John 11:28-57

Main Idea:

Jesus restored a man to life to prove his person, his power, and his purpose.

WIFOT:

Jesus is promoting a world in which people believe he is sent from God and will bring about the final resurrection and restoral of God’s people/all those who believe in him. He provides proof of this by raising Lazarus as a glimpse of his resurrection power and God-given authority over death.

Introduction:

Magicians are truly amazing people. While it seems today some prefer the term “illusionists,” either way, these performers continue to astound audiences when they seem to accomplish the impossible. Everything from sawing an assistant in half, to making an elephant disappear, to breaking out of chains and locks, to picking just the right car out of the stack. But the whole point of an illusionist is to get you to buy into the trick. They need to get you to believe. They need you to be astonished and think, even just for a moment, that they did the impossible.

Now, with magicians, we know, logically, it’s all fakery. We know it’s an illusion, we know it’s a staged performance, yet, in the moment, it is so convincing that only the most clever can possibly hope to figure out the secret and find how it was done. Those brilliant enough can see through it.

Today, we’re looking at something that is the exact opposite. We see Jesus actually doing the impossible. We see Jesus do something so astonishing, so convincing, so wonderful, that only the densest reject it. Only the most bias refuse it, and only the most hateful, while they can’t deny it, do try to quiet it.

We see Jesus accomplish the impossible. But even then, it’s not for the sake of ticket sales. It’s not for the sake of great TV ratings. No, Jesus does the impossible...for you and me. For us, and those like us. For those who are hurting, who are doubting, who are wavering in our faith and unsure of our savior. Jesus is doing the impossible for those with shattered lives and broken hopes and dreams. Jesus is doing the impossible for those whose lives are in ruins and whose sorrows are multiplied. Jesus is doing the impossible...for all of us.

Why?

Let’s find out.

Let’s also not forget the occasion. Jesus has gotten a message pleading with him to come and heal his friend. Jesus, however, purposefully delays. He waits. But he does offer a cryptic reply.

John 11:4 LSB

But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

Many translations bring out the hint that Jesus is giving. While Lazrus may die for a moment, his story, his sickness, his trial, would not end at death. That’s not where it’s ultamately going. That’s not the destination. It won’t lead there, it may make a quick pitstop, but this sickness is not leading him to death, it’s leading him to the glory of God.

It’s leading him to reveal something amazing about the Son of God.

Lazarus’ story won’t end here. It’s only beginning.

Finally, Jesus leaves for Bethany. Outside the city he met Martha, and there, Jesus utters another one of his “I AM” statements.

John 11:25 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Then, we see that word repeated.

That word that will dominate the rest of the chapter.

“Believe.”

It continues in verse 26-27.

John 11:26–27 ESV

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 calling her to believe. In the midst of her overwhelming grief, she confesses an overwhelming understanding of who Jesus is and what he came to do.

But what about Mary?

What about the one who previously sat at Jesus’ feet?

Jesus and the Sisters (28-37)

John 11:28–37 ESV

When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 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. And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. 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?”

Here’s the beautiful thing.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: The Last Miracle—The Last Enemy (John 11)

Jesus was concerned not only about the faith of His own disciples, but also about the faith of Mary and Martha (

28-31 Mary is called to Jesus

So Martha returns and brings Mary out to Jesus.

She comes, and those mourning with her follow her out.

32-37 Mary cries to Jesus, and Jesus weeps

She comes to Jesus and falls before him.

Her words echo Martha’s from John 11:21

John 11:21 ESV

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

But then, she falls short of the expression of faith that Martha spoke. Martha spoke of Jesus’ and his relationship with the father.

Mary’s heart failed. And her faith flickered.

And her savior was deeply moved.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Eleven: The Last Miracle—The Last Enemy (John 11)

Mary is found three times in the Gospel record, and each time she is at the feet of Jesus (

Each time we see her in a posture of humility before God and leaning on him, learning from him, and honoring him.

But here, her posture and her profession don’t quite match. She’s spotted with doubt and despair.

She may be bowing, but it’s not in faith and worship, it’s in despair, ruin, and hopelessness.

Jesus is moved, and at his request, they move him to the tomb.

And Jesus cries.

Now, if you’ve ever needed to quote another verse for extra points in AWANA, or to win that Bible competition, you may have been tempted to learn this one. But, for the casual and joking way we often approach this verse, we miss the power of it. So much is communicated in those two words.

John 11:35 ESV

Jesus wept.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 11

Although Jesus intended to use this situation as an example to glorify God, it still disturbs Him (v. 3)

From the very beginning, Jesus was planning to come and raise a deceased man. He knew that death would bring sorrow and heartache. He knew mourners would be present, he knew the scene he would walk into.

But it would still trouble him.

Why?

A Handbook on the Gospel of John John 11:35–36

No indication is given of why Jesus wept, though the Jews interpreted his weeping as a sign of his love for Lazarus. The word translated wept is used only in this verse in the New Testament. The word used of Mary in verse 33 indicates loud wailing, but the word used here comes from a noun meaning “tears.”

