We will study John eleven on the third level to get a more in-depth understanding of what Christ was trying to teach His disciples from the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. In the Greek, "Lazarus" means "Whom God helps", and in the Hebrew as "Eleazar". In the old Testament Eleazar was the third son of Aaron. Aaron had two older sons that were priests that were killed when they partook of strange fire, as they were tending the altar of God. These two priests were lazy and were running late, so they took of the fire from their home to light their lamps, then they ran up to the altar of God, rather then lighting those lamps from the altar of God as required by God.

The flame from the altar of God was to be eternal fire. They used a strange fire, which is the equivalent of a priest using strange doctrine. There were no chapters and verses when this gospel was written, and the full lesson fragmented to the point of missing the full understanding of Jesus lesson. The healing of the blind man, and Jesus walking on Solomon's porch are all part of the same lesson. Jesus is giving a lesson on how the priesthood would deteriorate over a period of time with the Nethinim taking over. Christ is going to show us that through Him, being the type of Eleazar the third priest son of Aaron who was true and loyal to God, He would revive the priesthood.

The priesthood at this time was spiritually dead, just as Lazarus was, and the two older sons of Aaron in the physical. The Nethinims had changed the priesthood and entered into the Temple, duties that were set aside for only the Levitical priests, the offspring of Aaron. Thus by their controlling the altar of God and the teachings to the people, it made the priesthood dead. We saw what was important to these Kenite priests, their traditions and their merchandising, and anyone that would interfere with those traditions and the money bag they sought to kill. The mind of their priesthood was the mind of a murderer, because they were of their father Cain, the son of Satan from the beginning.

The lesson in raising Lazarus from the dead and stinking, was to give him new life; to show us how Christ would bring new life to the priesthood. You must understand these facts, or you will miss what Christ is teaching in this chapter.

John 11:1 "Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha."

Again, the name "Lazarus" means "Whom God helps"; while "Bethany" has a double meaning, either "the house of misery", or the "house of dates".

John 11:2 "(It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)"

Prior to Jesus Christ's death on the cross, this anointing of Jesus by Mary the sister of Lazarus, would be the only anointing that Christ would receive in those final days. Jesus had returned to the Jordan river where His ministry had begun. Jesus will now bring to life the true priesthood, which is to be the priesthood of Christ. Paul wrote in Hebrews 1:1; "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;"

There are both good shepherds and bad shepherds, but there is only one True Shepherd, and He is Jesus Christ. He is the Anointed One of God, that will bring the priesthood to life. We should remember that this is what this chapter is about, the bringing back to life the priesthood; and in that light, Lazarus will be brought back to life.

John 11:3 "Therefore his sister sent unto Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick."

Martha went from Bethany to the Jordan river where Jesus was, and told Him that Lazarus was sick.

John 11:4 "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."

Though Lazarus will die, Jesus is telling Martha that this sickness is not to cause Lazarus to be taken from them, but the sickness has come for the glory of God. That through this miracle that the Son of God would perform, the Son of God would be glorified by it. No one had ever been raised from the dead after they had been dead four days. The body would even be decomposing, and putrefy by that time. There would be no way that anyone could accuse Christ of putting on a side show, or pulling a trick on the people by this miracle.

It is through this miracle of bringing Lazarus [Eleazar in the Hebrew] to life that Jesus would show Lazarus as well as Himself resurrected and doing fine. It would be Christ that would bring the Levitical priesthood back into being.

John 11:5 "(Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.)"

John 11:6 "When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was."

Lazarus is dying and Jesus Christ is not in any hurry. By this time Lazarus was probably already dead, because the purpose of the sickness and death in the first place was to Glorify God, and His Son through it. Jesus remained an additional two days after Martha gave Him the message of Lazarus' sickness.

John 11:7 "Then after that saith He to His disciples, "Let us go into Judaea again."

We saw from the tenth chapter that when Jesus left Judaea, the religious leaders were about to murder Jesus with stones. Now Jesus is going right back into Judaea.

John 11:8 "His disciples say unto Him, "Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee; and goest Thou thither again?"

Jesus' disciples are asking Him, Are you going down there again, you know they tried to stone you when we left the last time?

John 11:9 "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."

It is important that we understand this verse. He that walks in Christ, walks in the light, and he that walks without Christ walks out of that light. Jesus is saying that as long as He is the light, you don't have to worry about the stones in the path. The power and glory of God will be brought forth. What is done for the glory of God, will be done and there is no force that can prevent it from coming to pass.

John 11:10 "But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him."

He that walks without Christ has no light. Walk in Christ and He will take care of you, and see you through the hard times.

John 11:11 "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."

Though Jesus is referring to Lazarus being raised from the dead, His disciples think Lazarus is sick, and resting real good. They are still unaware of what Jesus will do, to glorify God, and through it, glorify Himself as the Son of God.

John 11:12 "Then said His disciples, "Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well."

These disciples are still thinking in the physical sense, they think the sleep and rest will do Lazarus well.

