John 11:3 kjv
Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
John 11:3 nkjv
Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."
John 11:3 niv
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."
John 11:3 esv
So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."
John 11:3 nlt
So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, "Lord, your dear friend is very sick."
John 11 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| John 11:4 | When Jesus heard this, he said, “This illness does not result in death, but in the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” | Jesus' purpose in suffering |
| John 11:32 | When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” | Martha's confession |
| John 11:34 | “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. | Jesus' compassion |
| John 11:38 | Jesus, once more deeply moved, went to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone lying across the entrance. | Jesus' emotional response |
| John 11:40 | Then Jesus told him, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” | The power of belief |
| John 11:43 | When he had said this, Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” | The resurrection |
| John 1:14 | The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. | Glory of God demonstrated |
| John 12:27 | “Now my soul is troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.” | Jesus' divine purpose |
| John 13:1 | Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come that he should depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. | Jesus' enduring love |
| John 19:26 | When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing by, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” | Jesus' personal love |
| Romans 8:28 | And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. | God's purpose in all things |
| 1 Corinthians 1:18 | For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | The power of God |
| Hebrews 4:15 | For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. | Jesus' empathy |
| Hebrews 12:2 | Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. | Jesus' perspective |
| Philippians 2:8 | And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! | Jesus' obedience |
| Revelation 1:8 | “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” | God's sovereignty |
| Luke 22:42 | “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” | Submission to God's will |
| Acts 4:24 | When they heard this, they all joined their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.” | Acknowledging God's power |
| Psalm 139:1-4 | You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You scoop me up and down, you know my resting place and my coming and going. Even before a word is on my tongue, you, Lord, know all about it. | God's omniscience |
| 1 Samuel 16:7 | But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” | God's perspective on man |
| John 2:25 | He did not need anyone to testify about others, for he knew what was in each person. | Jesus' knowledge of hearts |
| John 11:11 | After he had said this, he went on. “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I will go to wake him up.” | Jesus' intentionality |
| John 11:5 | Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. | Jesus' deep affection |
John 11 verses
John 11 3 Meaning
This verse highlights the profound love and concern Jesus had for his friends, Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. It reveals Jesus' emotional response to their suffering and his deliberate decision to stay two more days, not out of ignorance, but to ultimately bring greater glory to God and demonstrate his power over death.
John 11 3 Context
This verse is situated within John's Gospel, specifically in the narrative of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Jesus receives a message that Lazarus, whom he loved dearly, is gravely ill. The sisters, Martha and Mary, have sent word to Jesus, implicitly expecting his intervention. The preceding verses (John 11:1-3) describe this message reaching Jesus. The subsequent verses will detail Jesus' reaction and his purposeful delay in going to Bethany. Historically, this event occurs towards the end of Jesus' ministry, amidst increasing opposition from religious authorities, making his actions and public displays of power highly significant and contentious.
John 11 3 Word analysis
- Now Jesus (Nyn de Ioannou): Introduces a shift in the narrative, connecting to the preceding information about the message.
- loved (ēgapa): This Greek verb (agapao) signifies a deep, selfless, and abiding love. It's the same kind of love God has for humanity (John 3:16) and the love Jesus asks his disciples to have for one another (John 13:34).
- Martha (Marthan): Refers to one of the sisters of Lazarus.
- and her sister (kai tēn adelphēn autēs): Denotes Mary, the other sister.
- and Lazarus (kai Lazaron): Refers to their brother, who is the subject of the illness.
- when therefore (hote oun): Connects Jesus' understanding of the situation to his subsequent actions. It implies a logical consequence based on the prior information.
- he heard that (akousas hoti): Indicates Jesus received the news of Lazarus's sickness.
- he was ill (astăneí): Implies sickness or weakness, the extent of which was known to the messengers.
- he stayed (emine): Jesus remained in his current location.
- two days longer (eti duas hēmeras): This is a crucial point. It signifies a deliberate delay. Jesus could have gone immediately, but he chose not to.
John 11 3 Bonus section
The deliberate delay by Jesus also serves to build anticipation within the narrative and emphasizes that true faith is not contingent on immediate answers but on trust in God's timing and purpose. This is further amplified in the ensuing dialogue where Jesus contrasts temporal death with eternal life. The depth of Jesus' love is also foreshadowed in John 13:1, where it's stated that Jesus loved "his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end," a commitment evident even in the face of sorrow and death.
John 11 3 Commentary
This verse is pivotal as it reveals Jesus’ profound emotional connection to Lazarus and his sisters, demonstrating his personal affection and care. The love expressed here (agapao) is not mere sentiment but a powerful, active love. Jesus' decision to wait two additional days after hearing of Lazarus's illness, while seemingly causing further suffering for Mary and Martha, was a purposeful strategic decision. This delay was not due to ignorance of the situation but a divine calculus. It allowed Lazarus's condition to progress to death and burial, thereby setting the stage for an even more spectacular demonstration of Jesus' power over death. This intentionality underscores the theme in John's Gospel that Jesus' actions often serve a higher, redemptive purpose, ultimately glorifying God the Father and revealing Jesus' divine authority. His willingness to engage with human suffering and death directly, while holding ultimate power over it, highlights both his humanity and his divinity.