It’s almost the Passion Week – the week ending with Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. The events we look at tonight are part of what, from a human perspective, cement the will of the Jewish leadership to kill Jesus. Tonight we see both Sign #6 and a key I AM statement by Jesus.

Encounter Jesus – John Week 15

I AM…The Resurrection & the Life

John 11: 1-44

AUDIO

Lecture Handout

John Week 15 – I AM… The Resurrection and the Life Handout

Lesson Notes

Lazarus Dies (John 11: 1-16)

  • Verses 1-4
    • Lazarus of Bethany was sick – the brother of Mary and Martha
    • These are good friends of Jesus who appear elsewhere in the gospels
    • The hair incident is described later in John 12
    • Bethany is in Judea, a couple of miles from Jerusalem – it will be Jesus’ home base during passion week
    • Jesus had been spending time on the other side of the Jordan
    • Verse 3 – The women send a message to Jesus to say Lazarus is sick
    • Verse 4 – the purpose of this sickness is the glory of God – just as the purpose of other ailments and suffering we’ve seen in the gospel was the glory of God
    • Lazarus is sick so the Son of God may be glorified through it
    • Lazarus will die, so that Jesus may be glorified and that others may live forever
    • Jesus says this doesn’t lead to death – Lazarus will die, but that isn’t the end
  • Verses 5-6 – Jesus loved Martha, Mary & Lazarus -> He stayed where He was for 2 more days!
    • So that Lazarus would die (remember, Jesus could have healed him remotely)
    • Out of love for them, they needed to truly believe in Jesus
    • We need to REALLY absorb this perspective – faith in Christ is infinitely more important than comfort in this life and even this mortal list itself
    • Eternal life trumps every earthly concern
    • Do you have an outlook like that???
    • God doesn’t always answer prayers the way we want, because of what’s better for us, or more glorifying to Him from an eternal perspective
  • Verses 7-8 – Jesus says let’s go to Judea -> as the disciples point out that people had just tried to stone Him to death in chapter 10
  • Verses 9-10 – The essence of this metaphor – it’s not my time! It’s still daylight for His earthly ministry, so there is work to do and it won’t be stopped.
  • Verses 11-16
    • Jesus says Lazarus “fell asleep,” but that He would awaken him
    • Verse 12 – the disciples don’t understand – they think this means he’s recovering
    • Verses 13-14 – Jesus explains that Lazarus died
    • Verse 15 – For your sake I’m glad we weren’t there – the reason Jesus took 2 extra days -> so they would believe!
    • Let’s go – Verse 16 – Thomas says “let’s go so we can die too!” Don’t sell Thomas short just because of that whole doubting incident!

I AM the Resurrection & the Life (John 11: 17-37)

  • Verse 17 – Lazarus had been in the tomb 4 days
    • Contemporary Jewish belief was that the soul hung around for 3 days
    • Jesus had raised others from death, as had Elijah, but never 4 days dead!
    • This belief seems to be assumed since the text emphasizes the number of days
  • Verse 18-19 – A large crowd of mourners gathered (this was a wealthy & prominent family)
  • Verse 20 – Martha, the do-er, went to meet Jesus as He approached
  • Verse 21-22 – Martha’s extraordinary faith!
    • 100% confident Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ death
    • Even now, total confidence God would give Jesus anything He asked
  • Verses 23-24 – Your brother will rise again
  • Verse 25-26 – I AM the resurrection & the life
    • Jesus isn’t just the cause of resurrection. He IS the resurrection and life
    • He alone gives eternal life. To know Him IS eternal life.
    • Resurrection: Whoever BELIEVES in me, though he die, yet shall he live -> true belief and connection with  Christ
    • Life: And everyone who lives and believes in me SHALL NEVER die -> Jesus gives ultimate victory over death! (John 5: 21-24)
    • Do you believe t his? Really believe it? It’s the most foundational Jesus question, and if we believe it, it really should dominate our lives!
  • Verse 27 – “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God who is coming into the world”
    • This is the same confession as Peter in Matthew 16, the rock on which the church is built!
  • Verse 28-36
    • Verse 28 – Martha goes to Mary to tell her to go see Jesus
    • Verses 29-31 – Mary leaves the house where the official mourning was, and the crowd followed
    • Verse 32 – Again, Mary says if Jesus had only been there…
    • Verse 33 – Jesus sees all the weeping and is troubled – feels strongly and deeply
      • Sorrow and anger at death itself, the weapon of Satan, and at the display of mourning that lacks faith in the resurrection
      • I wonder what He might think of some of our Christian resistance to death and dying, and the lengths we go to postpone death?
    • Verse 35 – Jesus wept for Lazarus and for death
    • Verse 36 – Some Jews are touched by his compassion
    • Verse 37 – Others say that in light of his miracles, couldn’t He have saved Lazarus? Of course, He let Lazarus die to display a greater miracle

Jesus Raises Lazarus (John 11: 38-44)

  • Verse 38 – Deeply moved again, Jesus comes to the cave tomb
  • Verse 39 – Jesus orders the tomb opened, Martha expects a stench after 4 days
  • Verse 40 – The whole point of the story – Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?
  • Verse 41-42 – Jesus prays out loud for everyone’s benefit
    • Thanks to the Father for hearing Him – the privilege of prayer
    • For the people to believe Jesus was sent by the Father – the point of the signs
  • Verse 43 – He cried out for Lazarus to come out
  • Verse 44 – And Lazarus did, still wrapped up for burial – hands, feet, and face
  • Verse 45 – Many of those present with Mary believed in Jesus

Prayer – That many would believe in THE Resurrection & THE Life

Next Week: Preparing for Death (John 11: 45 – 12: 11)