FEBRUARY 11, 2018
THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS (PART IV)
INTRODUCTION:
1. Jesus was intimately aware of His Divine mission, and the only necessity that He was ever under was to do the Father’s will, and to finish the works that the Father had given Him to do. (Ch. 4:4, 34)
2. Jesus often made known the fact that the works which the Father had given Him to do, the same were intended to bear witness of Him, testifying who He was. (Ch.5:36; 10:24, 25)
a) Jesus’ works were, if you will, the Father’s “seal of authenticity.” (John 6:27)
b) Jesus’ works, the great majority of which were apparently not recorded (See Ch. 20:30, 31; 21:25), provide more than sufficient proof that He was indeed the Christ of God.
3. That which was true respecting all of Jesus’ works is made abundantly clear in this case, namely, that He was keenly aware that everything about it down to the minutest detail was according to the Divine arrangement and purpose. Jesus’ every decision and action was deliberate and purposeful.
4. Of all His works, (recorded or unrecorded) the raising of Lazarus was almost certainly the greatest of them all. It was intended to provide one last incontrovertible proof to the Jews that He was indeed the Christ of God, the Messiah.
I. HERE WE ARE TOLD WHAT EFFECT THIS GREAT MIRACLE HAD ON THE JEWS THAT WITNESSED IT. (VERSES 45, 46)
A. THAT THIS MIRACLE WAS PRIMARILY INTENDED AS A WITNESS TO THE JEWS IS EVIDENT FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE A GLARING OMISSION IN JOHN’S REPORT.
1. Nothing is said regarding the reaction of the family members, or how the disciples were affected, or how Lazarus himself responded.
a) We are sure that Mary and Martha were flooded with joy, but nothing is said about it. A veil is drawn over their joy, but their former sorrow was completely unveiled.
b) We doubt not that the faith of the disciples was greatly strengthened, according to Jesus’ stated intention. (Verse 15)
c) We cannot even begin to imagine how Lazarus reacted to being brought back to life, though we would certainly like to know.
d) We are not privy to any of this information, our natural curiosity notwithstanding.
2. John confines his report exclusively to the effect that was had on the Jews who were present.
a) Their presence was clearly arranged for by Divine Providence.
b) How could any remain unbelieving after so powerful proof as this?
B. THE EFFECT HAD ON THE JEWS WAS TWOFOLD AND DIVIDED. (VERSES 45, 46)
1. Many were persuaded by this miracle and induced to believe. (Verse 45)
a) They came for a good purpose, to comfort Mary, but God had a higher purpose; that they might hear Christ, witness the miracle, and believe on Him.
b) Whether their belief was faith unto salvation in every case is doubtful, but at any rate, they ceased to oppose and blaspheme.
c) It is very likely that many Jews whose hearts had been prepared at Bethany came boldly forward to be baptized on the day of Pentecost.
2. Others were irritated by the miracle and further hardened in their unbelief. (Verse 46)
a) Instead of being softened and convinced, they were hardened and enraged.
b) They were vexed to see more unanswerable proofs that Jesus was the Christ, and irritated to feel that their own opposition was more than ever inexcusable.
c) They therefore hurried off to the Pharisees in desperation to report the progress that Jesus was making around Jerusalem.
d) The amazing wickedness of human nature is strikingly demonstrated in this verse. It is a great mistake to suppose that seeing miracles will produce faith and convert souls. (Luke 16:31; Rom. 10:17)
II. NEXT WE LEARN HOW THE JEWISH LEADERS RESPONDED WHEN INFORMED ABOUT THIS GREAT MIRACLE. (VERSES 47-52) The latter group of unbelieving Jews who had witnessed the miracle became informants, notifying the members of the Sanhedrin of what had happened.
A. A SPECIAL COUNCIL WAS CALLED TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS MIRACLE WORKER. (VERSE 47)
1. By the question, “What do we?” was meant, “Are we going to sit still and let this man continue to make progress?” The implied answer is, “We must do something to stop Him.”
2. They made a marvelous admission. “For this man doeth many miracles.”
a) Our Lord’s worst enemies confessed that He did miracles, and many of them.
b) Can we doubt that they would have denied the truth of His miracles had they been able to do so? The Pharisees who moved heaven and earth to denounce Him never dared to dispute His miracles, for they were too many, too public, too thoroughly witnessed.
c) How, in the face of this fact, modern infidels and skeptics can dismiss our Lord’s miracles as impostures and delusions they would do well to explain.
