November 4, 2002
LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for Nov. 17
Jesus demonstrates his power over death
___John 11
___By Robert Creech
___University Baptist Church-Clearlake, Houston
___The raising of Lazarus is the seventh and climactic sign. Jesus foretold an hour in which the dead, hearing his voice, would emerge from their graves (5:25-29).
___Jesus' life-giving power already calls people from their spiritual death to experience eternal life here and now (5:24). The powerful life-giving Word will soon establish his victory even over physical death. Those who possess eternal life through faith in Jesus will find the grave can no more hold them than it can hold their Lord (11:25-26).
___Fleeing persecution, Jesus and his disciples retreat east of the Jordan (10:39-42). A disturbing message arrives from Mary and Martha--Lazarus is dying (11:1-3). Since he has not previously introduced these three, the narrator offers background information. They live in Bethany, a village near Jerusalem. Foreshadowing a significant event, he identifies Mary as the one who will anoint Jesus with perfume (11:2; 12:1-11). We also learn of Jesus' deep love for these friends (11:5).
___Jesus announces that Lazarus' sickness will end, not in death, but in God's glory (11:4). The disciples struggle with his puzzling words. They understand (misunderstand) him to mean that Lazarus will recover. Jesus' decision to remain in trans-Jordan two more days reinforces their misunderstanding (11:6).
___Suddenly, Jesus announces it is time to return to Judea (11:7). He parries his disciples' protest of the dangers with an enigmatic saying assuring them the night has not yet arrived. Just as the Father assigned the daylight hours for doing his work (9:4-5), so daylight is the time of safety and security as well (11:9-10).
___Again, Jesus speaks metaphorically: Lazarus has fallen asleep, and they must go awaken him (11:11). The befuddled disciples suggest Lazarus needs his sleep to recover (11:12). The narrator tells the reader that Jesus meant death, not sleep. Jesus informs his disciples of the same (11:13-15). Thomas sarcastically suggests they all will shortly join Lazarus in his death (11:16).
___The following scene is the most moving in the Gospel. Grief, anger, blame, empathy, fear, confusion and hope fill the air. When Jesus arrives, Lazarus has been dead four days. Do the math. Had Jesus left for Judea immediately, he would not have arrived in time. However, the reader knows Jesus' ability to heal, even across the miles (4:43-54). Why did he not heal Lazarus?
___Martha and Mary appear together only here (John 11-12) and in Luke's Gospel (Luke 10:38-42). These accounts consistently characterize Martha as more outgoing and action-oriented, and Mary as quieter, reserved and more sensitive.
___When Jesus approaches, Martha leaves the house to meet him. Mary stays home (John 11:20). Martha's words form both an accusation and an expression of pain: "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died" (11:21). This must have been a commonly uttered sentiment over the past four days, for it appears again on Mary's lips (11:32) and in the gossip of the crowd (11:37).
___Jesus leads Martha to a confession of her faith. She believes Lazarus will rise at the last day (11:24). That creedal statement, however, does not mend her broken heart. Jesus then makes his most powerful claim yet: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (11:25-26). He follows with the most important question: "Do you believe this?" (11:26). He asks Martha to move beyond her creed into an experience of trust in a person, which she does (11:27).
___Jesus and Mary, however, do not discuss faith and doctrine. Jesus calls for her, and she comes quickly (11:28-29). Falling at his feet weeping, she opens with the same expression of hurt and abandonment her sister had used (11:32). The devastation wreaked by the enemy, death, disturbs Jesus deeply. Perhaps he anticipates his own coming engagement with the foe (11:33). He inquires about the location of Lazarus' grave, and they show him to the cemetery. Then, even from the eyes of the Resurrection and the Life flow tears of grief (11:35-36).
___Despite Martha's practical protest, Jesus orders the tomb opened (11:38-40). He utters a brief prayer and then issues a loud command: "Lazarus, come out!" (11:41-43). The one in the grave heard the voice of the Son of Man and came out (11:44; 5:27-28).
___In John's story, this event cast the die for Jesus' demise. When report of this reaches Jerusalem, the religious authorities convene a war council (11:46-47). Caiaphas, the high priest, announces with political expediency that it is better to kill Jesus than to allow him to bring the Romans down on the whole nation (11:49-50). Ironically, as the narrator observes, Caiaphas' words meant more than he knew (11:51-52).
___Jesus again withdraws from the public eye, waiting for the approaching Passover. The crowd of pilgrims in Jerusalem speculates as to whether Jesus will attend the feast (11:55-57). The reader knows he will. He is the Passover Lamb who is about to give his life for the sins of the world.
___Questions for discussion
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