Lessons from Lazarus: Chapter 11

This is one of three occasion when Christ raises someone from the dead.  It is the final example for which the evidence is very powerful.

1. He was Dead verse 14

There can be two deaths. A physical death and a spiritual death ( see Eph 2.1 -3).

2. He was decayed verse 39

3. He was raised and given life verse 41-44

He was raised out of love and it brought glory to God.

4. He was loosed verse 44

Being bound represented the old life from which he was now free.

5. He witnessed to others verse 45

Even though many saw this miracle some still reported it to the Pharisees who then were motivated to start action leading to his death on the cross. Others who saw it were absolutely convinced that he was the Son of God.

JOHN 11

Lazarus dies at Bethany

Lazarus, whose sisters were Mary and Martha, was sick.  Mary was the one who anointed the feet of Jesus with oil and wiped it with her hair. So they sent a message to him.

When Jesus heard this he said that his sickness was for the glory of God so that the Son of God may be glorified through him.

He stayed where he was for two days then said to his disciples let us go back the Judea. The disciples were concerned because the Jews had tried to stone him in Judea.

Jesus said to his Disciples that if anyone walks in the night they stumble because the light is not on them. He went on to say that their friend, Lazarus, was asleep and he was going to awaken him. They were confused. Jesus was referring to his own death but some thought he meant Lazarus was just sleeping. He clarified it by saying that Lazarus was dead and that he was glad they had not been there earlier for what he would now do would help them believe.

The Resurrection and the Life.

When they arrived they found that Lazarus had been buried for four days. Many Jews had come to comfort Mary and Martha. When Jesus came, Martha went out to meet him and Mary stayed in the house. She said that had he arrived earlier he would not have died but whatever you ask God he will give. Jesus asked Martha if she believed that anyone who believed in Me, even if they die would live? Martha said she believed him to be the Messiah, the Son of God.

Jesus shares the sorrow of Death

Martha then went to get Mary. She went to him along with the Jews who were consoling her. They all came to Jesus and he was angry in spirit and deeply moved and wept. Some of the Jews said if he could have given a blind man sight why could he not avoid Lazarus dying?

Raising Lazarus from the Dead

Then Jesus, angry with himself went to the cave and the stone was removed. He spoke to God so that people who had came could hear. Lazarus came out bound in the linen strips.

The Plot to Kill Jesus

Many of the Jews who had come to see Mary then believed. But some of the Jews went to tell the Pharisees.  The Pharisees called a meeting to consider what to do given that his man was doing many signs. They were worried people might start believing him and this could threaten their position with the Romans. But Caiaphas  the Chief Priest said that it was to their advantage that one should died for the people rather than a whole nation perish. He prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation. So from then they plotted to kill him.

The Passover was near and the Pharisees had given orders if anyone saw Jesus they had to report it so they could arrest him.