The Giver of Life

Death of Lazarus

John 11:1–16 ESV

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 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.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

We Have A Problem

Lazarus is sick and dying

John 11:1–2 ESV

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.

Bethany - Village just north-east of Jerusalem on the other side of the Mount of Olives

Mary and Martha

Luke 10:38–42 ESV

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Lazarus

Beloved Friends - 11:3, 4, 36

Call 911

John 11:3 ESV

So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”

Somehow they knew where Jesus was

They also knew that for Jesus to come meant significant hostility towards Jesus from Jewish leadership. Yet the knew that Lazarus meant more to him that this concern.

There’s a Plan

John 11:4 ESV

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.”

Jesus knows that Lazarus is going to die but what matters more is that through his death God will be glorified.

Don’t Worry There IS a Plan

Jesus is always at work

John 11:5–6 ESV

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Johns words are dripping with irony here. The one whom Jesus loves is dying and so he stays two days longer. It is important to keep track of the number of days here. So a day for the messenger to find Jesus and now two more days have passed so three days since they sent for Jesus.

Should we go NOW?

John 11:7–8 ESV

Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”

Jesus had just recently been in Judea and had really stirred up the Jewish leadership. So much so everyone has become aware that they now seek to put him to death. So, hey why not? Let’s head back for another visit.

FAITH! FAITH! FAITH!

John 11:9–10 ESV

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”

Jesus knows that he is the light and as such he walks in the light and so God the Father will protect Him.

Lazarus Death Proclaimed

John 11:11–14 ESV

After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,

And Perhaps the Apostles?!?

John 11:15–16 ESV

and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

JESUS FINALLY ARRIVES

John 11:17–19 ESV

Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.

Four Days

Mourners

Martha and Mary