Charles Ellicott Commentary John 11:41

"So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me." — John 11:41 (ASV)

Then they took away the stone.—This could be done without difficulty, for it would be nothing more than a rough slab placed at the entrance of the cave, to prevent the approach of jackals or other beasts of prey.

From the place where the dead was laid is omitted by all the better manuscripts. It is an unnecessary gloss to explain what stone is meant.

And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said . . .—His attitude, as well as His words, is meant to express that the work which He is about to do is one of the works from His Father.

I thank thee that thou hast heard me.—Better, I thank You that You did hear Me; the time referred to being that of the offering of the prayer. Of this we have no notice.

It was the will of the Son expressing itself in moral harmony with the will of the Father. I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me (John 5:30), and therefore in the expression receiving the answer.

The promise of John 11:4 was the utterance of the divine will to the disciples and the messengers, and we are, it may be, to think of that moment as the time of its realization by the Son.

This thanksgiving for the answer to His prayer has been uttered aloud in the presence of the multitude. The verse which follows was spoken to prevent a misunderstanding on the part of the disciples and in all times.