John 11:1-44
Key Verse 11:25,26
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’”
Last week we learned that we can either live in suspense without believing Jesus or live in assurance and eternal security by believing in Jesus. Jesus performed seven miracles in John’s gospel. Today’s passage is the seventh sign Jesus performed in John’s gospel. The raising of Lazarus is the last sign in John’s gospel, and it is said to be the greatest sign, for it is a picturesque preview of Jesus’ glorious resurrection, which gives living hope to all mankind. All seven miracles point to the fact that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Today Jesus helps Mary, Martha, and his disciples to overcome their fear of death and see the glory of God through this last sign of raising Lazarus from the tomb. I pray that we all may answer Jesus’ question, “Do you believe this?” through this message. Let’s remove stones of unbelief from our hearts and experience the power of Jesus. May God bless us to overcome fear of death and learn resurrection faith from Jesus, the author of life.
PART I. “SO THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE” (1-16)
Look at verses 1 and 2. “Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.” In the quiet village of Bethany, one of the satellite towns of Jerusalem, there lived a family of three members: Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Martha was known as a hardworking woman while Mary was known as a romantic woman. At the same time Mary was an active Bible student of Jesus. The Bible does not elaborate about any parents in this household. Therefore, they had probably already died. Lazarus was the man of the household, the pillar of the family. He would have protected his sisters from village gangsters and supported the family with income from his job. He was doing many house repairs like toilet problem and clogged sinks. He was a Mr. fixer in the family. Though they did not have parents, they were happy as long as Lazarus was healthy and supporting the family of three.
This family had a special love relationship with Jesus and his disciples. Whenever Jesus came to Jerusalem, Jesus and his company stayed at this house. Martha was a good cook. She could prepare excellent dishes in a short order. She served Jesus and his hungry disciples like a mother. Verse 5 says that Jesus loved this family dearly like his own. To this parentless family, Jesus was like a good father. One day, Lazarus became very sick and lay in bed. His sickness was not like a spring allergy or a stomachache. Lazarus was very sick, close to dying. We can imagine how worried Martha and Mary must have been. Just think how you would feel if someone close to you was on the verge of dying. It was unthinkable for them to live without Lazarus because he was the comfort and pillar of the family. They depended on Lazarus heavily and they loved him deeply. Most of us have a Lazarus in our life. We have someone or something to depend for our physical and emotional and financial support like new car, insurance, girl friend, boy friend, stocks, children and wife. But the problem is that our Lazarus may not be dependable or reliable. Our Lazarus may disappoint us or depart from us. Eventually we learn that we must depend on God alone for our life security.
When they saw their brother Lazarus suffering to the point of death and having breathing difficulty, the sisters were greatly distressed. They hugged each other until they collapsed. Soon, a beam of light shone in their hearts. They remembered Jesus. Immediately they sent to Jesus for help with a message, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” No doubt, they expected Jesus to come immediately and heal Lazarus with his miraculous power. They expected Jesus to come without delay in an ambulance.
