Studies in Johns Gospel. Pt 58 The Setting for a Glorious Resurrection!

 Good morning to everyone. 

Our heavenly Father is continuing to propel this Bible study blog to places around the world that I never imagined His Word going to. This should encourage each of us to faithfully communicate God's truth to other people because God will always honor and empower His word as it is shared. May we remain faithful in studying, obeying and sharing the Words of life.

Today we move into a chapter where Jesus is going to raise a man from the dead. This was a dear friend that He loved so this account shows a very tender side of Christ. 

Moreover, this miracle is the indisputable proof of Jesus' claim that "I Am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). Death is the terrible horror that sprang up from sin entering the world (Romans 5:12 & James 1:15). Physical death is a picture of what sin does in the spiritual realm. Physical death ends life and separates loved ones from each other. Spiritual death is the separation of people from God and the life that is in Him.

The setting of a mighty miracle. 

John 11:1-2  Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2)  (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) 

John gives us several details about the events that took place in John 11. First, we have the name of Jesus' friend, Lazarus. The name Lazarus is derived from a son of Aaron named Eleazer. The name means "God has helped" or "whom God helps" and you will see why his name has a special meaning as this account unfolds. 

Second, John tells us that the family in this narrative is from the town of Bethany. Bethany was a small town beyond the Mount of Olives so it was not located too far from Jerusalem. The name Bethany means "house of misery" and we will see this meaning connects with what happened to Lazarus. 

Third, John tells us that Lazarus had two sisters, Mary and Martha. He added a side note about Mary who anointed Christ with ointment. John does not tell us about this Mary until later in his gospel (John 12:1-8). Because John's gospel was written much later than the other three gospels, his readers already had knowledge of who Mary and Martha were. 

Mary's name means "their rebellion" while Martha's name means "she was rebellious." Mary in particular, had a checkered past but she believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and began a fresh start with a new life. I think the names serve to remind us that we are all born as sinners and in rebellion against God until we are born again. 

John set the stage for us to understand the people involved and their relationship with Christ. 

Jesus received an urgent request for help.

John 11:3  Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 

The two sisters both knew and followed Jesus so when their brother became sick they sent a messenger to tell Jesus that Lazarus was very ill. Jesus established a relationship with Lazarus and his two sisters. He loved Lazarus like the way we might love our best friend. 

It appears from the text that the sisters expected Jesus would drop everything and come immediately to cure their brother. However, Jesus did not do things according to mankind's  schedule. Rather, He did all things when the Father told Him to. 

Lazarus' illness was for a greater purpose of God.

John 11:4-6  When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 5) Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6) When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.  

When Jesus was informed about His friend's illness He immediately knew that this illness was manifested for the glory of the Father. The Father was going to use this occasion to glorify His Son. The word translated "glory" refers to the splendor, brightness and majesty of the Godhead. Such glory evokes a response of praise and worship from man to God. 

Jesus did not respond right away to Lazarus' situation because of not having compassion for his friend, the text tells us that Christ loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. However, Jesus always did the Father's will at the time the Father deemed appropriate. 

Jesus' response to their request for help was to wait two more days where He was ministering. I think this is done to remind us that God moves according to His timetable not according to our whims or demands. A couple of texts from the Psalms will help us see this truth.

Waiting on the LORD is good for us. 

Psalm 27:14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. 

To wait on the Lord is to be patiently waiting for His response knowing that He will always do what is best and right. It means waiting with an eager, expectant hope. Those who wait shall find strength.

Psalm 37:7-9  Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9) For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.

Waiting on the Lord involves a patient, eager anticipation and resting in what we know to be true about our God. We know that God loves us even when we think that He is taking a long time to answer our prayers. The word "rest" is very similar to the word "trust" and it means we take God at His Word. We trust Him implicitly in all things. 

Waiting on the Lord means that we do no fret or become consumed with worry when the wicked seem to be having their way in the world. It means that we do not become angry with God because we have to wait for His will to be made clear in our situation. Instead, we refuse to be angry and we avoid worrying because we trust what God has told us in His word. 

This is a great lesson that each believer will need to learn and apply many times as we walk through this earthly pilgrimage until our Lord calls us home. This may be a lesson that Mary and Martha needed to learn.

Work while we have the Light of God to see by.

John 11:7-10  Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. 8) His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 9) Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10) But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 

After two days Jesus told His disciples that they needed to go back to Judea again. They reminded Jesus that the last time they were in that location the Jewish religious leaders attempted to stone Him. Jesus reminded the disciples that as long as He is in the world, He is the Light of the world and they need to work while it is light. It reminds us that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. The child of God is to walk in His light (1 John 1:5-7).

For a believer in Christ, death is like sleeping.

John 11:11-16  These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12)  Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13) Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14) Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. 15) And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. 16) Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. 

The next thing that Jesus told His disciples was that their friend Lazarus  was sleeping and that He was going to awaken him. His disciples mistakenly thought that Lazarus was physically sleeping and they thought that was a good thing. 

However, Jesus meant that Lazarus had died and to awaken him from the sleep of death would require resurrection power. Jesus had to bluntly tell them that Lazarus was dead. Thomas was a bit pessimistic and said that they should go and die with him. 

Jesus said He was glad that He was not with Lazarus because He knew what the Father was going to do. Lazarus would be raised from the dead and it was by the Father's design to strengthen their faith in His Son.

The scripture gives all believers a tender picture of what the death of a child of God is like. It is compared to falling asleep (See Matthew 9:24; Mark 5:39; 1 Corinthians 15:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; Acts 7:60). 

Psalm 116:15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 

The death of any believer is not taken lightly by our God. Our Father even knows when a sparrow falls to the ground so He views our death as something precious in His eyes. This brings great comfort to believers approaching the end of their earthly life. 

Acts 7:59-60  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60) And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

Notice how the text tells us of the martyr Stephen's death. He fell asleep. Why is the death of a child of God compared to falling asleep? Because we have believed and trusted the promises of God and He will save us and give us rest until the great day of the first resurrection!

Thoughts to Ponder...

Jesus had many friends. I find this encouraging because Moses spoke with God face to face and Abraham was the friend of God. We sing the great hymn of invitation "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and I pray that each of us can say He is our great Friend because He is our mighty Savior. 

Jesus knew and loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We don't know much about them but we do know that Mary was a woman with a bad reputation. Yet, she believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and began a new life and Jesus loved her! I find this encouraging because Jesus loves all those who put their faith and trust in Him.

Mary and Martha's names remind us that we too, are sinners and rebels against God. Lazarus' name reminds us that God sent the best help in sending His Son Jesus Christ to die in order to save us and grant eternal life. 

It is still day time, spiritually speaking. Christ has left each believer here on earth to serve Him until He calls us home to heaven with Him. We must work while it is Light, sowing the seeds of the Words of life and light. 

Finally, simply trusting and obeying Christ and at the end of this life, falling asleep and waking up in heaven with the God who loves us so!

I pray that our hearts and minds are filled with the greatest joys as we consider these powerful truths from God's Word.

Bob