So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The sisters’ message is incredibly concise and powerful: "he whom you love is ill." They don’t explicitly ask Jesus to come or to heal Lazarus, relying instead on the strength of His affection for their brother to prompt His action. This shows a deep understanding of Jesus' character and a quiet confidence in His love, trusting that His heart would naturally respond to the news of suffering in someone He cherished.
So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus’ close friends, Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, are living in Bethany. Now, Lazarus has fallen gravely ill, prompting his sisters to send an urgent message to Jesus. They believe Jesus cares deeply for their brother and that His presence or word could bring healing.
Why do the sisters simply state, 'he whom you love is sick,' instead of a direct command or plea?
This message is a masterclass in prayer, rooted in relationship. Martha and Mary don't demand Jesus' help; they remind Him of His own affection for Lazarus.
The sisters could have demanded Jesus come. So why the gentle, implied request?
There's a profound wisdom in how these sisters communicate their need. They understand that Jesus' love for Lazarus is a given, and that knowledge itself is the prayer.
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The intimate friendship between Jesus and Lazarus's family, particularly his known affection for them, motivated the sisters' plea. Their simple message, 'he whom you love is sick,' carried an unspoken weight of expectation based on their deep trust in Jesus's care and power, even as Jesus deliberately allowed events to unfold to demonstrate God's glory through a greater miracle.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus' public ministry in Galilee, including teaching, healing, and calling disciples, establishing his reputation across the region.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry in Judea and Perea
Jesus travels to Judea, Bethany, and Perea, encountering increasing opposition from religious leaders, and performing significant miracles.
c. AD 33— this verse
Lazarus' Illness and Death
Lazarus of Bethany falls gravely ill. His sisters, Mary and Martha, send word to Jesus, who is ministering across the Jordan River.
c. AD 33
Jesus Delays and Travels to Bethany
Despite knowing of Lazarus's illness, Jesus intentionally delays for two days before traveling to Judea, where Lazarus has since died and been buried.
c. AD 33
Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
Jesus arrives in Bethany, speaks with Martha and Mary, and miraculously raises Lazarus from the dead after he had been buried for four days.
c. AD 33
Conspiracy to Kill Jesus and Lazarus
Following the resurrection of Lazarus, the chief priests and Pharisees conspire not only to kill Jesus but also Lazarus, because his miraculous restoration was drawing many to believe in Jesus.
This passage highlights the close friendship Jesus shared with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, showing how He valued their fellowship and hospitality, which provides context for the sisters' confident appeal to Him in their time of need.
John 5:20This verse speaks to the unique relationship and shared divine life between the Father and the Son, which echoes in the sisters' belief that Jesus' love for Lazarus implied a special connection and ability to act.
John 11:21-22Martha's own words to Jesus here reveal her understanding that Jesus' presence and love were directly linked to the possibility of her brother's life and resurrection, mirroring the sisters' initial hopeful message.
Romans 8:28This verse reassures believers that God works all things for good for those He loves, which aligns with the sisters' implicit trust that Jesus' love for Lazarus meant He would act for his ultimate good, even in sickness.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7The description of love as patient, kind, and enduring provides a beautiful backdrop to the sisters' simple, yet profound, appeal based on Jesus' known affection for their brother.
barnesJohn 11:3: "Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick."
Whom thou lovest - John 11:5 . The members of this family were among the few special and intimate friends of our Lord. He was much with them, and showed them marks of special friendship Luke 10:38-42 , and they bestowed upon him special proofs of affection in return. This shows that special attachments are lawful for Christians, and that those friendships are especially lovely which are tempered…
calvinJohn 11:1-10: "Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha."
- And one named Lazarus was sick. The Evangelist passes on to another narrative, which contains a miracle eminently worthy of being recorded. For not only did Christ give a remarkable proof of his Divine power in raising Lazarus, but he likewise placed before our eyes a lively image of our future resurrection. This might indeed be said to be the latest and concluding action of his lif…
The sisters’ message is incredibly concise and powerful: "he whom you love is ill." They don’t explicitly ask Jesus to come or to heal Lazarus, relying instead on the strength of His affection for their brother to prompt His action. This shows a deep understanding of Jesus' character and a quiet confidence in His love, trusting that His heart would naturally respond to the news of suffering in someone He cherished.
Jesus’ close friends, Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, are living in Bethany. Now, Lazarus has fallen gravely ill, prompting his sisters to send an urgent message to Jesus. They believe Jesus cares deeply for their brother and that His presence or word could bring healing.
Jesus’ close friends, Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha, are living in Bethany. Now, Lazarus has fallen gravely ill, prompting his sisters to send an urgent message to Jesus. They believe Jesus cares deeply for their brother and that His presence or word could bring healing.
"So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”" — The sisters’ message is incredibly concise and powerful: "he whom you love is ill." They don’t explicitly ask Jesus to come or to heal Lazarus, relying instead on the strength of His affection for th…
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Last reviewed October 2026