Biblical Verses Biblical Verses & Resources

Book of John - Chapter 11 - Verse 42

11:42
And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Meaning

Jesus spoke these words in the Gospel of John when he was about to perform a miracle in front of a crowd. The verse highlights Jesus' communication with God and his unwavering belief that God always hears him. However, Jesus verbalized his prayer not for his own benefit, as he already knew God was listening, but for the benefit of those around him. By saying his prayer out loud, Jesus wanted to demonstrate to the people witnessing the event that he was indeed sent by God. This act of publicly communicating with God served to strengthen the faith of those present and reinforce Jesus' divine connection. It shows Jesus' willingness to display his divine nature and power in order to lead others to believe in him as the Son of God. Overall, this verse exemplifies Jesus' mission to demonstrate God's power and love to humanity through his actions and words.

Theological Overview

When examining the theological interpretation of the verse "And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me," it is important to consider the context in which these words were spoken. This verse comes from the Gospel of John, where Jesus is addressing God in prayer before performing a miracle. The theological significance of this verse lies in the demonstration of Jesus's intimate relationship with God and his desire for others to witness this connection. By affirming that God always hears him, Jesus is emphasizing his divine nature and authority. The mention of the people standing by highlights Jesus's concern for demonstrating the power and legitimacy of his ministry to those present. The key theological message of this verse is the importance of faith and belief in Jesus's mission, as a means to affirming his identity as the Son of God. Through this declaration, Jesus seeks to affirm the people's faith and inspire belief in his divine mission.

American Standard Version

And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me.
Previous VerseNext Verse