Discovery BoxJohn 11:23-26 
Context11:23 Jesus replied, 1 “Your brother will come back to life again.” 2 11:24 Martha said, 3 “I know that he will come back to life again 4 in the resurrection at the last day.” 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live 5 even if he dies, 11:26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die. 6 Do you believe this?”
1 tn Grk “Jesus said to her.”
2 tn Or “Your brother will rise again.”
sn Jesus’ remark to Martha that Lazarus would come back to life again is another example of the misunderstood statement. Martha apparently took it as a customary statement of consolation and joined Jesus in professing belief in the general resurrection of the body at the end of the age. However, as Jesus went on to point out in 11:25-26, Martha’s general understanding of the resurrection at the last day was inadequate for the present situation, for the gift of life that conquers death was a present reality to Jesus. This is consistent with the author’s perspective on eternal life in the Fourth Gospel: It is not only a future reality, but something to be experienced in the present as well. It is also consistent with the so-called “realized eschatology” of the Fourth Gospel.
3 tn Grk “Martha said to him.”
4 tn Or “will rise again.”
5 tn That is, will come to life.
6 tn Grk “will never die forever.”