How did Jesus respond to the news? Look at verse 4. “When 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.’” Jesus made no effort to rush to Lazarus. His way of love was different from human love. Look at verses 5 and 6. Though Jesus loved this family, he waited two more days and allowed Lazarus to die. Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death.” But Lazarus died. How can we call this love? It is a tough love. Jesus had a bigger plan in this event. Jesus wanted to plant resurrection faith in the hearts of the disciples, Mary, Martha, and who would later read this passage and follow him in the future. Jesus’ plan is much greater than the immediate healing expected by the sisters. Of course, the death of Lazarus brought pain and suffering to Mary and Martha. God’s love is to plant resurrection faith to us even through a seemingly tragic human event. Jesus does not answer our prayers immediately, as much as he does love us. When we confront trials of many kinds, we question God’s love saying, “Does God still love me?” Trials have meaning behind it to God’s people. Parents want their children to have a trouble-free life and rush to remove any hint of suffering. When they do so, they deprive their children to experience God’s love through suffering. God teaches us valuable lessons through trials of many kinds. Paul Lim grew spiritually when he had a life-threatening accident. God can use certain trials and hardships we face to plant faith in us. For instance, we cannot explain why God took away M. Elijah Ku in the prime of his life. But we know God wanted to raise up S. Steve as a servant of God with resurrection faith through his life. We don’t understand why God called Dr. Hong to home early. His early departure gave unbearable sufferings to Hong family. But at the homecoming ceremony of Dr. Hong God renewed our resurrection hope. God planted living hope in our hearts to see him when we all go to heaven. God also changed Susan Hong to become a woman of faith. Professor Bill was moved by Dr. Hong’s life of faith and accepted Jesus as his Savior. John Lee was injured while playing basketball a month and half ago. It sounded like a tragedy at that moment but his injury made him study more at the Library. Grenada was no longer a paradise to him because he spent most of his time studying not swimming in the ocean. His score improved and he passed the first semester. Thus he revealed the glory of God. Several years ago S. David Brogi fell from a tree and got injured seriously. At that moment it looked like a tragedy. But through this event S. David became a very responsible man of God and finally he graduated last week to reveal the glory of God. He revealed that everything is possible if we persevere. Here Jesus said that this had happened so that God’s glory might be displayed through him. Jesus did not see Lazarus’ sickness as a misfortune: It was an opportunity to display God’s glory. Nothing can end in tragedy in Jesus. What Jesus said also teaches us that we must live for the glory of God throughout our lives and deaths. This reminds us of 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” This also tells us crystal clearly that the purpose of man as he lives in the ever-changing world should be to glorify God. We should not depend on sick “Lazarus.” We should not cry because of the “Lazarus.” We must live for the glory of God. In other words, what Jesus said teaches us that man needs a life purpose. Without a clear purpose of life in God, no man can find a true meaning and purpose of life. They just live because there is no other choice. Those who have life purpose in God can overcome the world. They are blessed, and God is glorified.
After two days had elapsed, then Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” His disciples did not understand why he had stayed there two more days after receiving the news. They also did not understand why he urged them to go back to Judea when it was already too late to do anything for Lazarus. Now Jesus was about to go to Judea, where the Jews opposed him violently (10:31). They did not understand. So they said in verse 8, “But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” The disciples loved Jesus, but they had an unsolved fear problem. They were afraid of the Jews who were filled with murderous jealousy of Jesus. In reality, the disciples were not afraid of the Jews, but they were afraid because they were under the power of sin and death. More fundamentally, they were afraid of the Jews because they had no faith at all in the resurrection of Jesus. Fear makes a man hate others. Fear makes a man extremely unhappy about himself all the time.
Look at verse 9. “Jesus 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.’” The implication is that just as there are 12 hours in a day according to Jewish time, so each man has an appointed span of lifetime. No one will die before living out the lifetime appointed to him by God. In verse 9, “by day” refers to a person’s lifetime, “stumble,” to death, and “this world’s light,” to Jesus. Jesus’ disciples were with Jesus all the time, but they were full of fear that they would die by chance or by accident. Our life is in God’s hand. No harm comes to us without God’s plan.
Look at verse 11. Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” His disciples were puzzled by his words and said, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better” (12). His disciples thought sleeping was the best medicine for a sick person. They assumed that it was natural sleep. But Jesus meant that Lazarus had died. Here Jesus teaches that death is not a dreadful thing; it is like a short time of sound sleep. When we wake from a sound sleep, we feel good. After a good lunch, I feel drowsy. When I have a short nap dosing off in front of my PC, I feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Likewise, to God’s children death is like a moment of sweet sleep. To Jesus, death is a momentary transition from an earthly body to a spiritual body (1 Co 15:44b). There is no death in Jesus. Many Bible verses compare death to sleeping. Matthew 9:24 says, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” In Acts 7:60 Stephen said as he was dying, “’Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep” (cf. 1 Co 15:6b). But 1 Corinthians 15:51 says, “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.” After a long sleep, we will hear the trumpet sound and wake up into the kingdom of heaven. We will be transformed from earthly body to the heavenly body. When we have faith in Jesus, we have no fear of death. When we have faith in Jesus, the peace of God flows in our hearts.
