What does John 11:46 mean?
Despite what some may claim, there is not such a thing as evidence which "forces" someone to any specific conclusion (Luke 16:31). People who are totally committed to certain ideas will find ways to ignore or explain away almost anything. Jesus' recent miracle was arranged—very deliberately (John 11:11–15)—to be unmistakable. An undoubtedly-dead man (John 11:39) was, in the presence of witnesses (John 11:31; 11:35–37), publicly called from the grave (John 11:40–42), and was raised to life (John 11:43–44). Naturally, some of those who saw this event had the proper response (John 20:30–31). They recognized the message and accepted the Messenger (John 11:45).Not all people are willing to accept the obvious. John describes these people as "the Jews," which is his term for the religious leaders of Judaism—particularly in Jerusalem—and their followers. These are the same people with whom Jesus clashed in the past, often in response to other miracles. In one of those conflicts, Jesus even hinted at what would happen with Lazarus (John 5:28). It is to those very leaders that witnesses of Lazarus' resurrection will go with this news (Luke 16:31).
John 11:45–57 follows Jesus' seventh and most spectacular miraculous ''sign,'' the resurrection of Lazarus. Amazingly, Jesus enemies are so hardened against Him that this miracle only inspires them to have Jesus killed even more quickly. This is one of many examples disproving the claim that non-believers merely lack sufficient evidence. Critics claim Jesus may incite rebellion and invite destruction from Rome. For the most part, however, Jesus is a threat to their pompous arrogance and positions of power. When Jesus maintains a low profile, the religious leaders give orders to find Him so He can be arrested. This sets in motion the critical events completing Jesus' sacrificial death.
Jesus has left the vicinity of Jerusalem to avoid hostile religious leaders. While gone, He receives word that a good friend, Lazarus, is sick. In fact, Lazarus has died by the time this message reaches Jesus. He purposefully waits a few days before returning to Bethany, arriving four days after Lazarus' burial. In front of Lazarus' mourning sisters—who Jesus weeps with—and an assembled crowd, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in a stirring and spectacular miracle. This is the seventh of John's seven ''signs'' of Jesus' divine power. In response, religious leaders coordinate in their effort to have Jesus murdered.
