Love Lesson
Lesson 27: by turtle

John 11:1-6
1  Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her
sister Martha.
2  (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her
hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3  Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
4  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.
5  Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6  When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same
place where he was.

Jesus heard some of his friend was sick. He loved Lazarus yet he did not go directly to
Him. We  needs to learn that God has the power to prevent, but sometimes He allows
things to happen for a purpose. Even things that are bad.  Reason being is so His glory
can be shown. God’s timing is often not our own.

Christ had the ability to go to Lazarus and heal him but He did not, instead He waited.
Sometimes what God could do He does not do for a greater purpose. Let us continue
with the story to see exactly what Christ has in store for the disciples, Mary, Martha, the
crowd and especially Lazarus.

John 11:7-10
7  Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8  His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest
thou thither again?
9  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.
10  But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

I get amazed at the lack of faith of the disciples often had. Christ had calmed the waves,
helped them catch fish, healed the blind and yet they ask Him if he really wants to go to
Judaea. Christ  reply is simply stating those that walk by the light of the day donot fall
but those that walk by night stumble.  He is not speaking of earthly light such as the sun
and the moon but of spiritual light. Christ is the light of the world. Darkness represents
the world which does not walk by the Spirit of God. So if you follow God you are able
to see plainly and if you walk by the world you stumble and fall.

The disciples were looking at what they could see from a world view and not a godly
view of things. They knew that the Jews in Judaea had sought to kill Jesus. Knew if they
went again most likely they would try and stone Him. They were living by the fear they
understood and not by the leading of Christ who was with them. A proper response
might or should have been Lord where ever you want to go I will go. But yet because
they seen from a world view and not God’s view they were afraid. We are no
difference a lot of times to our response to God. Are you sure you want me to do that
Lord and  what if people think I am crazy, are things we might say to God. When really
we need to be saying Lord I will do what you want me to do I will go where you want
me to go.

John 11:11-15
11  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.
12  Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13  Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of
rest in sleep.
14  Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15  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 Christ baiting them a little more, says Lazarus is asleep.  Then we really do not
need to go Lord if he is just asleep, replied one of the disciples. Still fearing Jesus would
be stoned they responded in trying to protect Him. Then Christ makes it clear, Lazarus is
dead. I am sure this got their attention. He is glad also that He is not there. There was
purpose why He was not there, so that the disciples would believe that Jesus was the
Messiah. That they would believe what he said was true. Christ own death was soon and
they need to have faith not in just what He said but that He was able to rise again.

John 11:16
16  Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go,
that we may die with him.

Poor old doubting Thomas which is what he would be called much later still did not get
it. He decided okay let us go and die too. Thinking there was no hope of life when they
went.  Christ did not try and change Thomas' mind right then. Instead he would show
Thomas and the others that Lazarus would rise from the dead.

John 11:17-23
17  Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
18  Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
19  And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their
brother.
20  Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but
Mary sat still in the house.
21  Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
22  But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
23  Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

Jesus meets Martha on the fourth day after her brother had died. There was no doubt at
this point he was dead. Jews from all around came to comfort Mary and Martha. Martha
Recognize that Jesus was able to bring her brother back to life.

A discourse between Martha and Jesus begins. Jesus make it clear that Lazarus will be
resurrected. Martha thinks she is comforting her and says yes I know when the day of
resurrection comes my brother will be alive.

John 11:24-28
24  Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last
day.
25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live:
26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
27  She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God,
which should come into the world.
28  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.

Jesus tells her He is the resurrection. Having power over death and life. Martha believes
Jesus is the Christ, Martha then goes and gets Mary her sister.

John 11:29-32
29  As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
30  Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met
him.
31  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.
32  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.

Mary came to Jesus blaming him for not being there before her brother died. She was
upset that Christ had not prevent this tragedy.

John 11:33-37
33  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with
her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
34  And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35  Jesus wept.
36  Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
37  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?

It upset Jesus to see how upset Mary was and also the Jews that were with her.  She did
not have faith like Martha that believed that Lazarus could still live. The crowd was
wondering why Christ who had healed the lame and the blind had not healed Lazarus.

John 11:38-40
38  Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a
stone lay upon it.
39  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.
40  Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou
shouldest see the glory of God?

Jesus comes to the grave and tells them to remove the stone. Martha is still at the point
of hearing and believing it is possible but yet still doubting. She quickly reminds Christ he
probably sinks because it had been four days since Lazarus had died. Yet the stone is
removed without further objection.

John 11:41-45
41  Then 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.
42  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.
43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44  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.
45  Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus
did, believed on him.

Jesus begins to pray to God the Father. Main reason for this is for the people to know
God sent Him. So many question who even sent Christ. Whether he was of God or not.
They could not grasp He is God. Christ then calls for Lazarus to come out. What a
shock to see Lazarus coming forth out of the grave. Instantly Mary no longer doubts but
believes Jesus.  And others also seeing and believed.

John 11:46-48
46  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus
had done.
47  Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we?
for this man doeth many miracles.
48  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.

There is always someone around that does not like it when something good happens.
The tattle tailers had to tell the Pharisees to see what they thought about it. They could
not believe on their own that Jesus was the Messiah.  They even after witnessing these
things lacked faith. What does it take for us to believe in God.

The Pharisees nearly had a fit. The were upset because Jesus did miracles. How come if
someone does something good there is always spectators ready to tear that good deed
apart? Pharisees were afraid of loosing their power. Was afraid of all that might happen
if this continued.

John 11:49-53
49  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto
them, Ye know nothing at all,
50  Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and
that the whole nation perish not.
51  And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that
Jesus should die for that nation;
52  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the
children of God that were scattered abroad.
53  Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Caiaphas the high priest that same year had prophesied that Jesus must die for the
people. The Pharisees hearts were harden to even the simple truth of prophesy that was
given. They though killing Jesus would solve the problem of Roman coming down and
destroying them, not ever understanding Jesus was the Messiah. The got the first part of
the prophesy and stopped. Jesus had to die. They did not look at the reason he must die.
Christ had to die to save the people, not just the Jews but all people of the world. Instead
of hearing the truth they began to plot how to kill Jesus.

John 11:54-57
54  Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a
country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his
disciples.
55  And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to
Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
56  Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the
temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
57  Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any
man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

Jesus no longer went out openly because of the threat on His life. It was not yet time but
time was drawing near for Him to die for all of mankind. Christ death would bring hope
to the world. Because He did not stay in the grave but rose again.

Are we constantly trying to find proof that Jesus did not come back from the grave or do
we take it on faith? Are we ever perceiving like the Pharisees and yet not believing. Are
we like Mary that just need her faith boosted by proof. Like Martha believing yet not
fully perceiving. Or like the disciples not grasping but ready to believe? Faith is taught to
us by God. But we must take the first step by believing. As we continue walking by faith
God increases our faith. He did this with his disciples. Constantly pushing them to
believe the impossible and to believe what He spoke was true.  Where do you stand?