The Resurrection and the Life
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
TS: In a climatic and most dramatic sign in this gospel, Jesus raises his friend Lazarus from the dead.
Six miracles have already been presented
Water into wine
Healing the nobleman’s son
Restoring the parallelized man
Multiplying the loaves and fishes
Walking on the water
Curing the man born blind
The Jewish leaders response it to continue plot Jesus’ death.ting
Many believe this event is the greatest of all Jesus’ miracles!
Lazarus was raised after 4 days of being in the grave.
I. The sickness of Lazarus (11:1–3)
I. The sickness of Lazarus (11:1–3)
1. The background (11:1–2):
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.
Lazarus, beloved friend of Jesus and brother of Mary and Martha, lies sick in Bethany.
Bethany lies on the E side of the Mt. of Olives about 2 mi from Jerusalem. It was a base of operations for Jesus during His ministry including during His final week.
2. The beckoning (11:3):
Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
The sisters notify Jesus of this sickness.
Jesus was in Transjordan and Bethany was close to Jerusalem.
At best speed, it would take a day to get the message to Jesus, and He would be a day away from arriving.
Since He is omniscient, Jesus knew about Lazarus. It is possible that He had already passed away by the time the message arrived.
II. The summary concerning Lazarus (11:4–16):
II. The summary concerning Lazarus (11:4–16):
Jesus uses this sad event to overview the purpose for his earthly ministry.
1. The declaration (11:4):
When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
He says Lazarus’s sickness and death are allowed to bring about God’s glory!
He knew the outcome from the beginning and this reveals a truth we all must realize.
The point of it all was to declare Jesus as Messiah!
He was going to work an even greater miracle than a healing.
2. The devotion (11:5):
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
Jesus loves Lazarus and his sisters.
They were more than disciples, they were friends
3. The delay (11:6):
So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.
Jesus remains where he is for two days.
Jesus has received a message and summons, then waits 2 days.
Jesus knew Lazarus was dead by now, and the delay made this an even greater miracle.
4. The decision (11:7):
Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”
He announces his plans to visit Bethany.
The disciples knew Jesus was hated in Jerusalem by the leaders and going back was dangerous
5. The dialogue (11:8–15):
Jesus and his disciples now discuss this issue.
a. Their concern (11:8):
The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”
The disciples protest that it’s too dangerous for Jesus to go to Bethany.
b. His commitment (11:9–11):
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.
But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”
They will, however, go there, for he intends to awake Lazarus from his sleep!
MacArthur Study Bible NASB (Commentary)
During the light of the sun, most people did their work safely. When darkness came, they stopped. The proverbial saying, however, had a deeper meaning.
As long as the Son performed His Father’s will (i.e., during the daylight period of His ministry when He is able to work), He was safe.
The time would soon come (nighttime) when, by God’s design, His earthly work would end and He would “stumble” in death.
Jesus was stressing that as long as He was on earth doing God’s will, even at this late time in His ministry, He would safely complete God’s purposes.
c. Their confusion (11:12–13):
Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.”
However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep.
They think Jesus is referring to natural sleep.
d. His clarification (11:14–15):
Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.
And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.”
He tells them Lazarus has died!
Jesus is glad for their sake
He knew that the coming miracle would strengthen their faith
6. The despair (11:16):
Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
Thomas agrees to go but prepares for the worst!
III. The sorrow over Lazarus (11:17–37)
III. The sorrow over Lazarus (11:17–37)
So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
The term “tomb” means a stone sepulcher. In first-century Israel such a grave was common. Either a cave or rock area would be hewn out, the floor inside leveled and graded to make a shallow descent. Shelves were cut out or constructed inside the area in order to bury additional family members. A rock was rolled in front to prevent wild animals or grave robbers from entering (see also v. 38). The evangelist made special mention of the fourth day (see note on v. 3) in order to stress the magnitude of the miracle, for the Jews did not embalm and by then the body would have been in a state of rapid decomposition.
1. The sorrow of the Jews (11:18–19):
And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
Many come from Jerusalem to pay their respects.
2. The sorrow of Martha (11:20–28)
a. Martha’s meeting with Jesus (11:20–27):
She waits for him outside of Bethany.
(1) Her frustration (11:20–21):
“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
(2) Her faith (11:22–27)
(a) In the word of God (11:22–24):
She believes in the Old Testament promises regarding the resurrection.
(b) In the Son of God (11:25–27):
5th of the 7 great “I am statements”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She accepts Jesus’ statement that he is the resurrection!
This is a statement at the heart of the gospel!
Jesus is the resurrection and life
He gives eternal life
He brings resurrection
b. Martha’s ministry for Jesus (11:28):
She informs Mary of his presence.
3. The sorrow of Mary (11:29–32):
She knows if Jesus had been there, Lazarus wouldn’t have died.
4. The sorrow of Jesus (11:33–37)
a. He weeps (11:33–35).
Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled.
And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”
Jesus wept.
MacArthur Study Bible NASB Commentary
The term “tomb” means a stone sepulcher. In first-century Israel such a grave was common. Either a cave or rock area would be hewn out, the floor inside leveled and graded to make a shallow descent. Shelves were cut out or constructed inside the area in order to bury additional family members. A rock was rolled in front to prevent wild animals or grave robbers from entering (see also v. 38). The evangelist made special mention of the fourth day (see note on v. 3) in order to stress the magnitude of the miracle, for the Jews did not embalm and by then the body would have been in a state of rapid decomposition.
wept- GK connotation burst out crying
b. They wonder (11:36–37):
Those watching this ask why Jesus, who can heal the blind, couldn’t keep his friend from dying.
IV. The summons to Lazarus (11:38–44)
IV. The summons to Lazarus (11:38–44)
1. The preparation by Jesus (11:38–40)
Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”
a. The Savior’s request (11:38–39a):
He tells some men to remove the stone covering the cave where Lazarus is buried.
b. The sister’s reluctance (11:39b):
Martha is hesitant, telling Jesus her brother’s body had been in there four days already!
c. The Savior’s reminder (11:40):
“Didn’t I tell you that you will see God’s glory if you believe?”
2. The prayer of Jesus (11:41–42):
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
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.”
He thanks his Father for what is about to happen!
3. The power from Jesus (11:43–44)
Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
a. The order (11:43): “Lazarus, come out!”
b. The obedience (11:44): Lazarus comes out![1]
Lazarus is s foreshadowing of our own resurrection
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Concl
Concl
Jesus is the Resurrection and the LIfe
[1]H. L. Willmington, The Outline Bible(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1999), Jn 11.