The Resurrection and the Life
John 11:17 begins with Jesus arriving in Bethany to find that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. When Martha learned that Jesus had arrived, she went out to meet Him; while Mary stayed at home.
Warren Wiersbe in his New Testament commentary writes that "each experience of suffering and trial ought to increase our faith." In Jesus' exchange with Martha, we see her faith increasing.
When Martha met Jesus, her first words were, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (v. 21) And while her words contained the big "IF", Martha also shows her faith in verse 22 by stating that she knew even then, that whatever Jesus asked, God would give Him. Jesus then declares to Martha that her brother would rise again (v. 23). Martha believes that Jesus is referring to the future resurrection; but Jesus meant in the present.
In verse 25, Jesus makes one of his "I am" statements. He declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." The Harvest study says, "Jesus declares that He is the source of all life and challenges Martha (and every reader of John's gospel account) to believe Him. Warren Wiersbe reminds us that "when we know Him by faith, we need not fear the shadow of death." And that "wherever He is, God's resurrection power is available now." Martha declares that she believes He is "the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
Next, Mary comes out to meet Jesus. She falls at Jesus' feet and repeats what Martha had said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." While Martha "needed to exercise her faith; Mary needed to be comforted" (Harvest study). Jesus provides for each of us just what we need at the time we need it; He is a personal Savior.
We see Jesus "was deeply moved in spirit and troubled" (v. 33). When He was taken to the tomb where Lazarus had been buried we even see that "Jesus wept" (v. 35). Warren Wiersbe writes that Jesus "has entered into all of our experiences and knows how we feel." How comforting to know we have a Savior who fully understands our grief and sorrow.
Beginning in verse 39, Jesus issues a series of commands. First Jesus says to take away the stone. Practical Martha reminds Jesus that Lazarus has been buried for four days and that there will be an odor. Jesus reminds her of His words, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?" Her faith is still being worked out. After the stone is rolled away, Jesus prays to the Father, thanking Him for hearing His prayer. Jesus then commands Lazarus to "come out!" (v.43) Lazarus emerges from the tomb still wrapped in his grave clothes. Jesus then commands that the grave clothes be removed.
I can only imagine the awe and joy that ensued following this miracle. Warren Wiersbe writes that Lazarus was raised from the dead by the power of God, and all who trust Christ have been given new life and lifted out of the graveyard of sin (see John 5:24). Lazarus was set free from the graveclothes (see Colossians 3:1) and given new liberty. You find him seated with Christ at the table (John 12:2), and all believers are 'seated with Christ' in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), enjoying spiritual food and fellowship." This miracle was a picture of the future for those who put their faith in Christ.
While many "put their faith in (Jesus)" (v. 45), others went away and told the Pharisees what Jesus had done. Even seeing a man raised from the dead was not enough to bring them to faith. "They willingly chose to oppose the one who held life and death in His hands" (Harvest Study). Warren Wiersbe writes, "if the heart will not yield to truth, then the grace of God cannot bring salvation." Salvation is a free gift, but it has to be received by faith.
The Pharisees then came together to discuss what had happened and what to do about it. They feared that many would believe in Jesus which would result in the Romans coming and taking away their temple and nation. Caiaphas speaks up and "unintentionally makes a prophecy describing the death of one man for all (vv. 49-52). In looking back, John records for his readers that Caiaphas prophesied the death of Jesus for the Jews, Gentiles and the world, gathering everyone together into the one flock Jesus described in John 10" (Harvest Study).
From this time on , the Pharisees began plotting how they could kill Jesus. Because of this, "Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jew", but withdrew to "Ephraim, where He stayed with His disciples" (v.54).
"In the remaining verses of chapter 11, we see that the time of Passover was near. The end of Jesus' public ministry had come. . . The Jews had made their decision: Jesus had to die. In doing so, they become the unwilling instruments of God's plan in which He will redeem the world through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. Jesus knows what lies ahead shortly for Him." (Harvest Study)
This chapter does indeed have significance for us today. The Harvest Study reminds us that "we need to recognize the times in which we live and know that God is still present, working out His plan and using His people to accomplish it. Wouldn't it be better to realize this so that we don't become unwilling or unwitting instruments as Caiaphas and others were? He has given us the mind of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to think and act as His representatives." Warren Wiersbe says that "John 11 reveals the deity of Jesus Christ and the utter depravity of the human heart."
May we who already know Christ as Savior seek Him in exercising our faith and being His representatives to our depraved world. May those who still willingly choose to reject the Truth, finally yield their hearts so that the grace of God may bring them salvation and the promise of eternal life.
