Jesus and Lazarus
Notes
Transcript
1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
The Bible study theme centers on the live and ministry of Jesus Christ. This evening, our focus in on an event that will not only demonstrate the authority and Jesus, but also serve a the deciding factor in the resolve of religious leaders to put Jesus to death.
In this chapter is the seventh of the miracles John recorded. Here we see salvation pictured as resurrection from the dead, the giving of life to the dead.
In this chapter is the seventh of the miracles John recorded. Here we see salvation pictured as resurrection from the dead, the giving of life to the dead. Use your concordance and see how much John has to say about life; he uses the word thirty-six times. Lazarus represents the salvation of the lost sinner in seven ways. Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Use your concordance and see how much John has to say about life; he uses the word thirty-six times.
Lazarus represents the salvation of the lost sinner in seven ways. Let’s take a closer look at each of these.
1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
Lazarus, Mary, and Martha are friends of Jesus. They are from Bethany—located about 2 miles from Jerusalem (on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives).
Lazarus, Mary, and Martha are friends of Jesus. They are from Bethany—located about 2 miles from Jerusalem (on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives).
Lazarus, Mary, and Martha are friends of Jesus. They are from Bethany—located about 2 miles from Jerusalem (on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives).
The Lead-up to the Story
The Lead-up to the Story
Jesus is confronted with the urgency.
Lazarus, Mary, and Martha are friends of Jesus. They are from Bethany—located about 2 miles from Jerusalem (on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives).
Jesus knows the purpose of the need. We feel our need is urgent, Jesus knows that our need is His opportunity to demonstrate God’s love and His authority.
3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”
4 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.”
John
Jesus knew the end of the story: death would not be the end of the story for Lazarus.
Interestingly, Jesus deliberately stayed were He was at (two additional days). If He would have gone, then he could have healed Lazarus—but there was a greater purpose (God’s purpose) to be fulfilled.
14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,
14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
John 11:14
PURPOSE: That you may believe.
PURPOSE: That you may believe.
The disciples were concerned because Jesus had already faced threats in Jerusalem.
Jesus arrived and Lazarus had already been dead for four days.
Even friends of Jesus can be frustrated with His timing
20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
John 11:
QUESTION: Are you frustrated with the timing of God? Remember, the purpose of God is to help you believe (have faith and trust).
Even in frustration, Martha acknowledges the authority of Jesus.
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
John 11:21
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
POINT: It is easy, even in the promise of Jesus, to misunderstand Jesus.
John 11:
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”
John 11:23-
Martha’s affirmation of end-time resurrection was in keeping with the beliefs of the Pharisees () and the majority of first-century Jews, as well as the teaching of Jesus (, ; , ).
Martha misunderstood the full import of Jesus’ promise (11:23), thinking he was merely speaking of the final resurrection, while Jesus meant much more.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
John 11:25
Resurrection from the dead and genuine eternal life in fellowship with God are so closely tied to Jesus that they are embodied in him and can be found only in relationship to him. Therefore believes in me implies personal trust in Christ.
The preposition translated “in” (Gk. eis) is striking, for eis ordinarily means “into,” giving the sense that genuine faith in Christ in a sense brings people “into” Christ, so that they rest in and become united with Christ. (This same expression is found in 3:16, 18, 36; 6:35; 7:38; 12:44, 46; 14:12; .)
The “I am” statement here represents a claim to deity.
The Compassion of Jesus
The Compassion of Jesus
33 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. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”
32 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.” 33 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.
John 11:32-
John 11:33-37
Jesus joins his friends’ sadness with heartfelt sorrow, yet underlying it is the knowledge that resurrection and joy will soon follow (cf. ).
Jesus’ example shows that heartfelt mourning in the face of death does not indicate lack of faith but honest sorrow at the reality of suffering and death.
In difficult situations, even though Jesus has it all under control, there will be those who will question His ability and willingness.
POINT: People will at times question God’s ability and willingness to help in times of trouble.
The Power of Jesus
The Power of Jesus
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 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.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 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.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 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.”
John 11:38-
Interestingly, nothing is said about Lazarus’ reaction to the experience. The focus is on Jesus, not Lazarus.
Next Wednesday Night: The Last Supper and the Garden Prayer.
Next Wednesday Night: The Last Supper and the Garden Prayer.
