John 11:28

And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.

And {G2532} when she had {G2036} so {G5023} said {G2036}, she went her way {G565}, and {G2532} called {G5455} Mary {G3137} her {G846} sister {G79} secretly {G2977}, saying {G2036}, The Master {G1320} is come {G3918}, and {G2532} calleth for {G5455} thee {G4571}.

After saying this, she went off and secretly called Miryam, her sister: โ€œThe Rabbi is here and is calling for you.โ€

After Martha had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside to tell her, โ€œThe Teacher is here and is asking for you.โ€

And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Teacher is here, and calleth thee.

Commentary

Context

John 11:28 provides a pivotal moment in the narrative of Lazarus's death and Jesus' arrival in Bethany. Prior to this verse, Jesus has engaged in a profound conversation with Martha, who has just expressed her grief and then made a profound declaration of faith, affirming Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus then sends Martha to privately call her sister, Mary. The secrecy of the call likely stems from the volatile political climate and the danger Jesus faced in Judea, as highlighted earlier in the chapter (John 11:8), where Jewish leaders sought to apprehend Him.

Key Themes

  • The Personal Call of Christ: Even amidst great sorrow and public attention, Jesus extends a direct, personal invitation to Mary. This emphasizes His intimate knowledge of individuals and His desire for a personal encounter with each one.
  • Discretion and Urgency: Martha's secret summons indicates both the sensitivity of the situation and the immediate importance of Mary's meeting with Jesus. It underscores the divine urgency of responding to Christ's call.
  • Martha's Role as a Messenger: Having just experienced a deep theological exchange with Jesus, Martha now acts as a faithful and obedient messenger, delivering Jesus' specific instruction to her sister. This highlights the role believers can play in bringing others to Christ.

Linguistic Insight

The term "The Master" in this verse is translated from the Greek word Didaskalos (ฮดฮนฮดฮฌฯƒฮบฮฑฮปฮฟฯ‚), which literally means "Teacher." This title was commonly used by the disciples and others to address Jesus, acknowledging His authority and wisdom. It's significant that Martha uses this familiar and respectful title, emphasizing Jesus' role as the authoritative instructor even in a moment of deep personal grief and anticipation.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that Jesus extends a personal call to each of us, often in our moments of deepest need or sorrow. Just as Martha delivered the message to Mary, God frequently uses other believers to communicate His will or comfort. The imperative is to respond to this call with urgency and faith, knowing that Jesus is present and active even when circumstances seem overwhelming. Mary's subsequent action, leaving quickly to meet Jesus, serves as an example of immediate obedience to the Master's summons.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • John 13:13

    Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.

  • John 11:20

    Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat [still] in the house.

  • Mark 10:49

    And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.

  • John 20:16

    Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

  • John 1:45

    Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

  • John 1:41

    He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:17

    Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
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