-THE PEREAN MINISTRY
-Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead
-John 11:1-46
-vs 1-16
-In this passage, we find that Lazarus, a beloved friend our our Lord and brother to Mary and
Martha, was sick.
-Mary and Martha sent word of Lazarus’ sickness to Jesus. Interestingly, there is no request
recorded. “These sisters did not say to Jesus: ‘Do something; heal our brother; come
quickly,’ or any such thing” (Coffman, pg 273). It seems that, based upon their close
friendship with Jesus, Mary and Martha were confident that He would come.
-In verse 4, we find the providence of God at work.
-Through the sickness and approaching death of Lazarus, God the Father and Jesus would be
glorified through the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
-After waiting two days, Jesus informed the disciples of His intentions to return to Judea.
-Jesus did not respond immediately to the message of Mary and Martha. Instead, he awaited
so that the miracle of raising Lazarus (after the process of decomposition had begun) would
have more of an effect on the people.
-The disciples were surprised by Jesus’ intentions due to the fact that the Jewish leaders had
recently sought to stone Him.
-In verse 9, Jesus answered their inquiry with verbiage similar to that found in John 9:4-5.
With these words, Jesus indicated that there was a specific timeframe (“twelve hours in a
day”) in which He would live upon this earth. During this specified time, nobody would be
able to take His life, not even those who desperately wanted to do so.
-“Jesus often expressed himself by simile as in this case. It means that he is not walking
in darkness, but in light for the reason he knows what he is going to do. He is not
stumbling in darkness. He is not groping in the night or walking uncertainly. He has a
clear pathway on which the sun is shining. Whether it leads him to Judea, to Jerusalem,
to his enemies, or to death, in either case he will walk in the light, for the reason all his
purposes and plans are made out and he is walking accordingly. What was dark and
mystified to the disciples was clear to him” (Lipscomb, pg 167).
-Jesus then told His disciples that Lazarus had fallen asleep. To the disciples, this seemed like a
step in the process of recovery. With this idea in mind combined with Jesus’ words in verse 4,
the disciples misunderstood. Jesus then plainly told them that Lazarus was dead.
-Verse 15 clearly indicates that the faith of the disciples would be strengthened by the raising
of Lazarus. If Jesus would have healed Lazarus prior to death, the impact would not have
been nearly as great as it was when Jesus raised one who’s body had already started the
process of decomposition.
-“The resurrections wrought by Jesus are progressional manifestations of power. Jairus’
daughter was raised immediately after death, the young man at Nain was being carried to his
grave, and Lazarus had been buried four days. All these were preparatory to that last and
greatest manifestation of resurrectional power - the raising of his own body”
(McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 522).
-Thomas then spoke some words that show both weakness and strength.
-He didn’t fully understand Jesus’ words regarding the allotted time in which He would live
and work while on this earth. He had not grown to understand Jesus’ authority and the fact
that His life would not be taken but given.
-However, we see Thomas’ loyalty and an initial willingness to follow Jesus at the risk of his
own life. He assumed that Jesus would die upon returning to Judea, yet he was willing to
return with Him. However, we know that when the moment eventually came to stand with
Jesus in the presence of the enemies, Thomas scattered with the other apostles.
-vs 17-44
-When Jesus came to Bethany, about two miles from Jerusalem, Lazarus had been in the grave
four days.
-Many of the Jews had come to Mary and Martha to mourn with them. “These Jews were
present four days after the death because Jewish custom prolonged the season of mourning (Gen
i. 3,10; Num xx. 29; Deut xxxiv. 8; I. Sam. xxviii. 13). The Mishna prescribed seven days for
near relatives, and the rules as laid down by rabbis, required seven days’ public and thirty days’
private mourning for distinguished or important personages” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 522).
-Martha, in accordance with her character, was probably taken away from her own grieving by
tending to the visitors. Therefore, she would be among the first to hear of Jesus’ approach.
When she heard that Jesus drew near, she went out to meet Him.