John 11:13 "(Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that He had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.)"

Many times the priesthood seems to be asleep, and in a stupor concerning God's Word. Many churches seem dead in their teaching, and teach a God of the dead, rather then a God of the living. Teaching any part of souls sleeping in the grave is contrary to Christianity, and is contrary to God's Word. Those churches that teach such a thing are nothing but death houses. God is not a God of the dead, but the living. To be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. Ecclesiastes 12:7 "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God Who Gave it."

It appears that the priesthood in many of our 21st. century churches has digressed to the state to where it was before Christ resurrected it; for the common teaching today in the minds of many Christians is that ones bones lie in the grave, until a so-called rapture, when Christ and his angels will snatch that dead soul from the grave and give it new life at His coming. That is what was taught by the religious leaders of Jesus day, the same ones that plotted to kill Him.

The bones will never rise again, because the soul and spirit is already with the Father that created it. The soul and spirit left the instant the physical body died. This is the difference between your walking in the light, and walking in darkness. Those walking in darkness believe in soul sleep.

John 11:14 "Then said Jesus unto them plainly, "Lazarus is dead."

The disciples just did not get it when Jesus was talking about Lazarus sleeping, so Jesus spelled it out for them, "Lazarus has died, he is dead."

John 11:15 "And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him."

This is a strong statement, for if Jesus was there and touched Lazarus, he would have been healed, but then the lesson that Jesus would be teaching would not be given. The reason was that Jesus wanted His disciples to believe in Him more strongly. In the Greek the word for "believe" is the verb "Pisteuo"; and it means to have strong the faith that you would hang your entire life on. This raising of Lazarus from the dead would show once and for all that Jesus was the Son of God, and all power from God was given to Him.

After telling His disciples the whole situation, and they know now that Jesus was going to raise a man from the dead, Jesus said, "Let us go unto him".

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

The last time that Jesus and His disciples were in Judaea they were almost stoned, and Thomas is telling the rest of the disciples; "He is going, let us go also that we may die with Him." The religious leaders had plotted to stone Jesus for what they considered blasphemy, and I am sure that they were on the lookout for Jesus the next time He entered their country. This is old doubting Thomas that is speaking up, and Christ has just told them they were going right back where the trouble was, to raise a dead man from the grave. Thomas needed some demonstrations of the power of God, through Jesus Christ. Thomas is thinking in the negative, and on the run already.

There are many today that think that when they are delivered up to witness before the Antichrist, they shall die. Yes the two witness shall die when Satan, the Antichrist strikes them, but God will protect His elect. God is the God of the living, and the Holy Spirit Himself will protect those walking in the light. Though the light is for twelve hours of the day, those in the light, the first fruits of the Lord receive double portion, and the twelve hours is extended to twenty four hours. God's light will protect you every hour of the day.

John 11:17 "Then when Jesus came, He found that he had lain in the grave four days already."

By tradition, the religious leaders taught that the soul walked around on the earth for three days looking for the body, therefore Jesus waited four days, so even by there traditions, the body is dead, and the soul has left. This is the reason that there had to be four days, or their traditions would had been strengthened. Lazarath was dead officially, because the three days had passed.

John 11:18 "(Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:)"

Bethany was just less then two miles from Jerusalem.

John 11:19 "And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother."

This is a Jewish custom of tradition that still holds to this day. The reason for the comforting of the loved ones, was their traditional belief and the thought of the soul of the loved one laying out there in the hole in the ground. It is called "soul sleep". This is pagan in origin, for God never taught any such thing. God's Word teaches us that for the soul to be absent from the body, it is present with the Lord, in heaven; whether saved or unsaved. In heaven there is the separation of the souls, and a great insurmountable gulf between them.

Here again we have the traditions of the Jews entering in to comfort Martha and Mary. There will even be a few Kenites scattered amongst those giving comfort. For the term Jews here is in reference to all peoples livings within the boundaries of Judaea, not just the people of the tribe of Judah.

John 11:20 "Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him: but Mary sat still in the house."

The so-called scholars like to use this to show that Mary was very slow in understanding, and movement; but remember that Mary loved her brother very much, and he was dead. Mary was hurting deeply for her brother who was gone from her.

John 11:21 "Then said Martha unto Jesus, "Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."

Martha knew that Jesus could have healed her brother before he died, she had the faith, and witnessed it from the past. She did not know that Jesus Christ deliberately held back. Remember He said, I held back for your sake, the sake of those that disciplined themselves under Him. Jesus is going to demonstrate His authority and power even over the dead. Satan brought death into the world, and Christ will take it away.

John 11:22 "But I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee."

This statement by Martha was faith, and she had no room for doubt. She could not see nor understand yet what Jesus was about to do. There are still a lot of Christians that believe today, just as Martha did, before Christ corrected her here. They still go by traditions rather then what Christ is teaching.

John 11:23 "Jesus saith unto her, "Thy brother shall rise again."

