The Death of Lazarus (11:1-44) Part 1

Mary, Martha and Lazarus - The Siblings

Hometown: Bethany

There were two towns in Israel named Bethany. This particular Bethany has not yet been mentioned in John’s Gospel.

It is approximately 2 miles south east from Jerusalem.

While not recorded in John we know from the other Gospels that Jesus spent time in this village during His ministry.

Mary

Verse 2 Identifies which Mary we are talking about.

John records this interaction in chapter 12. Thus he was assuming that his readers were familiar with the story of what Mary did.

Luke 10:38-42 Is perhaps our first introduction to this sibling group.

What do we know about Mary?

She had a mature understanding of her priorities.

She is the one who sat at Jesus’ feet to listen to His teaching.

She understood what an opportunity this was for her.

She seems to be the more emotional of the two sisters.

They were a wealthy family

She loved Jesus

Probably believed He was the messiah.

However it seems as though in this text she, like many of the disciples, was still learning and coming to grips with the reality of Jesus’ deity.

Her words in verse 32 are likely not a rebuke of Jesus but rather a statement of belief in Jesus’ ability to heal Lazarus. The fact that she ran to Jesus when she heard He was near reads to me as her seeking comfort from Jesus rather than an attempt to rebuke Him. If she was angry with Jesus she probably would have just stayed home.

Her actions in chapter 12 show that she does come to understand the reality of Jesus’ deity through an act of profoundly humble worship.

She loved Lazarus, her brother

The depth of her grief is proof enough

Her attempt with Martha to save Lazarus also shows her love for him.

Mary is also an example of Jesus’ counter cultural treatment of women.

The culturally appropriate thing for Mary to do when Jesus was at their home was to serve the guests as her sister was doing.

There may have been some men there that were uncomfortable with Mary sitting there with them.

Women were not taught the Torah

Remember the temple had an entire court for the women to worship in to keep them separate from the men.

John 4:27 And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He had been speaking with a woman; yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?”

It starts with His genealogy

His mother

Mary Magdalene

Martha and Mary

The woman at the well - John 4

The widow of Nain - Luke 7

The woman with a bleeding disorder - Luke 8, Matt 9 and Mark 5

The woman who called out to Him in the crowd - Luke 11

The woman who was severely stooped over - Luke 13

The group of women He addressed on the way to the cross - Luke 23

Even though clear role distinction is seen in Christ’s choice of the apostles and in the exclusive type of work they were given to perform, no barriers need exist between a believer and the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of gender. Jesus demonstrated only the highest regard for women, in both his life and teaching. He recognized the intrinsic equality of men and women, and continually showed the worth and dignity of women as persons. Jesus valued their fellowship, prayers, service, financial support, testimony and witness. He honored women, taught women, and ministered to women in thoughtful ways.

As a result, women responded warmly to Jesus’s ministry. Have things changed too drastically today for us to see this same Jesus? Not at all. Modern women can find the same rich fulfillment in serving Christ as did the Marys and Marthas of Judea

Martha - What do we know about her?

Almost all of us will find either Mary or Martha relatable in some way. (Especially women)

Of the two sisters Martha seems to be the more uptight of the two

Martha seems to have a greater concern with meeting the expectations of others.

Perhaps she was embarrassed by her sisters behavior in Luke 10 which led to her abrupt statement Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”

She was a diligent servant

Luke 10 shows this even with her incorrect priorities

John 12 repeats this character trait.

She was a person of great faith.

John 11:21-22

She firmly believed that Jesus could have healed Lazarus.

Verse 22 probably is Martha declaring that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the grave. v. 24 and 39 lean against that interpretation.

However, v. 22 does communicate her recognition of the uniqueness of Jesus

Her greatest statement of faith comes in verse 28

“I believe” - which was the point of all of the this

“that thou art the Christ” - a clear declaration that Jesus is the Messiah

“the Son of God” - she is coming to grips with the reality of Jesus’ deity

“which should come into the world” - the fulfillment of prophecy

This was said in response to Jesus’ I AM statement in verse 25

Martha teaches us not to allow service to become self-centered.

