John 11

“Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.” Naming Bethany and Lazarus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was…” Naming Lazarus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” Naming Jesus and Lazarus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judæa again.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include light, night, stumbleth. Its relationship to verses 9 and 11 shows what work it does in this passage.

“These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him…” Naming Lazarus and Our keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.” Naming Howbeit and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.” Naming Jesus and Lazarus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:” Naming Bethany and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.” Naming Jews and Martha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.” Naming Jesus and Martha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and…” Naming Mary and Master keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include arose, quickly, soon. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.” Naming Jesus and Martha keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and…” Naming Jews and Mary keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was…” Naming Jesus and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Jesus wept.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!” Naming Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he…” The number four makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father…” Naming Father and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that…” The line’s distinctive content terms include always, believe, hearest. Its relationship to verses 41 and 43 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” Naming Lazarus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin…” Naming Jesus and Loose keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.” Naming Jesus and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.” Naming Jesus and Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.” The line’s distinctive content terms include counsel, death, took. Its relationship to verses 52 and 54 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a…” Naming Ephraim and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the Jews’ passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to…” Naming Jerusalem and Jews keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should…” Naming Pharisees keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.