This lesson today shocks us in several ways, for it talks to us about the very difficult problem of how to react when God does not do what we have been taught to expect of him.

Did Jesus really delay responding to Mary and Martha’s message that his beloved friend Lazarus was sick?  Does God’s delay, a delay which might even lead to death, for the sake of his glory?

Would the love of God lead Him to do things like that?

Is that not strange behaviour?

Is that what we have been taught to expect from God?

Our lesson today will open our eyes to the fact that the ways of God are not our ways. Understandably so, since God's ways are perfect, righteous, holy, and good. 

The raising of Lazarus from the dead, represents for many the high point of Jesus’ miracles and understandably so. Many would argue that man’s greatest desire is to have life and his strongest instinct that of survival, so when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, he demonstrates in a very practical way, that he is the answer to the essential need of humanity. In raising Lazarus, Jesus shows his power over death, the ultimate enemy of man.

The great lesson of our text relates to the magnificent comfort that believers have in the person of Jesus Christ our Lord. His person brings great promises. We need to learn that when Jesus says to the main characters in our story: “I am the resurrection and the life”, he is focusing us on His Person, a focus which will undoubtedly steer us toward His promises.

When we look at the person of Jesus, we do not find just a great man, a good man, a great teacher, a powerful wise and analytic intellect.  None of those views of Jesus will bring comfort when there is death and sorrow, nor can any take a person into eternal life.

We know for certain that it is only those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, the Son of God and the Servant of Jehovah, that will enter into eternal life.  Those who acknowledge that he came into the world to save sinners, believing firmly and trusting that he is the One who is the resurrection and the life and who are assured of His presence at all times.

So we remind ourselves that we must believe in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, be ‘in’ Him, have His mind, be led by His Spirit and be transformed into one like Him. If we find ourselves going in any other direction, and doing any of the things of the flesh, rather than the things of the Spirit, we know that we are headed for a Christ-less eternity.

This lesson is also a very pointed response to the claim that we hear so often today, that sickness is never the will of God for a believer.

There are many that teach that it is wrong to be sick.  They might say that a person is sick because they lack faith, or alternatively that they have committed some hidden sin.  They might even say that it is the judgment of God. Here this view is shown to be absolutely false.

Of course we know that sometimes there is sickness that results from sin. However, it is a most unscriptural, dangerous and hurtful to say that all sickness is a sign of unbelief, or a sign of a lack of faith.

It even adds insult to injury when people tell you that you must send them a large offering and that would guarantee your recovery.

In the Gospel of John, it is striking that so soon after his public rejection and practically being run out of town by the Jews, Jesus demonstrated his life-giving power in the presence and earshot of some of those that rejected him.

The resurrection of Lazarus was the greatest demonstration of Christ's divine power to this point in His ministry. Although He had raised Jairus's daughter (Mk. 5:22- 24, 35-43) and the son of a widow who lived in Nain (Lk. 7:11- 15), those ‘resurrections’ occurred immediately after death. In the case of Lazarus, the miracle was most astounding because Lazarus had been in the grave four days and the process of decomposition had already set-in. 

To this point in human history only two men had not actually experienced physical death, Enoch and Elijah. Death was the legacy of Adam’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden and it is the spectre

that haunts the end of every man's life.  

Man does everything he can to disguise the stark reality of death. Our society attempts to lighten the occasion by having flowers, songs and fancy caskets at funerals. However man’s pursuit of money, success, prestige, position, education, and sexual satisfaction become pointless in the face of the ‘grim reaper’.  The increasing anticipation of death that man suffers, leaves him with a sense of loneliness and despair. No matter what he has here in the way of security, friendship and meaning; it all vanishes at the time of death. 

Thankfully, the dreaded scene just described is not the reality for Christians and the proclamation is officially made and attested to in our text. Jesus tells two sisters grieving at the death of their brother;

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (vs.25-26).

These verses have to be among the greatest words that have ever fallen on anyone's ears. The great news is that when a believer in Jesus dies, he dies only that he might rise again and live for eternity. Death only opens up eternal life. That is the Christian hope, which is founded on truth.  