Jesus told her outright what He was about to do, and she related it to the traditions of the Jews. Do they teach that in your church, some day in the off future those souls with their spirits will come alive? Shame on you if you claim the name of Christ and still believe this pagan idea.

John 11:24 "Martha saith unto Him, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

This is Martha spouting off the Kenite tradition it sounds a lot like the rapture doctrine. Looking for a resurrection of the dead at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, is not of God. When you die, your soul goes immediately to the Father Who made it, and gave it life. The soul cannot die, except it be judged to death at the great white throne judgment, and only then after the Millennium age, is the time of destruction in hell fire.

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 is correcting Martha's statement of tradition. "I am" is the sacred name of God. Christ is life and gives eternal life; Satan is death and brings destruction. Jesus is the "Tree of Life". Lazarus is dead and his old body is stinking, and Christ is saying, "though he is dead, yet shall he live." Jesus is still stalling and waiting for time to pass, waiting on traditions of the Jews and the three day period is well past, and Lazarus is truly accepted as dead.

You know how much Martha loved Jesus, for she was the one that anointed Jesus feet with fine ointment, and dried Jesus feet with her hair. She believed Jesus to be the true Christ. Yet these traditions still held a control over her thought. Don't blame Martha, for most people that call themselves Christians today believe the same old customs and traditions of the Kenites.

John 11:26 "And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believest thou this?

If you claim the name of Christ and call yourself a Christian, How do you answer the question that Jesus asked Martha here? Do you believe that whosoever that lives in this physical life, and believeth in Christ, their soul shall never die? That means that regardless what happens to this flesh body, their soul continues with life exactly as it is while in the flesh. Or are you one that thinks that the soul quits also until a time in the distant future?

What you would be saying then is that if you have Christ in you and you die, then Christ died within you. This whole idea is pagan in origin, and was what the Kenite religious traditional thought was. Yet this is what is taught in most Churches as they peddle their so-called rapture doctrine.

Ecclesiastes the ninth chapter teaches that once the dead body dies and goes into the ground, nobody remembers the flesh, it is gone, it cannot learn, and it will never be brought up to life again. Why? Because that is where this flesh, which is made of the dust of the ground goes. Then as we read in Ecclesiastes 12 we see that the spirit which is the intellect of the soul, goes instantly at death to be with the Father. When the silver cord parts, that joins together the physical body with its spiritual soul, that spirit and soul is not on the earth for the rest of this earth age.

Next time you attend a funeral, pay respects to the person, but that carcass is empty of all life, and on it's way to decay back to the dust of the earth. If he is a sinner, he has returned to the Father for judgment at the 'Great White Throne" after the Millinnium; And if he has repented of his sins, and has Christ in his heart, he will go for rewards and be granted eternal life at Christ's return. Many Christians know John 3:16 by heart; "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish, but have eternal life."

To "perish" is to die, and be destroyed. It is to end all form of life, yet in their traditional rapture doctrine, that is exactly what is taught to be happening. The soul ceases to exist for the period of time through this flesh age. They denounce the very thing they hold dear. They believe those Kenite traditions.

Jesus claimed Himself to be eternal life, without end, and all those in Christ will have this life eternal. Then Jesus asked Martha, "Do you believe this?"

John 11:27 "She saith unto Him, "Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, Which should come into the world."

Martha is saying that she knows that Jesus Christ is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the very Son of God that was prophesied to come into the world.

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."

Jesus wanted the entire crowd, both Martha and Mary, as well as all those Jews that were mourning there with Mary over the death of Lazarus, to see what He was about to do.

John 11:29 "As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto Him."

John 11:30 "Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him."

Remember back in verses 19, and 20, where Martha came out to meet Jesus outside of town. Well after the meeting Jesus stayed there with His disciples, and sent Martha to get Mary and the others with her.

John 11:31 "The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and sent out, followed her, saying, "She goeth unto the grave to weep there."

When these Jews saw Martha come in and say something to Mary, and they both jumped up and left. These Jews saw the two leave in haste, and figured Mary went to the grave to weep more. They wanted to stay with Mary, for that was the custom of the mourners and they followed Mary and Martha to the grave site of Lazarus. These people combined, with the disciples were the witnesses that Christ did have power over death, and that He truly was the Savior of the living, and not of the dead.

My fellow Christian, you need to come out of the nonsense that one lays in the grave after their death. This traditional thought has been allowed to sink into the minds of many Christians.

John 11:32 "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."

There is a lot of "if's" here.

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,"

Let's get the full understanding here of these words "groaned in the spirit". We have seen from God's Word in Ecclesiastes nine and twelve that when you die, you do not stay in the hole in the ground. But here, even those that call themselves of Christ, and carrying on just as the heathen do, cry and beating on themselves. They Mary and Martha have just told Christ that He is the Savior of the world, the Messiah, and yet they carry on like Jesus is just another man.