His is not a hopeless wailing, a despondent screaming at the misfortune that befell his friend. No, his was the crying of a saddened heart.

But why?

Why was Jesus sad?

The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 11:35

But it seems that in the context the weeping is triggered by the thought of Lazarus in the tomb: This was not personal grief over the loss of a friend (since Lazarus was about to be restored to life) but grief over the effects of sin, death, and the realm of Satan. It was a natural complement to the previous emotional expression of [being deeply moved] (11:33). It is also possible that Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus because he knew there was also a tomb for himself ahead.

It seems he grieved at the power of sin and death, and more, at the faithless doubt around him.

He had already told them this would not end in death. But they did not trust him. Remember back when he was far away and they sent a message to him?

John 11:4 ESV

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Jesus wept.

He wept for the death that sin forever leads to.

and he wept for the doubt that forgot his promise.

Jesus and Lazarus (38-44)

John 11:38–44 ESV

Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 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.” When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 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.”

A few days, and several verses before, Jesus promised that this illness would be for the glory of God. Now, he challenges them.

John 11:40 ESV

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

Now, Vs. 42-43 are the heart of this passage. They give us the point. Everything Jesus did had a point.

That belief has been the drive of this entire chapter.

V. 14, Jesus notes these events are happen so the disciples would believe.

V. 26 he asks Martha if she believes he is the resurrection and the life.

V. 40 he again mentions belief.

Now, Vs. 42-43, he does these things so that they would believe that God sent him.

Finally, V. 48, the Pharisees are afraid these things would lead people to believe in him .

Jesus didn’t do any miracles just for fun, he did them to prove his authority and his power and his mission.

“These miracles were very, very important because they validated the apostles as the true teachers.  Look, the ancient world and the world of Judaism was packed with teachers.  They were all over the place.  Rabbis, scribes, Pharisees, many others who were teachers.  How do you know the true teacher?  How do you know who speaks for God?  Well, the true teacher is manifest by miracle power.” - John MacArthur sermon “God’s Purpose for Miracles”

Jesus makes that clear in this passage!

Main Idea: Jesus is planning to restore a man to life to prove his person, his power, and his purpose.

He is planning to reveal the glory of God’s power, even over death!

So, will you believe? Will you trust him as Martha did?

Oh, you need good reason? Let me tell you of this good reason!

Jesus approached the tomb.

But this is no mere illusion. Martha confirms that. Lazarus has been dead for days, his body has started to rot, and his friends and family know it. He is gone.

But he isn’t beyond the power of God.

“Didn’t I tell you if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” What a question!

What a great question for us today.

Jesus commands the tomb be opened.

Perhaps, even as he is praying, the odor of death is carried on the wind.

But Jesus prays on. Unexpectedly, he doesn’t pray for the dead man. He doesn’t pray for power to raise him. Lazarus doesn’t even get mentioned in the prayer!

Who does?

Those around Jesus.

Like Elijah in 1 Kings 18:37, Jesus is not praying for his own benefit, but for those around him to hear and see the power of God and to know it was Yahweh alone who could make the difference.

Main Idea: Jesus is planning to restore a man to life to prove his person, his power, and his purpose.

And he did.

John 11:43 ESV

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

If this was a movie, I have no doubt this moment would stretch out, play in slow motion, crawling forward as the dramatic reveal slowly, slowly, slowly happens.

The curtain of death is drawn back and the soul of Lazarus unites with his body once more.

Death is defeated, illness is overcome, and God is glorified.

Main Idea: Jesus restored a man to life to prove his person, his power, and his purpose.

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.”

The voice that called out the creation of Heaven and Earth, that spun off the stars and sorted out the moon, that cried out “peace, be still” to the storm and spoke hope and life to all, that voice now spoke to Lazarus.

That voice raised him.

John: Verse by Verse Lazarus Is Raised from the Dead (11:38–44)

This is about much more than the raising of Lazarus. It is a foretaste of what would take place at the cross and empty tomb and also at his second coming, when he will raise the dead and reunite them with their eternal spirits (

Remember that title Jesus used of himself?

John 11:25 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

Main Idea: Jesus restored a man to life to prove his person, his power, and his purpose.

But even as many here are said to believe, we will see some who do not.

That’s your choice. Facing the facts of what Jesus did, and who he is, that’s your choice!

You could embrace him. You could believe in him. You could see him for who he is.

Or, you could join the Pharisees.

Let us see their reaction.

Jesus and the Pharisees (45-57)

John 11:45–57 ESV

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

This, now this here is astonishing.

A man as been brought back to life, something utterly unheard of since the days of Elijah and Elisha! But instead of embracing this obvious prophet sent from God, they turn and lament for their positions of power under Rome!

Remember, at this time, Israel wasn’t an independent nation. They were a vassel state, a conquored territory that was ruled by Rome. Rather than celebrate at the coming of the Messiah, the deleiverer whom they thought would free them from Rome, they talked about killing him so they’d stay under Rome!

It reminds me of Israel in the wilderness, having just seen the 10 Plaugues, having just seen the Red Sea be parted, they then lamented and longed for the slavery in Egypt as soon as the wilderness appeared threatening.

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