Preface
If as Christians we will not “live again,” then all that we believe and all that we practice is in vain. I suppose an argument can be made extolling the benefits we receive as Christians during this life, such as the joy, peace and love all believers experience as they submit to the will of God; but if there is no “life after death,” then we are all ultimately fools for believing such a lie and entertaining such a vain hope.
The Christian life is one of supreme hope, constant excitement and fervent anticipation--all three centered in the fact that we will surely live again and always be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Although we are subject to many benefits during this life, the greatest benefit is eternal life in the royal company of Jesus Christ.
In the cults and various religions of today deceit and racketeering run rampant. Some even promise a life hereafter based on the baser instincts of man’s nature or a return to natural life (cyclic rebirth or reincarnation), maybe improved and maybe not, here upon earth. But no religion or cult offers the hope of eternal glory in a resurrection body in union with God Almighty. This assurance can only be found in Jesus Christ.
The Gospel of John is a progression leading the believer to greater heights of wonder and, bewilderment. The heights are the ever increasing miraculous works of Jesus while He demonstrated His credentials as the promised Messiah, from the turning of water into wine (chapter 2) to the healing of the crippled man (chapter 5) to the feeding of the five thousand plus (chapter 6) to the walking on water (chapter 6) to the healing of a blind man (chapter 9) to the raising of Lazarus from the dead (chapter 11). The bewilderment is that even in light of all of this He was continuously rejected. At the Feast of Tabernacles and the Feast of Dedication, He presented Himself to the nation of Israel and He was rejected. His works were rejected in John 5:16, His words were rejected in John 8:58, 59, and His Person was rejected in John 10:30, 31.
This chapter is sort of an intermission in the ministry of Christ. His public ministry is coming to an end, and He will continue in a more limited and private ministry whereby He centers on individuals and no longer reaches out to the nation that has rejected Him. The events of this chapter appear to occur between the Feast of Dedication and the Passover, which would be sometime between December and April. The chapter’s focus is on whether or not Jesus has the power to raise the dead. Life and death are great mysteries, but life is meaningless (see the book of Ecclesiastes) if there is no God and no resurrection of the dead. The question to ask of any “religion” is whether it has power over death. None have it. It can only be found in a Person--Jesus Christ.
The Gospels tell us three incidents of Jesus raising the dead. There was the twelve-year-old girl who had just died. She was a juvenile. There was a young man, whose body was being carried to the cemetery. Then there was Lazarus, possibly a senior citizen, who had been dead four days and had been buried. They were all raised, from every age group.
Allow me to be technical and state that these people were raised from the dead but were not resurrected. Rather, it was restoration to life. Resurrection is this: “. . . It is sown in corruption; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body . . .” (1 Cor.15:42-44). These people were raised from the dead, but none of them were given glorified bodies. They all faced death again. Christ is the firstfruits of them that sleep. His is the only true resurrection--“. . . Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming” (1 Cor. 15:23).
While our Lord used different methods to perform His miracles of healing, His method of raising the dead was always the same. He called to them and spoke to them as if they heard Him. Do you know why He did that? Because they heard Him! I think that when He returns with a shout, every one of us will hear his own name because He will call us back from the dead. (Thru the Bible by J. Vernon McGee)
John 11:1-4
Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick” When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
Jesus was preaching in an area (Bethabara) referred to as “Bethany beyond the Jordan,” which was on the east side of the Jordan River where John the Baptist first baptized (John 1:28; 10:40-42), when He received the news of Lazarus’s illness. Lazarus was from the town of Bethany, which was located on the west side of the Jordan River about two miles east of the Mount of Olives and about two miles east of Jerusalem on the road to Jericho. Jesus visited Bethany on occasion (Matthew 21:17; 26:6; Mark 11:1, 11, 12; John 11:17, 18; 12:1) and chose a spot near it to be the site of His ascension (Luke 24:50). But most importantly, Bethany is known and recorded in the Bible throughout all ages as “the town of Mary and her sister Martha.” Why?
