Let’s look at a couple of ways to examine a Bible passage: solving some dilemmas and finding the Good News. Let’s examine the death of Lazarus, and Jesus’ intervention, the One who dares to call Himself “the resurrection and the life” in John 11:1-45.
1. What are some Dilemmas in the Passage?
John 11:17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
Sometimes we pray, and God delays. Why? Perhaps the healing of Lazarus will provide a clue. When Jesus heard of His friend’s sickness, he indicated that it would all be used for God’s glory. While others panicked and were concerned, Jesus was calm in His faith. Do we stay calm?
God’s purpose was “so that you may believe.” Lazarus’ sisters said that if Jesus had only been there sooner… By this time, Lazarus had been dead four days. Again Jesus emphasized the necessity to believe. Even His prayer, which was a public prayer, was said so that hearers may believe.
John 11:35 Jesus wept.
Do real men weep? Theologians speak of Jesus as the most complete human being to have ever lived since Adam. Adam sinned. So have we. Jesus never did. He was like Adam in every regard except one — he never sinned. He had human nature in its pure, unblemished form.
He was the only man who ever lived to have untainted masculinity, as God intended a man to be. Jesus was deeply moved. In manliness, He showed feelings towards people who had little faith. Stoic detachedness is not manhood. One thing is sure: a real man was moved to tears.
John 11:39 “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.”
Why did Jesus delay coming? Why did disciples try to dissuade Jesus? Did Martha and Mary blame Jesus for deliberately delaying? Why did Martha doubt? Are our hopes and dreams dead? That’s the perfect time for Jesus to come. God may delay answering prayer but he’s always right on time.
John 11:41-42 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I 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.”
Jesus taught us to pray in private (Matthew 6:6). Why did others pray publicly in God's house (Matthew 21:13), in small groups (Acts 1:14), by a river (Acts 16:13), on the seashore (Acts 21:5) and everywhere (1 Timothy 2:8)? Did they disobey Jesus?
The context of Jesus' instructions in the Sermon on the Mount was our motive in prayer. If our motive may be to show off spiritually or promote ourselves as super-spiritual, then it's better to pray in private. This time Jesus prayed in public to help others, that they may believe.
2. What is the Good News in the Passage?
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die”
Jesus’ friend, Lazarus from Bethany, died. His sisters were Mary and Martha. The resurrection of Lazarus is a vision for the future and for today. When speaking to Martha, Jesus did not say that He would only be the resurrection on that final day, although He will be that too.
Jesus spoke in the present tense, “I AM the resurrection and the life.” When we believe in Jesus, we enter from death to life. Don’t live in fear of death. We no longer need to fear death, because when we believe in Him who is life, we have life too.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” It was a claim to divinity. After all Jesus is Emmanuel, meaning “God with us.” He has the power over resurrection and life. Notice that Jesus personalized resurrection in Himself. Jesus demonstrated His authority over life and death by raising Lazarus.
Then He said, “Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” Lazarus’ resurrection was temporary. Jesus will resurrect all believers permanently after the death of the body. The body dies, but the spirit lives on.
John 11:44 The 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.”
From the day we are born we begin to die. We are already dressed in grave clothes. Life’s greatest enemy is death. Jesus has the power over life and death. As "God in the flesh", Jesus resurrected people temporarily from death, as a foretaste of the resurrection to eternal life.
A skeptical world just can’t hear that whoever lives by believing in Jesus will never die. That’s what He said as He boldly claimed, I am the resurrection and the life. So let’s take off the grave clothes of doubt and fear. Believe in Jesus Christ and live forever.
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Readings
Ezekiel 37:1-14
A valley of dry bones is a depressing place for those without faith, yet for those who believe in a resurrection, it is a place to ponder hope.
Psalm 130
We are to love our neighbor, but our hope is not in human beings. Our hope is in the Lord.
Romans 8:6-11
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
John 11:1-25 in Rhyme
Lazarus was sick and he died
His sisters to Jesus applied
Jesus said, It’s for God’s glory
So let’s go back to Judea
Lazarus was buried four days
Probably at the stinking phase
Jesus said that he’d rise again
I’m the life and resurrection
Believe in me and never die
Jesus wept, as he heard their cry
“Take away the stone,” about
He shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”
“Take off the grave clothes, let him go.”
The number who believed did grow