Warren Wiersbe in his New Testament commentary writes that "each experience of suffering and trial ought to increase our faith." In Jesus' exchange with Martha, we see her faith increasing.
When Martha met Jesus, her first words were, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." (v. 21) And while her words contained the big "IF", Martha also shows her faith in verse 22 by stating that she knew even then, that whatever Jesus asked, God would give Him. Jesus then declares to Martha that her brother would rise again (v. 23). Martha believes that Jesus is referring to the future resurrection; but Jesus meant in the present.
In verse 25, Jesus makes one of his "I am" statements. He declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." The Harvest study says, "Jesus declares that He is the source of all life and challenges Martha (and every reader of John's gospel account) to believe Him. Warren Wiersbe reminds us that "when we know Him by faith, we need not fear the shadow of death." And that "wherever He is, God's resurrection power is available now." Martha declares that she believes He is "the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."
Next, Mary comes out to meet Jesus. She falls at Jesus' feet and repeats what Martha had said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." While Martha "needed to exercise her faith; Mary needed to be comforted" (Harvest study). Jesus provides for each of us just what we need at the time we need it; He is a personal Savior.
We see Jesus "was deeply moved in spirit and troubled" (v. 33). When He was taken to the tomb where Lazarus had been buried we even see that "Jesus wept" (v. 35). Warren Wiersbe writes that Jesus "has entered into all of our experiences and knows how we feel." How comforting to know we have a Savior who fully understands our grief and sorrow.
Beginning in verse 39, Jesus issues a series of commands. First Jesus says to take away the stone. Practical Martha reminds Jesus that Lazarus has been buried for four days and that there will be an odor. Jesus reminds her of His words, "Did I not tell you that if you believe, you would see the glory of God?" Her faith is still being worked out. After the stone is rolled away, Jesus prays to the Father, thanking Him for hearing His prayer. Jesus then commands Lazarus to "come out!" (v.43) Lazarus emerges from the tomb still wrapped in his grave clothes. Jesus then commands that the grave clothes be removed.
I can only imagine the awe and joy that ensued following this miracle. Warren Wiersbe writes that Lazarus was raised from the dead by the power of God, and all who trust Christ have been given new life and lifted out of the graveyard of sin (see John 5:24). Lazarus was set free from the graveclothes (see Colossians 3:1) and given new liberty. You find him seated with Christ at the table (John 12:2), and all believers are 'seated with Christ' in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6), enjoying spiritual food and fellowship." This miracle was a picture of the future for those who put their faith in Christ.
While many "put their faith in (Jesus)" (v. 45), others went away and told the Pharisees what Jesus had done. Even seeing a man raised from the dead was not enough to bring them to faith. "They willingly chose to oppose the one who held life and death in His hands" (Harvest Study). Warren Wiersbe writes, "if the heart will not yield to truth, then the grace of God cannot bring salvation." Salvation is a free gift, but it has to be received by faith.
The Pharisees then came together to discuss what had happened and what to do about it. They feared that many would believe in Jesus which would result in the Romans coming and taking away their temple and nation. Caiaphas speaks up and "unintentionally makes a prophecy describing the death of one man for all (vv. 49-52). In looking back, John records for his readers that Caiaphas prophesied the death of Jesus for the Jews, Gentiles and the world, gathering everyone together into the one flock Jesus described in John 10" (Harvest Study).
From this time on , the Pharisees began plotting how they could kill Jesus. Because of this, "Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jew", but withdrew to "Ephraim, where He stayed with His disciples" (v.54).
"In the remaining verses of chapter 11, we see that the time of Passover was near. The end of Jesus' public ministry had come. . . The Jews had made their decision: Jesus had to die. In doing so, they become the unwilling instruments of God's plan in which He will redeem the world through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. Jesus knows what lies ahead shortly for Him." (Harvest Study)
This chapter does indeed have significance for us today. The Harvest Study reminds us that "we need to recognize the times in which we live and know that God is still present, working out His plan and using His people to accomplish it. Wouldn't it be better to realize this so that we don't become unwilling or unwitting instruments as Caiaphas and others were? He has given us the mind of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to think and act as His representatives." Warren Wiersbe says that "John 11 reveals the deity of Jesus Christ and the utter depravity of the human heart."
May we who already know Christ as Savior seek Him in exercising our faith and being His representatives to our depraved world. May those who still willingly choose to reject the Truth, finally yield their hearts so that the grace of God may bring them salvation and the promise of eternal life.
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