John 11:30

Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

Now ^{G1161} Jesus ^{G2424} was ^{G2064} not yet ^{G3768} come ^{G2064} into ^{G1519} the town ^{G2968}, but ^{G235} was ^{G2258} in ^{G1722} that place ^{G5117} where ^{G3699} Martha ^{G3136} met ^{G5221} him ^{G846}.

Yeshua had not yet come into the village but was still where Marta had met him;

Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met Him.

(Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met him.)

John 11:30 provides a concise detail within the dramatic narrative of Lazarus's death and resurrection, emphasizing Jesus's deliberate actions and the unfolding events in Bethany.

Context of John 11:30

This verse is situated immediately before Mary, Lazarus's other sister, goes out to meet Jesus. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus had received news of Lazarus's illness but purposefully delayed His journey to Bethany, a village near Jerusalem. Martha had already gone out to meet Him, expressing her grief and faith in His ability to have prevented her brother's death (John 11:20). Jesus, having a profound conversation with Martha, remained just outside the village, awaiting Mary's arrival.

Key Themes and Messages

Deliberate Timing: Jesus's decision to remain outside the town highlights His intentional control over the situation. His timing, though perplexing to Martha and Mary, was part of a divine plan to reveal God's glory through Lazarus's resurrection (John 11:4). This often mirrors how God works in our lives, not always according to our schedule, but always for His ultimate purpose.
Personal Encounters: Jesus often sought individual, personal encounters. He met Martha privately first, engaging her in a deep theological discussion about resurrection and life (John 11:25-26). His waiting outside the town facilitated Mary's separate, equally profound encounter with Him, where she would fall at His feet (John 11:32).
The Setting of Anticipation: The "place where Martha met him" (Greek: topos, meaning "place" or "spot") was likely a location on the road leading into Bethany. This setting outside the immediate sorrowful environment of the home allowed for these critical one-on-one interactions before Jesus entered the full scene of public mourning.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "town" here is kōmē (κώμη), which refers to a village or a small, unfortified town. This term differentiates it from a larger city (polis). Jesus's decision to stay outside the kōmē of Bethany underscores a strategic choice of location for His initial interactions with the sisters and the subsequent dramatic events.

Practical Application

John 11:30 reminds us that God is sovereign over time and place. Just as Jesus waited at a specific spot for Martha and Mary, He often meets us in unexpected "places" or moments, orchestrating circumstances for His perfect will to unfold. This verse encourages patience and trust in God's timing, even when His actions don't immediately align with our expectations. It highlights the value of individual encounters with Jesus, emphasizing that He is personal and attentive to our specific needs and griefs.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

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.