Following Jesus’ own resurrection his disciples were transformed into dynamic witnesses of the gospel. Most died as martyrs for proclaiming the truth. The evidence of his resurrection power exhibited in Lazarus and Himself, impelled them to change the world. His power over death made such an impact on them that the central theme of their preaching was His resurrection.

Today’s narrative is the climax of a series of events that began in chapter ten (10:31-42). There we read that Jesus withdrew to a remote area east of the Jordan in the face of violent hostility and threats on his life from the ‘Jews” in Jerusalem. This in fact marks the beginning of a transition from his public ministry to the nation, to a private ministry to his disciples.

For the past three years Jesus had been proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom and the need for the nation to repent.  He was making great statements about His own identity, accompanied by authenticating miracles. However, Israel for the most part rejected Him and so Jesus moved from the work of evangelizing the people to that of edifying His followers, who would be given the responsibility of reaching the world with the truth of the gospel. He needed to strengthen their faith so His ministry would be maintained in His absence. 

Clearly the purposes of God in our lives, trumps our own needs, however pressing they may appear to us. Many grieved the death of Lazarus but according to Jesus that death was only for the glory of God, the grief of people not-with-standing. When ‘the Resurrection and the Life’ arrived at the house, physical life was restored and eternal life was assured. This sign made the disciples confident that Jesus had the power to give life in His hands. 

Jesus was also concerned about the faith of the sisters and his own disciples. Mary and Martha certainly believed Jesus could prevent someone from dying, but to raise someone dead for four days, they weren’t sure. Importantly Martha’s recognition of Jesus as the Messiah opened the door for her faith in Jesus to increase. Christians must bear in mind at all times that our mediator is himself God and this awareness must of necessity result in increased faith in our Lord and Savior. 

Let us study our text with the assurance that God is in control of the circumstances of our lives and our own resurrection and eternal life are forever secure with the one who is ‘the Resurrection and the Life’. The reaction of the grieving sisters to Jesus arrival is an admirable display of faith in Jesus and surely an example for us: even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

BACKGROUND

To this point Jesus ministry is clearly established through his teaching, healing and other miracles. His reputation as a Rabbi is widespread, large crowds follow him and the Scribes, Pharisees and other authorities see him as a looming threat, both on the religious and political fronts.

Finally in chapter five after some minor skirmishes, serious opposition to Jesus emerged when he healed a paralytic on the Sabbath. The already hostile Pharisees are further enraged when Jesus defended himself by claiming to be God. They attempted to stone him but he walked away through the crowds.  

In chapter six many of his followers abandon him following a graphic “ I am the Bread of life” sermon. His teachings invariably leave few fence sitters; some are strongly opposed while others are favorably disposed. Jesus teachings continue to provoke strong reactions; “ Before Abraham was I am” cause another attempted stoning (chapter 8) while he confirms his “I am the Light of the world” claim, by restoring sight to a man born blind in chapter nine.

Later Jesus teaches that he is the Good Shepherd while exposing the Scribes and Pharisees as false and wicked shepherds. Again some attempt to stone him for saying “I and my father are one”.  

The stage is now set for Jesus biggest miracle, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. Ironically the raising of Lazarus will make the elimination of Jesus an imperative, since anyone with this kind of power presented the greatest of threat to the power structure, a threat that could not be ignored.

THE TEXT

Verse 1 – 2.  We are introduced to the principals involved in this story; Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Lazarus is said to be sick and Mary is identified as the Mary who anointed the Lord with an expensive oil and wiped his feet with her hair. (John 12: 1-10; Luke 10: 38-42). They lived in Bethany, a village about two miles from Jerusalem and Jesus might have stayed at their home on his visits to Jerusalem.

Verse 3.  We find Jesus carrying on his ministry in the area where John the Baptist first baptized, having recently left Jerusalem, where the Jews had tried to kill him. (John 10:31; 39-42). Lazarus’ condition is rapidly deteriorating as his sisters send an urgent message to Jesus informing him of the situation. Although no suggestion is made in the message as to what course of action Jesus should take, there is evident, a confidence in his friendship and an expectation that he would come immediately or shortly thereafter.   

The message to Jesus simply said;

“Lord, behold, he whom you love is sick”.  So we know that there was such a true bond of love there was no need to request a favor.  One just states that there is a need.