Because it was in Martha’s home where, over her and Judas Iscariot’s objections, her sister Mary demonstrated such an act of love and devotion toward Christ by anointing His feet with a pint of pure nard (a fragrant ointment imported from the mountains of India--very expensive, a pint worth about a year’s wages) and wiping them with her hair that this selfless and generous act became a permanent part of Scripture (Luke 10:38; John 12:1-5). This world’s popularity is extremely shallow and soon evaporates. True and lasting fame is always a factor of how one relates to Jesus Christ. Bethany will always be honored because of the acts of two sisters.
The sisters sent a simple message to Jesus, informing Him that Lazarus, whom He loved, was sick. They then left the matter in His most capable hands. There is no indication that they begged for the life of their brother or expected anything special as a result of their association with Christ. They obviously believed that Jesus Christ, as God, was in total control, and they had faith that His will would be done. When Jesus received the message, he simply stated that Lazarus’ sickness would not, from the world’s viewpoint, end in permanent (physical) death. He knew that this sickness was intended so that God in the Person of Jesus Christ would be glorified.
John 11:5-10
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” Jesus answered, “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 one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”
The opening remark in this passage is that Jesus loved both sisters and their brother. Often Bible students are critical of Martha because she was too caught up in serving and objected to her sister’s kind deed toward Christ. This would be incorrect. When Christ asked her to table her objection and allow Mary to carry on, His comments were made in benevolence. He also recognized her thoughtfulness in serving Him and those with Him.
Understand that Lazarus was sick even in spite of God’s love for him. It was also a sickness intended for the ultimate glorification of Jesus Christ. Not all illnesses are the result of personal sins, even though it can be argued that some are the direct result of personal sins. There is no suggestion that Lazarus’ infirmity was a result of personal sin in his life. Rather, he is presented as a devoted disciple and a special object of the Savior’s love.
Reason would have Jesus dropping everything and fleeing to the side of this person whom He loved. The fact that He loved all three in the family would demand it. Yet, when he heard the news, he remained two more days in His present location. It is important to remember that God’s delays are not God’s denials. He may teach us many things by keeping us waiting. Why didn’t Christ hurry to Lazarus’ side?
It wasn’t in God’s plan, and, as will be seen, Lazarus was probably already dead by the time Christ received the news of his illness.
Does it seem cruel that Jesus let Lazarus die? No, there is a message here for us. The Lord Jesus was not motivated by sentiment, but He was subject to the Father’s will. Human sentiment would urge Him to go to Bethany immediately. But He deliberately let Lazarus die. Friend, sometimes He allows our loved ones to die. We need to recognize that He has a reason, and His ways are perfect. Jesus never moves by sentiment. That is what spoils people and that is how parents spoil their children. He is motivated by love, and that love is for the good of the individual and for the glory of God.
(Thru the Bible by J. Vernon McGee)
Notice what Christ says to His disciples when they questioned His wisdom in going back to Judea where before the crowd sought to take His life. He tells them that normally there are 12 hours in a day whereby a person may work in daylight. While in the daylight the person will not falter, but during the night the opposite is true. But this allegory has at least two spiritual meanings. They follow.
Man has only so much time to work (live) for God while upon this earth. Once this time is up, there is no second opportunity.
To walk in the light is to walk in the will of God in accordance with the light of His Word (Bible doctrine). Doing this will insure that he never stumbles or wanders off the path of righteousness. But even though God’s light always shines for the believer, the believer may willfully avoid the light. When this happens, he lives outside of the will of God, and the result is a crooked and bumpy road upon which he will stumble and fall.
John 11:11-16
These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
Jesus spoke of Lazarus’ death as sleep, a concept that His disciples failed to understand. Nowhere in Scripture is sleep applied to man’s soul and spirit. It is only used in reference to the body. Nowhere in Scripture is it taught that at time of death, the soul and spirit are in a state of sleep. Rather, the believer’s soul and spirit immediately go to be with Christ (2 Corinthians 5:8). Yet the disciples could only think of physical sleep. This led Christ to clarify His point.
He informed them that Lazarus was dead. He further stated that He was glad that He wasn’t there or otherwise Lazarus wouldn’t have died. Jesus was not saying that He was glad Lazarus died, but just that He wasn’t there. If He had been there He probably would have kept Lazarus from dying, thereby missing the opportunity to strengthen His disciples’ faith. It was not that His disciples had not already believed on Jesus, but they now needed to see and have greater faith in His power over death. The opportunity to restore life to Lazarus’ body would solidify their faith.
