CHAPTER 11

1Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4 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.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Word was brought to Jesus that Lazarus was ill.
Lazarus' sisters were Mary and Martha.
They sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill, hoping Jesus would come and heal him.

The messenger did not say, "Speak now, and Lazarus will be healed."
Neither did the messenger beg Jesus to come to Bethany and heal Lazarus.
He simply imparted the fact: "...he whom Thou lovest is sick." In other words, "Lord, you now know....and the dealing with it is left to Your will!"

Jesus made a statement, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby."
This introduces a very complex subject in the Bible: DEATH!
Let me try and keep the discussion simple.

Death (or physical dying) entered into the world because of sin. (See Romans 5:12)
Since all men are sinners (Romans 3:23), death is a natural consequence of life.
Generally speaking, most folk die because of age and illness. (See Ecclesiastes 3:20)

Death also is used as being separated from life and the living.
To die is to be separated from the living. (See Job 3:23)

However, to the saved, there is HOPE in death! (See Romans 6:5; John 11:25-26;1Corinthians 15:51-57))

In this particular Scripture (John 11:1-6), Jesus was speaking of physical death.
He Who is LIFE, can RESTORE life from even death!!
Therefore, Jesus was saying "Even though Lazarus dies, he shall be restored; and this will bring glory to God and to the Son of God."

Jesus waited two more days before leaving for Bethany where Lazarus, Mary and Martha lived.

7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

When Jesus stated His desire to return to the area of Judaea (and the town of Bethany), the disciples were concerned.
Remember the discussion John, Chapter 10?
They tried to STONE Jesus!

In John 9:4, Jesus had referred to working in the DAY, for the night brings a stoppage to the work.
Here, Jesus uses the same analogy.

He had worked, and was working.
The "day" had not yet ended, and no "night" would stop His work!
There was still work to be done!
Lazarus "sleepeth," but Jesus must go and "awake him out of sleep!"

Only Jesus can bring life to a dead person!
The Bible teaches us that without Christ, we are "dead in trespasses and sin!" (See Ephesians 2:1)
And Christ can "quicken" us -- or make us ALIVE unto God!

The disciples seemed to think that if Lazarus was asleep, he would be on the way to healing.
However, Jesus plainly said, "Lazarus is dead" so that they could understand more clearly.

Then, Jesus said He was "glad" that He had not been there.
For the instance (later) would bring more faith from the disciples.

Thomas, sometimes referred to as "the doubting disciple," was ready to go with Jesus and to DIE with Him!!
Isn't it amazing how worldly circumstances can change our faith?

17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

By the time Jesus and the disciples arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the grave four days!
Yet, Martha, when she met Jesus, professed GREAT FAITH!

First, she stated that if Jesus had been there, certainly He would have healed Lazarus.
Secondly, she stated that EVEN NOW, if Jesus asked, Lazarus could be RISEN!

Jesus assures her.

23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Jesus' statement, "Thy brother shall live again," was too GENERAL for Martha.
She wanted a more specific statement that Lazarus would live again RIGHT NOW!
Martha was confident of Lazarus' faith, and believed that in "the last day," he would certainly arise justified in Christ.

Then, Jesus made a statement that ALL of us cling to!
Jesus IS the "resurrection AND the LIFE" of mankind!
Once we have lost our lives to death, there is no return to the "living" on our own.
But JESUS can and does give ETERNAL life to those that surrender to Him!
He IS the LIFE.
And we can have eternal life in HIM!

Jesus also said that a person who believes in Him shall "never die!"
The moment my eyes close in death, my spirit shall see Jesus and see Him FOREVER!

And, the REASON is because Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of God" Who came into the world to save sinners like me!!

28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
31 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 goeth unto the grave to weep there.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

Martha went and told Mary that Jesus had come.
Mary ran to where Jesus was - obviously away from her home.
Many other people were in the house.
They noticed that Mary left, and believed she went to the grave of Lazarus to mourn.

But Mary came to Jesus, and made basically the same statement of faith that Martha had previously made.
"If YOU had been here, my brother would NOT have died!"

