The Reaction (John 11:45-57).
‘Many therefore of the Judaisers who came to Mary and watched what he did, believed on him, but some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things that Jesus had done.'
Reaction to what He had done was divided. Many of ‘the Judaisers', the leading people of the land who were seen as representative of the land, believed in Him. Now they knew beyond all doubt that He was what He claimed to be. But others took a different view and reported what had happened to ‘the Pharisees', that is the Pharisaic leaders who were mainly responsible for regulating their actions and decisions. They realised just what an impact this might make. Thus do men reveal their hearts by their actions. It is of course astonishing, but it is not at all unlikely. By this time they expected Jesus to do unusual things and had begun to take them for granted. What mattered now was what repercussions this might have among the common people. Their hearts were hardened against any spiritual impact.
The fact that ‘many -- came to Mary' brings out how Mary's relative helplessness drew sympathy from strong men (compare John 11:31). She was probably noted in the village for her piety and vulnerability, and clearly popular. They probably thought that the stronger and more assertive Martha did not need so much help.