The Raising of Lazarus

Transcription

1 Lesson No. 30 The Raising of Lazarus The Scripture Lesson John 11:1-57 Do you remember Mary and Martha and Lazarus? They were very special friends of Jesus. They must have been a very happy family. But then one day Lazarus became sick. And, instead of getting better as time went on, Lazarus became sicker and sicker. His sisters knew that if only Jesus were there, Lazarus could be made better again; for Jesus had healed hundreds of sick people, and He would surely help them. But, Jesus was far away, working in the country of Perea. What could they do? Finally they decided that they must send for Jesus, because it seemed as if Lazarus might die. So a messenger set out to find Jesus. When he found Him, he said, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. And Jesus answered, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God. What did Jesus mean by that, do you think? Did He mean that Lazarus would not die? That cannot be, for we know that Lazarus did die. In fact, when the messenger returned to Bethany, he probably found that Lazarus was already dead. What, then, did Jesus mean? He meant that Lazarus did not get sick in order that he might die and go to heaven. Instead, his sickness was so that Jesus OUR GUIDE is published by the Protestant Reformed Sunday School Association. could perform a mighty miracle, that God might be glorified through the work of the Son. The messenger did not know what Jesus meant. Neither did Mary and Martha. So when Lazarus died, they were very, very unhappy. Jesus, they thought, did not get here in time. Now they must bury their dead brother. But Jesus had done that purposely. After the messenger left, He stayed in Perea for two whole days. Jesus wanted Lazarus to be dead and in the grave before He got there, so that He could do a miracle which would show to His people that He is the resurrection and the life. When Jesus and His disciples reached Bethany, Martha came out to meet them. As soon as she saw Jesus she said, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But, she said, I know that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. She had not yet given up hope that Jesus might still be able to raise Lazarus. But would Jesus do that? She was not at all sure about that. Thy brother shall rise again, Jesus told her. Ah, yes, Martha knew that Lazarus would rise again in the resurrection at the last day; but does Jesus mean more than that?

2 Lesson 30 Then Jesus told her what is for all of God s people a most wonderful truth. He said, I am the resurrection and the life. All of God s people, you see, were dead in sin. And they were worthy of eternal death in hell. Just think of that! But Jesus came, and by His work He gave His people life. He gave us spiritual life, which we have already now. And that life will never end. Jesus said, Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. When our bodies die, we go at once to heaven, for Christ has merited for us eternal life. To know that is the only real comfort that there can be for Mary and Martha, and for all of God s people who lose those whom they love. Christ is our resurrection and our life. At that point Martha, who had been talking to Jesus alone, went back to the house to get Mary, who did not yet know that Jesus had come. Mary wanted very much to see Jesus. She was very, very unhappy, and she was sure that Jesus could help her. So she got up quickly and left the house, to go to her Lord. In the house with Mary were many people who had come to comfort the two sisters. When they saw her leave the house, they followed Mary, because they thought that she was going to the grave in order to weep there. God wanted it to be that way, so that there would be many people who would see the wonderful miracle which Jesus would do. When they came to where Jesus was, Mary fell down at Jesus feet and began to cry. She said, Lord, if only thou hadst been here, my brother would not have died. Jesus then asked where they had buried Lazarus, and the people said, Come and see. Do you know what Jesus did then? He wept. His friends were crying in their sorrow; and Jesus cried with them. We have a Savior, you see, who cares about us. We have a Savior who can feel sadness, just as we can. We say that Jesus has a real human nature. He is a real man, who can feel the same things we feel, but without sin. But our Savior is more than that. He also has 2 The Raising of Lazarus a divine nature. And He showed that, too, at the tomb. He said to the people, Take away the stone that stands in front of the grave. When Martha heard that, she said, But Lazarus has been dead for four days already, and by now his body is beginning to decay. And so it was. But does Jesus have no power over death, after the body begins to turn to dust? He certainly does. In fact, in the resurrection day all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth whether they have been dead for four days or for 4,000 years. And as a sign of that divine power, Jesus raised Lazarus. After the people rolled away the stone, Jesus said with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And Lazarus did come forth. He arose and walked right out of the grave. Can you imagine the astonishment of the people? Many of them, when they saw that marvelous miracle, believed in Jesus. But when the Pharisees heard about it, they were upset. They thought that if Jesus kept on doing miracles like that, all of the people would soon believe that He was the Messiah. So the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin in order to talk about the problem. And do you know what they decided to do? After this wonderful miracle which Jesus did, they decided that Jesus must die. If the people believe in Him, they said, and if they try to make Him king, then the Romans will come and punish us. And they were afraid of the Romans, so they decided to kill Jesus. So Jesus again left the country, and did not return till the time of the last Passover. Memory Work Group A 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. Group B John 22:26a And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

3 3 ACTIVITIES This paper has been prepared in the hope that it will be used by students of all ages. The activities are designed so that the oldest will be challenged, and the youngest will find some of it within reach. Parents should encourage their children to attempt only what they can handle without frustration. For some that will be much, for others little. WHO SAID? 1. If he sleep, he shall do well. 2. Let us also go, that we may die with him. 3. The master is come and calleth for thee. 4. She goeth unto the grave to weep. 5. Lord, by this time he stinketh. 6. Loose him, and let him go. 7. It is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people. DO YOU AGREE? If you do, write Yes; if you do not, write No. 1.Mary and Martha sent a messenger to Jesus to inform Him that Lazarus had died. 2.The disciples, disappointed that Jesus had waited so long, were glad when He at last said, Let us go into Judea again. 3.When Jesus came to Bethany in Judea He spoke first to Martha. 4.Martha showed by what she said, that she believed it now to be impossible for the rotting corpse of her brother to be raised until the resurrection at the last day. 5.Jesus explained to her that He is the resurrection and the life. 6.Martha went then to call Mary secretly, and the two sisters were then alone with Jesus at the tomb. 7.Martha then ordered that the stone be rolled away, in the hope that Jesus would raise her brother. 8.Before calling Lazareth out of the tomb, Jesus prayed aloud to God, so that the people there would have proof that He was sent by God. 9.Lazarus, when he was restored to life, had to be carried out of the tomb because he was bound hand and foot with graveclothes. QUESTIONS FOR YOUNGER READERS 1. What message did Jesus receive from Bethany when He was working in the country of Perea? What did Jesus tell the messenger? Do you understand what Jesus meant by that? 2. If Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, why did He not go to them at once? