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).