John Ch.11

The Death of Lazarus

John Ch.11 

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.  

2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 

{Mary is the one who will be forever remembered: Who overtly worshipped the Lord. For the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, see Luke 10:38-42}

3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 

“The one whom you love.” John, the writer of this Gospel, identifies himself, using identical terms: See ch.13:3, 19:26, 20:2 & 21:7.

This is what happens when the love of the Lord so permeates a person’s heart, that they see themselves no other way, except as “one who is loved by him”. For Lazarus and his sisters, as well as John, encountering Jesus has been life-changing to the point where there has been a change of identity - and even of name!

4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

Compare this statement with the one made in ch.9 vs.2. Once again, Jesus is about to demonstrate to his disciples, his authority over the powers of this world; but this time, it will not be opening the eyes of one born blind: Now Jesus will confront the very root of humanity’s problem: death itself

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 

6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 

This seems to be a contradictory statement: If Jesus so loved them, why would he not come to them immediately? Why would he hesitate another two days, knowing that “the one who he loves” is ill? We will know more in vs.14-15.

7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 

8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”

9 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.10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 

Again, we can see similarities between this statement and the words of Jesus in ch.9:4-5. Jesus again reassures his disciples that nothing will prevent him from completing his mission…working the works of his father…until his time finally comes…and it is night (ch.9:4).

11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 

Compare this statement to Mark 5:39. Will Peter, James and John, who were with Jesus at the time, make any connection between the raising of Jirus’s daughter, and the events about to unfold now? It seems, as we read on in this chapter, that they don’t.

12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 

13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 

14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 

15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 

The plan all along, was for Lazarus to be raised after being a whole four days in the tomb: This will be an unprecedented miracle; but one entirely orchestrated by God, to prepare the hearts of these people and ready their faith…for his own resurrection - after being only three days in the tomb. 

As a side note: Think on how hard it would have been on the two sisters - and even on Jesus himself, had he arrived in Bethany immediately - and insisted for three days, on sitting among them and yet, doing nothing. This was the love and mercy of God.

16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

{Note: “Die with him” Who? Jesus or Lazarus? Whichever one it is, the ever dubious Thomas seems to see this as a suicide mission. How relieved they will all soon be, when they realize that Jesus’s time is not yet: Lazarus’s time is now!}

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.

***There was at that time a Jewish superstition, saying that  a soul would stay near  their grave for three days, in the hope of somehow returning. Jesus wants to dispel any notion of this superstition, so he waits a full four days before arriving.***

18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 

19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 

As was the custom during times of mourning, which would continue for several days, there would have been a large crowd of family, friends and hired mourners; all of whom had, unknowingly been assembled by the Lord, not to mourn a death, but to witness a resurrection - the most miraculous one yet! 

20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. (Remaining seated at home, was also a customary sign of someone in mourning.) 

But there is possibly another side to this (see Luke 10:39): When Mary sat at his feet, it was both as a student (sitting at the feet of the rabbi) and as a servant (sitting at the feet of their master). 

So, Mary remains “seated” in what has become her customary position: Mary is “waiting on the Lord”.

(Again, see Luke 10:38-42) 

For more about Mary, see Ch.12. 

Martha

21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 

Martha (known to be a woman of action) has not lost faith in the Lord! This is demonstrated by her breaking the customary behavior of sitting at home in mourning; instead, she goes out to meet Jesus.

22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 

Again, it seems that Martha has not lost faith in the Lord! “But even now I know…” Her words tell us that she is still believing the Lord for a miracle.
Jesus has already at this point, resurrected two people from the dead - everyone who knew him, knew this. Could it be that she is still hoping for a resurrection… “even now”?…If she is, this would explain why Jesus immediately responds to her profession of faith by saying the following:

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 

Jesus doesn’t “beat about the bush” here: He knows what Martha is hoping for…believing for.

