The Bible Recap – Day 302 (John 11) – Year 7

Host: Tara-Leigh Cobble
Date: October 29, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Tara-Leigh Cobble recaps John 11, focusing on the resurrection of Lazarus—one of the most dramatic miracles in Jesus’ ministry. She explores the unique perspectives of those involved, the significance of Jesus’ timing, and the deep emotional and theological layers embedded in the story. Listeners are guided through key interactions between Jesus, Mary, Martha, the disciples, and the religious leaders, unraveling both the human and divine dimensions of the narrative.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Unique Account in John’s Gospel

• [00:12] Tara-Leigh explains that John is the only gospel writer to record this specific resurrection story.
• Possible personal connection: John may have known Lazarus, Mary, and Martha personally as part of Jesus’ inner circle.

2. Context & Key Characters

• Mary and Martha: Previously introduced in Luke 10, but this is a different Lazarus from other gospel stories.
• Jesus’ Delay: Jesus doesn't rush to Lazarus immediately, even after hearing of his illness, assuring that "this illness isn't going to lead to death… it'll be used to glorify God." (paraphrased, [00:22])
• Emotional Stakes: The delay is "excruciating for Mary and Martha and possibly confusing for his disciples." ([00:42])

3. Reluctance and Danger for the Disciples

• Bethany's Proximity: Only about two miles from Jerusalem, a dangerous area due to ongoing threats to Jesus’ life.
• Thomas’s Comment:
  • "Let us also go that we may die with him."
  • Tara-Leigh notes ambiguity, unsure if Thomas is being faithful or sarcastic—"I can relate to both options." ([01:07])

4. Martha and Mary’s Contrasting Responses

• Martha (the doer): Runs to meet Jesus and expresses faith, though not specifically expecting a resurrection.
  • “Her faith is just rooted in the fact that Jesus is good and strong and loving. It isn’t entitled or demanding…That’s where she drops her anchor.” ([01:55])
• Mary (the feeler): Stays inside mourning, later expresses the same lament as Martha but receives a different response from Jesus.

5. Spiritual Misunderstandings and Irony

• Miscommunication: When Jesus says he’ll raise Lazarus, Martha interprets this spiritually—about the final resurrection—rather than expecting an immediate miracle.
  • “And I bet he wanted to be like, ‘no, right now. Go grab your camera.’” ([02:04])

6. Jesus’ Compassion and Humanity

• Jesus Weeps:
  • Not just performing miracles, Jesus enters deeply into the sisters’ grief—“His responses to people are so personal, specific and attentive. Not only that, but we get to see his humanity here as well.” ([02:47])

7. Raising Lazarus & Public Reaction

• Physical Details:
  • Tara-Leigh playfully notes, “If you’re visualizing this, just know Lazarus probably has to hop out. No lie. He’s basically mummified.” ([03:34])
• Divergent Responses:
  • Some witnesses believe and worship Jesus, while others run to report to the Pharisees, pushing religious leaders to plot Jesus' death.

8. Prophetic Irony: Caiaphas’s Statement

• Caiaphas the high priest:
  • “It’s better that one man die for the people than for all the people to die.”
  • Tara-Leigh highlights: “He’s speaking God’s truth but he doesn’t know it.” ([03:54])
  • This statement unwittingly prophesies Jesus’ sacrificial death.

9. Jesus’ Intentional Timing

• Divine Strategy:
  • Jesus’ delay is not negligence: “He’s waiting for Lazarus to die because you can’t raise a person who isn’t dead.” ([04:32])
  • Miracles designed to reveal God’s glory, not self-promotion: “Jesus doesn’t rev his engine at a red light. This is always pointing to the Father and his glory…” ([04:56])

10. Foreshadowing Jesus’ Own Death

• Personal Cost:
  • Raising Lazarus sets in motion the events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion. Tara-Leigh ponders if this awareness adds to Jesus’ emotional response: “The tomb and the stone and the grave clothes aren’t too far off for him, and he knows it.” ([05:14])

11. "God Shot" & Takeaway

• Where the Joy Is:
  • “There is so much beauty in this story…from his intentional timing that somehow always seems too late, to his sweet personal interaction with the sisters, to his power over death and the grave—he’s where the joy is.” ([05:39])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Thomas’ statement:
  “Let us also go that we may die with him...I can relate to both options.” ([01:06])
• On Martha’s faith:
  “Her faith is just rooted in the fact that Jesus is good and strong and loving. It isn’t entitled or demanding…That’s where she drops her anchor.” ([01:55])
• On Jesus’ empathy:
  “His responses to people are so personal, specific and attentive…He enters into their grief, even knowing he’s moments away from raising Lazarus from the dead.” ([02:47])
• On the miracle’s purpose:
  “This isn’t Jesus trying to show off or look cool…this is always pointing to the Father and his glory, just like Jesus did in his prayer of thanks to the Father.” ([04:56])
• Emphasizing the foreshadowing of the cross:
  “The tomb and the stone and the grave clothes aren’t too far off for him, and he knows it. He is about to finally put death to death. And this is just a preview.” ([05:14])
• Final takeaway:
  “He’s where the joy is.” ([05:39])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:12] – John’s unique vantage point and personal connection
• [01:07] – Disciples’ fear and Thomas’s ambiguous declaration
• [01:55] – Martha’s anchored faith and its nature
• [02:04] – Spiritual vs. physical misunderstanding between Jesus and Martha
• [02:47] – Jesus’ individualized, compassionate responses
• [03:34] – Raising Lazarus and crowd’s divided reaction
• [03:54] – Caiaphas prophesying unwittingly
• [04:32] – Jesus’ purposeful delay
• [04:56] – Intentional glory to the Father
• [05:14] – Miraculous preview of Jesus’ own coming death and resurrection
• [05:39] – Main takeaway: Jesus is the joy in every circumstance

Tone & Language

Tara-Leigh’s tone is warm, accessible, and peppered with humor (“Go grab your camera”, “he has to hop out—he’s basically mummified”). She blends theological depth with personal reflection and keen insight into the narrative’s emotional undertones, offering both encouragement and clarity to listeners navigating challenging passages.

For curious or new listeners, this episode draws out the majesty of Jesus’ power over death, the intricacies of faith and human sorrow, and the ever-present thread of God’s glory in the apparent chaos—reminding us that, truly, “He’s where the joy is.” ([05:39])