Why isn’t Mary helping me?

Why doesn’t Jesus rebuke Mary for not helping me?

It is easy to fall into the trap of doing the right thing for the wrong reason.

We serve in the church because we like the attention

We serve because it makes us feel good about ourselves.

It is not wrong to feel good about doing the right thing or serving or giving but that should not be our main motive. Rather God’s glory should be what we are most concerned about.

Lazarus

Somewhat ironically Lazarus is the sibling we know the least about.

Like his sisters he was from a prominent and wealthy family. Perhaps he was the primary source of the families wealth.

Lazarus’ role in all of this was to get sick and die.

Lazarus is not mentioned in the Luke 10 passage as his sisters are.

He is brought up by John in the 12th chapter of this Gospel.

He sat at the table with Jesus while Martha served.

He became a local celebrity (12:9)

His life became endangered (12:10, 11)

His death had a purpose in God’s plan.

John 11:4 “This sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.”

Now one could argue that Jesus is wrong here because Lazarus did in fact die. However, making that argument feels disingenuous from the start. Obviously Jesus’ intent was to communicate that the end result of all of this would not be Lazarus taken in death.

This reminds us of Jesus words about the blind man in John 9:3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him.

Jesus clearly communicates what the purpose of Lazarus’ suffering was; it was for the glory of God and for the glory of the Son.

What is God’s Glory?

The glory of God is the culmination of all that He is in nature, attributes, character and power.

It is not necessarily a material thing. It is seen primarily in its effect rather than its material.

The glory of God is seen in creation

The glory of God is seen in man created in His image

Unlike the glory of man the glory of God never fades or dies.

It is the glory of God that

Drives us to our knees in the presence of God

Creates the sense of awe as we consider all that God is and does.

In what way then do we glorify God?

We do not add additional glory to God that He was in someway lacking before.

Rather when we glorify God we are drawing attention to the glory He already possesses.

That is what worship is really all about.

The Disciples

The Group

They are still questioning Jesus (v. 8) - reasonable human response but less appropriate when the man you are questioning is also the sovereign God of the universe.

They are still misunderstanding (v. 11-13) - It is hard to blame them for just taking Jesus literally.

Thomas

What do we know about him?

Twin - the meaning of Didymus

In Matthew, Mark and Luke Thomas only appears when the group is listed.

John mentions him four times

Like many of the other disciples he was likely a fisherman because that is what he returns to after the death of Jesus.

From this text we can say that he was

Courageous

Loyal

Ignorant - in that the death Jesus would die as the Lamb of God could not be shared by the disciples.

It was a question from Thomas that prompted Jesus words in John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.

Jesus: In my Fathers house are many dwelling places and I am going to prepare them for you. I will come again and bring you back with me that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.

Thomas: Jesus, we don’t know where you are going much less the way to get there.

Jesus: I am the way.

He will forever be known as the doubter.

John 20:24-28 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.The other disciples therefore were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I shall see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days again His disciples were inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst, and said, “Peace be with you.”Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing.”Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

In one sense however we should be grateful for Thomas’ doubts as they provided opportunity for Jesus to express of the key ingredients of faith. John 20:29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Jesus

For the sake of time we must only focus on what we can learn about Jesus from this text.

What we learn of Jesus from John 11

Jesus loves people

Lazarus v. 3

The siblings v.5

He grieved with them (v. 33-36)

Jesus knew what He was doing.

He didn’t immediately go to Lazarus

He intentionally went through Judea where they were trying to kill Him

Verses 9 and 10 - it is still daylight and I have work to do.

Verse 11 Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead and even told the disciples what He was going to do even though they didn’t understand.

Verses 4 & 15 Jesus reveals His purposes

The glory of God

That they might believe

What was true of Jesus then is still true today

Jesus loves you

And He knows what He is doing.

Summary

Martha - a heart of service, great faith, and occasionally needed reminded about keeping her priorities in order

Mary - she prioritized Jesus above anyone or anything else

Thomas - bold and courageously loyal to Jesus, but also not afraid to ask questions even if they revealed his ignorance.

Jesus - He loves you and knows what He is doing.