John: Resurrection and Life

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The Resurrection and the Life (John 11:1-57)

This chapter describes the raising to life of Lazarus, the seventh and last of Jesus' miraculous signs that John recorded in his Gospel. It was the most powerful revelation of his true identity and showed Jesus’ authority over mankind's greatest and last enemy: death.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus were two sisters and a brother who lived together in the village of Bethany, two miles from Jerusalem. Jesus often stayed at their home as a guest (see Luke 10: 38-42). John 12: 1-11 describes how Mary anointed Jesus as an act of love and devotion.

Questions to consider:

1) What was Jesus' relationship with each member of this family (Mary, Martha and Lazarus)?

2) Why did Jesus deliberately delay when he heard that Lazarus was ill (vs4-5,15)?

3) What do you think the “hours of daylight” represent in vs9-10?

4) What can you say about Martha’s faith from what she said to Jesus (vs17-27)?

5) In vs25-26, what kind of living and dying is Jesus referring to? How do Jesus’ words affect our ideas of life and death?

6) Why is Jesus deeply moved? If he already knows that he will be raising Lazarus back to life very soon, why does he weep? (vs28-38)?

7) Why do the people who saw the same miracle respond so differently (vs45-57)?

8) Do you think miracles alone can bring people to faith in Jesus?

Notes:

v4-6 In Jesus' day, most Jews believed that the spirit left the body three days after death. Jesus delayed going until the fourth day to make this miracle seem virtually impossible. In this way, God's power and glory would be shown to the greatest extent. Although Lazarus was brought back to life this time, he had to die again. This was different from Jesus' resurrection and our future resurrection when Jesus comes again to reign.

v33-36 Jesus was deeply moved by the pain that sin and death brings. Jesus' tears not only reflected his love and compassion for the family but also his anger at sin and unbelief.

v41-42 Note that Jesus' prayer was not a request for Lazarus' resurrection, but thanksgiving to God for what he would shortly do.

v43-44 Jesus had previously raised two others Luke 7:15; Matthew 9:25, but Lazarus had been dead for four days. Now there can be absolutely no doubt about his ability to raise the dead. (see also I Corinthians 15:19).

v45-57 Miracles alone do not usually produce true and lasting faith. Jesus' enemies did not question the authenticity of his miracles. This final miracle convinced the Jewish leaders that they had to take more drastic action against Jesus. They had deliberately rejected their Messiah despite the evidence of their own eyes.

1)	What was Jesus' relationship with each member of this family (Mary, Martha and Lazarus)?
2)	Why did Jesus deliberately delay when he heard that Lazarus was ill (vs4-5,15)?
3)	What do you think the “hours of daylight” represent in vs9-10?
4)	What can you say about Martha’s faith from what she said to Jesus (vs17-27)?
5)	In vs25-26, what kind of living and dying is Jesus referring to? How do Jesus’ words affect our ideas of life and death?
6)	Why is Jesus deeply moved? If he already knows that he will be raising Lazarus back to life very soon, why does he weep? (vs28-38)?
7)	Why do the people who saw the same miracle respond so differently (vs45-57)?
8)	Do you think miracles alone can bring people to faith in Jesus?

v4-6	In Jesus' day, most Jews believed that the spirit left the body three days after death. Jesus delayed going until the fourth day to make this miracle seem virtually impossible. In this way, God's power and glory would be shown to the greatest extent. Although Lazarus was brought back to life this time, he had to die again. This was different from Jesus' resurrection and our future resurrection when Jesus comes again to reign.
v33-36	Jesus was deeply moved by the pain that sin and death brings. Jesus' tears not only reflected his love and compassion for the family but also his anger at sin and unbelief.
v41-42	Note that Jesus' prayer was not a request for Lazarus' resurrection, but thanksgiving to God for what he would shortly do.
v43-44	Jesus had previously raised two others Luke 7:15; Matthew 9:25, but Lazarus had been dead for four days. Now there can be absolutely no doubt about his ability to raise the dead. (see also I Corinthians 15:19).
v45-57	Miracles alone do not usually produce true and lasting faith. Jesus' enemies did not question the authenticity of his miracles. This final miracle convinced the Jewish leaders that they had to take more drastic action against Jesus. They had deliberately rejected their Messiah despite the evidence of their own eyes.