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Series – Miracles of Jesus
Rising of Lazarus
John 11:1-44
Introduction: This morning I want to speak to you about a family who was very close to Jesus, but went through a crisis. Let us see how they responded in the hour of crisis?
John 11:1-2 The Death of Lazarus 1Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.2This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.
Jesus had a home into which he could go any time and find rest, understanding, peace, and love. This was very important for Jesus. See Luke 9:58 58Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." The house of Lazarus was very peaceful and friendly so it gave Jesus some place for peace, rest, and love. It is very important to keep our houses peaceful and all in the family has to work to make that happen. Nowadays when we go to some houses we can find all the members of the family to themselves. Let us strive to keep our house peaceful and welcoming to all.
V3 3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."
The sisters did not request Jesus to come to their house. They just sent word to Jesus. They knew their need would bring Jesus to them. Our crisis must bring us to our knees. Prayer is not requesting Jesus to do something for us. We need not suggest a solution to Jesus. We just need to let Him know our circumstances in prayer.
V4 4When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it."
There are 2 meanings to this passage. First, the cure of Lazarus would enable man to see the glory of God in action. Now there is another meaning to this passage. John’s gospel speaks of glory which is related to the cross. John’s gospel frequently says son of man has to be glorified. Now, this incident was immediately followed by the chief priests and the Pharisees plotting to kill Jesus. This incident is preceded by the Jews trying to stone Jesus. So when Jesus said the cure of Lazarus would glorify Him, he knew that going to Bethany and healing Lazarus was a big step which would end in the cross. With open eyes and arms Jesus accepted His cross or death to help his friend, Lazarus. Dear friend, Jesus knew the cost of helping and he was prepared for it.
V5-6 5Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.
Jesus loved Mary and Martha, yet he delayed some days to meet them. If any of our loved one was sick we would rush to meet that person. Then why did Jesus delay his visit to Mary’s house. Jesus takes action entirely on his own initiative and not because of the force of anyone. We often like to push Jesus to act on our behalf but Jesus has his own time and initiative for our case.
V7-19 7Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." 8"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?" 9Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. 10It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."
The Jewish and Roman day was divided into 12 equal hours from sunrise to sunset. Here Jesus was literally speaking that he would go in the day so that they would not stumble upon something and get hurt. There is also a spiritual meaning to this passage. The world’s light or the light of the world according to the Bible is Jesus himself. How long is the sunlight, it is only 12 hours or the literal light of the world is very limited, afterwards come darkness. Jesus is telling that man has got very little time to make peace with God. If he does not do that darkness will follow and judgment will follow where we will all stumble. We must finish the job of getting right with God while the light of the world, Jesus is here.
V11-13 11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." 12His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." 13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
Now the disciples are scared to go to Bethany because the Jews are trying to stone them. The disciples are coming up with lame excuses not to go to Bethany. They are not even willing to ask Jesus what happened to Lazarus whose house they used to frequent and had many meals from. There will be days for a child of God when we do feel like praying, reading the Bible, or even keep away from going to church because of the pressures that we face in our life. The disciples were in the same situation, they did not want to go to Bethany. But never quit my dear friend, the Joy of the Lord is our strength.
V14-15 14So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."
Now Jesus is telling the crisis of Lazarus was a good thing for the disciples. It would make their faith firm. God is telling the crisis of Lazarus is an opportunity for the disciples to make their faith firm. Understand the crisis you are going through is for your good, to mature you and to make your faith in Jesus strong.
V16 16Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."
When all the disciples were scared to go, Thomas displayed the highest kind of courage. He was determined come what may he will not quit. We too need a never quit attitude in our spiritual life.
V17-20 17On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.
In Palestine burial was immediately followed by death due to the climatic conditions there. The body was wrapped in simple linen and the burial was usually attended by all. Deep mourning for 7 days followed by lighter mourning for 30 days was the custom. So when Jesus saw a crowd in Martha’s house, this crowd had come for mourning. When the people saw Jesus, they too thought that Jesus had come to mourn for Lazarus’s death.
V21-22 21"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."
Here Martha is speaking sarcastically. First she spoke with anger which is very human. But very soon these words of anger are followed by words of faith in Jesus.
V23-26 23Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 24Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
Here Jesus is speaking about the death of sin. Sin brings death and even if you are dead in sin Jesus will give you a new life. Secondly Jesus is talking about the life to come. Through Jesus there is life after death. This happens only when we believe in Jesus.
Now, Martha called Mary and Mary too was weeping, looking at this Jesus wept. Jesus broke out in emotion and wept at their human condition. Child of God Jesus is weeping over our sufferings today.
V38-39 38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39"Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."
In Palestine the tomb was a natural one usually closed by a cartwheel size stone. Jesus asked the stone to be removed. It has been 4 days since Lazarus was buried and the body would be decomposed and beyond recognition.
V40-44 40Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" 41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." 43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!“ 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."
Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead. Now, Jairus’s daughter and the widow’s son at Nain were risen by God but those resurrections were immediately followed by their death. Here Jesus proved beyond any doubt that even if the body is decomposed and joined to the earth God can rise up a man from the grave. This is how we are going to be resurrected if we die in Christ.
Conclusion: The dead Lazarus was a crisis for Mary, Martha, and Jesus but the name of the Lord was glorified through this crisis. Child of God what is the crisis you are going through today? God wants his name to be glorified through it, so give him all the control. Let’s pray.
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