Thomas, who was called “Didymus” (a transliteration of the Greek didymos meaning “the twin”), and who normally is infamous for his lack of faith, now speaks up in boldness and in loyalty to Jesus by suggesting to the others that they go with Jesus to Judea and die with Him. Thomas realized that there would be a price for following Jesus, and apparently he was willing to pay it.
John 11:17-24
So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Then Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
Bethany was about 2 miles from Jerusalem and about one day’s journey from Bethabara, where Jesus had been preaching. Lazarus had been dead for 4 days when Jesus arrived at Bethany.
This means that he had died the same day when those who notified Jesus left from Bethany to travel to Him. Jesus continued on where He was for two days once He was notified of Lazarus’s illness. These two days plus the day of travel by the envoy that notified Christ and a day of travel for Christ to reach Bethany equates to four days.
Martha went out to meet Jesus upon His arrival while Mary stayed home. Several Bible commentators attempt to read spiritual meaning into this, but none can be drawn here. It does appear that Martha at this point was not convinced that Jesus was God, but that His prayers would be answered by God.
She felt that if Jesus had been present her brother would not have died. If she understood that Jesus was God, she would have known that He could have healed Lazarus from any distance. In any case, Jesus told her that her brother would rise again. She understood this to mean that he would rise during the resurrection at the last day.
John 11:25-27
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
Jesus attempts to explain to Martha that she did not understand Him, that is, who He was and what He could do. He informs her that in Him is the power of “the resurrection” and of “eternal life.” He is in fact the total answer and only means for anyone to obtain life eternal and to eventually participate in the coming resurrection at the last day.
And then speaking of eternal life, He asked her if she believed that any person physically alive and who believed in Him (trusted Him for eternal life) would never spiritually die. To this she answered that she believed that He was the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God who was promised by the Old Testament prophets. Whether or not this was a heart-felt belief or simply a head-knowledge acceptance of Him is unknown.
What is known for certain is that whosoever is physically alive and who comes by faith alone to Jesus alone will NEVER spiritually die. This is assurance to all believers that their eternal life is absolutely permanent. Once they accept by faith Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, NOTHING and NO ONE can take eternal life away from them.
These two verses of Scripture embody the most wonderful promise to the human race found anywhere within the Word of God. No other promise can bring more peace, joy and satisfaction than what Jesus unequivocally states here. He says that He is the resurrection and the life and that eternal life is guaranteed to anyone who “believes in” Him, that is, anyone who by faith alone trusts only in Him and His finished work on Calvary for personal salvation. One’s eternal salvation rests totally in Jesus Christ. Because He died in the place of man, thereby paying the penalty-price for man’s sins, and because He conquered death by rising from the grave, the salvation of man (anyone who trusts in Jesus) is contingent only upon and guaranteed by Him. When one believes in Jesus for personal salvation, he becomes united spiritually with Jesus Christ. Spiritual death (separation from God) is no longer a valid expectation for that person. Without doubt, upon physical death, the believer (spirit & soul) will immediately depart his temporary earthly body and be with God.
For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:1-8)
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. (Philippians 1:21-23)
John 11:28-37
And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?”
This passage contains two very important lessons, both centered in the Lord Jesus Christ. The first pertains to His title and position as “the Teacher;” the other pivots on the fact that He wept. But first a brief overview of the passage is articulated
After Martha acknowledges to Jesus that He is the Messiah, she leaves Him and goes to Mary. In secret she informs Mary that “the Teacher” was calling for her. Mary didn’t stop to question Martha or to “check out” with those who were within her home attempting to comfort her over the death of her brother. She swiftly arose and went to Jesus. When Jesus calls to the believer, it is always best to avoid any and all hesitation and go to Him without delay.
