Seeing the Glory of Christ

Background

BOOK CONTEXT

Who: Apostle John, Son of Zebedee, brother of James, a Jew, member of Jesus inner circle, the last living Apostle

What: Jesus is the true Son of God who came and tabernacled with His people to restore God’s people because Jesus is the only way of Salvation (John 14:6)

When: AD 85-95

Where: Writing from Ephesus to Christians in Ephesus and the greater Greco-Roman society

Why: That they may believe (John 20:31)

How: Post-fall of the temple as Christianity was spreading, the letters were circulating, and after the other three Gospels

NARRATIVE CONTEXT

Who: Jesus, Lazarus, Mary, Martha

What: Lazarus was sick and about to die so the sisters sent to Jesus to heal him

When: Winter (John 10:22)

Where: Bethany (John 11:1 )

Why: This happened so that the Son of God may be glorified through it (John 11:4) and that they may believe (v.15, 25-26, 42)

How: By the power of God

TEXT

John 11:38–44 ESV

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.”

COMMENTARY NOTES

Key notes:

Jesus stayed two extra days in Jerusalem to make sure that Lazarus was good and dead to ensure the glory of God

Jesus said he was only asleep but the disciples misunderstood

Lazarus had been dead for four days already.

Thomas mentioned going to die with Jesus

Bethany was ~2 miles away from Jerusalem (where Jesus currently was)

Martha went to meet Jesus first / Mary stayed in the house and came after

Martha misunderstood Lazarus being raised from the dead

Jesus wept.

Everyone was so worried that Lazarus had died (v.21, 32, 37) not realizing that Jesus is life. Also the disciples were completely confused (v.27) as Thomas thought he was going to go die with Jesus

Verse 38

Why did Jesus come to the Tomb? Jesus came to Lazarus b/c someone asked Jesus to come (John 11:3). Lazarus was dead and Jesus has the power to reverse the curse of sin. Something or someone stronger than death needed to come on the scene

Why was Jesus moved? The fact that Jesus was moved again (v.33) showed His love for His friend and His compassion (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32) and Jesus feels the weight of the effects of sin.

Verse 39

Why did Jesus say removed the stone? The stone was covering the cave & it would allow Lazarus to come out and be free. Proving Jesus has the power of life. (Ezekiel 36:26)

Why was Martha so concerned about the smell? Shows that Lazarus was really dead and his body was beginning to decay. She was also showing her lack of faith. Her faith had wavered.

Verse 40

Why did Jesus say this? Jesus was telling Martha to trust Him because she was doubt Him. He had already told her to trust Him previously (v.25-26)

The Applied New Testament Commentary Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead (11:38–44)

faith was necessary. Those without faith would simply see a miracle—a man rising from the dead. Those with faith, on the other hand, would see the significance of the miracle—that is, the glory of God.

Verse 41-42 (Jesus Prayer)

Jesus completed trusted God: Jesus knew that the Father always heard Him and His requests. He was completely confident in God to do anything.

Jesus prays publically: Jesus prays for all to see and hear so that they may believe that they would glorify God (not man)

The Applied New Testament Commentary Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead (11:38–44)

He first thanked God for hearing His request. Even before He received the answer to His prayer, Jesus knew that He had obtained it

The Applied New Testament Commentary Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead (11:38–44)

42 Jesus thanked God out loud, so that the people standing around could hear. He wanted them to know that it was by God’s power that He was raising Lazarus. The people needed to know that Jesus did not work on His own (see John 5:19). He had been sent by God to do the works of God.

Verse 43

Why a loud voice? So everyone could hear. So that they would believe and glorify God

God spoke: Jesus commanded Lazarus to come out and He did. When God speaks, His word never returns void (Isaiah 55:11)

Nerves in the air: I can only imagine the suspense of everyone waiting for Lazarus to come out of the cave

Verse 44

Jewish burial custom: Lazarus was bound with strips, proving His death

Jesus was setting him free: Jesus commanded that they unbind Lazarus

Jesus is God: Lazarus coming out proved who He was