John Lesson 32

Introduction

When Jesus came to the grave of Lazarus, the scripture said Jesus wept. This is one of the most touching of verses in the Bible. Indeed, it shows us the tender care and concern for our Lord Jesus Christ, his sympathy for those whom he loves. Our study is in John chapter 11. And we’re glad for you to be tuned in and watching with us on this program, Let the Bible speak. And we encourage you to get your New Testament open and read right along with us as we engage in a verse by verse study of the Gospel of John. If you’ve been studying together with us in recent days, you know that we have come to one of the most important and significant miracles that Jesus worked, and that is the raising of Lazarus from the grave.

That each of these miracles was done for the purpose of proving that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that you may believe that fact, and that believing you may have life through his name. John chapter 20, verses 30 and 31. You may recall in our last study that in John chapter 11, we’d already talked about the first twenty-five, twenty-six verses, in which it was recorded how that Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick. They sent word for him to come. But even after Jesus had received the message that that Lazarus was sick, he tarried for two more days before he went, making a total of about four days, from the time Lazarus died until Jesus came to his grave. There was obviously one day in going from the from the town of Bethany or the village of Bethany to to get Jesus, and then he waited two days, and then he traveled another day coming back, making altogether four days.

And when he came to Bethany, Martha, the eldest sister, older than Mary, came out to Jesus and said, Lord, if you had been here, he would not have died. She was not rebuking Jesus, but really rather showing her genuine belief that he had the power even to heal Lazarus to prevent him from dying. But when Jesus said, Thy brother shall rise again, Martha acknowledged, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Now again, Martha did not seem to indicate or believe that Jesus had come for the purpose of literally raising Lazarus at that point in time. But knowing that there would be a general resurrection. Jesus had even spoken of that back in John chapter five, verses twenty-eight and nine, when he said, All that are in the grave shall shall hear my voice, and shall come forth.

They that have been good unto the resurrection of life, and they that are done evil to the resurrection of damnation. And so it was in John chapter six and verses thirty-nine and forty, that Jesus spoke about resurrection at the last day, and in verse 54 also, that there shall be a grand resurrection, not just when the Christians are saints shall rise, but a time when all that are in the graves. When Christ comes again, it will be the last day. And when he comes again there will be a general or a great resurrection. All that are in the grave shall come forth, and also there will be judgment at the last day. John chapter 12 and verse 48. And so Martha was thinking about this resurrection, when she said, I know that he shall rise at the last day.

1. I Am the Resurrection and the Life

But then in John chapter 11, twenty five, if you have your testaments open, please read with us, for 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? She said unto him, Yea, Lord, I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went away and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The master is come and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.

The Jews then, which were with her in the house and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hast been here, my brother had not died. You may notice that Mary says the same thing really that Martha has stated back in verse twenty-one, when she said, Lord, if thou’s been here, my brother had not died. Again, Mary had the same confident belief in Jesus as the Son of God, and having witnessed other signs or miracles which Jesus did, no doubt she too was convinced that that Jesus could have prevented Lazarus’ death.

But it does not seem that either of them were asking of Jesus to raise Lazarus, nor reproving him for not having come. They just at this point in time did not seem to understand that Jesus indeed, would be raising Lazarus from the grave. I say that there’s no indication they they realize that what that is what he had come to do, because in in verse thirty nine, whenever Jesus said, Take away the stone, Martha said, Why, behold, he stinketh. In other words, Martha was concerned that his body had already begun to decay. So both when both Mary and Martha, when they came to Jesus and said, Lord, if you’d just been here, he wouldn’t have died. At that point in time it seems to be more an expression of their belief in the Christ and their anxious desire, wishing that he had been with them.

But Jesus went beyond what they were asking for. When he said in verse 25, I am the resurrection and the life. The significance of this miracle, raising Lazarus from the grave, gives you and me hope as well. Jesus Christ has power over death. Jesus Christ is enabled to give life by the very fact that he could raise Lazarus from the grave, physical life brought back again, indicates that he has a power even greater than Satan or the Prince of this world. Satan had power of death. Satan, it is, by sin, who brought death into the world by sin. But as he tempted Adam and Adam sinned, so death passed upon all men for all have sinned. Romans chapter 5 so teaches. But when Jesus overcame death, when he himself was raised from the grave, he destroyed the devil who had the power of death.