Those around Mary in the house thought she was going to the grave site to weep over her dead brother’s body, so they followed her. But Mary went directly to Jesus. She was crying and she parroted to Him the same message Martha previously gave Jesus that her brother would not have died if Jesus had been there earlier. Jesus was troubled upon seeing Mary and the others who followed her all crying. As God He surely knew the burial place of Lazarus but in keeping with His humanity He asked them where they had “laid” him. They took Jesus to Lazarus’ tomb. There Jesus wept, which was interpreted by the Jews on the site that Jesus had a great love for Lazarus. It also puzzled them as to why Jesus, who had previously healed the blind person, did not prevent Lazarus’ death.
Now for the previously referred two lessons.
1. A primary title of Jesus Christ is “Teacher.” The word in this verse in the King James Version of the Bible is translated “Master.” It comes from the Greek word, didaskalos, meaning “instructor or teacher.” The term occurs 58 times in the New Testament, 48 of these in the Gospels, and 41 of them refer to Jesus Christ (29 in direct address). The preponderance (majority) of Jesus’ time while upon the earth in human form was devoted to teaching those around Him. His earthly ministry prior to going to the cross as the sacrificial Lamb of God for the sins of the world was primarily one of teaching. He was the Master Theologian. No one knew Bible doctrine as He, and they came from all around to the Theological Seminary of Jesus Christ to eagerly sit at His feet and hear His instruction. While on earth, Jesus emphasized the teaching of Bible doctrine over most everything else. In fact the reason for His miracles was to validate the fact that He was indeed God and that His instruction was true.
The Bible recognizes the gift of teaching (Bible doctrine) as a very special and most important gift. In the Church, that is, the “Body of Christ,” God has appointed teachers third in priority to apostles and prophets. Next comes miracle workers, healers, helpers, administrators and, finally, those with the ability to speak in other languages (1 Corinthians 12:27, 28). The Apostle Paul was adamant that He was appointed as a “teacher,” in addition to being appointed as an apostle and a herald of (one who loudly proclaims) the Gospel (1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11). As an apostle, Paul’s authority was primarily derived from and based upon the relationship with the One who appointed him as such, which was God. As a teacher, Paul’s authority was primarily derived from and based upon the inerrant, unswerving and enlightening Word of God. To Paul the teaching of Bible doctrine was right up there with being an apostle and preaching the Gospel.
It is interesting to note that the word “pastor” (Gk. poimen, meaning shepherd, one who cares for flocks) is used only one time in the Bible in reference to the ministry of believers (local churches) but, more importantly, it is tied linguistically to the word “teacher” (Ephesians 4:11). It is as if the Bible is saying that a pastor (shepherd) of a local church is to primarily be a teacher--an instructor of Bible doctrine. In other words, the way one shepherds God’s flock of local believers is for the most part by feeding them Bible doctrine.
There is nothing wrong in maintaining a high state of evangelism within the local church. In fact the Gospel should be made clear in every service perchance someone lost is in the congregation. But truly effective evangelism must take place outside of the local church walls by Christians in their everyday lives, while the church exists primarily for the edification and instruction of the saints. There must be more Bible teaching within our local churches. Making fun of Bible theologians and scholars and those who thirst for a deeper understanding of God’s Word is never pleasing to God. To belittle those who would grow in doctrinal knowledge and who take pride in an ever deepening understanding of God’s Word is to belittle God’s will that His children grow in spiritual maturity. He gave us His Word that we might eat and drink of it daily--to seriously study it. Make no mistake about it. It pleases God immensely when His children study His “love letter” (the Bible) and become increasingly proficient in all its doctrine.
The Apostle gave excellent advice, consistent with his position as a teacher, to Timothy and Titus. Note the following and understand.
Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:15, 16)
Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16)
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. (Titus 1:9)
Not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. (Titus 2:10)
2. The shortest verse of scripture in the Bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” The word “wept” is a translation of the Greek word, dakruo, which is “to shed a tear or tears.” It is in contrast with the Greek word, klaio, which is “to weep or wail--the shedding of tears accompanied by external expression of great grief.” Why Jesus shed a tear when he saw the tears and sorrow of Mary and those with her, is anyone’s guess. Some Bible expositors believe it was evidence of Christ’s humanity and empathy with those around Him during time of death. This may be the case, but it also may be His expression of sorrow over the lack of faith in Him as evidenced by Mary and those around her. The reader must be the judge. The following segment from The Complete Word Study Dictionary--New Testament, Spiros Zodhiates, TH.D. (General Editor) is most illuminating, particularly in its last sentence.
