The Gospels: Raising of Lazarus

People of the Free Gift

The Gospels: Full of Grace and Truth

Raising of Lazarus

John 11:1-44

Now a certain [man] was sick, [named] Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was [that] Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick.” When Jesus heard [that], he said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” (John 11:1-4)

COMFORTING yet CONFUSING words

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. Then after that he said to [his] disciples, “Let us go into Judaea again.”[His] disciples said unto him, “Master, the Jews of late sought to stone you; and you’re going there again?” (John 11:5-8)

Caught between two DESIRES

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.” He said these things, and after that he said unto them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” Then said his disciples, “Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.” Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.” (John 11:9-14)

What happens when we DIE?
Jesus redefines death for the believer as sleep

“And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent you may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.” Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:15-16)

Was doubting Thomas given a bad RAP?

Then when Jesus came, he found that he had [lain] in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was near unto Jerusalem, about 1.7 miles away. And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat [still] in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother would not have died. But I know, that even now, whatever you will ask of God, God will give [it] to you.” (John 11:17-22)

A PASSIVE - AGGRESSIVE request

Jesus said unto her, “Your brother shall rise again.” Martha said unto him, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:23-26)

I AM the RESURRECTION and the LIFE

She said unto him, “Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, “The Master is come, and calls for you.” (John 11:27-28)

So … the answer is NO

As soon as she heard [that], she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, “She goes unto the grave to weep there.” Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, “Where have you laid him?” They said unto him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. (John 11:29-35)

Jesus was truly HUMAN
He really loved Groaned in the spirit He was troubled He cried

Then said the Jews, “Behold how he loved him!” And some of them said, “Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?” Jesus therefore again groaning in himself came to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, “Take you away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him that was dead, said unto him, “Lord, by this time he stinks, for he has been [dead] four days.” Jesus said unto her, “Did I not say unto you, that, if you would believe, you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone [from the place] where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up [his] eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. And I knew that you hear me always: but because of the people which stand by I said [it], that they may believe that you have sent me.” (John 11:36-42)

For the sake of all those like MARTHA

And when he had spoken these words, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said unto them, “Loose him, and let him go.” (John 11:43-44)

We are just like LAZARUS

'Cause I am just like Lazarus and I can hear your voice

I stand and rub my eyes and walk to You

Because I have no choice - Caedmon’s Call - Thankful

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Prep for Next Week

Begin studying - The Anointing of Mary - Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-11 Pray for an opportunity to invite a friend to church or share the gospel with them

Follow-up Discussion Questions

Why is “reading into things” or assuming we know how God’s promises are going to take shape in our lives dangerous? What is a healthier approach? How did Jesus model waiting on God’s timing in spite of the fact that he had a lot at stake emotionally and relationally? Do you have any follow up questions about what happens to us when we die and how we know what happens when we die? What would have been a better way for Martha to handle her interaction with Jesus? Why is passive-aggressiveness harmful? What is the significance of Jesus’ statement, “I am the resurrection and the life?” What can we learn from Jesus’ interactions with Martha? How can we compare ourselves with Lazarus?