Jesus Raises Lazarus back to Life.
Study No. 19 Chapter 11:1 - 45
Setting: After having spent a week in Jerusalem, Jesus goes about 30 miles north and east to the area where John was baptising (Perea). There He ministers for some time and many become believers.
Verses 1 – 7.
News reaches Jesus that His close friend Lazarus, from the town of Bethany, is sick. Bethany is just about two miles from Jerusalem and Jesus will make this his home base during the passion week.
Two references are made to Jesus’ love for Lazarus and his sisters vs 3, 5.
A reference is made to a divine attribute: Omniscience. This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God. Death will not be the focus here. Jesus knows this and makes this clear v4.
Jesus hears His best friend is sick … but stays two more days where He is … on purpose.
Here we have reference to God’s eternal purposes.
Isa 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Ro 11:33 ¶ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
No one is recorded as having questioned Jesus concerning this delay to go to Lazarus promptly. All of the persons who know Jesus well are aware of these things:
1. Lazarus is a special friend to Jesus
2. Jesus has the ability to heal … even from a distance.
3. Several attempts have been made on Jesus’ life by the Jerusalem Jews.
4. A “contract” may very well have been out on Jesus life at that very time.
So when Jesus announces His intention to go to Jerusalem no one says “Why did you not go sooner?” but rather, “Is it wise to go now?”
v8 - 16.
Next we have reference to His Divine mission v9 - 10.
While on earth Jesus had a specific time allotment. This period of time He referred to as ‘day’.
John 9:4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; [the] night is coming when no one can work.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.
This verse applies to us … but also to Jesus. He loved the Father. All things would work together for good as long as He was in the will of (and doing the will of) God.
When we apply this truth to believers we come to understand: We are ‘invincible’ until God is through with us here.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete [it] until the day of Jesus Christ;
Jesus gives us an example of 1Co 10:24 at work in His own life: “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s [well]-being.”
Jesus would have liked to go to Lazarus. What was of greater necessity was the need for the faith of the disciples to grow even greater. “It was necessary for your sakes …”
The Lord does what is best for us… even if it hurts Him.
The Lord does what is best for us …even when it hurts us.
By waiting an extra two days … Lazarus experiences pain. His sisters are hurting.
Heb 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Re 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
We have no reason to think that Lazarus or his sisters were being disciplined for sinning. But even so, these people are hurting and they know Jesus could have prevented it.
v 16 Temporary (or parenthetical) focus on Thomas
Thomas is often criticized as being the one who doubted. Some might think his statement here is that of a pessimist or a fatalist. I think it is a statement of bravery and valour. He knows Jesus is heading into certain death. He challenges both himself and the others to walk with Jesus into the lions den.
v 17 – 27 Jesus speaks with Martha
The extent of Martha’s faith
(a) If you had been here … you could have prevented this.
(b) You can do something now.
(c) You could have said the word as soon as you heard my brother was sick. ____
Profoundly clear declarations by Jesus:
(a) Your brother will rise again
(b) I am the resurrection
(c) Believers never die.
Martha answers Jesus question completely v27.
v 28 – 32 Jesus encounters Mary
The extent of Mary’s faith
(a) More emotional than practical.
Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
(b) You could have (should have?) prevented this!
vs 33 – 45 Observing the Love of God
Seeing Mary in such grief deeply affected Jesus. Hebrews 4:14 - 16
Seeing the burial spot added pain on top of pain v35.
Sensing weak human reasoning and lack of discernment hurts God v37 -38.
Knowing the pain and frustration into which he is about to call Lazarus He shouted a command totally for the purpose of creating and building faith … specific faith … essential faith
Joh 11:42 "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said [this], that they may believe that You sent Me."
Setting: After having spent a week in Jerusalem, Jesus goes about 30 miles north and east to the area where John was baptising (Perea). There He ministers for some time and many become believers.
Verses 1 – 7.
News reaches Jesus that His close friend Lazarus, from the town of Bethany, is sick. Bethany is just about two miles from Jerusalem and Jesus will make this his home base during the passion week.
Two references are made to Jesus’ love for Lazarus and his sisters vs 3, 5.
A reference is made to a divine attribute: Omniscience. This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God. Death will not be the focus here. Jesus knows this and makes this clear v4.
Jesus hears His best friend is sick … but stays two more days where He is … on purpose.
Here we have reference to God’s eternal purposes.
Isa 55:9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Ro 11:33 ¶ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
No one is recorded as having questioned Jesus concerning this delay to go to Lazarus promptly. All of the persons who know Jesus well are aware of these things:
1. Lazarus is a special friend to Jesus
2. Jesus has the ability to heal … even from a distance.
3. Several attempts have been made on Jesus’ life by the Jerusalem Jews.
4. A “contract” may very well have been out on Jesus life at that very time.
So when Jesus announces His intention to go to Jerusalem no one says “Why did you not go sooner?” but rather, “Is it wise to go now?”
v8 - 16.
Next we have reference to His Divine mission v9 - 10.
While on earth Jesus had a specific time allotment. This period of time He referred to as ‘day’.
John 9:4 "I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; [the] night is coming when no one can work.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to [His] purpose.
This verse applies to us … but also to Jesus. He loved the Father. All things would work together for good as long as He was in the will of (and doing the will of) God.
When we apply this truth to believers we come to understand: We are ‘invincible’ until God is through with us here.
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete [it] until the day of Jesus Christ;
Jesus gives us an example of 1Co 10:24 at work in His own life: “Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s [well]-being.”
Jesus would have liked to go to Lazarus. What was of greater necessity was the need for the faith of the disciples to grow even greater. “It was necessary for your sakes …”
The Lord does what is best for us… even if it hurts Him.
The Lord does what is best for us …even when it hurts us.
By waiting an extra two days … Lazarus experiences pain. His sisters are hurting.
Heb 12:6 For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives."
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.
11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Re 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
We have no reason to think that Lazarus or his sisters were being disciplined for sinning. But even so, these people are hurting and they know Jesus could have prevented it.
v 16 Temporary (or parenthetical) focus on Thomas
Thomas is often criticized as being the one who doubted. Some might think his statement here is that of a pessimist or a fatalist. I think it is a statement of bravery and valour. He knows Jesus is heading into certain death. He challenges both himself and the others to walk with Jesus into the lions den.
v 17 – 27 Jesus speaks with Martha
The extent of Martha’s faith
(a) If you had been here … you could have prevented this.
(b) You can do something now.
(c) You could have said the word as soon as you heard my brother was sick. ____
Profoundly clear declarations by Jesus:
(a) Your brother will rise again
(b) I am the resurrection
(c) Believers never die.
Martha answers Jesus question completely v27.
v 28 – 32 Jesus encounters Mary
The extent of Mary’s faith
(a) More emotional than practical.
Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
(b) You could have (should have?) prevented this!
vs 33 – 45 Observing the Love of God
Seeing Mary in such grief deeply affected Jesus. Hebrews 4:14 - 16
Seeing the burial spot added pain on top of pain v35.
Sensing weak human reasoning and lack of discernment hurts God v37 -38.
Knowing the pain and frustration into which he is about to call Lazarus He shouted a command totally for the purpose of creating and building faith … specific faith … essential faith
Joh 11:42 "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said [this], that they may believe that You sent Me."