This word "groaned" in the Greek is # 1690 in Strong's Greek dictionary, and means"Embrimaomai, to snort with anger, like a horse." It is done both in anger, and in fear. Jesus was not happy about these friends that called themselves of Christ and gave lip service to Him. These friends though dedicated to Him, simply would not listen to the Words that God gave to the prophets, or what He was telling them. They were all rapped up in tradition. They sat there giving lip service, quoting His word, yet by their actions, their minds did not believe it one bit. Just like today, Christians love to quote John 3:16, yet they place there full mind and hope on the traditions of men.

This shows all the more why Christ must resurrect the real priesthood, and the Eleazar; Why Lazarus must be resurrected. In this will the priesthood get back to the true Word of God, and away from senseless traditions. My fellow Christian it is time to get back to where the dead are, and away from the trot that is accepted as gospel.

John 11:34 "And said, "Where have ye laid him?" They said unto Him, "Lord, come and see."

Christ knew where Lazarus was, and He is asking where they had placed the body.

John 11:35 "Jesus wept."

Though this is a short verse, it tells so much. Jesus would soon give His life for the sins of the world, and as He stood there and witnessed how the pagan traditions had so taken over the minds of His followers. These followers of His would accept tradition and pagan doctrine over the beautiful promises that are given in His holy Word. They were blind to the Word, and chased after Kenite dogma, rather then trust in His Word. This is why "Jesus wept."

God has given us the truths in His Word, and yet even today His own, calling themselves Christians would do the same as these mourners did, as they mourned in ignorance over an empty grave, void of the soul of Lazarus.

John 11:36 "Then said the Jews, "Behold how He loved him!"

These Jews saw Jesus crying and snorting in anger, and they thought He cried because of the death of Lazarus. This was suppose to be a joyous occasion, for the Glory of God was to be shown, yet it was so disheartening to see how deep in tradition His friends had sunk.

John 11:37 "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?"

These Jews are now starting to put it all together, for they had seen the blind man come to full sight, and now here it is four days later, and they are starting to blame Christ, rather then be prepared for what was about to happen. The Jews and those tied to tradition will miss the whole lesson.

John 11:38 "Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it."

This made Jesus all the more angry, as He heard the nonsense of tradition being uttered. Many teach that Jesus was sad over the death of His friend, and this is missing the entire point. Remember He delayed in coming, because the three days of the tradition had to be exceeded, and He knew exactly what would take place, and that Lazarus would be raised from the dead, and God would be glorified. That is something to be joyful over. Yet seeing the spiritual condition of those calling themselves His followers, and the depth in tradition that they had fallen, that is what brought the tears and anger.

John 11:39 "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."

How would you feel if you were the Son of God and had the ability to raise the dead, and then here those that are supposed to be close to you, spout out such trot? This girl, Martha worshipped Jesus and listened to every word Jesus said, yet after Jesus has just explained to her what He would do, she would make a statement like this. Don't think now of how humans would feel, but for a change, think of how it made our Lord and Savior feel.

They would not listen, yet they needed the priesthood resurrected to make these souls break from those traditions around them. Jesus was trying to place discipline into Christianity, whereby people would start listening to the truth. Tradition said Lazarus stunk and that he would stay there because the three days were up, and it was in the fourth day.

John 11:40 "Jesus saith unto her, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"

Jesus turned to Martha and said directly to her, "Didn't I tell you that if you would believe, you would see the Glory of God?" The Glory of God is life; it is making the dead come to life. The glory of death is Satan, and people continue to press to tie death to life. What is sad is that it is only at death that people ever want to think of God's glory. God is going to get some glory because of this death, and instead of being happy in the glory of God, they sit mulling in the pits of death and tradition.

John 11:41 "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."

Though Jesus had told them, only the Father had heard Christ, as He was about to perform a miracle that had never ever been preformed. This pleased Jesus that at least the Father could understand.

John 11:42 "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."

Jesus is telling the Father this so that all those that stood by in disbelief may come to believe that the Father had sent Him. The disciples were there, Martha and Mary were there with all the Jews that had come to mourn. In time they will understand that the true priesthood is reestablished on earth again when Lazarus, by the same name as Eleazar, would come to life. They would witness and see the power that the Father has given to the Son, and believe on His name.

John 11:43 "And when He thus had spoken, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth."

There were two miracles that happened here, don't miss either of them.

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. And Jesus said, Loose him, and let him go."

Lazarus was bound like a mummy and in the style that the dead were wrapped, they simply cannot walk. Jesus called and not only did the Lazarus come to life and come forth, but the Spirit of God brought him forth, for Lazarus could not have walked. He did not see where he was going because his face was covered and bound with a napkin.

The real priesthood was loosed, and freed, for all those that have the eyes to see and ears to hear the word of God. This is not a parable, or any story, it is a fact to point out to us that in Christ there is no death, there is no sting of the grave, but victory that will never end. It is eternal life that doesn't look for any rapture, or soul sleep of the dead.

John 11:45 "Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him."

These Jews are those that came when Lazarus was dead, to comfort the family. They were friends of the family, and there was no doubt in the fact that Christ raised him from the dead. Some of these were of Judah, and some were Kenites.