24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Again Martha professes her faith in the Scripture: in the end of days resurrection of the dead (See Psalm 16:9-11); but her words to Jesus here, seem to imply something even more:

“I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day…but what about now Lord?” Martha thoughts are on - not so much death - but resurrection: This is why she did not remain at home, in the posture of mourning…the resignation of death: Rather, she hastened to the One who is Life - to Jesus…After all, she knows Jesus…she knows there is something more!

This is why, Jesus will - again without beating about the bush - respond directly to her faith:

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 

26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 

27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

These three verses…this conversation…is self explanatory: Nobody hearing or reading this, can  doubt any longer, who Jesus is claiming to be…This “I Am” is arguably one of the most powerful statements recorded as being said by Jesus; and he says it, not to Mary, but to the ever distracted, works oriented sister of Mary: Martha. (See Luke 10:40-42) Martha has clearly learned!

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2

I have heard many different view points on Martha; and not all of them positive: But let us not forget that it was she who first opened up her home to the Lord (see Luke 10:38) - and now she boldly and confidently gives an amazing testament (akin to that of Peter - Matthew 16:13-20)

Her declaration of faith is as profound as any uttered yet; but she, like all others there, has no real comprehension as to the weight behind that statement (as we will see by her words in vs. 39): Who truly is this “Son of God” she speaks of? What is the measure of his power and authority?

They are all about to find out.

Jesus Weeps

28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 

29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.

Mary too, now breaks the posture of mourning death and runs to the One who is Life…

30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 

When we look at the story of the raising of Jairus’s daughter, (see Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:35-43; Luke 8:49-56) we realize how little time and attention Jesus gave, to hired mourners and rituals connected to death. 

{Read Luke 9:59-60: It was just one of the many superstitious customs of Judaism at that time, for a first born son to remain near the body of his dead parent, to obtain a blessing or inheritance from them. This may have been what Luke 9:60 was about. When we read the gospels , we are getting a glimps into a culture where the true Word of God has been thoroughly warped and surpressed by the rulers of that time, and where there are now so many different ways for the living to hold on to the dead! But what Jesus Christ is about to do, will overturn everything!} 

He is the Resurrection and the Life; and as such, will neither embrace nor entertain death in any form (not until the end - when he truly embraces it, to its total defeat) : Rather, he invites the people to come out to him, the Way, the Truth and the Life; that they may receive Life. He stands outside and waits. (see Revelation 3:20)

31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 

32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 

Mary, like the rest of them, knows Jesus as “healer” - she does not yet know him as the Resurrection and the Life.

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 

Jesus has separated himself from the ceremonial mourning, but now he will participate fully and sincerely in the genuine and heartfelt grief of these people; after all, he loved Lazarus too! (see vs.5)

34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.”

35 Jesus wept. 

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses…” See Hebrews 4:15.

Before the Atonement of the Cross, the sting of Death was the end of all life - all existence - for all people: Jesus Christ the Son of God, knowing this, stepped down into our fallen world, to bear our griefs…and to carry our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4); not only here, among Lazarus’s grieving community, but once and forever…from a cross…for all of us.

36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”

As yet, they do not realize: It is precisely because of Who He is, that he is able to open the eyes of one born blind…and - not only keep a man from dying - but actually resurrect him from four days in the grave! (See Psalm 146:7-8) 

Jesus Raises Lazarus

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

This scene is subconsciously preparing us, the reader - for another tomb with a stone rolled against it…which also, will neither hold down, nor hold back, death and the grave. {Matthew’s Gospel, ch.28:1-10 paints a powerful picture of this.}

Remember Jesus’s words to Martha: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…” 

Oh death where is your sting…Oh grave where (now) is your victory???

39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 

40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

Remember Jesus’s words to Jairus: “The child is not dead  - only sleeping.”  Two days…four days…four weeks…even a lifetime! (see Matthew 27:51-54) : It is no obstacle to the power and sovereign will of God! A man born blind, received his sight for the glory of God: Lazarus will be raised from the tomb by this same power, for the exact same reason (see vs.42)

41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 

42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 

In saying this. Jesus demonstrates, yet again, his communion, his oneness and his Sonship; with his Father…who is God!

