John 11:38 (DRB)

Passage

Jesus therefore again groaning in himself, cometh to the sepulchre. Now it was a cave; and a stone was laid over it.

Nearby Context

John 11:36 The Jews therefore said: Behold how he loved him.

John 11:37 But some of them said: Could not he that opened the eyes of the man born blind have caused that this man should not die?

John 11:38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself, cometh to the sepulchre. Now it was a cave; and a stone was laid over it.

John 11:39 Jesus saith: Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith to him: Lord, by this time he stinketh, for he is now of four days.

John 11:40 Jesus saith to her: Did not I say to thee that if thou believe, thou shalt see the glory of God?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "jesus", "therefore", "again", "groaning", "himself", "cometh", "sepulchre", and "cave". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "jesus" and "therefore", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 37's "But some of them said Could not..." into verse 39's "Jesus saith Take away the stone Martha...", so "jesus" and "therefore" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "jesus" and "therefore" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.