Lessons From Lazurus- Pt 1

You are not alone, the apostles often grew in faith in times they did not understand. They often failed. In the end they prevailed for Jesus was building their faith for what they were going to have to do after His departure.

If you are weak in faith your work for the kingdom will never be strong. Be ready, be willing to allow God to build your faith.

(Transition)

Our passage

The request and the death (Jn11:1-3)

Jesus response and delay (Jn11:4-6)

Jesus risk to apostles dismay (Jn11:7-10)

Jesus plain speak, risky challenge by Thomas (Jn11:11-16)

Our Passage

Scripture matters, context matters, so may we glean from the scripture and the context this evening.

John 11:1–2 NASB95

1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.

John 11:3–4 NASB95

3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

John 11:5–6 NASB95

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

John 11:8 NASB95

8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and are You going there again?”

John 11:9 NASB95

9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

John 11:10–11 NASB95

10 “But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 This He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”

John 12:13 NASB95

13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.”

John 11:14–15 NASB95

14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”

John 11:16 NASB95

16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

In a text that maybe very familiar. And maybe you did not know or realize that this text is only found in gospel of John. Oh wait, what is the purpose of the gospel?

In reminder, what is the purpose of the Gospel of John?

Who and what is being addressed in this passage?

Where is Jesus and where is Lazarus and his sisters?

Is there anything out of the ordinary that you notice in this passage?

OK, enough of those subjective questions, now to the subjective ones.

What does John say about Mary (v.2)?

What was the word that the sisters sent to Jesus (v.3)?

What was Jesus response to the request (v.4)?

What did Jesus do (v.6)?

Why were the apostles worried (v.8)?

Are (vv.9-10) literal or figurative?

What does Jesus promise (v.11)?

What were disciples talking about and Jesus (vv.12-13)?

What is the purpose of all of this (v.15)?

What is Thomas challenge (v.16)?

I know a lot of questions. I think it is important that we get a grasp of the text so then we can break down the text too.

A request brought to Jesus

There are many people who were coming to Jesus, some because they believed, others to check Him out, others out of love and asking from a place of love.

The request for a sick friend Lazarus of Bethany, made by his sisters, who He loved them all.

By the way, here is a little nugget for you, the name Lazarus, is the Greek form of the name Eleazar which means “God is my help.”

Jesus is in Bethabara (20mi from Bethany); Bethany (2mi from Jerusalem) can be proved by (Jn1:21, 10:40)

The request was not really a request but a statement about His friend in whom He loved.

They may have had hope that He would speak a word and their brother would be raised like He had done before. For they knew it was not safe for him to go back to Judea.

There is the statement that tells us which Mary this is, not to be confused with Mary of Magdalene (v.2)

As I mentioned before this miracle, sign, is only found here in John, this is the final sign we will see in John.

Morris said:

“The reason the synoptic gospels did not include the account of the raising of Lazarus is that Peter was not present; in these months he was in Galilee while Jesus was in Perea an Bethany. Many think that the synoptic gospels are centered on Peter’s account of Jesus’ teaching and ministry.”

Jesus had a personal relationship with Lazarus, Mary and Martha. So, sending someone to Jesus would not be out of the ordinary. If we have a need we would turn to those we have a relationship with too.

(Transition) Now we get the unlikely response

Jesus response and delay

An urgent need, a delayed response with a purpose.

Though not stated, the delay proved the obvious Jesus knew what He was going to do and why.

What was Jesus going to do, and why (v.4)?

In a short paraphrase of a quote by Spurgeon “So the Lord speaks of things, not as they seem to be, nor even as they are in the present moment, but as they shall be.”

The testing of Mary, Martha’s faith was not a denial of His love.

Jesus by His delay would be agonizing to the sisters and puzzling to the apostles.

This was not out of the ordinary to Jesus, those whom he cared for had requests made of him. His Mother (2:1-11; at Cana) and his brothers (7:1-10; at the feast).

Have you ever had your faith tested? Was the test over quickly or did it take time?