John 11:46 "But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done."

No doubt there were temple spies that witnessed this major miracle, and there was no way on earth to explain away this rising of Lazarus. This miracle attacked the very foundation of their tradition, concerning the dead. If this was allowed to stand, then the other traditions would be called into question also. This was a shock to the religious leaders. Now watch the movement of the Holy Spirit as He moves right into the nest of the enemy.

John 11:47 "Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, "What do we? for this man doeth many miracles."

They were asking, How are we going to stop this man from doing these many miracles? These miracles were taking away the attendance in the temple, and it was starting to really hit the money bag. All services without the presence of the Holy Spirit of God are dead, for only through the Spirit can there be life.

John 11:48 "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."

They are saying that, if we allow Jesus to continue, then the Romans, as well as our own people will follow Him. Notice here; "and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation." These Kenites would loose their rights to control the temple of God, and the nation of Israel that God called His own people. The Kenites would lose their stronghold on the law, and the money that they could make from the traditional merchandising they made from it.

Editor's note: Seems very similar to the things most of the Christian churches of this 21st. century worry about! Money, in the felt lined plate, that they can make from the traditional merchandising they sell. 

Is it starting to sink in what is at stake here. Their easy life style is made from the system of distortions that they have made of God's Word, and the deceiving of God's people believing that they are the ones that God set aside. Their hidden secrets are coming out, and all the people, as well as Rome will see them for the fraud that they are.

They were looking also to the fact that the people were going to make Christ their physical king on earth, and when Jesus was made a king, the Romans would come down on them, for only Rome could give the authority. You can see how little they understood of the prophets of the Old Testament, and the very Words that Jesus spoke of. Christ did not come as a king in the first advent, but His second coming will be as the King of kings.

John 11:49 "And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, "Ye know nothing at all,"

Remember the name "Caiaphas" means "misery", or "depression". And the Chief priest was not appointed by God, but by the king appointed to rule over Jerusalem. It was a political position.

John 11:50 "Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not."

This statement is true and fact, however as it is spoken, Caiaphas did not intend that it be used as God intended it. Caiaphas is plotting to murder Jesus, for the sake of the protection of their tradition. Do you see how Spirit of God is moving on this evil council to make their evil deed happen for the glory of God. Though Caiaphas did not intend to say it, he is stating the Jesus Christ is the Savior of the nation and the world.

John 11:51 "And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;"

In other words, God caused Caiaphas the high preast to say these words. There were many other things that Caiaphas would say to fulfill scripture, even at the cross, and the more evil his mind went, the more prophesies became fulfilled one by one, until each had come to pass. He spoke and words came forth to complete prophecy, and in the end, even Caiaphas marveled at the fulfillment that had taken place. God is in control of prophecy, and by it we can come to understand that in Lazarus' resurrection, the whole priesthood came to life, and from it the whole world was changed.

The priesthood still lives today, even though the times and events might suggest different. There is another time coming soon when the elect, the real priesthood will come forth, and the very Spirit of the Living God will speak through each one of His sealed elect. There is not a force on earth that can stop that movement of the Spirit of God..

John 11:52 "And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad."

Even Caiaphus was aware of the other ten tribes that had been scattered abroad, and he was afraid that Jesus would draw all of them back together under one nation. It was written that it would take place, but we know it will not happen until after the second coming of Christ

John 11:53 "Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death."

Jesus preformed a miracle of bringing a man back to life, and now the religious leaders want to kill him for it. Jesus is taking away their traditions, and with it, their control of the people. The important thing here is that when He raised the priesthood, He was in control, and stronger then all the forces of Satan. Caiaphas was doing the work of and for Satan, and God used that to fulfill His overall plan. God will never leave you alone if you stay in His Word.

John 11:54 "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."

Ephraim was the largest of the ten tribes that were scattered by 722 B.C., and today called "caucasians" they are the British peoples. The tribe of Ephraim was not here, but it was in the land of Ephraim that Jesus and His disciples would reside in until the appointed time.

John 11:55 "And the Jews Passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves."

It will be very shortly when Jesus and His disciples will make the last trip to Jerusalem, and there Jesus would become the Passover Lamb for all time.

John 11:56 "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?"

Can't you see the talk and rumors being spread wildly about whether Jesus would come to the feast. By this time the murder plot was well known in Jerusalem, for the Kenite traditions had been hit hard by Jesus, and His group of followers were growing each day. Jesus had now displayed His power and authority from God, and all the claims that He made had come true.

John 11:57 "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."

The order is out and posted. Jesus was a wanted man, and the religious Kenite Nethinim leaders were going to destroy Him. The warning went out to all that lived and came to the city, that if they knew where Jesus was, it was the law to turn Him in. Many things are done in the name of Religion and under the Law, and even the wars in these end times are done for a religious cause. Just by these religious leaders making this statement; that is all it took to make it right in the minds of these traditionalist.

