Imagine the grief of two sisters, Martha and Mary, as they mourn their brother Lazarus, who has died. Their pain is palpable, but little do they know, their sorrow is about to meet the astounding power of Jesus.
The Reading: John 11
World English Bible1 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus from Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister, Martha.
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2 It was that Mary who had anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother, Lazarus, was sick.
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3 The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, “Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick.”
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4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God, that God’s Son may be glorified by it.”
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5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
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6 When therefore he heard that he was sick, he stayed two days in the place where he was.
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7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let’s go into Judea again.”
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8 The disciples told him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and are you going there again?”
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9 Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours of daylight? If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble, because he sees the light of this world.
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10 But if a man walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light isn’t in him.”
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11 He said these things, and after that, he said to them, “Our friend, Lazarus, has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may awake him out of sleep.”
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12 The disciples therefore said, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”
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13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he spoke of taking rest in sleep.
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14 So Jesus said to them plainly then, “Lazarus is dead.
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15 I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe. Nevertheless, let’s go to him.”
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16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go also, that we may die with him.”
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17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already.
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18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away.
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19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother.
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20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house.
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21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.
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22 Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
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23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
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24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
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25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
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26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
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27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, he who comes into the world.”
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28 When she had said this, she went away, and called Mary, her sister, secretly, saying, “The Teacher is here, and is calling you.”
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29 When she heard this, she arose quickly, and went to him.
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30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was in the place where Martha met him.
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31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and were consoling her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.”
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32 Therefore when Mary came to where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”
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33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
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34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They told him, “Lord, come and see.”
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35 Jesus wept.
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36 The Jews therefore said, “See how much affection he had for him!”
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37 Some of them said, “Couldn’t this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have also kept this man from dying?”
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38 Jesus therefore, again groaning in himself, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
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39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.”
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40 Jesus said to her, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see God’s glory?”
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41 So they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, “Father, I thank you that you listened to me.
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42 I know that you always listen to me, but because of the multitude standing around I said this, that they may believe that you sent me.”
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43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
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44 He who was dead came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Free him, and let him go.”
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45 Therefore many of the Jews, who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did, believed in him.
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46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done.
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47 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, “What are we doing? For this man does many signs.
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48 If we leave him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
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49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all,
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50 nor do you consider that it is advantageous for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation not perish.”
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51 Now he didn’t say this of himself, but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation,
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52 and not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
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53 So from that day forward they took counsel that they might put him to death.
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54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews, but departed from there into the country near the wilderness, to a city called Ephraim. He stayed there with his disciples.
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55 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
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56 Then they sought for Jesus and spoke one with another, as they stood in the temple, “What do you think—that he isn’t coming to the feast at all?”
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57 Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had commanded that if anyone knew where he was, he should report it, that they might seize him.
What This Chapter Is Really Saying
# The Story of Lazarus
In John 11, we meet Lazarus, a man from the village of Bethany, who is gravely ill. His loving sisters, Martha and Mary, send word to Jesus, expressing their deep concern for their brother. Interestingly, Jesus responds not with urgency but with a calm assurance that this situation will bring glory to God. He delays his visit for two days, leading to confusion among his disciples.
Jesus' Return to Bethany
When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. Martha meets Jesus and expresses her faith amidst her grief, saying, "If you had been here, my brother wouldn't have died." Jesus comforts her with the promise that Lazarus will rise again. They discuss the resurrection, and Jesus reveals a profound truth: "I am the resurrection and the life." This statement not only reassures Martha but also reveals Jesus' divine authority.
Mary soon joins them, echoing her sister's sentiments. Seeing her weep, Jesus is moved, and in a poignant moment, he weeps with her. This depth of emotion shows us that even the Son of God shares in our human sorrow.
The Miracle
As they approach the tomb, Jesus instructs them to remove the stone sealing it. Despite Martha's hesitance due to the stench of death, they obey. Jesus prays to God, thanking Him for listening, then calls out, "Lazarus, come out!" To everyone's astonishment, Lazarus emerges from the tomb, alive and wrapped in burial cloths. This miracle not only demonstrates Jesus' power over death but also strengthens the faith of many witnesses.
Yet, not everyone is convinced. Some report the miracle to the Pharisees, prompting a council that ultimately leads to a plot to kill Jesus, highlighting the growing tension surrounding his ministry.
Why It Matters
# Lessons from John 11
The Power of Faith
Lazarus' story teaches us about the incredible power of faith. Martha's declaration of belief in Jesus as the Messiah amidst her grief shows that even in dire circumstances, faith can bring hope and clarity. In our lives today, we can find encouragement to trust in God's plans, especially when facing challenges.
Jesus Shares in Our Pain
The emotion displayed by Jesus when he weeps reinforces that God is not distant from our suffering. When we mourn, we are not alone; Jesus understands our pain and walks with us through it. This invitation to share our grief with Him can be comforting.
The Call to Community
Mary and Martha's experience reminds us of the importance of community in times of sorrow. They leaned on each other and their friends for comfort, which is a powerful message for us to support one another, especially in tough times. If you're seeking connection and community, consider using Sancta to find a church near you where you can share and grow in your faith.
The Promise of Resurrection
Jesus' declaration that he is the resurrection and the life is central to Christian belief. It assures us of eternal life and hope beyond our earthly experiences. This promise can transform our understanding of death and give us a profound sense of peace.
As we reflect on this chapter, let's embrace the lessons of faith, community, and the comfort of Christ during our own life challenges.
Coming Up Next: John 12
In our next episode, John 12, we'll witness a dramatic turn of events as Jesus enters Jerusalem, greeted by cheering crowds and a meaningful act of anointing. Join us on this part of the journey as we explore the significance of these moments.