Action In the Face of Death. (John 11: 38-57)

For an ad-free version of the podcast plus the opportunity to enjoy hours of exclusive content and two bonus episodes a month and also help keep the Bible Project Daily Podcast free  for listeners everywhere at;
patreon.com/JeremyMcCandless

This Podcast is Hosted at;
https://thebibleproject.buzzsprout.com

Subscribe here to receive my new church history podcast every few weeks at.
https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com

Study Notes: "Action in the Face of Death" (John 11:38-57)

Introduction: Context and Significance

Purpose: Explore the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus and its significance in the broader narrative of Jesus’ life and mission.

Focus: How this event showcases Jesus' divine power and sets the stage for His ultimate sacrifice.

Passage Breakdown: John 11:38-57

Verses 38-44: Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead:

Verses 45-46: Immediate Reactions:

Verses 47-53: The Plot to Kill Jesus:

Verses 54-57: Jesus Withdraws:

Key Themes and Lessons

Jesus' Divine Authority and Power:

Resurrection of Lazarus: A profound demonstration of Jesus’ power over life and death.

Public Prayer: Emphasizes Jesus’ connection with the Father and His divine mission.

Faith and Belief:

Consequences of Miracles:

Symbolism of Lazarus’ Resurrection:


Application and Reflection

Personal Faith and Assurance:

Reflect on Jesus’ power over death and what it means for your eternal life.

Consider how this assurance affects your daily life and interactions with others.

Living Out the Resurrection:

Embrace the new life Jesus offers by shedding old habits and living in the freedom of His resurrection.

Encourage and support others in your community to do the same, sharing testimonies of transformation.

Hope in Mourning:

Use the story of Lazarus to bring comfort to those who are grieving.

Remind them of the promise of eternal life and the reunion with loved ones who have passed away in faith.

Conclusion: Embracing the Resurrection

Jesus' Power and Promise: The resurrection of Lazarus is a testament to Jesus’ divine authority and the transformative power of faith.

Living in Hope: Hold steadfast to the promise of eternal life and share this hope with others.

Eternal Perspective: Let the assurance of resurrection shape your response to death and inspire you to live boldly for Christ.

Ask Ralph - Christian Finance
Practical Advice based in Christian Faith.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Transcript

Action In the Face of Death.  (John 11: 38-57)

Transcript.

Imagine standing in a crowded cemetery, surrounded by you friend among the silence of the gravestones. You’re all there to pay respects for you recently departed friend. when suddenly, a voice pierces the stillness: "Lazarus, come forth!" Suddenly there is a sound of movement, dust rises, and a man wrapped in burial cloths emerges from the grave, alive. 

This is not a scene from a movie—this is the astonishing reality of John 11:38-57, where Jesus performs one of His most miraculous acts. 

But this story is more than just a display of divine power; it’s the spark that ignites a series of events leading to the greatest sacrifice in history. 

Today, we will explore how the resurrection of Lazarus not only defied death but set the stage for the ultimate showdown between life and death, light and darkness. 

Join me as we uncover the truth behind this miraculous event and its pivotal role in God's redemptive plan in today’s episode of TBPDP.

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

It's interesting to note as a said yesterday that Jesus said this prayer aloud for the benefit of the people standing by, not for himself. He wanted them to understand that the miracle they were about to witness was performed by the power of God, affirming his divine mission.

Jesus called out loudly to ensure that everyone could hear him and understand that what was happening was a direct result of his prayer to God. 

The Greek text actually indicates that he shouted, emphasizing the power and authority in his command. This is signalling that this was not an ordinary event, but a profound demonstration of God's glory.

There are skeptics, like the famous atheist Bertrand Russell, who argue that miracles like this were contrived. He suggested that Mary and Martha plotted this event, and that Lazarus was not truly dead. 

A cynical perspective that some English theologians have sadly adopted ever since

However, the loud voice Jesus used was to leave no doubt about the authenticity and divine power behind the miracle.

Jesus' specific command, "Lazarus, come forth," is crucial. He called Lazarus by name to ensure that only Lazarus came out of the grave. If he had simply said, "Come forth," maybe every dead person in the vicinity might have risen. This for me also demonstrates the incredible power and individual focus of his words.

