Responses to the Resurrection

When a family went to town to get supplies, there was usually one or two choices. If you went to get flour or sugar, there was basically one decision to make and that was how much. If you went to get fabric for clothes or curtains, the biggest choices to make were what kind of fabric and what colors. For the children, it might be a choice of what kind of candy to choose.

Today, when we go shopping, I find myself tired and sometimes irritated because there are so many choices. If you want flour, there’s at least 3-5 different options. Beyond that, you can choose which grain of flour you want. The bread and cereal aisle is incredibly confusing. Even now, getting a package of Oreos is no longer simple, as there are now multiple kinds of Oreos.

The automobile industry is another example of multiple choices and options. Then there’s television; with the availability of over 200 channels, yet there’s nothing worth watching.

However, when faced with what to do with Jesus Christ, we are limited to only two responses which can be made. In the book of John, we have seen the 7 “I Am” statements, along with 7 different miracles and signs. All of these, John has presented in order to show the world that Jesus is fully God.

Thus, one can either choose to believe or to not believe that Jesus is God. There is no fence upon which a person can straddle. If a person claims to be undecided, then they have already chosen to not believe.

In our culture today, there are a variety of ways in which people respond to the claim that Jesus is God and that He is the only way to salvation. Some are openly hostile against anything about Jesus. Some are accepting of some of the things of Jesus as long as they are entertained and they don’t feel any infringement upon their personal desires. And, of course, there are those of us, who have chosen to believe and wish to follow Jesus Christ regardless of the cost.

In this passage today, we’re going to look at three different responses to Jesus after He raised Lazarus from the dead.

So, what do we hope to learn from this passage today?

We must present Jesus so others can make a choice.

Of course, our desire is that others would choose Jesus.

Committed to the Savior - 11.45

Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what He had done, believed in Him.

As a result of God’s divine appointment at their coming to mourn, many who were there with Mary at the time, and had seen the resurrection of Lazarus, they chose to believe in Jesus.

My friends, there is nothing coincidental about what takes place in a person’s life. If God is indeed sovereign, then we accept that we are where we are, according to His timetable. These individuals may have thought they were coming simply to comfort and console Mary and Martha. The reality is that they were also going to be faced with a life or death decision. They were going to see the Son of God do only what God could do; raise the dead back to life. They were faced with a decision as to how they would respond to something which was so unreal. The Bible says that in this situation,

many believed in Him.

The phrase believed in Him is important. They were not just believing in the fact that Jesus had done something miraculous and amazing. They believed in Him. Remember John 3.36:

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

For a person to be genuinely saved; to truly be born again; to experience eternal life; they must believe in the Son of God. Acts 4.12 tells us:

There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.

In the context of this verse in John 11.45, it seems the only option that we can legitimately consider is that they indeed became followers of Jesus Christ.

Consumed by Sin - 11.46-54

But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them the things which Jesus had done. Therefore the chief priests and the Pharisees convened a council, and were saying, “What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men 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 take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.” Now he did not say this on his own initiative, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus was going to die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they planned together to kill Him. Therefore Jesus no longer continued to walk publicly among the Jews, but went away from there to the country near the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim; and there He stayed with the disciples.

This section really puzzles me. This comes directly on the heels of us reading that many of the Jews present chose to believe in Jesus. However, this group in these verses, didn’t simply choose not to believe; they go to the Pharisees and tell the religious leaders what Jesus had done. In Homer Kent’s book on John, Light In the Darkness, he states: The chief cause of unbelief is not inadequate information, but a heart in rebellion against the authority of God and his word. Sadly, this would define much of our world today.

As a result, a council was initiated to discuss the situation. Obviously, things were not going the way the religious leaders had hoped. In fact, Jesus was making His position even clearer that He is God and that he is the only way to heaven. Sadly, the Pharisees probably felt they were losing control of the people. This is obvious by the comments they made:

this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Again, it is obvious that they were not lacking proof, as they acknowledged that Jesus was performing many signs. They had evidence that Jesus was God; they just had hearts that were rebellious and defiant towards God. They would rather attempt to eliminate Jesus rather than humble themselves and believe in Him.

In addition, they were really not concerned about right and wrong, but rather about Jesus' impact upon their position and status. They actually were fearful that those who believed in Jesus would attempt to revolt against Rome, which would take away their authority and power. And Rome was noted for how it crushed those who tried to rise against it. However, the religious leaders had not been listening to Jesus at all. They loved their position of religious influence and power.