Jesus delay was not denial, as a mention before but there was a purpose. - so God would be glorified

(Transition) - here comes dangerous choice, that, again did not sit well with the apostles.

Jesus risk to apostles dismay

Have you ever made choices that others thought were crazy or risky? Look at this choice and how Jesus answers

John 11:7–8 NLT

7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.” 8 But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

John 11:9–10 NLT

9 Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 10 But at night there is danger of stumbling because they have no light.”

Smart move would have been for Jesus to raise Lazarus from a distance like Centurions servant.

Consider why was it dangerous to go back to Judea? Was there history there when it came to Jesus?

Some may say, even today that if He loved Lazarus so much why did He allow him to get sick? Why did He delay in going and doing what He intended to do in the first place (bring glory to God by raising him). Why go when could have spoken a word from a distance.

The delay, while it did not make sense did display Jesus love for him.

God’s love for is own is not pampering love; it is perfecting love.

Just because He loves us and we love Him does not shelter us from the pains and problems of this life. -Contrary to the Health and prosperity preachers.

Even Jesus was not pampered. He had to endure the cross, drink the cup of sorrow, experience the pain, the shame of the cross.

May we know, may we not ever think that love and suffering are incompatible. For they are and often times can bring us closer, or unite us to Christ.

Time frame of delay

Day one- Messengers come (Lazarus dies

Day two - Messengers return to Bethany

Day three - Jesus waits another day (or could have set out but not get there yet)

Day four- Jesus arrives in Bethany (we will get into this more next week.

God is not overly concerned about our comfort. He is concerned about our salvation and our bringing glory to God in all that we do, and that would include our suffering.

Jesus still had work to do, hence why He said 12-hours in the day. For his hour had not come yet when darkness would come.

Nothing could hinder God’s timing, nor can it lengthen or shorten our time.

God has set a day, so make the most of our days now for we do not know the number of them.

Barclay “Jesus is saying that a man must finish the day’s work within the day, for the night comes when work is ended.”

Jesus speaks plainly

Don’t you love it when people speak plainly and you don’t have to try to figure out what they are saying? Jesus often spoke in parables, but not this time. It is direct and too the point.

John 11:11–12 NLT

11 Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.” 12 The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!”

John 11:13–14 NLT

13 They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. 14 So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.

John 11:15 NLT

15 And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.”

Does sleep always mean sleep in the words of Jesus?

Jesus used the familiar metaphor of sleep to describe the death (sleep) of Lazarus (ref Mt9:24 Jarius daughter; Act7:60 Stephen). All three cases the term “sleep” was used.

Jesus was about to wake him up (resurrect him).

Jesus was glad, why (v.15)?

Oh wait, who is Jesus speaking to in this passage, or portion of the passage?

Jesus was glad of Lazarus death because he knew and had said it would not end in death (11:4); Jesus knew the outcome.

The promise to the sisters, via the man sent to tell Jesus, not that Lazarus would not die, but that it would not end in death. - - - sometimes God allows us to go through things, or others to so that we can see and God is glorified by the outcome. (re: Rom8:28)

Jon Courson once said:

“When we find ourselves confronted by disease, disappointment, delay, and even death, our only encouragement is the Word of God. We must live by faith not by sight.

Why did Jesus wait? Remember that Jesus was on a divine time schedule and only did what the Father told Him. That would include when

The disciples did not understand the reason or the delay, just like we can do at times. We do not understand the Lord’s timing or the Lord’s ways.

Thomas assertion (Jn11:16)

John 11:16 NASB95

16 Therefore Thomas, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, so that we may die with Him.”

Thomas makes an assertion, and an assumption, what is the assumption?

Most people know Thomas as “doubting Thomas” and the reality he was devoted Thomas who was very honest. His faith may have wavered, but he was devote, loyal and courageous.

One last question, have you ever had doubt when it came to Christianity, if so, what did you do with it?

May we be a people who know the end and may that help us to grow in our faith, from any doubt we may have to walk in the promise of Jesus “it will not end in death.”