The Resurrection and the Life   John 11:25

The theme verse emphasized that our relations with Christ must be a personal one, and that it does not matter what the rest of the world thinks.

1 Corinthians 2:9-16  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Lesson

Introduction – The circumstances which led up to the Lord’s statement “…I am the resurrection and the life…” need to be set forth in order to know the context of His words.  The sickness of Lazarus and the danger of his death prompted Martha and Mary to inform Jesus of Lazarus’ condition.

I.  The Dispatch received.  John 11:1-3

John 11:1-3  Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

  A.  The women informed Him of their brother’s condition.

  B.  The women trusted that He would do what was right.

    1.  They knew it would be dangerous for Him to return to the area.

    2.  They desired that He would come, though they did not call for

         Him.  “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

II.  The Delay in reply.  John 11:4-16

  A.  The proposal to delay.

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. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

  B.  The Purpose to delay.

John 11:7-16  Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? 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. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him. 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. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him. Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

    1.  To increase their faith.  “…to the intent that ye may believe…”

Note that Jesus knew that at the time He received the letter from the women that Lazarus was already dead.

    2.  To increase their courage. To bring Light into the dark world.  This

         would soon be their ministry and they needed courage to fulfil the

         will of God.

III.  The Disappointment revealed.  

John 11:17-37  Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 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 saith 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 her way, 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 hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?

  A.  The declaration of the sisters.  Note they said the same thing to

        Jesus as they each met with Him.

“Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died…..

….Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.”

Through their days of worry and then mourning the loss of their brother, they must have been confused by the absence of the Lord.  They may have been looking for Him to arrive throughout each day, and finally when all hope was gone, buried Lazarus with great sadness and disappointment.

  B.  The Discussion of the people.

“Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?”

The people agree with Martha and Mary, Jesus could have saved Lazarus if He had only arrived in time.

The question would follow – “If He really loved him, why did he delay in coming”?

The Lord, in His mercy on them, wept and had compassion on them because He understood the grief they were suffering, even though they misunderstood His motive and purpose!

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept.”

We have had and will have times in our lives that we do not understand the will and purpose of God.  We have desires and expectations of what we want the Lord to do in our lives, but His way is always perfect and we must be patient and seek the lesson He is teaching us”.

IV.  The Dead raised.  John 11:38-44   

  A.  The trust of Martha and Mary tested.

“Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to 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, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

  B.  The testimony unto the glory of God.

    1.  The act of obedience.

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid….”

    2.  The acknowledgement that He is the Son of God.

“…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….”

  C.  The triumph of Jesus’ power over death and the grave.

“…And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”

  D.  The truth proved.

John 11:23-27  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 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 saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Remember our Lesson Plan Outline Format –

1 John 2:15-17  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Will you, like many of them, reject the Lord in order to keep your own power or position –

John 11:46-50  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, 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. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

Or will you trust the Lord, even though you might not understand His immediate purpose, trust that He is working for your good, but even more importantly, God’s glory!

John 11:45  Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.