John 11 The Revelation of Resurrection and Life
Identify the author’s message to his original audience., In doing so take the context into consideration (surrounding passages overall theme of the gospel)., Provide references citations and/or brief quotations from the gospel to support your points.,
Identify any keywords (and their meanings) that contribute to the overall message of the passage.,
Briefly suggest how this message can be applied to the message of the Kingdom of God today.
You should consult three to five commentaries, journal articles, Bible dictionaries, etc., to complete this assignment. Include footnotes and bibliography in Turabian format. No cover page is required.
John 11: The Revelation of Resurrection and Life
In John 11, the author presents the miracle of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead as a pivotal revelation of His identity and mission. The original audience—likely a mix of Jewish and Gentile Christians near the end of the first century—would have recognized this event as more than a miracle: it is a sign pointing to Jesus as the source of eternal life and the embodiment of the resurrection. This message is framed within the Gospel’s larger theme: belief in Jesus as the Son of God and the giver of eternal life (John 20:31).
The chapter unfolds in a context of escalating tension between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. In John 10, Jesus faces hostility after asserting His unity with the Father. Chapter 11 not only confirms His divine authority through the climactic sign of raising Lazarus but also catalyzes the leaders’ decision to seek His death (John 11:53). The irony is profound—by giving life, Jesus sets the path toward His own death.
Jesus’ declaration to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), is the theological centerpiece. The Greek word anastasis (ἀνάστασις), meaning “resurrection,” conveys more than a future hope—it is embodied in Christ Himself. Similarly, zoē (ζωή), or “life,” reflects the Johannine concept of eternal, divine life that begins now for the believer. Jesus does not merely grant resurrection; He is resurrection, redefining death not as an end but as a transition for those who believe.
The term believe (Greek: pisteuō, πιστεύω) appears multiple times in the chapter and throughout John’s Gospel. Belief is not intellectual assent but relational trust in Jesus. Martha’s confession—“I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God” (John 11:27)—echoes the Gospel’s thesis and models the desired response of the reader.
This message has enduring relevance for proclaiming the Kingdom of God today. In a world marked by fear of death and despair, the narrative of John 11 asserts that the Kingdom brings hope, not only in the future resurrection but in present participation in the life of God through Christ. Christian communities can embody this message by living as people of hope, offering spiritual and physical resurrection to those experiencing forms of death—be it grief, injustice, or alienation.