John 11:1-44

Read John 11:1-44

John 11:4 is a key to understanding what is happening in this section of the Gospel of John. Jesus informs the disciples that Lazarus will not die but that his illness will be used to display the glory of God. The rest of the passage unfolds the details of how that happens. Some of the points of tension that are introduced into this event include: the continuing persecution of the pharisees against Jesus and the forces of death that are pursuing Lazarus.

In real time, it would have been easy to mistake Jesus’ confidence for blatant and harmful detachment. Jesus’ seems unconcerned with both the reality of persecution and the threat of death that the pharisees posed to him as well as the reality of Lazarus’ death. However, this again reminds us of a theme in the Gospel of John, although Jesus is a real human person, he is not an ordinary human person. He is able to do things that no one else can do, and his confidence and trust of the Father is unshakable even in the midst of the most trying circumstances.

Verse 25 is one of the most famous verses in the Bible as Jesus proclaims himself to be the resurrection and the life and the way of eternal life. The rest of the passage is an illustration of this point. Although Lazarus was dead, Jesus proves that he is the resurrection and the life and that these were not just empty words. This is a dramatic example of the purpose that John has in writing the book. This miracle, or sign, is penultimate in that it is a perfect illustration of exactly what Jesus has come to do and how believing in him leads to eternal life. Jesus has come into the world to create life out of death, to heal and restore, and to be the only way of salvation that leads to resurrection and defeat of death.

Questions

  1. By what authority does Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead?

  2. How does this miracle/sign illuminate the work that Jesus does for all those who believe in him?

  3. What can we learn about faith in the midst of adverse circumstances from Jesus in this passage?

  4. How have you experienced resurrection life after believing in Jesus?