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?’”
What is the most dreadful thing we face in our life? It is the problem of death. Today, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Then, he gives us the most glorious promise that we will live when we believe in him. He proved himself to be the giver of life by raising Lazarus from the dead. I pray that we may believe Jesus as the resurrection and the life so that we may see the glory of God. Jesus wants to plant resurrection faith in our hearts through this message. May God bless us to overcome fear of death and to meet the risen Christ through our upcoming Spring Bible conference.
PART I. IT IS FOR GOD’S GLORY (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.” This event happened at Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Jesus came to this family of three whenever he visited Jerusalem. It was always a sweet and refreshing spot where he and his hungry disciples enjoyed Martha’s delicious home-made meals. Probably their parents were dead, and Lazarus and his sisters were very close. These three loved each other, each one had faith in Jesus. Martha was known as a robust, hardworking woman while Mary was known as a single-minded and romantic woman. At the same time Mary was an active Bible student of Jesus. In John 12:1-10 she poured perfume on Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair as her expression of love. Lazarus was a man of few words, quiet and responsible. He was the pillar of the family. The two sisters depended on him a lot. Though they did not have parents, they were happy as long as Lazarus was healthy and supporting the family of three.
One day, Lazarus became very sick and lay in bed. When they saw their brother Lazarus suffering and having difficulty breathing, the sisters were greatly distressed. Now two sisters sent to Jesus for help with a message, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” No doubt, they expected Jesus to come immediately with ambulance and heal Lazarus with his miraculous power. 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.’” 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. Jesus was thinking about the glory of God through the death of Lazarus. He was thinking about how to reveal God’s glory even through his own upcoming death. Jesus himself might be glorified through this sickness. But wait a minute. How can we say that someone’s sickness is to glorify God? There is a great difference in the way of thinking between believing people and unbelieving people. The best example might be Jesus’ death on the cross. Humanly speaking, Jesus’ cruel death on the cross was the most sorrowful event ever since the world was made. But it was not. Jesus said in John 17:1b, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.” Jesus’ death was not a tragedy but it was the glory of God. Jesus revealed God’s love for all sinners through his death on the cross. Jesus’ death was God’s love letter for all mankind. Nothing can end in tragedy in Jesus. Jesus had a clear purpose in this event. Everything has a purpose in our life when we see it from Jesus’ point of view. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” God has a purpose in all things when we love him. A certain human event like death in the family or a fatal mistake or a divorce triggers volcanic human emotions and affects our lives permanently one way or another. I could not find the purpose of my life when my parents were killed during the Korean War. I became a prisoner of fear of death and fatalism. But when I met Jesus, I found God’s purpose to make me a shepherd for many fatherless people. When we become fatalistic due to our unfavorable human situation or a certain human event, we must find God’s greater purpose in our life. 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.” Whatever we do, our life goal in the ever-changing world should be to glorify God. During the Spring break seven people from Washington UBF visited UVA, Virginia Tech and UT at Knoxville. Though they suffered to serve God’s flocks without many coworkers, we found God’s purpose in their mission life. They are very precious. Also according to Ashley’s journey report, many events happened during the trip. There was a flat tire in front of M. Moses Lee’s house church. Though we were thankful because it did not happen in the highway, we were troubled when tire stores refused to fix the flat tire. Finally, we found the Wal*Mart super store in the late evening in the town called Waynesboro and they fixed the flat tire and it was $6.50. M. Rebekah found that they always sell for less. We arrived late at Virginia Tech and had a mid-night Bible study. We found God’s purpose why we had a flat tire. God wanted us to have the mid-night Bible study and to love the Wal*Mart store. In the end we were happy. Ashley found some women missionaries were snoring and she could not sleep. But when we snore for the glory of God, it is like music to our ears and it helps us to fall into sleep. Everything has a purpose in God.
Look at verses 5 and 6. “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.” Though Jesus loved this family, he waited two more days and allowed Lazarus to die. How can we call this love? It was God’s love for them. God’s love is different than human love. Jesus had a bigger plan in this event. Jesus wanted to plant resurrection faith in the hearts of the disciples, Mary, Martha, and those 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. Love permits pain. Jesus does not answer our prayers immediately. But we must learn that Jesus’ delays are not his denials. 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.
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. They did not understand. So they protested in verse 8, “But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?” His disciples knew that Jesus’ going to Judea would be very dangerous. In fact, he would be crucified there. So they tried to prevent him from going. They were fearful because they did not believe in Jesus, the resurrection and the life yet. Men are fearful when they do not know Jesus.
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 yet they were full of fear that felt they would die by chance or by accident. As long as we follow the will of God and live by faith, we are safe and no harm will come to us until the appointed time. M. Sarah Chang worried about the safety of Mo Chang jr. when he was in Iraq. But she was comforted by the word of Jesus and relieved from the fear of death. It is true that our life is in God’s hand because nobody knows what will happen tomorrow.
