John 11:45

¶ Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

Then {G3767} many {G4183} of {G1537} the Jews {G2453} which {G3588} came {G2064} to {G4314} Mary {G3137}, and {G2532} had seen {G2300} the things which {G3739} Jesus {G2424} did {G4160}, believed {G4100} on {G1519} him {G846}.

At this, many of the Judeans who had come to visit Miryam, and had seen what Yeshua had done, trusted in him.

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in Him.

Many therefore of the Jews, who came to Mary and beheld that which he did, believed on him.

John 11:45 records a pivotal moment immediately following one of Jesus' most profound miracles: the resurrection of Lazarus. This verse highlights the direct impact of witnessing divine power.

Context

This verse is the immediate aftermath of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead in Bethany. Many people, particularly Jews who had come to mourn with Mary and Martha, were present. They had witnessed the overwhelming grief of the sisters, Jesus' own deep emotion ("Jesus wept" in John 11:35), and then the astonishing command that brought Lazarus back to life from the tomb (John 11:43-44). Their presence and observation of this undeniable miracle are crucial to understanding their response.

Key Themes

  • The Power of Jesus: The resurrection of Lazarus was a clear demonstration of Jesus' authority over life and death, a power that could only come from God. This miracle served as a powerful sign, confirming Jesus' claims, particularly his declaration, "I am the resurrection, and the life."
  • Belief Born of Witness: The central theme is the response of "many of the Jews" who, having seen "the things which Jesus did," then "believed on him." This is a faith rooted in direct, undeniable evidence of God at work through Jesus.
  • Divine Revelation and Human Response: The verse illustrates how God reveals Himself and His power, and the subsequent human choice to believe or reject that revelation. For these individuals, the miracle was compelling enough to lead to faith.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "believed on him" translates the Greek episteusan eis auton (ἐπίστευσαν εἰς αὐτόν). This is more than a mere intellectual acknowledgment of facts; it signifies a deep, active trust and commitment directed "into" or "unto" Jesus. It implies a personal surrender and reliance on Him, characteristic of saving faith in John's Gospel.

Practical Application

While we do not witness physical resurrections today as these Jews did, the principle remains: genuine encounters with Jesus, whether through His Word, the testimony of others, or personal experience of His transformative power, often lead to faith. This verse encourages us to consider what evidence has led us to believe, or what might hinder belief in the face of compelling truth. It also reminds us that the purpose of the Gospel of John is that readers "might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name."

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 11:19

    And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

  • John 2:23

    ¶ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast [day], many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

  • John 10:41

    And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

  • John 11:31

    The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.

  • John 7:31

    And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ cometh, will he do more miracles than these which this [man] hath done?

  • John 12:42

    ¶ Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess [him], lest they should be put out of the synagogue:

  • John 12:9

    Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.

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