A distinction must be drawn between “dakruo” and “klaio.” Unfortunately, “dakruo” is translated “wept” in John 11:35, whereas it should be translated, “He shed a tear” (a.t.) or “tears” (a.t.). The verb weep as a loud expression of grief is “klaio,” and is man’s reaction toward death (Mark 5:38, 39; 16:10; Luke 7:13; 8:52; John 11:31; 20:11, 13; Acts 9:39). In all these instances we have man’s reaction toward death in weeping, wailing, loudly crying. When the Lord, however, stood before the tomb of Lazarus, He simply shed a tear as if to say to those around Him that He was Master of the situation, even if that situation was death. Our lord is never said to have wept aloud as if wailing, except when He stood over unrepentant Jerusalem in Luke 19:41, “And when He was come near, He beheld the city, [being unrepentant and having rejected Him] and wept [“eklausen” {2799}, wept aloud] over it.” Before the dead Lazarus He simply shed a tear, but before unrepentant Jerusalem He shows deep, loud grief in crying. Nothing makes the Lord Jesus more sorrowful than when He is rejected as the Savior that He came to be.
John 11:38-46
Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Jesus did, believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Jesus did.
Jesus was still mournful (disturbed within Himself) when He approached the tomb of Lazarus. Why? It is likely that there were at least two reasons. One was over the unbelief of Mary and Martha and the skepticism of the gathering crowd when he approached the tomb of Lazarus. After so many prior miracles and other demonstrations that He was in fact God in human form, many still would not believe. Even those who were close to Him and whom it was said He loved still had their doubts. The second reason was His acknowledgment of the fact of death. He had brought Adam and Eve into His created universe and newly restored planet Earth with the gracious gift of life, creating them in His own image. Death should never have been a part of the picture. Yet by creating mankind in His image, which composition included a “will” with freedom of choice, sin entered resulting in both spiritual and physical death. God is always disturbed when man chooses to remain in (spiritual) death rather than accept eternal life, and the fact of Lazarus’ death could only remind Him that so very many of His creation indeed choose eternal death over eternal life.
But as God ordained from before time, this was a special and clearly demonstrable opportunity to once again prove to the world that Jesus Christ was in fact God in the flesh, the promised Messiah and the Savior of mankind--all for the glory of God. Everything pertaining to this event would be accomplished in somewhat of a grandiose (showy) way--so that there would be no mistake that it was a miracle performed by God.
As Jesus approached the tomb, which was a cave with a large stone covering its entrance, He commanded that the stone be removed. Martha still had her doubts. She objected and pointed out to Jesus that to remove the stone would release a terribly offensive odor, since the body had been dead for four days. The custom of the day was to immediately bury a dead person without any method of embalming.
Jesus’ reply to Martha is an amplification of what He had previously told her. He said, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” This statement embodies the divine order of grace. Before God in His mercy and grace can act upon man, there first must be faith from the conscious will of man. God will not force His will upon mankind. He has not made men and women mere robots or play things who unwittingly and without control must perform on the game board of life for His pleasure. Without a viable option and man making the choice to turn (repent) from himself and trust only in Christ, there can be no glory to and for God.
The stone to the grave-cave was then moved. Christ looked up to God in heaven and thanked Him in advance for the miracle (to man, not God) He was about to perform. Jesus remained in continual communication (prayer) with God--a pattern for all believers. Now He simply wanted all to see that it was because of His union with the Father that He was performing this miraculous deed. Then with a loud voice Jesus called Lazarus by name and commanded him to come out. If He had not specified Lazarus by name, it is probable that all of the dead buried in that area would have come forth out of their respective graves.
Life was restored to Lazarus’ existing body. He did not have a “resurrected body,” such as Christ had when He emerged from the grave three days after His crucifixion. But you can be certain that his flesh was restored and was without odor. Lazarus was still bound in his grave clothes, which were immediately removed by those around him.
