Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction: John’s Gospel & Jesus’ Ministry
John’s gospel tells the story of Jesus, as do the other gospel accounts, but he does so in a very unique way.
The emphasis of John’s gospel is:
The emphasis of John’s gospel is: Jesus is the Son of God, the eternal Word made flesh in order to reveal God’s glory, bringing light and life to men.
This thesis is laid out in his prologue ().
Thus, the way John formats his eye-witness testimony is around this theme.
Roughly half of his book (ch.
1-11) tell the story of Jesus’ public ministry, while the second half is all about the final week of Christ’s life.
The synoptic gospels record many of Jesus’ teachings, parables, and miracles.
John also tells us what Jesus taught and did, but with a different format.
The first eleven chapters focus on seven discourses (some private, some public) and seven signs, or miracles.
All of these discourses and signs point to Jesus’ divinity and purpose.
is the culmination of Jesus public ministry, and the gateway to the cross.
In this chapter, John records the seventh of Jesus’ “signs” - the raising of Lazarus.
This was arguably the most impressive sign; it fully revealed His nature and His purpose; and it paved the way to His death and foreshadowed His own resurrection.
Hostility Towards Jesus
The raising of Lazarus takes place between the feast of dedication (~Dec.)
and Christ’s crucifixion.
In the months leading up to this, hostility towards Jesus was increasing.
“…the Jews were seeking to kill him.”
“So they picked up stones to throw at him...” (Feast of Tabernacles)
“The Jews picked up stones again to stone stone him ” (Feast of Dedication)
Verses 1-6
This is the first time Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are mentioned in John’s gospel.
John explains who Mary is.
He will tell the story of her anointing Jesus in the next chapter, but perhaps he expects his readers to already know about that story.
If he’s writing to a Christian audience late in the first century, they almost certainly know that story.
The sisters send word to Jesus about their brother’s condition.
Jesus is somewhere across the Jordan.
He could be a day’s travel away or maybe even 3 or 4 days travel away.
Where He is exactly we aren’t sure.
Sisters do not specifically ask Jesus to return.
Do they hope He will?
Do they hope He’ll heal Jesus from a distance?
Do they just want to let Jesus know?
Jesus is close with them and Lazarus - “The one whom you love...” Lazarus is not just a man in need of help; he is one of Jesus’ dear friends.
Jesus’ responds to the news.
This is likely said to the disciples, but also to the messenger who would take the message back to Martha and Mary.
“This illness does to lead to death...” - Jesus means (as some translations say…) “this illness will not end in death.
In the end, Lazarus’ illness will be for God’s glory and the Son of God’s glory.
Glory is not just praise.
It’s not just about God getting praised more.
It is about revealing God’s glory (frequently what John means).
Through the miracle Jesus is about to perform, He will reveal even further He is the Son of God.
He will reveal not only His power, but His love and true purpose (to give life!).
This revealing reveals His glory.
Whatever glorifies the Son glorifies the Father.
John reiterates Jesus’ love for the family - this quashes any idea that Jesus’ next action is rude, careless, or selfish in any way.
Jesus remains where they are two more days.
Depending on where Jesus is, Lazarus may have already died by the time the messenger reached Jesus; He may have died shortly after but before Jesus could have travelled to Bethany.
Since Jesus arrives when Lazarus has been dead 4 days, however, it is unlikely that it is Jesus’ delay that causes Him to arrive “too late.”
Still, Jesus’ delay seems strange.
Why not head straight there if He’s going to go?
It is precisely because He loved them!
He is going to work a far greater miracle than simply healing Lazarus.
His actions may seem perplexing, especially to Martha and Mary, and yet it’s for their benefit!
Jesus withheld His blessing that He might enlarge it… (J.W. McGarvey & James E. Smith)
We should learn to simply trust in the Lord.
He know what is best, and wants what is best.
When thinks don’t go as we should when we think they should, perhaps the Lord is working something better for our benefit (spiritual, not material!).
Perhaps the Lord is withholding a blessing that He might enlarge it!
Verses 7-10
The disciples likely thought Jesus wan’t going to return.
He had stated the sickness “wasn’t unto death...” so they trust Jesus knows somehow Lazarus won’t die.
So why walk back into dangerous territory?
The latest stoning attempt is still on their mind.
It’s dangerous for Jesus to return to Judea where Jewish leaders are angry enough to try and kill Him.
Jesus answers in a parabolic way
12 hours is roughly the daylight hours, and thus the hours for working.
It’s the common time for a laborer to labor.
Jesus has a job to do - the Father’s will - and as long as He is alive He will be working.
He is not afraid of His mission being derailed by the Jewish leaders.
As long as He is doing the Father’s will, that will is going to be accomlished.
It is when men shrink in fear or laziness, or when men work contrary to God’s will that they are “walking in the night” and thus in grave danger.
Are we working during our “12 hours?”
Our life is the “12 hours” that God has given us to work for Him.
Are we working?
Verses 11-16
Jesus says “let us go to Judea....Our friend Lazarus...” but then “I go to awaken him.”
1Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
2It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.
3So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
4But 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.”
5Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
6So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
go to awaken him.”
Jesus speaks of Lazarus sleeping, but the disciples take Him literally, and thus misunderstand.
Thus, Jesus must tell them bluntly, “Lazarus has died”
Jesus is not glad that Lazarus has died or gleeful at the pain his death caused.
But Jesus’ joy is rooted much deeper than the physical things of life.
This will be an opportunity for His disciples to strengthen their faith and grow.
For that, Jesus rejoices, despite the painful road they must traverse.
Thomas’ Response: Thomas is often dubbed “Doubting Thomas” for his post-resurrection disbelief.
But the picture we see here (much like Peter) is one of love and commitment.
He mistakenly things Jesus may die by returning to Judea.
But he is willing to go and face that danger with Jesus!
33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.
34And he said, “Where have you laid him?”
They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus wept.
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