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When Jesus arrived in Bethany, the one near Jerusalem (contrast 1:28), Lazarus had already been buried for four days, and the mourners were together in the house (vv.17-18).
Martha’s first words to Jesus conveyed regret that he had not been present to prevent her brother’s death (v.21; cf. vv.32, 37). But even yet she was not entirely hopeless (v.22), and her expression of confidence in him prepared the way for the conversation that ensued. To Jesus' ambiguous declaration that her brother would live again, Martha responded with a confession of belief in the general resurrection at the end of time (vv.23-24). But even in the last day, the dead do not rise by themselves; they are raised by Christ, and from him come both physical resurrection and the spiritual life that makes the death of the body inconsequential (vv.25-26; cf. 5:25, 28-29; 6:39). (For the I am saying, cf. the note on 6:35.) Martha’s response to Jesus was a full confession of faith in him (v.27).
Mary also voiced the regret over Jesus' delayed arrival that seems to have been present to the minds of many (v.32; cf. vv.21, 37). The thought that Jesus might have healed Lazarus revealed in the sisters a genuine though imperfect faith; their insight was shared by some Jews who did not doubt his power to heal but were more hesitant (v.37; cf. 9:7). V.37 does not necessarily imply criticism. It is uncertain why Jesus wept, but the sympathetic among the Jews interpreted it as a sign of love for Lazarus (vv.35-36).