That’s what Hebrews 2, 14 and 15 so teaches. But even before that point in time, Jesus gave us some insight that he, as the Son of God, had that power to give life. In John 14 and verse 6, Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father except by me. If you want eternal life, it’ll be only through Jesus Christ. You’ll not fight it through following some other man who claims to be a prophet, not through Mohammed, not through any other way than the way of Jesus Christ and His words, not through some Latter day revelation, such as the Book of Mormon. But only through Jesus Christ and the gospel, only through following that word which has been revealed even since the days of our Lord and the time of his apostles who lived immediately after his death, burial, and resurrection.

And if we want to follow the Christ, then we’ll know the truth. And by knowing the truth, and only through that means can we have life everlasting. Now Jesus said in verses 25 and 6, He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Though he were dead physically, yet shall he live spiritually. And then in verse 26, he talks about living and believing physically or in this world, in order that we’ll not die spiritually. Because he said, Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Well, now certainly we’re going to die physically, all that his apostles have, and all the believers since the days of Christ have died physically. But when Jesus said you shall never die, he’s talking about the second death or that spiritual death.

2. Faith That Saves Is Willing to Obey

We will not be separated from the Father throughout eternity. Who is it that’ll that will overcome this kind of death? Well, the one who lives and believes in him. It’s a great verse, John chapter 11 and verse 26, to live and believe in Christ. And he turned to Martha and he said, Believe us thou this? The question could be asked of you, do you believe this? Do you believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, that he is the resurrection and the life, that he is the Son of God? Are you living and believing in Him? Now that involves much more than just a mental acceptance and saying, Oh, yes, I acknowledge that he is the Son of God. There are a great many people today who who would say that, and mentally they may believe that, but they’ve never really committed their lives to the to the service of Jesus Christ.

If you truly live and believe in Christ, there’s going to be some action to show it. You see, faith that saves is the kind of faith that is willing to obey. In John chapter 12, 42 and 3. The scripture there speaks about the rulers of the synagogue who believed on Jesus. But because of fear that they would be told out of that synagogue, the scripture says they would not confess him. They love the praise of men more than the praise of God, or the glory of men more than the glory of God. And there are some who say they believe, but they’re not willing to stand up any more than those rulers of the synagogue would. You see, in James chapter 2, verses 14 through 26, the apostle or the inspired writer there tells us that faith without works or without obedience is dead, being alone.

He says, beginning in James 2, verse 14, what did it profit, my brethren?

Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food, and well if you say unto them, Depart in peace, be you warmed and filled, notwithstanding you give them not those things which are meal to the body, what doth it profit? Even so faith that hath not works is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works. Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believes that there is one God, thou doest well. The devils also believe and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead. Was not Abraham our father justified by works? When it offered Isaac is sent upon the altar, seeest thou how faith wrought with his works and by works was faith made perfect.

And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. This is not teaching work salvation or meritorious deeds that earn us salvation. For indeed we’re saved by the grace of God. But by grace through faith are we saved, Ephesians 2.8 says. And it’s the kind of faith that lives and believes in Christ. The kind of faith that his early disciples had that said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And then we’d obey. It’s the kind of faith really that is described in Romans chapter 6, verses 17 and 18. When the apostle then speaks about how that from the heart we obey that form of doctrine delivered us.

And it’s in that same chapter, back in chapter Romans 6, verses 3 and 4, that he’s talking about being buried by baptism into the death of Christ. You find the believer who really believes that Jesus is the Son of God. He is willing to work the works of repentance. He’ll turn away from sin. He is willing to confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. And then he is willing to be immersed or baptized by water, but into the death of Jesus Christ, where his precious blood will wash away sins. And Romans 6, 7 and 18 describes that as an act of faith. He said, God between that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart. That is the faith involved.

