealed in person |
| Tears of Jesus | True humanity and compassion |
| Raising of Lazarus | Prelude to Christ’s own Resurrection |
| “Unbind him” | Ministry of the Church through the sacraments |
St Augustine summarises:
“Lazarus signifies the sinner; Jesus loves, weeps, calls, and raises — that is, He pities, intercedes, commands, and justifies.”
(Tractates on John 49.28)
21. Moral and Spiritual Application
Trust divine delay. God’s “not yet” is never “no.”
Pray on the basis of love, not merit. “He whom You love is ill.”
Weep with Christ. Compassion sanctifies grief.
Remove the stone. Cooperate with grace by faith and repentance.
Unbind others. Participate in Christ’s mercy by forgiving and reconciling.
22. Christ the Resurrection and the Life
| Event | Fulfilment |
| Lazarus raised | Christ’s victory over death |
| Tears at the tomb | God sharing human sorrow |
| Command “Come out” | The final call at the Last Day |
| Unbinding | The Church’s sacramental ministry |
| Caiaphas’s prophecy | Redemption through the Cross |
St Ambrose concludes:
“He who raised another’s body by a word raises our souls by grace; the same voice that called Lazarus from the tomb calls the sinner from his sin.”
(On the Mysteries 31)
23. Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Resurrection and Life,
You wept at the tomb of Your friend
and called him from death by Your mighty word.
Look with mercy upon our weakness,
speak Your command of life into our sin and sorrow,
and make us new by Your Spirit’s power.
Unbind us, Lord, that we may walk in freedom
and proclaim Your glory to the world,
who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
St. Mary's, St. John Bosco and St. Edward's 