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Author: Stephen Weller
519 words, 3 minutes read time

Jesus Arrives In Bethany

Scripture: John 11:17-22

In the previous lesson we reviewed the previous major section. With this lesson we begin the next major section of only two sections. Jesus and the disciples have finally arrived at Bethany.

^{Jn 11:17} “Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. ¹⁸ Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, ¹⁹ and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.”

A comment was made in lesson H521 that Lazarus died at about the time Jesus received the message of his illness. After receiving the message, Jesus waited two days and then left for Bethany. Considering the distance of about 21 miles and the type of terrain, we will assume that two days were spent in travel. Allowing two days would prevent them from arriving late in the day and make it more convenient for everyone. From all the activities recorded on the day Jesus arrived, he must have arrived during the morning of the fourth day.

Our text tells us that Lazarus had been dead four days; two days while Jesus waited and two days of travel. Therefore, I believe Lazarus died just after Jesus received the message about the illness of Lazarus.

A footnote in the ESV Study Bible suggest that it was important that Lazarus be dead four days before Jesus raises him from the dead. The reason given was that some believed that the soul hovered over the body for a period of three days, hoping to reenter it. If the body remained dead, it would give up and depart. Lazarus having been dead for four days removes any possible connection to that belief.

Since Bethany was a short walk from Jerusalem, “many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.” Their presence also brought an increased threat to Jesus.

^{Jn 11:20} “So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. ²¹ Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”’

Someone apparently recognized that Jesus was coming and went to inform Martha. She then leaves Mary seated in the house and goes to meet Jesus and mildly rebukes him for not being there when Jesus was ill. If he had been, Martha reasons that he would have healed him preventing his death. She then adds a rather puzzling statement: “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” What might she be thinking? Did she believe Jesus might raise Lazarus from the dead? Verse 24 seems to suggest not.

Conclusion

Lazarus is dead, Jesus has arrived, and Martha is a little upset with Jesus for not taking better care of Lazarus. She believed Jesus should have been there to prevent her brother’s death.