JOHN LESSON 31


     We will begin this lesson in John 11:1.

     V-1, "Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the
town of Mary and her sister Martha."

     Lazarus, Mary, and Martha were friends of Jesus.  Many times on
His way to and from Jerusalem, Jesus stayed with them in their home.

     V-2, "(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment,
and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)"

     We remember the story where Mary brought the expensive perfume
(that cost a years wages) and poured it on Jesus.  Judas Iscariot
complained, because it was expensive and could have been sold to give
to the poor.  Jesus said she would be remembered forever for this.

     V-3, "Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold,
he whom thou lovest is sick."

     V-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."

     Mary and Martha knew, if Jesus came, their brother would be
healed.  They sent word to Jesus immediately to come and heal Lazarus.
Lazarus has not become sick because of any sin in his life.  This
sickness is to glorify God.  This sickness of Lazarus will glorify the
Father and the Son.

     V-5, "Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus."

     These were friends who had been very faithful to Jesus.  As I
said, He stayed in their home everytime He came this way.

     V-6, "When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two
days still in the same place he was."

     This seems as if Jesus doesn't care, but He knows the outcome
before it happens.  Jesus deliberately waited until Lazarus was dead
so that the glory of the Lord could be shown in Lazarus.  Had He gone
on, He might have been tempted to heal Lazarus be fore he died.

     V-7, "Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into
Judaea again."

     You remember, the last time Jesus was in this area, the Jewish
leaders tried to take Him and stone Him.  Jesus is not afraid,
however, and tells His disciples to go with Him.  The disciples are
not for protection.  Jesus didn't need protection, but s o they might
see the glory of God.

     V-8, "His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought
to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?"

     The disciples are afraid for themselves and for Jesus.

     V-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."

     Jesus makes a point here, that He must work while it is day.  The
Lord really is saying here, that time is running out and we must work
while it is still light.  In the dark ages, there were very few saved.
Jesus is saying while the Light (Jesus) is still with you, we must
work.  Night is coming when no man can work.

     V-10, "But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because
there is no light in him."

     Jesus is saying, here, that there will come a time of spiritual
darkness when it will be difficult to work.

     V-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."

     Jesus could have gone earlier and touched Lazarus and made him
whole, and it would have been like thousands of other healings that
Jesus had done that they had gotten so used to that it had become
commonplace.  This miracle that Jesus would perform over Lazarus would
show that Jesus had power over death, that Jesus had resurrection
power.  Jesus says he sleeps meaning that Lazarus was dead.

     V-12, "Then said his disicples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do
well."

     V-13, "Howbeit Jesus spake of his death:  but they thought that
he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep."

     You see, the disciples misunderstood.  They thought Jesus was
speaking of Lazarus taking a nap.  Isn't it strange that they were not
amazed at Jesus knowing what Lazarus was doing, even though Jesus was
miles away from him?  They had seen so many miracles of Jesus that
something as small as the miracle of Jesus knowing what Lazarus was
doing miles away, had become commonplace to them.

     V-14, "Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead."

     V-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."

     They should have been astonished that Jesus knew that Lazarus was
dead.  See how complacent even the disciples had become of the
miracles, because they had seen so many.  Jesus says, here, that He
was glad that He had not been there to heal Lazarus before he died.
Perhaps, when He raises Lazarus from the dead, they will be astonished
and believe.

     V-16, "Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his
fellow-disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him."

     These disciples knew that to die would be their gain.  That life
is where the trial is.  They should have, also, known that to wish to
die before carrying out the mission God had for them to do was wrong.

     V-17, "Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the
grave four days already."

     There is a time lapse between verse 16 and 17.  When Jesus got to
where Lazarus, Mary, and Martha lived, He found that Lazarus had been
dead four days.  On the fourth day, the body begins to deteriorate.

     V-18, "Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen
furlongs off:"

     This distance here is between one and one half and two miles.
Remember, the Jews at Jerusalem had wanted to stone Jesus the last
time He was in Jerusalem.

     V-19, "And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort
them concerning their brother."

     They were well thought of in the community.  Jew is used by John
to denote those who did not accept Jesus.  It denotes the Hebrews who
were enemies of God.  We know that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were from
the upper class financially.  If nothing else tells us that, the
expensive perfume poured on Jesus by Mary cost nearly a year's wages
for a healthy man.

     V-20, "Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming,
went and met him:  but Mary sat still in the house."

     V-21, "Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been
here, my brother had not died."

     Martha knew of the great healing power of Jesus; and she knew if
Jesus had been there, Lazarus would not have died.  Martha, however,
was not aware that Jesus could raise Lazarus from the grave.  Perhaps,
Mary was a little upset, because Jesus had not come immediately when
they went for Him.

     V-22, "But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of
God, God will give it thee."

     Martha has that strong belief that can move a mountain.  She
knows in her heart that Jesus' power is unlimited.  With a prayer on
her lips and faith in her heart, she has come to Jesus for help.  She
knows the Father answers Jesus' prayers.

     V-23, "Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again."

     We see Jesus encouraging her, so that she might believe.  This
whole scene is for the glory of God.  This is to let the whole world,
then and now, know that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

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                           John 31 Questions


1.  In what town did Lazarus live?
2.  Who were his two sisters?
3.  Which of the sisters anointed Jesus with the perfume and wiped His
    feet with her hair?
4.  When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, what did He say?
5.  What was Lazarus sick for?
6.  How many days extra did Jesus stay, after He heard Lazarus was
    sick?
7.  What peril did the disciples remind the Lord of that was in
    Jerusalem?
8.  Why does a man stumble when he walks at night?
9.  In verse 11, what does Jesus mean when he says "...Lazarus
    sleepeth..."?
10. Did the disciples understand Jesus' meaning?
11. The author is suprised at them not being astonished at what?
12. When did Jesus say outright that Lazarus was dead?
13. Why did Jesus say He was glad He was not there before Lazarus
    died?
14. What was Thomas' other name?
15. What was Thomas' suggestion that they all do?
16. Why would that be wrong?
17. How long had Lazarus been in the grave when Jesus arrived?
18. Which sister came out to meet Jesus?
19. How far is Jerusalem from Bethany?
20. Who is specifically mentioned who came to mourn with Mary and
    Martha?
21. What statement did Martha make that showed she had great faith in
    Jesus?
22. What encouraging statement did Jesus make to her?

                                 Notes