Presents
Pamphlet #4493
John 11:17 ¶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.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he
shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
My
highlighted verses: John 11:25 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.John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:The dead in Christ, those having died believing in Him, are alive, and they are with the I AM. In I Thes. 4:13 the apostle Paul again explains this. Notice that he also uses the word "sleep" for "dead". It just kind of helps express the fact that Christians don't really die, do they? Just their flesh bodies1 Thes. 4:13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.Jesus will bring those who sleep, also called the "dead in Christ", meaning they died believing in Him, with Him because that's where they are, with Him! Later in verse 16 when Paul says that the "dead in Christ" shall "rise" first, that word "rise" means to "appear" as in they will "appear" in their spiritual bodies before we the living are changed into ours, as Paul shows in I Cor. 15.Christ now turns verse 25 around and says it this way to Martha:John 11:26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? The flesh body will die, but not the soul of the Christian. He gives them eternal life (Jn. 3:16) and they shall never perish.
It was taught among some of the pagan religions of that day that a person's spirit wandered about for 4 days seeking to re-enter the body which had died. But aside from that, after four days laying in the grave, bound from head to foot (vs. 44), there could be no doubt, nor was it ever disputed, that Lazarus was indeed dead, and his body was beginning to decompose and stink (vs. 39)!John 11:17
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
Here's a note on the number "15" from the book "Biblical Mathematics". The emphasis is as it appears in the text.[18] Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
"FIFTEEN is the number of REST. REST is the result of DELIVERANCE, or SALVATION. Three times in the year Israel RESTED on the FIFTEENTH day of the month." (Biblical Mathemathics, Ed. F. Vallowe, pg. 111)And so it was that deliverance and salvation was nearby, even close at hand.
There would be a crowd witness Lazarus' resurrection back to life.[19] And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
We could say some people go out to meet Jesus and some people just sit in their houses, but take notice how differently these two sisters conduct themselves under the same set of circumstances.[20] Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
If you remember back in verse 3, Martha and her sister Mary had sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was deathly ill, and yet He purposely delayed His coming. So you can be sure this was on her mind when she said, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died". But she went to Christ anyway and did not sit around the house sulking or stewing over it. She was a woman of faith.[21] Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Even so, she was glad He was now here, and expressed her faith in Him and although she was somewhat saddened that things didn't work out like she'd have liked them to, she trusted His decision. Of course Jesus knew what was going on in her mind and He consoled her and also taught her, and us, at the same time!John 11:22
But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
She knew the teaching of Jesus concerning the resurrection but she had no idea what was about to happen.John 11:23
Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
The context of these next two verses emphasizes the point of what is about to take place.[24] Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
The dead in Christ, those having died believing in Him, are alive, and they are with the I AM. In I Thes. 4:13 the apostle Paul again explains this. Notice that he also uses the word "sleep" for "dead". It just kind of helps express the fact that Christians don't really die, do they? Just their flesh bodies.John 11:25
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Jesus will bring those who sleep, also called the "dead in Christ", meaning they died believing in Him, with Him because that's where they are, with Him! Later in verse 16 when Paul says that the "dead in Christ" shall "rise" first, that word "rise" means to "appear" as in they will "appear" in their spiritual bodies before we the living are changed into ours, as Paul shows in I Cor. 15.1 Thes. 4:13
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Christ now turns verse 25 around and says it this way to Martha:
The flesh body will die, but not the soul of the Christian. He gives them eternal life (Jn. 3:16) and they shall never perish.John 11:26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
She says she believes Him, but just wait until she sees her brother come forth out of the grave![27] She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Mary did come as soon as Jesus called her, but remember she did not go when she heard He was coming. Based on verse 31 which says that the Jews were with her in the house "comforting her", and when she left they said she's probably going to the grave to weep, i.e. to continue to weep, I suspect she was busy having a big "Pity Party".John 11:28
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.[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.
See what I mean? She's probably crying her eyes out at His feet, because unlike her sister, this is all she says, or should we say "whines" about. We have already seen how Christ responded to Martha when she came to 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.
... Just wait until the next study and you see how the Messiah responds this time!
(By the way, have you ever heard a horse snort in anger?)
Here's the scene:
Lazarus has now been dead for four days and Jesus has come close to town where Martha came out to meet Him. Jesus told Martha that He was the Resurrection and the Life and anyone who believed in Him, though they were dead [which Lazarus was], yet shall live... hint, hint. She then told Jesus that she "believed" that He was the Messiah, the Son of God! Well, Martha then went back to the house and summoned her sister Mary who was busy feeling sorry for herself and wallowing in the consolation of the Jews mourning with her.
So Mary has now come out to meet Jesus and is now at the feet of the Living Word of God, sniveling and whining about how her brother's death could have been avoided had only Jesus come sooner!
Add to this whole depressing scene the entourage of weeping and wailing Jews, who had followed Mary, standing around with their long, sad faces, and then maybe you'll understand the next verse.
The word "groaned" in the Greek is embrimaomai which means "to snort as a horse does, from fear or anger; hence, to feel strong emotion, be indignant, &c." (see note in Companion Bible).John 11:33
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
Jesus Christ was indeed indignant at the pitiful sight of such unbelief, not to mention the fact that "Death", not Life, is consuming the thoughts and minds of all those around Him, i.e. having victory over them, when the very Resurrection and the Life Himself is standing right there in the midst of them. Yes, it was very troubling to Him.
Of course Jesus knew where Lazarus was but He wanted them to lead Him there, so that they would all be there, present as witnesses when He raised Lazarus! So they all went to the cave where Lazarus laid.[34] And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Note for Bible Trivia fans: This is the shortest verse in the Bible.[35] Jesus wept.
Now, don't be as ill informed as the folks in the next verse (vs. 36)! They believed Jesus was weeping because He was as mournful for Lazarus' death as they were! WRONG! Why would He be sorrowful for Lazarus' death when He knew full well He was going to resurrect him? Did we not read that He was happy for His disciples that He wasn't there when Lazarus died, that He knew their faith would be increased by the miracles He was about to perform? Yes we did (vs. 15)!
Who then was Jesus weeping for? He was weeping for the unbelievers. How sad it is that we must endure this flesh age because of what "death" has brought into this world. I speak of that one who is death:
Jesus Christ came into this world to destroy death, i.e. Satan, and He shall have that victory over death even right here at the tomb of Lazarus!Hebrews 2:14
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Of course He loved Lazarus, but as we have seen, that is not why He wept.John 11:36
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
This will cause another "groan" by He who is saddened by the unbelief surrounding 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?
This is the same Martha who just told Jesus that she believed He was the Son of God! Hello! And she is QUESTIONING the Son of God's decision in instructing them to take away the stone! Well, that really stinks, doesn't it?. But Jesus is gentle with her and reminds her of her belief.[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.
Without further argument they take away the stone.John 11:40
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
The communication and agreement as to what was transpiring had already taken place between the Son and the Father. Jesus is thanking His Father out loud for the benefit of those unbelievers then, and even now.[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.
Do you remember when Jesus walked on the water and entered the ship with the disciples and they were all instantaneously transported to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, including the ship? Do you remember how Jesus just disappeared when the Pharisees tried to take Him? Well, read this next verse very carefully.[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.
John 11:44
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. There is no way that Lazarus "walked out of that tomb"! He was bound from head to foot! Couldn't see anyway for his face was covered!
"Do you mean he floated out
of that cave?" Let there be no doubt Lazarus wasn't just hiding in the
cave and came strolling out on queue from Jesus! Yes, he came forth by
the POWER of the Holy Spirit of God! What an awesome sight that must have
been!
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
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