How did the disciples respond to Jesus’ teaching? Look at verse 16. Thomas said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” Thomas sounded as if he were a brave soldier who decided to join a suicide squad for Jesus’ name’s sake. But in reality, what he said came from his fear of the Jews. All the disciples had the same fear problem though Jesus said that this sickness would not end in death. They were afraid of being stoned to death by the Jews. As long as the disciples were fearful in their inner men, they could not be normal men, not to speak of becoming disciples of Jesus. The disciples were fearful because they had no faith. The antonym of faith is not unbelief but fear. In Jesus we can overcome our fear problem. In Jesus we can live a victorious life every day.
How did Jesus help his disciples in this situation? In verse 15 Jesus said, “And for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.” We do not understand how Jesus was glad because he was not there and allowed Lazarus to die. Jesus knew that they had a fear problem. Jesus wanted them to have faith in him so that they might solve their fear problem. We must also help others to solve their fear problem by having faith in Jesus.
PART II. “I AM THE RESURRECTION” (17-37).
The situation Jesus found in Bethany was very grotesque: Lazarus had already been wrapped in grave clothes and put in the tomb four days before. The bad odor was pervading. Many Jews had come from Jerusalem to comfort Mary and Martha in the loss of their brother. The atmosphere was filled with sorrow and was under the shadow of death. When Jesus arrived at Bethany, Martha went out to meet him and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (21). In this, she said to Jesus the most regretful words in the world, thinking that he came too late to help Lazarus. Still, she wished that Jesus would do something for her dead brother (22).
Humanly speaking, it might be good for Jesus to say, “Sorry. Don’t cry.” But he did not do so. Jesus gave her the words of life: “Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again’” (23). But Martha did not believe that his brother rise again right now. Instead, she understood his words as a theological argument. She said, “I know he will rise...on the last day.” Martha knew but did not believe. Though she had Bible knowledge, she did not apply it to her current situation. Resurrection is resurrection but Lazarus’ death is Lazarus’ death. She did not link Jesus’ word to her practical life situation. Knowing about the Bible is one thing and applying to our daily life by faith is another. Though Martha had a theological knowledge about the resurrection, she was fatalistic and unbelieving due to the death of his brother Lazarus. Jesus loved Martha very much and gave her the most glorious promise of God. M. Sarah C. said in her presentation Friday that the gospel of Luke is the gospel of women. The gospel of John is also the gospel of women because Jesus gave the most important word to Martha including all women of the world.
Look at verses 25-26. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” Jesus did not say, “I may be the resurrection and the life.” Jesus did not say, “I will be the resurrection and the life.” Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus is speaking in the present tense. Jesus was standing in front of Martha as the giver and author of life. Jesus is speaking to her as the Creator God. Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.” This is the best promise of God. In these verses Jesus used the word “believe” three times. John’s gospel is the gospel of “believing.” Here the words “resurrection and life” go hand in hand. This means that Jesus’ resurrection gives life to all who believe in him. As we know, life is the gift of God, our creator. Since the fall of man, men lost eternal life and returned to the dust due to their sin and disobedience. Many kings and men of power wanted to conquer the power of death but they all succumbed to the power of death. But Jesus came into this world to defeat the power of death because he was the source of life. Jesus defeated the power of sin and death through his resurrection. By doing so he gave us eternal life. Jesus restored the paradise lost due to Adam’s sin as the second Adam. Due to Jesus’ resurrection, we can have eternal life. Death has no power over us because Jesus defeated the power of death through his resurrection power. Now we are free from the power of death in Jesus. Jesus promises us life, victory over death by believing in him. This is a blessed assurance to all of us who believe in Jesus. We cannot find such a life-giving promise in any other book in history, even though there are enough books to fill ocean in all the libraries in the world. If we believe this promise, we live forever in Jesus. What happens to those who don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus? They live as the object of God’s wrath. They live in fear and anxiety because they do not have any assurance of eternal life. But what if we do believe? Jesus promises, “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Wow! It does not matter whether we live or die. We live forever. There is no death when we believe in Jesus. Now Jesus is challenging us in verse 26b, “Do you believe this?” Let’s answer together, “Yes, Lord. I believe.” May God bless your confession of faith. Now Jesus restored Martha’s faith and turned to Mary.