We have a Savior and He is not a Savior of the dead, but of the living. When Christ lives in you, that life that He brings is eternal, and does not end at the grave. With the love of Christ comes the protection in this life, as well as the next age, and that life is our hope and our salvation. We are in a spiritual battle, and the only way to fight in that battle is with spiritual armor, and God's Word is our armor. We put on our armor when we study to know the truths of His Word.

American Wisdom Series Editor's Note: Now that we've completed this 2015 study of the  "BOOK OF JOHN chapter 11" we have placed a earlier 2002 John chapter 11 study to follow for your comparison. I don't believe you will find much difference in the general opinion of these 2 authors, but to read another person's perspective of events that took place may prove helpful in your understanding of the gospel of John.

Now, don't be as ill informed as the folks in (John 11:36)! They believed Jesus was weeping because He was as mournful for Lazarus' death as they were! WRONG!

Jesus is about to perform the 7th miracle recorded in this Gospel of John, and perhaps the most impressive as flesh man would see it. He is going to literally raise a man who has DIED and lain in the grave 4 days! Yet within this miracle is a spiritual "sign" for those who know His voice, i.e. are familiar with His Word.

To understand it though, we must first go back to the early Levitical Priesthood and learn one of the most important lessons in God's Word. And that is what happens when "man's fire", fire not authorized from God, i.e. the Traditions of Men are brought before the altar of God, even into His sanctuary.

Aaron, the brother of Moses, and through whom the Levitical priest line descended, had four priestly sons, and here is the account of what happened when the two eldest decided to do things their own way:

Leviticus 10:1-2
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

All you really need know in order to understand what is happening here is the definition of "Nadab". In Strong's Concordance the number is #5070 and it means "liberal".

You see, the "fire" was supposed to be taken from brazen altar in the outer court, on which the atonement was made, for only those whose sins are atoned for can worship. But Nadab and Abihu brought in STRANGE FIRE before the LORD, i.e. they kindled THEIR OWN fire and brought it before God! Let's see how our Father likes liberal priests who bring in their own doctrines!

[2] And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

What do we learn from this event? NEVER teach or bring before God, i.e. to His house of worship, any "strange fire" [doctrine] other than from the Word of God, because if you do, just as the physical death of these two priests illustrates, in a PICTURE everyone can see, your soul will surely perish by fire, in the lake of fire. It is a very, very serious matter! So we should be very concerned about what our pastors teach, for their sakes and our own.

And so Eleazar, Lazarus in Greek, would become the high priest, replacing his father Aaron.

Numbers 20:25
Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor:

[26] And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.

In the last chapters we studied the conversations between Jesus and the corrupt priesthood which was now controlled by Judas goats and not sheep from His sheepfold, i.e. true Israelites. In fact, the one who claimed to be the High Priest, in the line of Eleazar [Lazarus], whose name was Caiaphas, which means depression and certainly describes the condition of that position, was appointed by the Roman Governor, not by God!

Now, do you remember what Jesus said back in John 2:19 regarding a "sign" and the Temple? John 2:19 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Then two verses later He said ..."He spake of the temple of his body." In other words, Jesus replaced the "physical temple" with Himself at the resurrection. The temple is therefore the body of Christ!

The physical, re-built stone temple, which was a sad sight for those who had seen the glory of Solomon's Temple, was missing the one most important element, GOD!

"Also said to have been missing in the second Temple was the "Ark", the "Urim and Thummin", the "Fire from Heaven", the "Divine Presence" or "Cloud of Glory" and the "spirit of prophecy" and "power of miracles." ("King Solomon's Temple", E. Raymond Capt, pg. 19)

So Jesus REPLACED the Temple in His resurrection, and He is going to REPLACE the Levitical priesthood in His resurrection ALSO, for it too was "deader" than a doorknob. (Make that a doorknob of the dead temple.) That is what this resurrection of Eleazar [Lazarus] is all about.

Just to document that the priesthood, the leaders of the temple were dead, here are Christ's words concerning them.

Matthew 23:27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

And why are they dead? They have brought "Strange Fire" into the house of God, i.e. their own teachings which are the traditions of men. Here Jesus is again addressing these same "dead" men.

Matthew 15:9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. And Jesus WARNED His disciples about those teachings, the doctrines of the traditions of men, STRANGE FIRE!

Matthew 16:6
Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Matthew 16:11
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

[12] Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

And the problem is that today the Christian churches are FILLED with traditions of men, strange fire, brought about by the works of the scribes and perpetuated by the ignorance of the church leaders. Hope you can SEE how serious a matter this is.

Having now laid sufficient groundwork, let's begin the 11th chapter of the Gospel of John.

John 11:1
Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

Note: Mary comes from the Greek word Maria #3137, or Maria-m in Hebrew. Mariam was the sister of Aaron.

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

We'll read about this anointing in chapter 12.

[3] Therefore his sisters sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

The priesthood was sick indeed and it would die and that dispensation would end. But Jesus would restore anew the priesthood in the resurrection, not Lazarus' resurrection, which is but symbolic to TEACH US, but HIS RESURRECTION! We'll get there. Hang tight!

