John chapter 11

vs 1

Fairly straightforward. Just remember, though, that in the last few verses, Jesus has left Jerusalem, crossed the Jordan to where TB was working, and now has gone back to Bethany. Bethany isn't all that far from Jerusalem - it's where Jesus gets anointed.

vs 2

I don't think the other gospels recognise her as Mary. Perhaps they do. Anyway, John wants to make that connection.

vs 3

Jesus obviously had a connection with Lazarus, because of the way his sisters speak of him to Jesus. It's good to know that Jesus had friends.

vs 4

Death might be in the middle, mind, but not at the end. And what could glorify Jesus more than saving someone from a deadly illness?

vs 5

Those people who choose to try and read homosexuality into the Bible (and into all other classical literature) would read verse 3 as meaning that Jesus and Lazarus were a thing. But then you get to verse 5, and you'd have Jesus getting on some hot love with the whole family. And that's just wrong. Who's going to think that guy is the Messiah?

So obviously Jesus had come to love this family in a more platonic sense, and they him. Which is fair enough, considering all he does for them.

vs 6

Jesus is up to something. If someone is sick, you go see them straight away - especially if you've got supernatural healing powers! But Jesus doesn't this time.

vs 7

After the two days, he wants to go back to Judea, more specifically Bethany we guess.

vs 8

Yes, he wants to go back to the same place where they tried to stone him.

vs 9-10

But Jesus doesn't just say "No worries, she'll be right". He gives them an explanation. By using a picture of light and darkness, he is showing the disciples that because he walks by God's light (he is the light of the world), he knows the path that he is treading. He's not taking stupid risks, he's not going into the unknown, he is following the path God has for him. Eventually, that is going to include death.

Jesus is saying that if you walk in God's way, you'll be fine. Oh yeah, people might stone you, or treat you badly, or hate you. You might get hurt, insulted, rejected. But you'll be fine eternally. It's when we turn from God's way and follow our own way, which might look like the smart and safe way to go, that suddenly we are going to stumble and fall and get hurt.