Most might have expected the Master to drop everything and rush to their brother’s bedside and heal his sickness, being the close friend that he was to the family. Jesus however does not respond as they expected.

Note that the display of Jesus power and obedience to the father led to his own death. Jesus obediently faced his own death for our sins.

Verse 5-7. Interestingly the statement about Jesus’ love for the family is followed by news that he deliberately waited two more days before leaving for Bethany, in spite of his love and the urgency of the situation. Clearly God will not be held hostage by His love for us but his glory takes precedence over all.  

Mary and Martha will discover what many Christians have come to realize; what we regard as God’s delay oftentimes is for our benefit and the glory of God.  

Note Lazarus might already have been dead when news of his condition reached Jesus. Cleary, by the time Jesus arrives in Bethany Lazarus would be good and dead.

Verse 8-10.   The disciples are less than enthusiastic about such a quick return to Judea. They question the wisdom of making the journey, since the Jews had recently tried to kill Jesus when he was last in Jerusalem. They were very aware that they too would be in danger in Jerusalem being his followers.  

Jesus was marching to a different drummer and that was the will of his Father.  So He over-ruled their concerns with a statement about working while one had the ‘light’ and in the time allotted for such work. Jesus was making it clear that he had work to do and his use of the phrase ‘twelve hours in a day’ likely indicates that the Father had allotted a certain time to Jesus’ earthly ministry. 

So Scripture advises us not to live a shorter life and complete a smaller work through disobedience, by disregarding what God has sent us to do and sent us to be. 

Jesus is also here pointing out to his disciples that it was not because of fear that he left Judea sometime before and there was no question that fear would prevent him from going back there, even if it seems that conditions were worse than before.   

Some consider this a veiled response and see it as Jesus telling the disciples that as long as they are in the will of God no harm would come to them and the trip to Bethany would not be dangerous.

Verse 11-12.  Jesus tells the disciples that Lazarus their friend had fallen asleep and that he was going to awaken him. (See John 15:13-14; James 2:23 for significance of friend in the Scriptures.) The disciples did not understand Jesus meant Lazarus was dead; they gladly respond that’s okay then, he will recover and we don’t have to go to Judea. The disciples have no desire to risk their lives going to Judea, so our Lord’s words are indeed welcome.  

Of course, since the coming of Christ, believers who had died are said to be asleep, a common metaphor for death in all languages. However a higher meaning is put to it in relation to believers who have died in Christ. (Acts 7:60; 2 Cor 15:20; 1 Thes 4:13-18)

Verse 13-16.  Jesus plainly tells the disciples that Lazarus is dead, since they thought that he was just sleeping. As is so often the case with the disciples, Jesus is talking about one thing while they are thinking about something else.

Jesus statement that he is “glad” over the death of his friend comes as something of a shock. He is “glad” on their behalf, because he knows the miracle of raising Lazarus will become the occasion of the disciples belief and strengthening of their faith. It is apparent that the faith of the disciples continued to grow the more the person and work of our Lord became evident to them. 

Similarly our faith should not be static but should always be growing as our knowledge of God increases. 

Why should Jesus be glad?  Contrary to popular opinion, God does not look bad when death occurs. God is perfectly holy and just, cannot overlook sin, must deal decisively and punish sin.  We must realize that the wages of sin is death. In addition, since Jesus Christ will prevail over death, conquering this last enemy, in so doing He will clearly demonstrate that He is Lord over all including death.  This will bring glory to God the Father. 

Believers will have a victorious testimony in the face of death, showing the world that though they do not delight in death, they do not dread death.  They regard death as a defeated enemy.  Death is therefore not an unmitigated tragedy. 

Some see Thomas words as an expression of love for and faith in Jesus, while others consider it a sort of fatalistic resignation. Either way, if  ‘doubting’ Thomas was prepared to go, who of the other disciples was going to decline. 

Verse 17.   If we work back from four days Lazarus would have been dead by the time the message of his illness reached Jesus. Jesus waited two days after receiving the message and given a day for his travel time to Bethany and the same for the messengers and we have four days.  

Though sometimes bodies were embalmed, quick burials were the norm in the region, given the hot climate and lack of any effective means to preserve a body. 