Verse 44 describes the moment Lazarus emerged: " The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go '" 

Lazarus came out of the tomb still wrapped in his burial garments, signifying that he had indeed been dead. Jesus then instructed the onlookers to remove these graveclothes, symbolizing the complete restoration of Lazarus to life.

This event profoundly impacted those who witnessed it. It wasn't just about raising Lazarus from the dead; it was a testament to Jesus' divine authority and the power of belief. It demonstrated that faith in Jesus could bring about the most miraculous transformations, even conquering death itself.

The Plot to Kill Jesus.

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 

(John 11: 45-46)

Here comes the response to this amazing event.

Verse 45 says, " Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him."

I would like to suggest that there are two resurrections in this passage. This verse tells us that there were people in the crowd who were spiritually dead, and when they saw the physical resurrection of Lazarus, they believed in Christ and experienced a spiritual resurrection from the dead. 

Jesus had just stated He is the resurrection and the life. He was the physical resurrection to Lazarus, and he is the resurrection to new life to those who believe, which is one of the great proofs in the Gospel of John. That when you believe in him and that you will have life in His name and receive the invitation to walk through the door to eternal life.

The end of the chapter takes us to the religious council and the plot to kill Jesus. 

47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.” 49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” 51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life. 54 Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. 55 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?” 57 But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him

(John 11: 47-57)

Caiaphas didn't realize the full significance of his words. John says in verses 51-52, "He spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he in fact  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."

What John is telling us at the end of this chapter is that this miracle of raising Lazarus was the event that sealed Jesus' fate in the eyes of the Jewish leaders. Humanly speaking, it was the final straw that led to their decision to put him to death. But the ultimate point of this passage is to demonstrate Jesus' deity and his power over life and death.

By resurrecting Lazarus, Jesus showed that he is the resurrection and the life.

In the face of death, what do you say? In the face of your own death or the death of a loved one, the answer is simple: Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. Without that statement, in the face of death, no matter how much wealth or intellect you possess, we are all powerless.

I told you yesterday that once as a 17-year-old I thought I was going to be killed. Since then, I have thought about what my reaction to death should be and I have to say that at this moment, instead of fearing death, I am comforted by the knowledge of Jesus Christ. 

Circumstances may pronounce my physical doom, but I know that when all is over, I will be with Jesus.

It has been my great privilege, on many occasions, to go to someone who is bereaved, put my arm around them, and share this truth: If you know Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, one day you will be reunited with your loved ones. One great thing you can say in the face of death is that Jesus is the resurrection has secured your eternal future.

I read about a poet who, after being informed by his physician that he had only a few weeks to live, said, 

(Story, lady in hospital looking at tree."

As we reflect on the story of Lazarus, let us take heart in the truth it reveals. Jesus' power over death is not just an ancient miracle; it is a living promise that extends to us today. 

In the face of our own mortality and the loss of loved ones, we can hold steadfast to the assurance that Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life.

This assurance can transform our perspective on life and death. It reminds us that our journey does not end in the grave. Just as Jesus called Lazarus out of the tomb, He calls us into a new life of faith and eternal hope. This is not merely a comforting thought but a cornerstone of our faith—a promise that we, too, will experience resurrection and eternal life through Him.

In times of grief and uncertainty, when the weight of loss feels unbearable, we can find solace in the arms of our Savior. His resurrection power is at work in us, providing strength and peace that surpasses all understanding. Jesus' victory over death means that we are never alone, and our loved ones who have gone before us are in His loving care.

Let us live boldly, knowing that our faith in Jesus secures our future. Let us share this hope with others, offering comfort and encouragement to those who mourn. We are called to be beacons of light in a world that often fears death, shining brightly with the message that life in Christ is everlasting.

As we conclude, remember this: Jesus Christ has overcome the grave. His resurrection power is alive in you and me. 

The good news that in Jesus, death is not the end but the beginning of an eternal, glorious journey. No matter how or when life ends, we have the assurance of eternal life with Him.