DECEMBER 17 & DECEMBER 24, 2017
THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS (PART I)
INTRODUCTION:
1. In this chapter we have John’s exclusive account of our Lord’s most illustrious and largely recorded miracle, The Raising of Lazarus.
2. The other three Synoptic writers confine their history primarily to our Lord’s Galilean ministry, scarcely ever carrying it into Judea, until the passion week, whereas John’s record relates primarily to Christ’s Judean ministry, therefore this miracle is reserved for John’s pen.
3. The raising of Lazarus is more largely recorded than any of Christ’s other miracles.
a) One reason for this is, no doubt, because of the many instructive circumstances surrounding the event.
b) Another reason for the extensive coverage of this miracle is that it is an earnest of the crowning proof of all, namely Christ’s own resurrection.
c) Yet another reason is that Lazarus’ resurrection serves as a sort of precursor or preview of the grand and glorious final victory that Christ has won for His people over the last enemy. (See I Cor. 15:21-26)
I. THE STORY BEGINS WITH WORD OF LAZARUS’ ILLNESS COMING TO JESUS. (VERSES 1-3) Jesus’ abode was now at a place beyond Jordan, which was a great way off from Bethany where Lazarus lived. Bethany lay very near to Jerusalem where Jesus was before coming to this location.
A. WE HAVE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PARTICULAR FAMILY WITH WHOM THIS STORY HAS TO DO. (VERSES 1, 2)
1. It was “Lazarus of Bethany” who was sick. “A certain man named Lazarus,” i.e. one who was marked out by divine grace; one who was specially loved by our Lord.
2. He lived with his two sisters, Mary and Martha. They three shared a home together at Bethany.
3. One of the two sisters is particularly described to be that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment. (Verse 2) There were many of that name, therefore John identifies her as the same Mary that is mentioned in the next chapter. (See Ch. 12:3-8; also Matt. 26:6-13; and Mark 14:3-9)
4. We know that these were very dear friends of our Lord, and in their home He was always a welcome guest. (Luke 10:38-42; Matt. 21:17)
B. MESSENGERS WERE SENT BY MARY AND MARTHA TO LET JESUS KNOW THAT LAZARUS WAS VERY SICK. (VERSE 3)
1. Their love for their brother could not better have been shown than by informing Jesus of his condition.
a) “A brother is born for adversity,” and this also applies to sisters. (Prov. 17:17)
b) They knew that Jesus, Who was kind and merciful even to total strangers, would certainly be moved with compassion for His dear friend, Lazarus. “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.”
c) Notice, it is not unusual for those whom Christ loves to be sick.
2. Their confidence in Jesus’ ability to raise Lazarus up from his bed of affliction is clearly seen. (Psa. 41:3)
a) Their message to Jesus was not prescribing or pressing, but barely relating the case. “He whom thou lovest is sick.”
b) From what follows, it is made clear that Jesus knew all about the matter and what they had need of before ever they sent to Him. (Matt. 6:8)
c) Nevertheless, though God knows our cares and griefs, He will know them from us, and is pleased by our bringing them to Him.
II. NEXT WE ARE TOLD HOW OUR LORD ENTERTAINED THE INFORMATION THAT HIS FRIEND, LAZARUS, WAS SICK. (VERSES 4-6)
A. HE GAVE HIS PROGNOSIS OF THE ILLNESS AND THE EVENT OF IT. (VERSE 4)
1. First, as soon as Jesus received the messengers’ report, He said immediately, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son might be glorified thereby.”
a) Did the messengers return to Bethany with this information for the comfort and support of the family while He delayed? Some think they probably did.
b) Jesus was not saying that Lazarus’ sickness would not be fatal, for it definitely proved to be so, and, of course, Jesus knew this.
c) That was not the main purpose for which the sickness was sent. Had it been sent simply as a summons to the grave, the primary intention, in his rising from the dead would have been defeated.
d) Lazarus died, yet it might be said that he did not die. His death was not an everlasting farewell to this world, as death usually is, therefore in this sense his sickness was not unto death. Death was not his long home.
(1) The sickness of a child of God, even when fatal, is not unto death, for, thank God, it is not unto eternal death.
(2) The body’s death to this world is the soul’s birth into another world where there is no death. (Rev. 21:4)
2. This death had a higher purpose, in that, it was sent in order to give opportunity for the manifesting of God’s glorious power.
a) The afflictions of the saints are all designed for the glory of God.
b) Let this blessed truth reconcile us to the darkest dispensations of Providence; they are all for the glory of God.
3. This death was for the glory of God particularly that the Son of God might be glorified.
a) It gave Him occasion to work that glorious miracle, the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
b) Before this, the man was born blind so that Christ might have the honor of curing him. (Ch. 9:3)
c) Let us remember that it is by Jesus Christ that all manifestations of God’s mercy and power come to us. Therefore in every display of that mercy and power, it is “that the Son of God might be glorified.”
B. HE DEFERRED GOING TO BETHANY, ALTHOUGH HE KNEW THAT HIS DEAR FRIEND WAS DYING. (VERSES 5, 6)
1. The desperate plea of those whom He loved notwithstanding, “He abode two days still in the same place where He was,” i.e. beyond Jordan, a great distance removed from them.