B. THEY FEARED THAT IF JESUS WAS NOT STOPPED, THEY WOULD LOSE THEIR PLACE AND NATION TO THE ROMANS. (VERSE 48)
1. They ignorantly believed that Jesus would gain such a following that the Roman government would see Him as a Jewish threat, and be forced to deal with them as rebels and destroy Jerusalem and the temple.
2. Calvin points out: “They double their wickedness by a plausible disguise – their zeal for the public good. The fear that chiefly distressed them was that their tyranny would be destroyed.”
3. The truth is, this saying of the Pharisees was a pretext for stirring up enmity against Christ. What they really hated was His doctrine which exposed their own system and weakened their authority.
C. CAIAPHAS WAS BOLD IN DECLARING BEFORE THE COUNCIL THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. (VERSES 49, 50)
1. The disorder and irregularity of the Jewish nation is seen here. “Caiaphas being high priest that same year.” According to the Law of Moses, the office of high priest was tenable for life. But, at this time it seems to have been obtainable by election. There were rightful high priests, and those that were appointed by the Roman government, who held office simultaneously. (Luke 3:2)
2. Caiaphas was apparently of the sect of the Sadducees, as was his father-in-law, Annas. This may account for the contemptuous way in which he seems to speak to the Pharisees. “Ye know nothing at all.”
a) “Ye” is here emphatic in the Greek.
b) It seems very likely that it expresses Caiaphas’ contempt for the ignorance and helplessness reflected in the Pharisees’ question, “What do we?”
3. What others made a matter of deliberation, this man declared shamelessly and openly and audaciously. “One must die.”
4. Caiaphas made plain what he was as the solution to the problem. One sure way to prevent the Romans from taking away their place and nation was to put to death Him who was posing the threat to the Roman government. It seems expedient to kill Him. Better He should die to save the nation than that the nation should be brought down because of Him. This is clearly what Caiaphas meant.
D. JOHN REVEALS THE PROPHETIC MYSTERY THAT WAS IN THE COUNCIL OF CAIAPHAS OF WHICH HE WAS UNAWARE. (VERSES 51, 52)
1. These two verses contain a parenthetical comment by John on the statement of Caiaphas to the Pharisees.
2. The fact that Caiaphas was high priest gave him no prophetical powers. The mention that he was high priest that year made his words more remarkable when afterward remembered and noted. (See Ch. 18:14)
3. He foretold what was practically fulfilled afterward, though in a way marvelously unlike what he thought – that Jesus should die not only for the Jewish nation, but for the benefit of all God’s children at present scattered all over the world.
4. Caiaphas’ words proved true in an extraordinary manner, though in a way that he never intended, wished, or expected.
III. THE JEWISH LEADERS CONCLUDED THEIR COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREED THAT JESUS MUST DIE. (VERSES 53, 54)
A. THEY WERE NOW UNANIMOUS IN THEIR RESOLVE AND UNITED IN THEIR EFFORTS TO PUT CHRIST TO DEATH.
1. Caiaphas’ stern, bold, outspoken proposal carried all the council with him.
2. This body of leaders was one of varied opinions among the various sets, yet on this they all agreed; Jesus must die.
3. The great miracle at Bethany would doubtless increase the number of our Lord’s adherents, making it necessary to use caution in carrying out the murderous plan.
B. JESUS, KNOWING THAT THE JEWS WERE SEEKING HIS DEATH, MADE HIMSELF OBSCURE. (VERSE 54)
1. He suspended His public appearances.
2. He withdrew into a remote part of the country.
3. His temporary retirement would make His return into Jerusalem, when His hour was come, the more remarkable.
IV. THERE WAS STRICT INQUIRY MADE FOR JESUS DURING HIS RECESS. (VERSES 55-57)
A. THE OCCASION OF IT WAS THE APPROACH OF THE PASSOVER AT WHICH THEY EXPECTED HIS PRESENCE. (VERSES 55, 56)
1. This was Christ’s fourth and last Passover since He entered upon His public ministry.
2. It might truly be said, “There was never such a Passover in Israel.” (II Chron. 35:18) In this Passover, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
3. The inquiry was very solicitous. “What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?”
B. THE ORDERS ISSUED BY THE COUNCIL FOR HIS APPREHENDING WERE VERY STRICT. (VERSE 57)
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