John 11 41

John 11:41 kjv

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

John 11:41 nkjv

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

John 11:41 niv

So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.

John 11:41 esv

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.

John 11:41 nlt

So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me.

John 11 verses

John 11 41 Meaning

John 11:41 details the pivotal moment before Lazarus's resurrection when the stone is removed from the tomb. Jesus, in a profound act of intimate fellowship and divine authority, publicly lifts His eyes to heaven and gives thanks to God the Father for having already heard and granted His prayer concerning Lazarus. This prayer is not a plea for a future act but an expression of gratitude for a present reality, showcasing Jesus' unique relationship with the Father, His foreknowledge of divine will, and His absolute confidence in God's power. It serves as a public declaration that the impending miracle originates directly from the Father, thereby bringing glory to God and solidifying faith in Jesus.

John 11 41 Context

John chapter 11 narrates the dramatic events surrounding the death and resurrection of Lazarus. Jesus receives news of His friend Lazarus's illness, yet delays His arrival, deliberately allowing Lazarus to die so that God's glory might be revealed. Upon reaching Bethany, Jesus encounters Martha and Mary, both expressing sorrow and mild reproach that Jesus did not come sooner. He comforts Martha with the declaration, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25), challenging her to believe. The tension builds as Jesus moves to the tomb, a cave sealed with a stone. Despite Martha's practical objection about the decaying body, Jesus insists the stone be removed, reiterating His promise of seeing God's glory. This sets the stage for the public prayer in verse 41, where Jesus addresses the Father directly, establishing divine approval and authority before performing the miracle that follows in verse 43. Historically and culturally, a sealed tomb signified finality; rolling away the stone was a public defiance of this finality, preparing for a divine intervention previously unthinkable.

John 11 41 Word analysis

• So: Indicating a consequence or an action taken in response to Jesus' prior command in verse 39 ("Take away the stone").
• they: Refers to those present whom Jesus commanded, likely men as removing a heavy stone from a tomb entrance was a substantial task.
• took away: Greek: αἴρω (airo), meaning to lift, take up, or remove. This was a direct physical action of obedience to Jesus' command.
• the stone: The physical barrier sealing Lazarus's tomb, representing death's finality and the practical obstacle to accessing the deceased. Its removal signifies overcoming human limitation in preparation for divine action.
• And: A simple connective, indicating the next action in the sequence.
• Jesus: The central figure, Son of God, acting with divine authority and human compassion. His name underscores His identity and mission.
• lifted up His eyes: Greek: ἐπῆρεν τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς (epēren tous ophthalmous). This is a common and significant posture for prayer in Jewish tradition, signifying directing one's petition or attention heavenward to God. It highlights a conscious address to the divine.
• and said: Introduces a spoken declaration, making Jesus's prayer public and intentional, meant for both the Father and the witnessing crowd.
• "Father,": Greek: Πάτερ (Pater). This intimate address reveals Jesus' unique and profound relationship with God. It emphasizes His divine sonship and perfect communion with God, setting His prayer apart from others. It is not merely a title but an expression of deepest reverence and filial love.
• "I thank You": Greek: εὐχαριστῶ (eucharisto). This is a statement of gratitude, not a petition. It signifies that Jesus is not asking for something He is unsure will happen, but expressing appreciation for an answered prayer. This reveals His foreknowledge and unity with the Father's will. It preempts the miracle with a recognition of God's prior work.
• "that": Conjunction connecting the thanksgiving to its specific cause.
• "You have heard": Greek: ἀκήκοάς (akēkoas), a perfect active indicative of ἀκούω (akouo). This perfect tense is crucial; it implies that the hearing and granting of the prayer are already accomplished and have continuing effects. Jesus is giving thanks for a prayer already granted in the divine economy, not a request currently being made. This demonstrates His perfect attunement to the Father's will and power.
• "Me.": The object of the Father's hearing, highlighting the personal and direct nature of their divine interaction.

Words-group analysis:

• "So they took away the stone.": This physical action of obedience demonstrates human participation in preparing for divine work. It's a pragmatic step required despite theological objections, showcasing the need to clear obstacles (both physical and mental) for God's power to operate.
• "And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said,": This public, visible gesture of prayer immediately prior to the miracle underscores the divine source of the power, ensuring that those present understand the event is from God, not from human conjuring.
• "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.": This entire clause is a powerful declaration of Christ's perfect communion with the Father. It reveals His foreknowledge and assurance that the Father always answers Him. This isn't a prayer of begging or doubt, but of thanksgiving for a divine reality already established. It teaches about the nature of powerful, faith-filled prayer — aligning with God's will and giving thanks for what is already done or will be done by Him.

John 11 41 Bonus section

• The public nature of Jesus' prayer, made audible to the surrounding crowd, served not only as a personal communication with the Father but also as a powerful teaching moment and witness for the unbelieving and the disciples. It clarifies that the upcoming resurrection is an act of divine power, not magic or human sorcery.
• The contrast with Martha's previous objection regarding the smell (v.39) amplifies the divine power about to be displayed. Her human rationality is directly confronted by Jesus' divine certainty and thanksgiving, moving the narrative from a logical human problem to a divine solution.
• This verse provides a crucial insight into the mechanics of Jesus' miracles: they were performed in perfect unity with the Father's will and power, not merely by Jesus' personal, independent power as an individual. This underlines the Trinitarian nature of the divine action.

John 11 41 Commentary

John 11:41 marks a pivotal moment in the Lazarus narrative, underscoring the deep theological truths embedded in the forthcoming miracle. Jesus' instruction to remove the stone, despite Martha's protest, demands an act of faith and obedience from the bystanders, making them active participants in preparing for God's glory. His prayer then transcends human supplication. By "lifting up His eyes," Jesus publicly directs attention to heaven, asserting the divine origin of His power. His intimate address, "Father," highlights His unique sonship and direct communion. Crucially, Jesus gives thanks for an already-heard prayer, revealed by the perfect tense in "You have heard Me." This is not a plea but an expression of certain faith and pre-knowledge of the Father's will and immediate answer. It solidifies that Jesus acts not independently, but in perfect unity and dependence on the Father, ensuring that the miraculous raising of Lazarus will unequivocally redound to God's glory and serve as an undeniable sign pointing to Jesus' identity as the Son of God, the Resurrection and the Life. This approach also demonstrates a paradigm for prayer where, even in desperate situations, believers can approach God with gratitude, knowing He hears and acts according to His perfect will. For practical application, this verse teaches that genuine faith often involves proactive obedience (removing the stone), public declaration of dependence on God, and giving thanks for answered prayers, even before the physical manifestation, demonstrating full trust in His timing and purpose.