John 11:20

20 Martha, however, as soon as she heard the tidings, "Jesus is coming," went to meet Him; but Mary remained sitting in the house.

John 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 ) .

John 11:20 In-Context

18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, the distance being a little less than two miles;

19 and a considerable number of the Jews were with Martha and Mary, having come to express sympathy with them on the death of their brother.

20 Martha, however, as soon as she heard the tidings, "Jesus is coming," went to meet Him; but Mary remained sitting in the house.

21 So Martha came and spoke to Jesus. "Master, if you had been here," she said, "my brother would not have died.

22 And even now I know that whatever you ask God for, God will give you."