Your obedience was from the heart. You obeyed that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness, being then made free from sin. Oh, how the world needs to hear this message today, that Jesus is the Christ, that he is the resurrection and the life. But to live and believe in him involves obedience. Even as Hebrews 5, verses 8 and 9 describes Jesus, though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. Being made perfect, he became the author of eternal life or salvation unto all them that obey him. Jesus Christ is your Lord only as you obey him. So as Jesus asked Martha, believed thou this? What do you really believe about the Christ?

3. Jesus Wept

What is your life really proving by by your action? Well, as Mary came to him, there were those who were in the house with her, and when they saw her get up to go hastily, they they thought that she was simply going to the grave of Lazarus, and so they followed her. In verse 33, the scripture says also weeping, which came with her, he groaned in the spirit and was troubled, and said, Where have you laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him. D verse 35, Jesus wept, unfortunately is most often remembered as being the shortest verse in the Bible. But there’s much more to it than just being the shortest verse. It is so significant, it is touching.

That the Son of God himself, when he came to the grave of this beloved one, Jesus wept. God with us, walking in the flesh, had emotions, tender affection, tender sympathy for for this loved one. We too can take uh care that Jesus loves those who are his. And Jesus has tender sympathy and mercy for those who are his. In Hebrews chapter four, verses fifteen and sixteen, the scripture says, We have not an high priest which which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. That’s the negative way of saying he can be touched. That he was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We can find help when we have need, because Jesus is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. In Hebrews chapter two, verses seventeen and eighteen, wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. That word he is able to succor literally means he is able to come to the aid of.

4. Lazarus, Come Forth

Of the blind had cause that even this man should not have died. Jesus therefore again, groaning in himself, come unto the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone, Martha. The sister of him that was dead, said unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh. But for he hath been dead four days. Jesus said unto her, said I not unto thee that if thou wouldst believe thou should see the glory of God.

Not only did he weep at the death of Lazarus as he came to the grave, but also the scoffing, the ridicule of these other Jews, which said, Look, you know, if he could open the eyes of the blind man, and we studied that back in John chapter 9, could he not have caused it, that even this man should not have died? Certainly Jesus could have kept him from dying. It healed others who were sick. He could have, but they didn’t understand the significance. Jesus groaned in his spirit. But he said, Take away the stone. When he said that, Martha said, Well, Lord, he stinketh, he’s been dead four days. There again, as I said earlier, indicated that Martha was not really anticipating Jesus raising him from the dead.

But Jesus replied to her, Didn’t I tell you that if you would believe, you would see the glory of God? You remember back when we pointed out from verse 4, when Jesus first received word that Lazarus was sick, he tarried a couple of days, and Jesus told his disciples that the sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God. In other words, Jesus saw beyond just the death itself. He knew what was to take place, and he knew that as Lazarus was raised from the grave, that God would be glorified, and that the Son of God would be glorified thereby. And so even now he says, If you would believe, thou should see the glory of God. Then in verses forty one through forty four, they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.

And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always, but because of the people which stand by, I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said unto them, loose him and let him go. God heard Jesus. And Jesus said, I knew that thou hearest me always. But his prayer, his open prayer to say, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me, he said was for the purpose of convincing those standing about.

That they knew it was not a work that Jesus did by himself. But the Father through him worked this work that he might be glorified. I said it, Jesus indicated, that thou, that they may believe that thou hast sent me, that they may believe. And you remember from John 20, verses 30 and 31, we’ve we pointed out from the very first study in the gospel of John, that all these signs were done that ye may believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might have life through his name. And so he performed this miracle that they may believe. Indeed, Lazarus come forth, and he came forth, bound with a grave clothes, but raised from the grave. It was a significant miracle.

