Jean 11:20

20 Quand donc Marthe eut appris que Jésus venait, elle alla au-devant de lui; mais Marie demeurait assise à la maison.

Jean 11:20 Meaning and Commentary

John 11:20

Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming,
&c.] Which she might hear of, either by a messenger sent by Christ to her, to acquaint her of it; or rather by some of the people of the town, who knew him, and ran and told her of it; and she being an active person, and stirring about house, might receive the report unknown to her sister, as it seems she did; and as soon as she had the hint, without staying to communicate it to her sister,

went and met him;
either through her great affection to him, and eager desire of seeing him; or to consult his safety, and let him know what number of Jews were in their house, that he might consider whether it would be safe for him to be at their house or not.

But Mary sat [still] in the house;
not out of disrespect to Jesus, or through want of affection to him, or through any indifference and sloth, but because she knew not that Jesus was coming; see ( John 11:28 John 11:29 ) .

Jean 11:20 In-Context

18 Or, Béthanie était environ à quinze stades de Jérusalem.

19 Et plusieurs Juifs étaient venus auprès de Marthe et de Marie, pour les consoler au sujet de leur frère.

20 Quand donc Marthe eut appris que Jésus venait, elle alla au-devant de lui; mais Marie demeurait assise à la maison.

21 Et Marthe dit à Jésus: Seigneur, si tu eusses été ici, mon frère ne serait pas mort;

22 Mais je sais que, maintenant même, tout ce que tu demanderas à Dieu, Dieu te l'accordera.