John Chapter 11
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John 11: The Resurrection and the LifeThe Message of Sickness“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha” (John 11:1, ESV). Mary is the one who anointed the Lord with ointment. The sisters send word to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill” (John 11:3). Jesus responds, “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” (John 11:4). He loves Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, yet stays two days longer in the place where He is.The Journey to JudeaJesus tells the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” They object, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” (John 11:7-8). Jesus answers, “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. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him” (John 11:9-10). He adds, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples think natural sleep. Jesus clarifies, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him” (John 11:14-15). Thomas says, “Let us also go, that we may die with him” (John 11:16).I Am the ResurrectionJesus arrives; Lazarus has been in the tomb four days. Bethany is near Jerusalem, about two miles away. Many Jews have come to console Martha and Mary. Martha hears Jesus is coming and goes to meet Him; Mary stays seated in the house. Martha says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you” (John 11:21-22). Jesus tells her, “Your brother will rise again.” She answers, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24).Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). She replies, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world” (John 11:27).Jesus WeepsMartha goes and calls Mary secretly: “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” Mary rises quickly and goes. The Jews follow, thinking she goes to the tomb to weep. Mary falls at His feet: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). Jesus sees her weeping, and the Jews with her; He is deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled. He asks, “Where have you laid him?” They say, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus weeps (John 11:35). The Jews say, “See how he loved him!” Some add, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?” (John 11:36-37).The Command at the TombJesus, again deeply moved, comes to the tomb—a cave with a stone against it. He says, “Take away the stone.” Martha objects, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days” (John 11:39). Jesus reminds her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). They take away the stone. Jesus lifts His eyes and says, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 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” (John 11:41-42).He cries with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” The man who had died comes out, bound hand and foot with graveclothes, face wrapped. Jesus says, “Unbind him, and let him go” (John 11:43-44).The Plot ThickensMany of the Jews who came with Mary and saw what He did believe in Him. Some go to the Pharisees and report. The chief priests and Pharisees gather the council and say, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 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” (John 11:47-48).Caiaphas, high priest that year, says, “You know nothing at all. 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” (John 11:49-50). John notes he spoke not on his own but prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the children of God scattered abroad (John 11:51-52).From that day they make plans to put Him to death. Jesus no longer walks openly among the Jews but goes to a region near the wilderness, to Ephraim, and stays there with the disciples.The Passover nears; many go up to Jerusalem to purify themselves. They look for Jesus and say in the temple, “What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all?” The chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that anyone knowing where He is should report it, that they might arrest Him.