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. I was tired last night but when I had a good night sleep, I felt good. 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, “’Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep” (cf. 1 Co 15:6b). 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 is often called “doubting Thomas” because of the incident recorded in John 20:24-25. But he took the leadership and showed his commitment to Jesus, even to death. In reality, he looked brave outwardly, but inwardly he was fearful about his uncertain future. All the disciples had the same fear problem. The disciples were fearful because they had no faith. They were fearful because they were holding their own human dreams to secure high positions in the earthly kingdom Jesus would establish. The antonym of faith is not unbelief but fear. 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.” If Lazarus had not died, the disciples would not experience this unique opportunity to grow their faith. Lazarus’ death was so that you may believe. Jesus did not remove the source of fear by canceling his visit to Judea. He helped them to believe. Jesus helped them to believe him as the Son of God and the give of life. It was vital for the disciples to believe the resurrection of Jesus. Martha and Mary depended on Lazarus for their security and the disciples depended on their worldly positions for their security. We have our own Lazarus like job, children, sheep, car, health, and family. But they are false security and false hope. They will disappoint us. Only Jesus is our real security and hope.
PART II. I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE (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. Physical death is horror because it separates people from their loved ones. Death is unbearable. Ashley cried over a week when her dog died. It was unbearable for her to see her dog to be eaten by worms. Many people cried over the death of Lazarus but in reality they cried over their own death in the future. 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). Mary said the same thing in verse 32. In this, she said the most regretful words to Jesus, thinking that he came too late to help Lazarus. Indirectly, she blamed Jesus’ delay for the death of Lazarus. We have many “what ifs.” 9-11 would not have happened if we arrested Osama Bin Laden earlier. What if Maryland basketball made four free draws, they would be in the final four. What if I were one inch taller, I would become a movie star. What if I had a lot of good sheep, I would be the happiest person in the world. But we should not dwell in the past but listen to Jesus. We should not dwell in our regretful thinking but accept Jesus’ promise.
What did Jesus say to her? Jesus gave her the words of life: “Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again’” (23). How assuring the message must have been. But Martha did not believe his promise. Look at verse 24. Martha answered, “I know he will rise in the resurrection at the last day.” She had no thought of an immediate resurrection but she did believe in the final resurrection at the last day. She did not apply Jesus’ word to her current situation but applied only to the last day. She needed a practical faith. Jesus knew that she had superficial Bible knowledge. Still Jesus gave her the most glorious promise of God. Read 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.” In these verses Jesus used the word “believe” three times. John’s gospel is the gospel of “believing.” Since the fall of man, men lost eternal life and returned to the dust due to their sin and disobedience. I thought that movie stars like Bob Hope would not die. But he also died. Princess Diana died in young age.
According to 1 Corinthians 15:22, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” No one can escape the power of death. But in Christ all will be made alive. In Christ we are a new creation. John 1:4 says, “In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” Yes, we do not have life but Jesus has life. 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. Jesus swallowed up death in his victory. Jesus is the author of life. By doing so he gave us eternal life. Jesus freed us from the power of death and invited to live with him in the kingdom of God. He said in John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many rooms…” Jesus restored the paradise for us. Who else can say other than Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life”? There is no one. Buddha could not say it. Only Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus broke the tomb and rose again. Now he lives and will come again. When we depart from this world, our souls will be with Jesus waiting to be transformed into the glorious resurrection body at the last day. Now because he lives, we can face tomorrow. Because he lives, we can sacrifice our time to serve sheep. Because he lives, we can challenge our sheep to grow in faith. Because he lives, we can dance for the glory of God. S. Steve used to a fine-looking young atheist. Outwardly, he looked ok but he had fear of death in his inner heart. When he accepted Jesus as the resurrection and the life, he was born again into the kingdom of God. Now he enjoys life in Jesus as a shepherd for the cross fellowship. Jen S. struggled to write a life testimony. Her question was “to write or not to write, this was the question. She wrote it by the resurrection faith and she grew spiritually and became a mother of faith.
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.
PART III. JESUS RAISES LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD (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? Obviously, Jesus participated in their sorrow and anguish at the death of Lazarus. But Jesus had a deeper reason for being troubled in spirit. Jesus was troubled in spirit because all of them were weeping, having been overpowered by the power of death. The people at Mary’s house wept louder and louder at the sound of the drum beating of Satan. 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.” Obedience was necessary if Jesus’ purpose was to be realized. The scene was highly dramatic. The crowds watched and listened. Mary was weeping and Martha was objecting by saying, “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. She depended on her human reason. The resurrection is a mystery. 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) Jesus reminded Martha of his earlier promise. If she believed his word that he is the resurrection and the life and trusted him, God would be glorified.
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. 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. 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) Jesus shouted only three words: Lazarus, come out.” Augustine once remarked that if Jesus had not said Lazarus’ name, all would come out from the graves of Bethany. What happened? Look at verse 44. The dead man staggered out of the tomb in his grave clothes. In this way, Jesus planted faith in the people that he is the resurrection and the life.
This event is a marvelous picture of God’s Son bringing life to people. Let’s 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.