Typical of the times when someone prominent died in those days, the religious leadership came out. Lazarus must have been such a person given the many people who came to his funeral. People often stayed at a funeral for a week. The burial took place immediately following the death and the rest of the week was filled with mourning the deceased and comforting the family. Some people came as professional mourners who would wail as an expression of grief. In this case many were there to legitimately comfort Mary and Martha.

The four days was also significant in the local lore, as it was believed that the spirit hung around the body for three days hoping for a resuscitation but once decay set in the spirit left and death was final.

Would they bow to this clear evidence of Jesus’ Messiahship and praise God for sending their Saviour, or would they draw even closer to their father the devil?

The scene was one of mourning as the women gathered around Mary and Martha to console and comfort them. These would likely be the extended family, friends and acquaintances.

The absence of Jesus at the time of their brother’s death would have deeply affected Mary and Martha, for they longed for comfort in the presence of Jesus. His physical presence would have calmed their troubled heart in their grief.

So it is important for us to understand what Jesus meant when he said to his disciples: “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  He is here with us in a most powerful way and we cannot escape his presence.

Among the Jews sitting was the common posture of those in grief.

Verse 21.   Martha could be rendering a mild rebuke to Jesus for his seeming delay in coming to Bethany or it could be an expression of her faith in his ability to heal the sick.  The fact is Lazarus is no longer sick, he is dead!

‘If only you had been here’, both Mary and Martha said to Jesus and they probably had said it many, many times to themselves before Jesus came.

Martha’s faith appears to have stopped at Jesus’ ability to heal the sick, thus she gives no thought to Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave. She had confidence in Christ, yet she limited His power. She believed no illness could kill her brother when Jesus was present, but once her brother died, she thought even Jesus couldn't change that.

Does our faith limit God?

Verse 22.   Martha’s faith like that of most of us might have come up a bit short but her knowledge of the relationship between Jesus and the Father was commendable. She knew God would give Jesus whatever He asked, because He had been saying that throughout His ministry. In John 6:38, Jesus said,

"For I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will but the will of Him that sent Me."

Martha knew who Jesus was. She understood His relationship to God because He had visited her home on several occasions.

Martha’s…whatever you ask…leaves the door open to anything Jesus might desire of his Father, including bringing back her brother to life.

Note, when we are unsure of what to ask or expect, let us in general leave it all to God, let him do what seemeth him good.

Verse 23-24.   Though Jesus’ words could be taken to mean immediate or ‘last day’ (Day of Judgment) resurrection, Martha assumed the latter, despite her deep desire to see her brother brought back to life.

She still seemed to be misunderstanding Jesus’ plain statement “Your brother will rise again”.  She might not have had doubts about His power, but was simply not even giving it consideration. So she shows that she was not looking for the immediate resurrection of her brother and assumed Jesus was talking about the resurrection of the ‘just’ at the end of the world.

Unlike some Jewish people of her day (e.g. the Sadducees; Ac. 23:8), Martha apparently understood what the Old Testament taught about resurrection in such places as Psalm 16:9-11; Job 19:25-27.   

There is some inconsistency in Martha's response. She felt Jesus could raise Lazarus at the last day (5:25-29) but she did not consider the possibility that He could raise him after he had been dead only four days.  

It seems we have no problem with the power of God for the future while doubting it or not considering that it applies and works today. We look forward to Christ coming in power and glory while down-playing his power to act in the present.  If we can trust God in the future, we can trust Him in the present. His power does not change.

Verse 25-26.    So Jesus shifts the discussion, moves the focus back from the program of God to his Person.

The focus is on “I”.

The teaching is that wherever Jesus is, anything God ever did, can do, or has the power to do, can happen.  We should never forget this!  Jesus’ tremendous “I am resurrection and life” assertion renders time immaterial. Martha projected God's resurrection power into the future, but Jesus was saying: the resurrection is here and it is Me. Time was not an issue, Jesus could resurrect Lazarus whenever he desired to do so. 

His use of "I am" (the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew covenant name of God) reinforced His claim.