Yet, all of this will still prepare non of them, for the Lord’s final great act: His Own death and resurrection…Compare Mark 16 &Luke 24

43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” (See Ch.5:25-26)

44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Once again, we think upon those powerful prophetic words from Hosea 13:14; quoted again by Paul in 1Corinthians ch.15: “Oh death where is your sting…Oh grave where is your victory?” 

For the followers of Jesus - both then, and also for us now, this has been recorded, that we may understand: Death has been defeated…we are free!

“Unbind him, and let him go.” - 

“Forgive: Greek aphiémi

Definition: To send away, to leave

Meaning: (a) I send away, (b) I let go, release, permit to depart,

It is not just the physical grave clothes, Lazarus is being released from: Here is a picture of Salvation: We are all born into sin - and consequently, into death. When a person receives forgiveness for their sins, through embracing the Cross of Jesus Christ, the curse of sin, which is Death, is broken. They are released from their “grave clothes”, their debt is cancelled and they are forgiven. The Lord did this fully and completely on the Cross, but he commissions us, his followers, to deliver this message of Life through forgiveness, to others: to “unbind them of their grave clothes and let them go”. 

In Ephesians 4:32 & Colossians 3:13, the Apostle Paul tells us how we can also apply this to ourselves: As the Lord has forgiven us, shouldn’t we forgive others..? Shouldn’t we also “unbind others and let them go?”

The Plot to Kill Jesus

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 

46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 

***It should be noted here: Concerning the persecutors of Jesus, who are referred to throughout John’s Gospel as “the Jews”: This is not talking about Jews in general…many of whom followed and believed in Jesus; but rather, this term refers to the teachers of the Law, the Pharisees and those who followed them.***

47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 

48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 

Again, at this point in the Gospel, their words are self-explanatory: We know (as did Jesus) that these men are not seekers after, nor lovers of the Lord and the Truth. (Mark again their words: “our” place and “our” nation) So, whose kingdom were they building? God’s - or their own? 

They are lovers only of themselves and are seeking only after their own welfare.

49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 

50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 

51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 

(According to Scripture: Psalm 22; Isaiah 52&53, Daniel 9 and others)

Again we can go back to Jesus’s words in ch.10:18. Basically no one “sets him up”…no one will bind him, beat him and nail him to a cross. He will give himself freely. It was the Lord’s plan all along. (Isaiah 53:10)

52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.

(According to the Scripture: Isaiah 49:6, 60:3,65:1; Jeremiah 16:19-21; Malachi 1:11)

Also refer back to ch.10:16…And ch.1:12-13!

{Note here that, if God wants to use even a donkey to prophesy, he will! This accurate prophecy, coming from the mouth of the very same one who is presiding over the plot to kill the Son of God…should be a sobering jolt to those of us who do prophesy - and more so, to people who wrongly elevate “prophets” in the Body of Christ. We who prophesy are not special…it is God, who  is sovereign!}

(See also Deuteronomy 23:4-5 ~ Balaam, the prophet for hire)

53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

54 Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

They will willfully kill the Son of God, as Cain killed his brother Abel. Why? Because just like Cain, they have fashioned a god in their own image…they have made themselves “god”, to do as they please (Genesis 4:6-7; Judges 17:6 & 21:25) ; this is why they continue to enforce their own laws, rituals and traditions on to the people; But Jesus - who is God - has thrown a huge spanner into the works of their smooth running machine: He is truly taking away “their place” and “their nation”…and returning both to their rightful owner: God - who is Christ. For a better understanding of what this looks like, read Matthew 21:33-46.

55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 

56 They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” 

Yes, he will come to the feast - but not in the way they expect…not as he has come in years before (See Genesis 22:7-8). This will be Jesus’s final Passover…this will be the One where he will fulfill every other that has gone before. “Behold the Lamb of God…who takes away the sin of the world!” (Ch.1:29).                                                    And…Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!  {Here is where we will take our first look at the Messianic Psalm 118:14-27. What is the significance of this Psalm? We will know more in the next chapter.}

57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him.