-In the conversation that ensued we see some strength in Martha’s faith combined with a
need to complete it. She was confident that, had Jesus been there prior to Lazarus’ death, He
could have and would have healed her brother. It seems that she wants to believe that Jesus
can restore her brother to life but struggles to actually do so.
-When Jesus told Martha that Lazarus would rise again, her thoughts were in view of a future
resurrection of all rather than an immediate raising of Lazarus.
-Jesus instructed Martha by referring to Himself as “...the resurrection, and the life...” (vs 25)
and by indicating that those who believe in Him will never die.
-“The Lord has not abolished physical death, but its significance, having made it a
beginning instead of an end” (Coffman, 1974, pg 279). Jesus was revealing His power
and authority over death and the hope that lies in Him and through Him.
-“He saw Martha’s inability to realize the truths he was teaching, and pointedly asked if
she believes his teaching” (Lipscomb, pg 170). Even though her response was a
wonderful confession in Jesus as Lord, Christ and Son of God, she avoided a direct
reference to His immediate teaching. However, notice Martha’s words, “Yea, Lord.” It
seems that this was an expression of confidence in Jesus more so than an understanding
of His words. (see vs 39)
-Martha then went to Mary and informed her that Jesus was near and that He called for her.
-When Mary quickly arose and left, the mourners assumed she was headed toward the grave and
followed her. When Mary reached Jesus she fell at His feet and greeted Him with the same
sentiments as Martha.
-With the weeping of Mary and those with her, Jesus “groaned [“was deeply moved - NIV]
in the spirit, and was troubled” (KJV). “The verb translated ‘groaned’ carries in it the idea
of indignation. But the fact that sin had brought such misery to those he loved was enough
to account for the feeling” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 524).
-When Jesus asked where they had laid Lazarus, it obviously wasn’t for His own information
but to focus the attention on the sight of the coming miracle.
-At the grave, “Jesus wept.” “[The shortest verse in the Bible, but one of the most touching.
How precious those tears which assure the real, tender, loving, sympathizing humanity of Jesus
in the verymoment in which he is preparing to exert his omnipotence!]” (Lipscomb, pgs 172-
173)
-In response, some of the Jews commented on Jesus’ love for Lazarus. Others, mindful of
the healing of the blind man in Jerusalem (John 9), wondered if He could have prevented
Lazarus’ death. Not only could He have prevented it, He was about to overcome it.
-When Je sus gave instructions to remove the stone from the grave, Martha (showing little
expectation of her brother’s resurrection) cautioned Jesus regarding the expected condition of
Lazarus’ body. Jesus simply, and kindly, reminded her of the words He had previously spoken
to her.
-When the stone was removed, Jesus expressed thanks to His Heavenly Father. He did so
publicly for the purpose of building faith in those who were present. He then spoke those
marvelous words, “Lazarus, come forth.”
-“It has been happily said that he called Lazarus by name, lest all the dead should rise”
(McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 526).
-Lazarus was able to come forth, in complete restoration of health and strength, despite the
difficulties imposed by his grave clothes. In regards to this matter, Jesus instructed some
who were present to “Loose him, and let him go.”
-What a contrast of scenery is depicted! Those grave clothes were put on in a time of
deep sorrow brought upon by death, a consequence of sin brought upon humanity by
the initial sin in the garden. Now, these grave clothes were being removed in a moment
of awe and rejoicing brought upon by life provided by the Saviour.
-Many of the Jews who had come to Mary (see vs 19) witnessed this glorious event and, as a
result, believed on Jesus.
-Some, having also witnessed the same glorious event, being blinded with indignation toward
Jesus, refused to allow such an occasion to influence their hardened hearts. Instead, they
rushed to the enemies of Christ.
-“These [the many – rc] were of the candid class, on whom the effect of so stupendous a
miracle, done before their own eyes, could not but be resistless…These[some of them – rc]
were of the prejudiced class, whom no evidence would convince. Those two class
continually re-appear in the Gospel history; nor is there ever any great work of God which
does not produce both” (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown).
-Interestingly, those who went to the Pharisees reported what Jesus had done. There was no
attempt to deny the miraculous raising of Lazarus, nor could there be.