[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.

Don't let this verse throw you off track. Lazarus' sickness was not brought upon him to cause his death (for he will live) but for the glory of God, to SHOW the glory of God, to show even as a type that the Son of God might be glorified!

Remember we read in the last chapter (John 10:18) that Jesus said concerning His life, "I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." We know He has all power over life and death. And yes, the raising of Lazarus from the dead will demonstrate this awesome power and give credentials and GLORY unto Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God. But as we just read, Lazarus was CHOSEN, even predestined from the world that then was (II Pet. 3:6), for this very special sign. Again, here is the deeper meaning:

Jesus is about to perform a miracle which will SHOW the "High Priest" of the Levitical Priesthood (Who is our High Priest? Who is the Lord of lords?), "represented" by Lazarus [Eleazar], COMING FORTH, out of the TOMB, i.e. resurrected, and LOOSED from the BONDS of death, and LIVE! And in doing so He defeats Death, one of Satan's names (Heb. 2:14).

Let's continue:

John 11:5 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.

The Greek for "abode" is tote men emeinen which means He purposely remained, because He wanted Lazarus to die!  We could do an entire study on this verse. But just know that God has a plan and although we will read how frustrating it was for Mary et. al. that Christ wasn't present to PREVENT Lazarus from dying, nevertheless "Thy Will Be Done!" Preventing Lazarus from dying is what Mary, and Martha, and as we will see, all the others present, wanted and thought Christ should have done!

How are you doing with your prayers? Do you think He should answer your prayers as YOU see it? And give the answer YOU want? I'm always reminded of Paul who ask the Lord three times to heal the thorn he said he had, many people think it was his reyes, and the Lord said NO, My grace is sufficient for thee! Do you think Paul didn't have faith? He sure did! But when you listen to these clowns on TV with their "strange fire" doctrines, they GUARANTEE, "If you have faith" (which means you'll send them money), God will hear and answer your prayer according to your request. My friends, it is a LIE, a strange fire indeed!

But know this: If you are one of His sheep, BELIEVE WHAT HE HAS SAID, HE KNOWS YOU, (I know my sheep, Jn. 10:14) and He knows your needs and wants. Nevertheless, "Thy Will Be Done"! Remember the impotent man who remained in that condition for 38 years? And the blind man who was born blind so that Jesus might give him sight for US to "See"? And did we not just read that Lazarus became "deathly ill", not to die, but to glorify God? There may well be a purpose and a destiny awaiting you, if you have eyes to see.Your faith lies in knowing that His answers will be done according to His purpose and His love for His children.

So what was your problem again?

[7]Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

This statement gets His disciples, who still see things [even their Lord Jesus] with flesh eyes, all excited and worried. They are concerned about being "bloodied up" in the flesh.

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

"What are you, nuts! Those Jews are there who were trying to stone you and kill you, and you want to go back there?"

I'm sure He smiled at them when He said:

[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 was not the least bit worried about those stone age scribes and Pharisees. (Come to think of it, they were so blind they couldn't have hit Him anyway, even if He had stayed.) And we have already seen that none could touch Him until His HOUR. And He was fast approaching His 11th Hour when He would be placed in the tomb. But even though that leaves an hour, let's call it the final hour of temptation in this the final generation, He will be our Light even in that darkness, as long as we "Walk to Jerusalem With Him!"

But if one walks to Judea without Christ, then there is no Light, and they walk in darkness, and then "Uh oh", they will worship Satan, when he comes as the falsechrist!

[10] But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

[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.

His disciples didn't quite understand what Christ was talking about and so they wondered why He wanted to be Lazarus' alarm clock.

[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.

This phrase is said in the past tense and should read, "Lazarus has died". Got it? There will NO LONGER be a MAN who will be the HIGH PRIEST! That means NO HIGH PRIEST, NO POPE, NO CHURCH PRESIDENT, NO BISHOP, NO MAN!

From now on, and forever and ever, Jesus Christ is the High Priest! Period! No exceptions!

John 11:15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

Jesus knew that because of Lazarus' death and the fact that He was going to raise Him from the dead that their faith [belief] was about to be greatly increased.

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

Didymus means twin. So Thomas was a twin. And while we are reminded of "twins", we take notice that there was another set of twins present symbolically, even the two sisters Mary and Martha. Have you ever read of Aholah, the elder, and Aholibah her sister in Ezekiel 23:4?  "Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah."  They represent the House of Israel and the House of Judah.

Notice also that out of all the disciples it is old doubting Thomas here who shows a great willingness to go with Jesus, even though he has a tendency to look on the negative side of things, which would eventually open the door to momentary disbelief. But go he did! We should all be so willing to go, shouldn't we?

"OK", says Thomas, one of Christ's sheep, "If Jesus is going to Judea and get stoned to death, let's all go with Him though we get stoned to death too!"