What was the result of this mighty and undeniable miracle? Many placed their faith in Jesus, but some did not. It is the same today. No matter the transformations before their eyes of those previously lost in sin, no matter the convincing proof of an orderly universe, no matter the voice of the inner conscience telling them that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life; some will persist in remaining in their lost condition and head through death’s door into an eternal night. Instead of repenting (turning) from self-effort and good works; they continue in “religion” (man’s organized efforts to appease God and obtain His favor) or nothing at all and enter eternity without God.
This miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead marks the end of the public ministry of Jesus. Yet there remains at least half more of the book of John. You see John spent almost as much time on the last forty-eight hours before the death of Christ as he did on the first thirty-two years, eleven months, three weeks, and five days of His life. This in fact is the pattern of all the Gospel writers. They placed their emphasis on the last eight days of Jesus’ life, i.e., His death and resurrection. There are 89 chapters in the four Gospels. Four of these cover the first 30 years of the life of Christ and 85 chapters cover the last three years of His life. Of the 85 chapters, 27 deal with the last eight days of His life. About one-third of the Gospel records deal with the last few days and place the emphasis on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But then, this is the most significant event of all history. It is the focus of God’s revelation to man. There is nothing more important. If Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection are not preeminent in a spiritual activity, then it is not of God. Remember this as you surf through the various “religious” programs offered today on television. Remember this as you visit churches throughout the land. Remember this as you review the myriad spiritual programs and events on tap today. Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the litmus test!
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. . . . Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you . . . For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures . . . . (1 Corinthians 2:2; 15:1-4)
John 11:47-57
Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. Therefore Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim, and there remained with His disciples. And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Then they sought Jesus, and spoke among themselves as they stood in the temple, “What do you think--that He will not come to the feast?” Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.
Again it bears repeating. Religion is the antithesis of Christianity. Religion is a product of Satan, a system that endeavors to obtain the approbation (approval) of God through self-effort and good works, whereas Christianity is a personal union or relationship with Jesus Christ. The opening of this passage is best described by J. Vernon McGee in his Thru the Bible commentary.
You can se here that the problem for these bloodhounds of hate was not a lack of evidence. His enemies said, “He doeth many miracles.” They couldn’t deny His miracles.
This is a diabolical group. The chief priests at this time were largely Sadducees who were the “liberals” in that they did not accept miracles or the supernatural--which included resurrection. The Pharisees were the religious conservatives and the political rightists of that day. The two parties were absolutely opposed to each other in every way; yet here they join together in their hatred of Jesus Christ and in their determination to put Him to death. You might label this the first ecumenical movement. If men can get rid of Jesus Christ, they will join with even those of opposing views in their antagonism toward Him. This is the trend of the hour. The majority is attempting to get rid of Christ as He is revealed in the Word of God. It is the minority that accepts Jesus Christ as He is.
This coalition between the religious liberals and conservatives realized that as more and more of the Jews accepted Jesus as the Messiah, Rome could only understand that according to the Old Testament the Messiah had come to set up His Kingdom, which would be a threat to Rome. Rome would then have no choice but to obliterate the Jewish temple (“our place”) and scatter the Jews to the four winds (“our nation”). J. Vernon McGee continues in his Thu the Bible commentary.
They begin to rationalize and say that Jesus should die rather than the nation die at the hand of Rome. It is interesting to note that although they did succeed in putting Jesus to death, in spite of this, the nation perished when Titus destroyed it in A.D. 70.
We find a strange thing here: Caiaphas’ accurate prediction because he was high priest that year! Caiaphas was scheming politician, and later we will meet his father-in-law, Annas, who was also a mean rascal and the power behind the throne. That Caiaphas had the gift of prophecy should not fool us. Like Balaam in the Old Testament, this rascal could utter a true prophecy.
The public ministry of Jesus has now come to an end. It is now the beginning of the end for Him upon the earth. Biblical historians and scholars cannot determine exactly where the city of Ephraim was located; nevertheless, this was the destination of Jesus and His disciples. From this point on Jesus becomes more of a recluse, because the religious horde is hot on His trail with murder in their hearts. Jesus will not expose Himself until the time is right--until it is time for His sacrificial death on the cross of Calvary. At this point John’s gospel has reached a turning point. The last week of the earthly life of the Lord Jesus Christ is approaching.
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