In Jesus other ‘I AM’ statements he likened himself to tangible objects but here, he is instead an event. The point is he is the author or the cause of the resurrection and it so depends on his power and will, that it may be said that he is the resurrection itself. 

Salvation doesn't come through a system of religion or an ethical code; it comes in a living person, Jesus Christ, who is "the resurrection and the life." We will not have victory over death by going to church, by thinking religious thoughts, or by doing good works. Resurrection and life are found in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the power of resurrection for the past, present, and future.

…though he may die…has direct application to Lazarus as Jesus spoke here of  physical death.

Notice that Jesus has dealt with the fears of every single person who has ever lived.  Very importantly he mentions two groups of believers.

He speaks first of those who believe in him, that though they die, referring to those who have already died with their bodies dissolving into the dust, they will live. He speaks of the prospects of the pious dead. Then he refers to the second group, “Whosoever lives and believes in me”, those not yet dead, also has a future.  Jesus shows here the same prospects for …who-ever lives and believers in me…; they shall never die. He spoke of spiritual death (separation from God Gen.2:17) and the verse expressed what was true for Martha and all true believers.

The Greek here we are told is extremely emphatic, saying literally, ‘They will never, ever die forever’.

Jesus spoke to both the natural and spiritual life of believers. He affirmed the teaching of a physical, bodily resurrection and will shortly raise Lazarus, which will prove his words. He himself will soon demonstrate resurrection in all its fullness by his own resurrection. Jesus showed that eternal life is the present possession of the believer. Though believers die physically, their spirits live on with God, one day to be reunited with a glorified, resurrected body. 

Note the declaration and promise in both verses is very particular. It is for those who live and believe, those whose lives demonstrate a true belief in Jesus Christ.

What does it mean to believe? Belief that results in salvation is a commitment to entrust one's whole self to God.

Jesus said several times “He who believes in me” and so clearly Scripture gives those who do not believe in Jesus no hope at all.

So do not refuse the offer of his grace, for if you do not believe ‘darkness’ lies ahead of you.

The ‘light’ of God has come.  The ‘bread’ of life has come.  ‘Water’ of life is available to us, the ‘light’ is streaming down from Heaven and through the earth all the time, to everybody.  So follow the ‘light’ for there is no excuse to remain in darkness.

Believest thou this…His question confronts Martha’s faith and is the ultimate question for all men. Do you believe Jesus Christ? Jesus

undoubtedly  implied that he was then able to raise up Lazarus and now on the verge of this great miracle it was the proper time to test her faith.

Verse 27.   This is the confession that all believers must make and a fact to which all must attest. This recognition of Christ is the work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a sinner. (See Matt.16:16-17)

This statement is something of a climax in the gospel of John, for the apostle states that it is for this very reason he wrote his gospel: "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." John 20:31

Martha makes a comprehensive statement about Christ, the implications of which encompass the core of Christianity. She believed and confessed three inseparable things concerning Jesus and all to the same effect:

He was the Christ, or Messiah,

He was the Son of God;

He is the one who should come into the world,

Jesus is the Christ so there is no difficulty in believing that he is the ‘resurrection and the life’. He is the fountain of light and truth and we may take all his sayings as faithful and divine. He is that Prophet whom we are to hear in all things. All that appears impossible becomes reality for He is the Son of God, who has life in himself

CONCLUSION

In the events of our lesson, humanly speaking, there was no hope of recovery and yet at the point of absolute helplessness and hopelessness, Jesus promised and gave life to the dead in the subsequent verses. 

Physical death is the divine object lesson of what sin does in the spiritual realm. Just as physical death ends life and separates people, so spiritual death is the separation of man from God.

The spiritual parallel is obvious for all men are dead in their trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1-3). 

What we can never do to merit eternal life, God has provided as a free gift (Romans 3:20-25; Eph.2:8-9). Jesus has come not to help us in our struggle towards heaven, but to give life to those who are dead. As He gave life to Lazarus, so he offers spiritual life to all men who believe in him

The sisters reacted to their brother’s sickness by only informing Jesus of the situation.  We can look on Jesus as our all-sufficient helper. Since he is present he can always deliver us and for believers he is always present.  We know and are assured of his tender sympathy. He weeps with those who weep, for he can be touched with a feeling of our infirmities.