Unfortunately, today many Christians aren't so willing. They place their hope in "Rapture Rockets" and "Escape to Petra in the Wilderness" doctrines to avoid getting bloodied in the flesh. Perhaps we can understand how scared people get when they walk in the dark because their eyes have been closed after listening to rogue shepherds who have soothsayed them and fed them bread cakes made with man's dung (Ezek. 4:12) and heated with "strange fire".

Walk to Jerusalem with Him, the Word of God, and you'll never have to worry, for you will always walk in the LIGHT!

Can you imagine what it must be like to witness a man rise up out of a grave and return to life after having died and lain in the grave for four days? Jesus' disciples and a large gathering are about to experience just such a sight! And wait until you see the phenomenal way in which the miracle itself is actually performed. Your eyes are going to pop out! (That's just a figure of speech.)

Anyway, when we left off, Jesus had just informed His disciples that their "friend" Lazarus had died, and then following some discussion of concern about getting stoned by the Jews, Jesus taught them [us] that as long as they [we] walk in the Light, i.e. with Him [The Word of God], it is safe to go to Judea where the stone throwing kenites dwell [and the false-christ will reign]. But Thomas said to his fellow disciples, "Let's go also, that we may die with Him." Oh well, he'll eventually understand! Christ wasn't about to get stoned. Not only was it not His hour, but He "ain't never" gonna get stoned, for He came to be the Lamb crucified, not the Lamb crushed by stones!

John 11:17
Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.

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)!

[18] Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:

Here's a note on the number "15" from the book "Biblical Mathematics". The emphasis is as it appears in the text.

"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.

[19] And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

There would be a crowd witness Lazarus' resurrection back to life.

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

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.

[21] Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

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.

John 11:22
But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

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 11:23
Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.

She knew the teaching of Jesus concerning the resurrection but she had no idea what was about to happen.

[24] Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

The context of these next two verses emphasizes the point of what is about to take place.

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 bodies.

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.

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 11:26
And 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.

[27] She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

She says she believes Him, but just wait until she sees her brother come forth out of the grave!

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.

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".

[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.

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...

... Just wait, you'll see how the Messiah responds this time!

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.

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,

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).

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.

[34] And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

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.

[35] Jesus wept.

Note for Bible Trivia fans: This is the shortest verse in the Bible.

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" (Satan) has brought into this world. I speak of that one who is death:

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;

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!

John 11:36
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!

Of course He loved Lazarus, but as we have seen, that is not why He wept.

[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 will cause another "groan" by He who is saddened by the unbelief surrounding Him.

[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.

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.

Note: We all, professing Christians, should reevaluate our own faith. Is it real? Do we need to speak with the Holy Spirit about it?

John 11:40
Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

Without further argument they take away the stone.

[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.

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.

[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.

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.

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!

[45] Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on Him.

That ended the weeping and wailing! The Greek word for "seen" is theaomai and means "regarded with wonder". I guess too!

[46] But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.

Ah, the little temple spies run back to the scribes and Pharisees, i.e. the kenites, and report what they saw! You can imagine that explanation: "Yeh, and then Jesus cried in a loud voice, 'Lazarus come forth', and Lazarus just floated out of the cave completely wrapped in burial cloth from head to foot. And He told them to loose the bindings and set him free and he returned to life. You should have seen the looks on everyone's faces!"

[47]Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

Uh oh, this means big trouble for those imposters who sit in the seat of Moses. They are not concerned about God or truth or love or anything silly like that! They worship money, power and ego. Remember who their father is? Hint, he was the first murderer (John 8:44).

John 11:48
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.

Yes, the Nethinim had worked so hard over the years to take over the rulership and temple of God, and they could lose it real quick if they let this Jesus continue to perform major miracles.

[49] And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,

A little condescending are we, Caiaphas? Your name means "depression" and you certainly own up to it.

[50] Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.

This is the third miracle in this chapter. Our Father causes this illegitimate high priest to actually prophecy about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

John 11:51
And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

"And this he spoke not of himself" means that God literally caused him to speak these words, a miracle indeed! Remember earlier, we learned that Jesus in performing this miracle was illustrating the resurrection of the office of the Levitical High Priest, Eleazar (Hebrew for Lazarus)? Well, immediately our Father shows that He took over that office by taking over the mouth of the "acting" High Priest and causing him to speak true words. I'm sure speaking the truth was a new experience for Caiaphas.

[52] And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

He prophesied that Jesus should die not just for Israel, including those scattered abroad, but for all of God's children, all the church of God.

[53] Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Nice religious leaders, aren't they? One thing is for sure though! That last miracle, raising a man from the dead, really set them nuts.

[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.

Love those religious ceremonies! Just makes a person feel so holy and clean.

By the way, it will be at this Passover that the Lamb of God will be sacrificed.

[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?

Will He or won't He, they wondered. He will not only be there, He will be it!

[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.

Got to maintain that tight control, don't they?  Aren't you glad you have Jesus Christ as your High Priest and you don't have to submit to church hierarchies?

                               

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