The Power of Life and Death (2)

INTRODUCTION:

Moving to Chapter 11, we cross a major divide in Johns Gospel

The first 10 chapters begin and end with John the Baptist as the Framework surrounding the Revelation story of Jesus Christ as the Messiah

The focus so far has been on the Ministry of Jesus and His interactions with the people during a variety of Jewish festivals and the multiple Religious institutions of Judaism itself.

The next two chapters begin the next phase in ministry of our Lord and Saviour.

Jesus’ public ministry is nearing its end and as chapter 11 unfolds, His returning to the city of Bethany is as close to Jerusalem he will be until the time of His arrest, trial and ultimate Crucifixion.

But first, we examine Jesus’ most provocative and certainly most dramatic miracle up to this point.

We will break this Chapter down into 3 sections:

1- The Deliberate Delay

2- The Declared Hope and Divine Compassion

3- The Decisive Victory

In Jesus’ greatest example of His Divinity, He shows everyone that there is no situation beyond the power of the Son of God.

It tells us, in very clear terms, that, for the Believer in Christ, there is always hope in our moments of deepest pain, hurt and despair.

Through Faith in Christ we can maintain a life of victory and new life- Even in the face of death and great loss.

So let’s begin:

1- The Deliberate Delay

John 11:1-16.

The Village of Bethany , was to the East of Jerusalem, beyond the Mount of Olives.

When in Jerusalem, Jesus used Bethany, and probably the the homes of Mary and Martha, as His base.

Much like He used Capernaum when He was in Galilee.

This explains why there are so many stories across the Gospels of events surrounding these two cities.

Mary and Martha are sisters and are the focal point of the story in Luke 10. Their brother, Lazarus lived in the village as well.

They had become close friends and supporters of Jesus and His ministry.

The Apostle John is so sure of his readers knowing this family that he identifies Mary as the one who anoints Jesus with oil- An event John doesnt describe until chapter 12.

This connection is shown again, as the sisters send the message to Jesus, in vs 3

“The one You love is ill” The phrase, “The one you love...” is found only one other time in the Gospels- And describes Jesus’ relationship with John, himself. The beloved Disciple.

The Sisters are in a bit of a dilemma though. Jesus is nearby, but they also know the Pharisees and Temple leaders are determined to arrest him.

They did not ask Jesus to come to Bethany, but simply informed Him that their brother was sick and near death-

Their faith held that Jesus could heal Lazarus from a distance-

Do we have that kind of faith today?

In verse 4, As Jesus receives the message, He repeats His statements from Chapter 9 in regards to the man blind from birth- That this was all happening for the Glory of God to be revealed.

And, as in the healing of the blind man, Lazarus’ death was not by Gods design or intent- But Jesus uses the physical circumstances to provide for Divine action that ultimately brings glory to God.

The death of Lazarus was just as real as the man’s blindness- But these physical ailments are no match for the Power of God.

Jesus emphasizes this by intentionally delaying for 2 days before traveling to Bethany.

It is important to note that Lazarus mostly likely died shortly after the messenger left Bethany.

In the Jewish tradition of the time- A body was wrapped in grave clothes and held in a local tomb for 4 days.

It was believed that the persons soul held close to the body for at least three days

But by the fourth day, decomposition had begun and the body was prepared for final disposal

Lazarus was already in the tomb when Jesus arrived- establishing a definitive time-frame of the events.

As with the rest of Jesus’ ministry- He is on His own time schedule and in total control of events.

It also serves to remind us that God’s timing is not our timing and neither is it ours to question His timing- as in doubting God.

There is always a greater purpose and design in everything God does or allows to happen- In spite of our doubts and concerns, God is advancing His kingdom at His own pace- It is on us to remain patient and faithful.

In this 2 day delay, we have another moment with the Disciples of classic misunderstanding of what Jesus means.

Jesus tells His Disciples that Lazarus’ illness is not meant for death- Yet Lazarus does die!