Now let’s see about Mary. When Mary reached the place where Jesus was, she said the same thing Martha had said (21,32b). She fell at his feet and said the most regretful words since the world was made: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” She had studied the Bible with Jesus one-to-one. But she did not believe his words in her heart either. At the moment, Mary was weeping at the death of her brother. All the townspeople were weeping. Professional mourners came from the funeral home, and they made weeping sounds. It was their tradition. Anyway, they all knelt down before the power of death. But we have true victory in Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life. Resurrection is victory over death. Jesus is the only one who has won the victory over death.
PART III. “YOU WOULD SEE THE GLORY OF GOD” (38-44).
The unbelieving atmosphere was overwhelming. What did Jesus do? Jesus’ heart was troubled. Look at verse 33b. “...he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” Why was he troubled in spirit? Jesus was troubled in spirit because all of them were weeping, having been overpowered by the power of death. Jesus was sorry that they were under the power of death.
In this situation, some of the Jews stirred up people not to believe in Jesus by saying, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” Verse 35 says, “Jesus wept.” This is the shortest Bible verse. But it has a deep spiritual meaning. Jesus weeps when we harden our hearts and remain unbelieving. Jesus weeps when we are perishing under the power of death. Look at verse 39. When Jesus came to the entrance of the cave tomb, he said, “Take away the stone.” Martha talked back, saying cynically, “Lazarus has been dead and in the tomb for four days.” She could not believe that her brother who had died four days ago could rise again. At the moment, Jesus rebuked Martha’s unbelief, saying, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (40)
In this verse we learn that we must remove the stones of unbelief in our hearts so that we can believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Also, we must have a yearning desire to see the glory of God through our faith and obedience. These days we are praying to pioneer 33 Latin American countries in obedience to Jesus’ world mission command. Each time we pray, we have to fight against our unbelief and we have to remove the stones of unbelief from our hearts and put our faith in Jesus. When we do so, we can see the glory of God. When we prayed for China mission, God heard our prayers for China and sent Abraham Lee as our first second generation missionary. Often we cannot see the glory of God due to our unbelief.
At his rebuke, they regained their strength and took away the stone at the mouth of the cave grave. Then Jesus began to pray. Look at verse 41b. “Then Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me.’” Jesus believed God would raise Lazarus from the dead. Here Jesus prayed before raising Lazarus from the tomb. He prayed to God that God would perform a miracle, not done by the human Jesus. Through this we learn that we cannot do anything, but we can do everything when we have faith in God through prayer. The purpose of Jesus’ raising Lazarus was not only to give dead Lazarus life: It was to plant faith in God in the hearts of his people. Look at verse 42. “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.” When the stone was taken away, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” (43) What happened? Look at verse 44. The dead man staggered out of the tomb in his grave clothes. The voice of Jesus was the voice of the mighty God. The dead man heard the voice of God and came out of the tomb. Jesus revealed the glory of God so that we all might believe him as the resurrection and life. In this way, Jesus planted faith in the people that he is the resurrection and the life.
Let’s bow our heads and pray to God that we may remove the stones of unbelief in our hearts. Let’s pray to God that we may believe that the resurrection of Christ is more important than the whole world, because the world perishes and fades away someday, but God’s promise of Jesus’ resurrection remains forever and gives man eternal life and the kingdom of God as their inheritance. Let’s read the key verses 25 and 26.