What Jesus did was not something that could be done by modern medicine. Sometimes a day you hear people claim about a miracle. And they use that term in the sense that astounding things have occurred. Indeed, modern medicine can do astounding things. But there’s never been one who has been dead four days and body already begun to decay that has been raised from the grave. Modern medicine cannot do that kind of miracle. A Bible miracle were the kind of things that no man could do except God be with him. And as we pointed out last time in our study, these kind of miracles that were worked in the first century are no longer being done. Now that doesn’t mean that Jesus has changed. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

But just as Jesus no longer walks on the earth, there’s no longer a need for him to walk on the earth. Just like Jesus no longer performs miracles, there’s no longer a need for that. He has already been glorified and set apart as the Son of God. And the Word of God has already been fully revealed and fully confirmed, and so the age of miracles is no longer with us because there’s no longer a need for that. You can’t have any more truth without addition to this, and any addition would be false. And so all the truth has been revealed, and all the truth has been confirmed, and Jesus Christ, God is worn witness that he is God’s Son, and so the age of miracles came to an end, as first Corinthians 13 verses 9 and 10 said that it would.

5. Some Believed, and Some Did Not

But now, with Jesus Christ performing this kind of miracle, I say to you, it’s it’s different from any kind that that you might hear of today. Astounding things may happen today, but not the kind of miracle that Jesus worked. Have you known of anyone being raised from the dead? There will not be one, because those kind of miracles have ceased. But now reading further, in verses 45 through 48, we see that some of the Jews believe, and some did not. Scripture says then many of the Jews which came to Mary and had seen the things which Jesus did believed on him. But some went their ways to the Pharisees and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priest and the Pharisees a counsel and said, What do we?

For this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him. And the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. Take a look at the reaction here. There are two different ones that are described. First of all, there were those who who actually saw the miracle and they believed on Jesus. The signs which he did, they accepted. Their hearts were open. They were ready to accept him as the Christ, the Son of God. But not all people believed. Some who saw the same miracles denied that he was the Christ. Why the difference? What is the reaction in your heart? Do you believe, like those of John 11 45, the testimony that has been given by the inspired word?

Will you accept it as soul? That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? And are you willing to act upon what Christ has commanded? If he’s your Lord, he’ll do what he said because you believe. Or will yours be a reaction like these rulers? It’s something different from what you’ve always accepted. It’s something different from what you want to believe. In fact, your place and position may be changed if you had to accept the truth is taught. These rulers were bitter against Jesus. They sought his death. Not only did they seek the death of Christ, you realize they sought to put Lazarus back to death. Look at John chapter 12, and we’ll study this more in detail next time. But in John 12, verses 10 to 11, the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death.

Because that by reason of him, many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus. That’s astounding, isn’t it? That Lazarus who was raised from the grave, rather than rejoicing and being glad, accepting the miracle and testifying that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, they instead wanted to put Lazarus back to death. They wanted to stamp out anything that might lead others to believing Jesus to be the Christ. A significant point. They didn’t deny the miracle had been worked. Never did they deny that Jesus worked miracles. At one time in Matthew 12, they said he did it by the power of the devil, but they didn’t deny the miracles. They just would not believe. Their hearts were so hardened in their sin that they would not accept even the miracles that were worked.

God will not force you to believe. He will not force anyone to accept Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. 2 Peter 3 9 says the Lord is not slack concerning his promises. He is long suffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He wants all to be saved. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. There’s a time coming when the end will be here. And no longer will men be given that opportunity to believe. He won’t force you to believe. And you indeed may keep your hearts closed. There are those like in John 3, 19 through 21, who hate the light. Instead of loving the truth, they hate it. With bitterness they react to it.

Because you see, the truth exposes their sins. Truth has a way of exposing error, and there are people who won’t be religious like the religious Jews, who still will reject the truth. They preach the Bible, they preach the scriptures, but they will not openly defend what they believe. In fact, they hate those who would say anything different or would test and challenge what they believe. That’s what the religious leaders did with Christ. They reacted bitterly toward him. Jesus said in Matthew 13, verses 13 through 15, that the religious leaders of his day so prejudiced in heart, had closed their eyes, their ears were done of hearing, and their minds or hearts were waxed gross, and they would never understand. The fault was with them not, with God or with the Bible.

But let’s read quickly the ending of this chapter.

Conclusion

And this spake he not of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation. And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but went thence into a country near the wilderness into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. Jesus was put to death because they could not accept truth. How would you receive it? Will you study with us again next time? May God be with you and bless you.