In the Synoptics Jesus restores to life two persons who have just died, Jairus’ daughter and the son of a widow at Nain (Mk 5:21—43 par.; Lk 7:11—17).
w. 23-6, the dialogue between Jesus and Martha is built on a major misunderstanding: Martha thinks that Jesus is speaking about the resurrection at the end of time, but Jesus asserts that he himself is the resurrection and life, so that soon Lazarus will be raised. Those who believe in Jesus will be able to overcome their own physical death,
The NRSV ‘was greatly disturbed’ translates the Greek enebrimesato, which implies anger. The hypotheses that have been produced about a possible Aramaic or Syriac back- ground (cf. Black 1967: 240-3) do not sufficiently explain our actual text. Probably Jesus’ anger is not so much directed against the lack of faith of those who are weeping (so Bult- mann 1971: 407) as against the power of death he is now confronted with (cf. 12:27; I3:21)- Jesus’ own sorrow is real (cf. v. 35), but at the same time he envisions his fight against Satan, the ruler of this world (cf. 13:27, 30; 14:30).
27: Martha still misunderstands: her belief in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God does not include belief that he is “the resurrection and the life” (v. 25).
11.38–44: Calling forth the dead. Raising Lazarus, the final, greatest sign, proves Jesus’ earlier claim in 5.25–29 but is also the catalyst for his death.
from The Gospel According To John I XII ( Anchor Yale Bible AYB) By Raymond Brown