Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse doesn't just say people saw Jesus's work, but that they were with Mary, emphasizing that this profound miracle happened in the context of deep grief and comfort. This highlights how God's power often bursts forth in our darkest moments, drawing people to faith not just through spectacle, but through genuine human connection and shared vulnerability.
Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been deceased for four days. This powerful miracle caused many of the Jewish onlookers who had witnessed it to believe in Jesus. However, some of these witnesses, instead of embracing Jesus, rushed to inform the Pharisees about what had happened, setting in motion the religious leaders' plot against Jesus' life.
Jesus' miraculous acts weren't just demonstrations of power; they were powerful invitations, drawing people to believe. But what kind of belief was this, and why didn't everyone respond the same way?
John 11:45 tells us that 'many of the Jews... who had seen what he did, believed in him.' This verse highlights a crucial aspect of Jesus' ministry: his miracles often served as catalysts for faith.
The Power of the Display
The resurrection of Lazarus was an undeniable, public event. It wasn't a private healing or a subtle act; it was a dramatic reversal of death itself. Those who witnessed it were confronted with evidence that defied natural explanation. This powerful display aimed to awaken faith, not just confirm it. As Calvin notes, miracles can 'prepare us for faith, or confirm us in faith.' In this case, it was a preparation – a powerful nudge towards embracing Jesus' message.
Not All Believed
However, the verse also implicitly points out that not everyone believed. While 'many' believed, some went to the Pharisees (v. 46). This shows that belief isn't automatic, even when faced with extraordinary events. Human hearts are complex; prejudice, fear, or pre-existing allegiances can block the impact of even the most powerful sign.
This reminds us that faith isn't solely a response to external evidence, but also an internal yielding to truth. The miracle was the invitation, but the response depended on the heart's disposition.
The same event that led many to believe also triggered fear and opposition in others. How did a miracle meant to reveal God's power become a catalyst for conspiracy?
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The resurrection of Lazarus created a stark division. While many Jews who witnessed it turned to Jesus in belief, others saw it as a threat that needed to be neutralized.
The Political Calculation
Those who went to the Pharisees (v. 46) weren't just indifferent; they were actively concerned about the political ramifications. Their fear wasn't primarily about theological truth, but about Rome's reaction. They worried that Jesus' growing popularity, fueled by such public miracles, would provoke Roman intervention, leading to the loss of their 'place and nation' (v. 48).
The Irony of Caiaphas
This fear culminated in the council's decision, cleverly manipulated by Caiaphas. He shrewdly, though wickedly, argued that Jesus' death was expedient for the nation's survival (v. 50). The tragic irony, as John points out, is that Caiaphas, in his political expediency, was unknowingly prophesying a far greater purpose: Jesus' death not just for the nation, but to 'gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad' (v. 52). This shows how human plans, even those born of fear and malice, can be sovereignly used by God to accomplish His redemptive purposes.
The miracle, meant to reveal divine love, instead exposed human fear and ultimately set in motion the events that would fulfill God's ultimate plan for salvation.
Understand the original words
Ioudaios · Greek Noun
A term used in John's Gospel to refer to the Jewish leaders or the Jewish community generally, often highlighting their struggle or division in response to the identity and claims of Jesus.
This verse captures a pivotal moment where a profound miracle, the resurrection of Lazarus, immediately leads some Jewish witnesses to believe in Jesus. However, it also sparks the organized opposition from the religious elite, setting in motion the events leading directly to Jesus' death.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead
Jesus performs the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus, a close friend of his. This event is a powerful sign that attracts many witnesses.
c. AD 28-30
Believers report Jesus' actions to Pharisees
Some Jewish witnesses to the resurrection of Lazarus report the event to the religious leaders, the Pharisees.
c. AD 28-30
Jewish council convenes to discuss Jesus
The chief priests and Pharisees gather the Sanhedrin (the Jewish ruling council) to decide how to deal with Jesus, whose popularity and miracles are growing.
c. AD 28-30
Caiaphas proposes Jesus' execution
High Priest Caiaphas advises the council that Jesus must be executed to prevent unrest and intervention by the Roman authorities, framing it as a political necessity.
c. AD 28-30
Plot to kill Jesus is formed
From this point on, the religious leaders actively plot to kill Jesus.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus withdraws from public view
Following the plot against him, Jesus retreats from open ministry in Judea to the region near the wilderness of Ephraim.
This passage highlights how many people believed in Jesus because of the signs He performed in Jerusalem during the Passover, mirroring the reaction to the miracle of Lazarus.
John 7:31This verse shows a similar theme of people believing in Jesus during a festival because of His signs, suggesting that miracles were a common catalyst for belief among the Jewish crowds.
John 9:38This verse presents a powerful declaration of faith after Jesus heals a man born blind, demonstrating the direct correlation between witnessing a miracle and professing belief in Jesus.
Acts 4:4This passage mentions that many who heard the apostles preach and saw the signs they performed believed, illustrating that belief often follows the witness of divine acts.
calvinJohn 11:45-52: "Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him."
- Many therefore of the Jews, who had come to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. 46. But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them what Jesus had done. 47. Then the chief priests and Pharisees assembled the council, and said, What do we? for this man doth many miracles. 48. If we let him go on thus, all will believe on him; and the Roma…
expositorsJohn 11:45: "Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him."
Chapter 24JESUS THE SCAPEGOAT. “Many therefore of the Jews, which came to Mary and beheld that which He did, believed on Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done. The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many signs. If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe o…
The verse doesn't just say people saw Jesus's work, but that they were with Mary, emphasizing that this profound miracle happened in the context of deep grief and comfort. This highlights how God's power often bursts forth in our darkest moments, drawing people to faith not just through spectacle, but through genuine human connection and shared vulnerability.
Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been deceased for four days. This powerful miracle caused many of the Jewish onlookers who had witnessed it to believe in Jesus. However, some of these witnesses, instead of embracing Jesus, rushed to inform the Pharisees about what had happened, setting in motion the religious leaders' plot against Jesus' life.
Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead after he had been deceased for four days. This powerful miracle caused many of the Jewish onlookers who had witnessed it to believe in Jesus. However, some of these witnesses, instead of embracing Jesus, rushed to inform the Pharisees about what had happened, setting in motion the religious leaders' plot against Jesus' life.
"Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him," — The verse doesn't just say people saw Jesus's work, but that they were with Mary, emphasizing that this profound miracle happened in the context of deep grief and comfort. This highlights how God…
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Last reviewed October 2026