Believe In Jesus & Never Die

Let’s learn a couple of ways to examine a Bible passage: 1) solving dilemmas, and 2) finding the Good News. Let’s examine the resurrection of Lazarus in John 11:1-45.

What was the setting?

Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” (John 11:1-3)

Good News

Was there Good News?

When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)

Was Jesus’ delay a dilemma?

Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” (John 11:5-7)

Was Jesus’ boldness in the face of danger a dilemma?

The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” (John 11:8)

Did Jesus previously explain doing His Father’s work while it was His day to do so?

I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (John 9:4)

Was Jesus' willingness to bring light to a dark place a dilemma?

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 one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” (John 11:9-11)

Did the disciples also face a dilemma? Why did Jesus delay?

Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” (John 11:12-15)

Was Thomas facing a dilemma?

Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” (John 11:16)

Is it a dilemma that Jesus waited? Does God often delay His answer to our prayers so that we too may believe?

So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. (John 11:17 NKJV)

Was Martha’s dilemma a mix of doubt and faith? Is that common among us too?

Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around 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 was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” (John 11:18-22)

How did Jesus reassure Martha? What was her dilemma about the resurrection?

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:23-24)

The Resurrection

What was the Good News? Did Jesus say He would only be the resurrection at His return or that He IS the resurrection? What does it mean that a believer shall never die? Is that a dilemma for us to understand?

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

What did Martha believe?

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:27)

What events transpired next?

And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” (John 11:28-31)