2. Their enhancement attached to their plea was moving: “Lord, he whom thou lovest.” It was also legitimate: “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.” (Verse 5)
3. One would think it should follow, when He heard therefore that he was sick, He made all haste to go to him. If He loved them, now was the time to show it.
4. Sometimes Christ’s people may think, or even say, “Lord, if You love me, where are You?” Let us take comfort in knowing that He has not forsaken us, and He is fully aware of our troubles.
a) Though in body He was a great distance from those He loved at Bethany, He was nevertheless present with them in spirit.
b) Though it may have seemed to them that He was indifferent; His mercies are prepared, and will be dispensed right on time. When the work of deliverance, temporal or spiritual, stands at a stay, it does not stay the time.
III. HERE IS THE CONVERSATION HE HAD WITH HIS DISCIPLES WHEN THE TIME CAME THAT HE MUST GO TO BETHANY. (VERSES 7-16)
A. HE NOTIFIED HIS DISCIPLES OF HIS PURPOSE TO GO AGAIN INTO JUDEA. (VERSE 7)
1. It seems as if the disciples may not have been aware of the word that He had received about Lazarus.
2. They said nothing at all about Lazarus during this whole time (two days) until Jesus mentions him in Verse 11, and then they said nothing about his sickness.
B. THE DISCIPLES OBJECT TO HIS RETURNING AGAIN TO JUDEA, BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SAFE. (VSE. 8)
1. They were the men of His counsel, and to them He said, “Let us go into Judea again.”
2. They reminded Him of the great danger He was in when He was there, perhaps only three months before.
3. They marvel that He will go there again, seeing He had narrowly escaped being stoned again and again. They did not realize that Jesus had not departed in fear.
4. We read in other places how the disciples tried to dissuade Him from walking into the face of danger, but here perhaps personal fears were also part of their concern
C. JESUS ANSWERS THE OBJECTION OF HIS DISCIPLES. (VERSES 9, 10)
1. Jesus speaks of a man’s life as a day. “Are there not twelve hours in a day?”
a) The Jews divided their work day into twelve hours, the daylight hours between sunrise and sunset which Providence has given us to work by.
b) This fact is basic to Jesus’ parable which emphasizes a householder hiring laborers at the eleventh hour with only one hour left to labor. (Matt. 20:1-16)
2. It is while it is day that man must accomplish his mission, regardless of the particular dangers that he might encounter along the way. “If a man walks in the day, he stumbleth not because he seeth the light of this world.”
3. Just as there is a set time for all that a man’s life entails (peace, liberty, trouble, suffering), there is also a night wherein they cannot work without the light to guide their feet. (Verse 10)
4. This Jesus said in answer to the disciples’ objection to Him putting Himself again in harm’s way by returning to Judea.
a) Regardless of the danger, it was part of His purpose while He had His life.
b) His life could not be taken from Him until His mission was complete.
c) This is true of us all, and though we do not throw caution to the wind, we must finish our God-given course, even if it involves trouble and suffering.
D. JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES DISCUSS THE MATTER OF LAZARUS’ DEATH. (VERSES 11-16)
1. Jesus notifies the disciples that Lazarus is dead.
a) Having prepared them for this dangerous journey back into enemy territory, He now intimates why such a trip was necessary.
b) Having received no further intelligence from Bethany about Lazarus’ condition, Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth,” i.e. Lazarus is dead.
(1) Jesus knows all about our troubles, He needs not to be informed, neither do His sympathies need persuading.
(2) See how Christ is the friend of believers (Prov. 18:24), and He owns them as His friends.
(3) See also how He calls the death of a believer a sleep: “he sleepeth.”
a) The death of Lazarus was in a particular sense a sleep, as that of Jarius’ daughter, because he was to be soon raised again. (Verses 43, 44; see Luke 8:52-55)
b) Since all who are Christ’s are sure to rise again at last, their death may also be called sleep. (I Thess. 4:13, 14)
c) Having informed the disciples that Lazarus was asleep (dead) He then apprised them of His intentions to go and “awake him out of sleep,” (raise him up out of death).
(1) No sooner had Jesus said, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth,” than He presently added, “but I go that I might wake him out of sleep.”
(2) Do we question in the least our Lord’s immediate knowledge of our situations, or how easily and quickly He can take care of them.
2. The disciples mistakenly took Jesus’ words in their literal sense. (Verse 12)
a) What about a sleeping friend should call for making this dangerous journey?
b) They were still trying to persuade Him not to go there.
3. Jesus rectified the disciples’ misunderstanding with a plain declaration of Lazarus’ state. (Verses 13, 14)
4. Jesus gives the reason why He had delayed so long to go and see Lazarus.
a) Had He been there, He would have healed him and prevented his death.
b) Just as He had assured Martha that if she would believe she would see the glory of God (Verse 40), so also would He have His disciples to witness the same for the perfecting of their faith. (Verse 15)
5. Notice Thomas here demonstrates a difficulty in believing that was characteristic of him. (See Ch. 20:25)
a) He saw this as a “suicide mission.”
b) In one sense we must admire his loyal devotion. “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.” He apparently took to heart what Jesus said (Verses 9, 10), taking it to mean that we must not avoid our duties in life for sake of ease, but rather perform them regardless of the cost.
c) However, Thomas’ proposal demonstrates a serious unbelief with respect to Jesus’ words regarding Himself and His mission. (Ch. 10:17, 18)
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