Jesus tells them, Lazarus only sleeps, but decides to go to Bethany anyway.

The Disciples are confused- If he is only asleep, certainly Lazarus will recover- What is the rush now to go to Bethany, as it is close to Jerusalem and the Priest there want to kill Jesus.

The Disciples, by now must be resigned to their own destiny- As Thomas declares, in vs 16:

“Let us go, as well, that we may die with Him” Thomas, at least has the courage to say it out loud- Even in the center of great misunderstanding, and apprehension- Thomas remains faithful.

Jesus also uses the imagery of light and dark to calm the Disciples in Vvs 9-10

“Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light.

It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”

Once again, Jesus reminds us that He is the Light of world and anyone who walks in His light will not stumble.

How can believers embrace the idea that eternal life is a present reality through faith in Christ?

2- The Declared Hope and Divine Compassion

John 11:17-37.

Noting that Lazarus had been dead for 4 days, eliminates the possibility of Jesus simply resuscitating Lazarus, or his being in a coma.

After 4 days, even the Jews accepted that the person was dead, the soul had departed and was beyond recovery.

John exaggerates the point to underscore the fact that God alone could only bring Lazarus back.

Thereby solidifying the Miracle work as Divine.

The death of a family member in such a close-knit community would naturally bring in the distant relatives- And in that time frame, the use of professional mourners and Grievers.

There was great lamenting and wailing/crying.

Even by the Oral traditions of the Jews, hired Flute players were encouraged to help calm and comfort the grieving family.

By the 4th day, Lazarus had been prepared for burial and placed in a temporary cave, its opening covered by a large stone- carved round for easier movement.

The proximity of Bethany to Jerusalem, makes Jesus’ appearance there a very real threat to be arrested by the Temple authorities.

Martha meets Jesus outside the village, and at first would seem to scold Jesus for being to late save her brother-

Then immediately corrects herself, “But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus reassures Martha that Lazarus would rise again...

And what happens next is typical of Johns Gospel, as Martha misunderstands the deeper meaning of Jesus statement.

John 11:24–27 ESV

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Jesus is now stretching Martha’s beyond the imaginable-

Martha fully believed in the resurrection of the dead- On that great and wonderful day of the Lord the Jews saw as happening sometime in the unknowable future.

Jesus’ response, once again, brings the immediacy of God’s Kingdom to the forefront.

“I am...The Resurrection and the Life...”

“Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live...”

“Everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die...”

And finally the clincher-

Directly to Martha- “DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?”

At some point in our lives, every single person on planet earth will come to this crossroad in their life- “DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?”

Martha:

“Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

The depth Christs declaration, “I am...The Resurrection and the Life...”

Is one of the most direct and significant “I AM” statements recorded in Scripture.

Both Mark and Luke record events of Jesus restoring those physically death, back to life. Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5, and the son of the widow in Nain, in Luke 7.

These events demonstrate that Jesus restore life- an astounding thought in itself.

But Jesus is saying that HE IS the Resurrection and Life

As one commentary puts it,

John Jesus Comes to Bethany (11:17–37)

eternal life and rescue from the finality of death are not merely gifts obtained

Mary now enters the story, as she is called from the house by Martha to join Jesus- She also brings the crowd of mourners with her.

Mary, like Martha expresses her dismay over Jesus not being there while their brother was still alive- and then is overcome by grief.

To get the full emotional impact, we need to understand in the original Greek text, the words for grieving were not in a way of quite whimpering- But of loud wailing and heavy, almost guttural sobbing.

All of this echoed by the crowd now surrounding the three friends.

In Western culture, this type of open display of emotion may seem strange or over the top, but was fairly common in that culture- And are still are today.

John 11:33 ESV

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

Jesus being deeply moved...and greatly troubled has often been mis-interpreted by many scholars.

The original Greek phrase used for “Deeply moved” in other areas of the Gospels- describes a sense of deep outrage, fury or anger.

