John Gill

The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep.

“The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling,.... And has no propriety in the sheep; had he, he would abide by them, and defend them; but because he has not, he will not expose himself to any danger, but leaves them: and careth not for…”

I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice.

“And other sheep I have,.... Not distinct from those for whom he laid down his life, but from those who were under the Old Testament dispensation, and who heard not the thieves and robbers that were before Christ, Joh 10:8; others besides the lost sheep…”

Again there was division among the Jews because of Jesus’ message.

“There was a division therefore again among the Jews,.... As there had been before; see Joh 7:12. For these sayings; concerning his being the good shepherd, and laying down his life for the sheep, and having both a power to lay it down, and take…”

But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe.

“But ye believe not,.... In me, as the Messiah: because ye are not of my sheep; they were not among the sheep given him by his Father, were they, they would have come to him; that is, have believed in him, according to Joh 6:37…”

If I am not doing the works of My Father, then do not believe Me.

“If I do not the works of my Father,.... Not only what the Father had given him to finish, and which he wrought by him as man, but such as were as great as the Father had done, and were equal to them; and which…”

And many in that place believed in Jesus.

“And many believed on him there., Through the doctrine he preached, the miracles he wrought, and through comparing these things with what John had said of him: this shows the reason of Christ's leaving Jerusalem, and coming into these parts; there were others that were…”

At this time a man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

“Now a certain man was sick,.... Very likely of a fever; Nonnus calls it a morbid fire, a hot and burning disease: named Lazarus of Bethany; for his name, which the Ethiopic version reads "Eleazar", and the Persic version "Gazarus", See Gill on Luk 16:24…”

and then He said to the disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

“Then after that,.... The next day, the third day after he had heard of Lazarus's sickness: saith he to his disciples, let us go into Judea again; for the country beyond Jordan was distinguished from Judea; See Gill on Mat 4:25.”

“Rabbi,” they replied, “the Jews just tried to stone You, and You are going back there?”

“His disciples said unto him, master,.... Addressing him very reverently, and with great concern for his safety, as well as their own: the Jews of late, or but now, sought to stone thee; as they had attempted to do twice in a very little time…”

But if anyone walks at night, he will stumble, because he has no light.”

“But if a man walk in the night,.... After the sun is set, and there is no light in the air and heavens to direct him: he stumbleth; at everything that lies in the way, because there is no light in him; there being none…”

His disciples replied, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will get better.”

“Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep,.... Soundly, quietly, and comfortably, and takes rest in it: he shall do well; or "be saved" from the disease; he will be delivered from it; he will recover out of it; it is a sign the distemper…”

So Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,

“Then said Jesus unto them plainly,.... Without a figure, when he perceived they did not understand him, and yet it was a very easy and usual metaphor which he had made use of; but such was the present stupidity of their minds, that they did…”

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

“When said Martha unto Jesus,.... When she was come to him, Lord, if thou hadst been here my brother had not died: which expresses much faith, but with a mixture of weakness, as if the presence of Christ was necessary for the working a cure…”

But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.”

“But I know that even now,.... At this distance of time, though her brother had been in the grave four days: whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee; whether Martha had such a clear notion of the deity of Christ, as…”

“Your brother will rise again,” Jesus told her.

“Jesus saith unto her, thy brother shall rise again. Christ knew what she meant, and accordingly gave her an answer, and yet in such general terms, that she could not tell whether his meaning was, that he should rise now, or at the general resurrection.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life,.... Signifying, that he was able of himself to raise men from death to life, without asking it of his Father; and that he could do it now, as well as at the general resurrection…”

And when Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to Him.

“As soon as she heard that,.... That Christ was come, and inquired for her, and wanted to see her: she arose quickly, and came unto him; having an equal affection for him as her sister Martha; and which she showed, by leaving her comforters at…”

When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was,.... Where Martha met him, and where she left him. Travellers tell us, that close by a well, about a stone's cast out of the town of Bethany, is showed the place where Martha met our Lord when…”

“Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered.

“And said, where have ye laid him?.... This he might say as man, though he, as the omniscient God, knew where he was laid; and that it might appear there was no juggle and contrivance between him, and the relations of the deceased; and to…”

Jesus wept.

“Jesus wept. As he was going along to the grave, see Joh 11:28; as he was meditating upon the state of his friend Lazarus, the distress his two sisters were in, and the greater damnation that would befall the Jews then present, who, notwithstanding the…”

Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

“Then said the Jews, behold, how he loved him! Lazarus; for they supposed that these tears were shed purely on his account; and by all circumstances they could not but judge, that they proceeded from an hearty and sincere affection to him; and it was…”

I knew that You always hear Me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, so they may believe that You sent Me.”

“And I knew that thou hearest me always,.... Which was not only a support to the faith of Christ, as man, but is also to his people, whose advocate, intercessor, and mediator he is.”

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him.

“Then many of the Jews which came to Mary,.... To her house, to comfort her, and that came along with her to the grave: and had seen the things which Jesus did; in raising the dead body of Lazarus, and causing him to walk, though…”

and not only for the nation, but also for the scattered children of God, to gather them together into one.

“And not for that nation only,.... For though Christ, as prophet, was sent to the Jews only, and was the minister of the circumcision, yet as a priest he did not die for them only, but for the Gentiles also; even for the whole mystical…”

But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where He was must report it, so that they could arrest Him.

“Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees,.... Who were of the sanhedrim: had given a commandment; or published an edict, a decree of the senate: that if any man knew where he were, he should show it, that they might take him; and this…”