Jerusalem, where it can be assumed that the council of the Chief Priests and Pharisees met, and where people began to gather for the impending Passover.
Ephraim in the wilderness, where Jesus and His disciples stayed to avoid the plotting of the Pharisees and Chief Priests
Chapter 10 ended with Jesus leaving Jerusalem as the Jews threatened to stone him, and travelling to the east of the river Jordan. The evangelist's introduction of Lazarus of Bethany at this point leads to the discussion of whether Jesus should return to Judea in the face of the growing plot against Him. Mary and her sister Martha appear to have been better known than their brother Lazarus, as he is introduced by reference to them. Theologian Joseph Benson therefore suggests that "It is probable Lazarus was younger than his sisters". The sisters send messengers to Jesus, so his location cannot have been entirely secret, "firmly expect that he, who had cured so many strangers, would willingly come and give health to one whom he so tenderly loved". The words of their message made reference only to Lazarus' sickness, leaving unexpressed " the consequent, therefore come to our help". Bengel notes that John often expects the reader to make such inferences, such as in : "When they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, 'They have no wine' ". Commentators generally understand that the sisters expected Jesus would come to Bethany despite the personal danger to Himself, with which His disciples were more concerned, although Exclusive Brethren theologian John Nelson Darby notes that "He might have said the word, as in the case of the centurion, and of the sick childat the beginning of this Gospel ".
In reply to the disciples' concerns about Jesus returning to Judea, where very recently, 'just now' or 'lately' the Jews had wanted to stone Him, He answered: The νῦν shows that they had not been long in Peraea on the east of the Jordan. The Jews divided the day from sunrise to sunset into twelve equal parts". Heinrich Meyer suggests that "the sense of the allegorical answer is this: 'The time appointed to me by God for working is not yet elapsed; as long as it lasts, no one can do anything to me; but when it shall have come to an end, I shall fall into the hands of my enemies, like him who walketh in the night, and who stumbleth, because he is without light'. In this way Jesus sets aside the anxiety of His disciples, on the one hand, by directing their attention to the fact that, as His time is not yet expired, He is safe from the apprehended dangers; and, on the other, by reminding them that He must make use of the time apportioned to Him, before it come to an end".
Location of Bethany
Verse 18
The evangelist tells his readers where Bethany is in relation to Jerusalem: 15 furlongs or is about. Some translations say "not quite two miles". This Bethany is clearly distinguished from the Bethany beyond the Jordan where John the Baptist baptised, mentioned in.
Dialogue between Jesus and Martha
Verses 25–26
In verse 27, "Martha expresses a complete faith in Jesus": This is the faith which the evangelist himself wants to promote", and which is his sole purpose in composing his gospel: These miracles have been written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that you will have life by believing in him.
Verse 35
The plot to kill Jesus
Verses 45-57 enlarge upon the threat to kill Jesus which has been developing over several chapters: and relate the Jews' intention to have him killed when an opportunity might arise; verses and indicate more impulsive action: "they took up stones... to stone Him". According to verse 47, "the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council". :sv:René Kieffer|Kieffer notes that "the main concern of the council is to avoid the destruction of the holy place ".