John further backs this up by adding that Jesus was “Troubled” as well.

So why is Jesus so upset- Troubled deep in His own Soul?

Certainly now at Mary, Martha or the other mourners...They have done nothing wrong.

Balance this scene with the Messiahs declaration of being the very source of Life itself, and we see Jesus’ dismay.

Martha and Mary had already acknowledged Jesus as their Messiah- To fully comprehend that, they SHOULD have had the Faith to claim victory over the grave.

With the giver of Life in their very presence

Yet here they gathered, seemingly overcome by grief and defeat.

Jesus’ anger is directed at the sting of Death , itself- and all the pain and destruction it brings with it.

John 11:34 ESV

And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”

His only concern now was to get to Lazarus and exercise His Divine Authority over Death and the Grave- The Ultimate enemy of all humanity.

John 11:35 ESV

Jesus wept.

The tears of Christ are not for his friend, Lazarus, or for the grief being expressed by the crowd of people-

His tears are for the deep emotions stirred up inside Him, not for Himself but for the entire scene of the chaotic exercise of grief, despair- The finality of the sealed tomb-

All of this the results of sin and death.

John 11:36–37 ESV

So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

So again, the crowd has a mixed reaction...

Some see the tears and emotion as the depth of love for a friend

Others scoff at the idea that if this man could heal a man blind from birth- Certainly His close friend would have been worth healing as well...

Is this just confusion? Maybe real soul searching questioning?

Or is Doubt, Cynicism, and pure disbelief in play here?

What this shows for us is that our Saviour knows what grieves us and shares in our hurts and disappointments.

We should never be so proud as not feel worthy of approaching Him with our deepest hurts.

He is ready to move with compassion for each us in our hardest moments, if we but reach out to Him in humility.

3. Decisive Victory

John 11:38-44.

As Jesus steps to the front of the tomb, He is, again, “Deeply moved”

The same phrasing as in vs 33- The deep outrage of it all.

The Giver of Life is now facing the direct result of Mans greatest enemy- Sin and Death.

John 11:39 ESV

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”

Johns emphasis on Martha being the sister of the dead man, AND the point that Martha makes, that after 4 days decomposition has begun- There will be an oder...

All this confirms to the readers then and to us now- Lazarus was indeed Dead.

John 11:40 ESV

Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

Jesus had not told her directly, but had told the Disciples that the death of Lazarus was to be for the Glory of God.

The Glorification of God then leads to the glorifying of His Son.

John 11:41–42 ESV

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

This prayer has several points to it:

Jesus thanked His Father for ALREADY hearing His prayer- The implication being that Jesus had previously prayed for Lazarus.

Jesus prayed out loud in public- This was a common practice the Jewish culture-

He was not trying to impress the crowd with boisterous speech or fancy words.

Jesus addresses God as “Father”, not our Father- showing the direct connection God the Father had with God the Son. Jesus did nothing of His own accord- He and God the Father worked everything in unison.

John 11:43 ESV

When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”

Now for the dramatic climax to the story- Jesus “Cried out”

In the original Greek the phrase denotes- A loud voice- with Authority

It is used 5 more times in John s Gospel-

On Palm Sunday as Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey

And 4 more times as the angry mob called out for the release of Barabbas and ultimately for Jesus’ death.

John 11:44 ESV

The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

What a sight for the crowd-

The one, who some in the crowd, not doubt were part of the burial party that took Lazarus’ body to the tomb 4 days before.

Now, wrapped in the wrapping cloths they had covered his corpse in-

Now stood before them- Alive and Well.

The culture of the day- much like today- was very superstitious in regards to death and cemeteries.

The Jews had always had very strict purification rituals in regards to handling dead things in general- much more so, a corpse.

Jesus, always in control tells the crowd to loose the grave clothes let him go.

In essence, Jesus has completed the purification ceremony with the resurrection and declared Lazarus to be clean again.