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

Jesus' heart was moved with compassion!
He asked, "Where have ye laid him?"
Mary took him to the tomb.

And the Scripture records the shortest verse in the Bible: "Jesus WEPT!"
The others gathered round, and felt that grief had stricken Jesus; and the grief showed His love for Lazarus.
And they were partially right!

Jesus loves ALL mankind the same!
And, He WEEPS for what sin does to us!
He WEEPS for the consequences we must pay because of our selfish lives!
He WEEPS for the pain and suffering we endure at the loss of a loved one!
My friend, when you lose someone you love, and you weep; remember, Jesus is weeping TOO!

37 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?

Perhaps those gathered around believed in the healing power of Jesus.
But, they felt He would have had to be PHYSICALLY PRESENT in order to heal Lazarus.

The power of God is such that healing can come even upon His PROCLAMATION.
He does not have to be PHYSICALLY present to have SPIRITUAL POWER!

By the "Word" of God all things were created!
They were SPOKEN into existance.
By the "Word" of God life can come from death!
(See Genesis 1:1-4); John 1:1-4); Romans 10:17)

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 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 thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Jesus came to the grave site "groaning in Himself.
He was still moved with compassion.

Jesus came to a "cave" with a "stone" placed in front of it.
It was much like the grave in which His own body would soon lay!

When He told them to remove the stone, Martha said surely the body was now stinking!
Again, Jesus assured her.
This action would be for people to see "the glory of God!"

So, they removed the stone.
And Jesus PRAYED!
His prayer was that of thanksgiving.
He KNEW His prayer had ALREADY been heard, and the answer was forthcoming!
All of His actions and statements had been toward ONE end:
That the people would "believe" that He is the "SON of GOD!"

Then Jesus cried with a "loud voice: LAZARUS!! COME FORTH!!"

To me, verse 44 is VERY strong!!
Lazarus came out, STILL BOUND BOTH HAND AND FOOT!!
Now, let me ask you, "HOW did he come out?!?"
He wasn't crawling or walking!!

AFTER Lazarus had come out, Jesus said, "LOOSE him, and let him go!"
(See John 8:36)

This, to me speaks of the AWESOME POWER of God's WORD!
He speaks and it HAPPENS!

If you have surrendered to Jesus, and He has spoken to your heart of forgiveness, salvation and justification;
then you have HIS WORD! (See 2Corinthians 5:17)
And, His Word is ETERNAL!! (See John 6:40)

Have you ASKED?
Has He SPOKEN?
Then STAND on it!!

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

Because of what Jesus had said and done, the power of God had been displayed in and through Him.
And because of that, many "believed on Him!"

However,

46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

Some, didn't believe.
They just went to the Pharisees and told them about the incident.

47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

The Pharisees got together a "council."
They were in a "tizzy!"
They were concerned about leaving Jesus to His ministry.
If they did so, many of the Jewish people would BELIEVE in Jesus.

They were concerned for two reasons.
First, if Jesus continued, and people beleive Him, then the Pharisees would lose their powerful influence over the people.
Secondly, they were afraid politically.
If people began to crowd around Jesus and proclaim Him "Messiah" (King of Kings), then the Romans would take away all the freedoms that the Jewish people enjoyed.

Caiaphas, the high priest that year, stated that it was EXPEDIENT that ONE man die for ALL the people.
His statement was to incite a plan to MURDER Jesus!
However, he did not realize the spiritual prophecy which He spoke!!
Jesus was ONE Man.
And, He would literally die for ALL mankind!! (See verse 52 above.)

From this time one, a conspiracy took place among the leaders to "put Him (Jesus) to DEATH!"

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

The "day" was still not finished, but "night" was certainly approaching!
Jesus left Judaea, some say to spend more time personally instructing His disciples.

But, about 2 months later, it was time for the "Passover."
Many questioned whether Jesus would attend?

And both the chief priest and the Pharisees had told everyone that if Jesus came, they were be notified.
Their intent was surely to capture Him.

The remainder of the book of John is on a very tight time frame.

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.