Now we are introduced to Caiaphas who was high priest at that time. Historically, he was known as a very savvy, opportunistic individual. Some scholars state that he was one of the most political high priests Israel had. His opening comment, in verses 49-50, even comes across as rude. He was also known as a very ruthless, conniving individual. So his suggestion fits his personality quite well. His suggestion is one of two extremes as if there is not any other options available. Quite simply—either Jesus dies or the nation will be destroyed.

Now we need to understand that Caiaphas was more interested in national security, as well as his own power, than he was of his own soul or the souls of his countrymen. Thus, he was suggesting that Jesus should die so that the Sanhedrin and the people of Israel would continue and not be wiped out by Rome for insurrection.

Interestingly, according to verse 51, God gave him those words and they were interpreted by the religious leaders how they wanted them to be interpreted. The reality was that Jesus was indeed going to die for the people of Israel, but as a Savior. In addition, Jesus’ death was going to be much broader in scope. Salvation would be extended to those Jews there, as well as those who had been dispersed, and to the Gentiles, as well.

At that point, the Pharisees and Sadducees worked together for the intent of killing Jesus, according to verse 53. This verse is enough evidence to prove that the trial which would occur later on was totally bogus. The trial was for show to justify their killing of Jesus. Yet, we see in verse 54, that Jesus was still in charge of the time frame. He left the area and stayed with the disciples in Ephraim. The religious leaders would not be allowed to satisfy their lust for power and blood until Jesus allowed it to be the right time.

Casual Spectators - 11.55-57

Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem out of the country before the Passover to purify themselves. So they were seeking for Jesus, and were 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 was to report it, so that they might seize Him.

This is the 3rd Passover we read about in John’s writings. We read that many went up to Jerusalem, which seems ironic as you finish the verse. They went up in order to purify themselves, focusing on the outward and not even considering the inner person. Meanwhile the religious leaders were covering themselves more and more with the stain of sin.

We get the sense that there was a strong interest in seeing whether or not Jesus was even going to be there. This group shows a curiosity but there was no sign of belief in Jesus. If there would have been, John would have made that obviously clear.

This group had also been approached by the religious leaders to report Jesus’ whereabouts, so that he could be captured.

Sadly, this group was preparing themselves for the celebration of God setting His people free from Egypt, yet they were merely curious in the One Who could truly set them free.

Summary

We have seen in this passage three different responses to the resurrection of Lazarus. One cannot describe accurately and scientifically how this happened, but it was obvious to all that Jesus was the One who raised Lazarus from the dead.

Towards the end of this passage, we met the group of people that were basically casual spectators. Jesus was someone Who was quite interesting and intriguing to them. This group was happy to go along with the rest of the crowd. But later, we’ll see that they were prone to mob mentality and had no thoughts about their own eternal destiny.

The large section in the middle showed us those self-righteous, so-called religious leaders. Their pretend love for God was really a covering for their love for their own personal position and a misplaced patriotism for their career and country. It was obviously not about God nor doing right. In fact, they were actually showing a hatred and defiance toward God.

But we cannot overlook that group from the beginning of this passage in verse 45. When they saw Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, they believed in Him. They experienced salvation by means of the One Who is the Resurrection and the Life.

To which group do you find yourself relating? Or maybe think about that person you have been praying specifically for God to do a work. Where might they find themselves?

It is incredibly easy to be a casual spectator. After all, don’t we all want to fit in with others? Such a radical idea of Jesus being the only way to heaven might sound a bit narrow-minded and dogmatic, after all. Remember folks, there are many well-meaning, wonderful people, who are going to spend eternity in hell because they chose not to commit themselves to Jesus Christ.

Well, I’m trusting that none of you fit in that middle group who were consumed by sin. My guess is, if you were, you wouldn’t be here at all. But you may know someone who is. From all appearances, it looks as if there is no hope whatsoever for anyone from this group.

But wait a minute! Wasn’t Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea part of that ruling body of religious leaders? Why, yes, you are absolutely right! Don’t ever assume you know the destiny of every one that might be part of a group that seems bent on evil. Don’t stop praying for individuals who seem bent on going against God whenever and wherever possible.

My prayer is that the majority, if not all of you, find yourself in that group who chose to believe in Him. We cannot explain how God works nor why He chooses to do things the way He does. But we can believe in Him and trust Him. Regardless of what anyone else around us may do, we choose to commit ourselves to Him.

So what do we do?

We must present Jesus so others can make a choice.

And of course, our desire is that their choice would be to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.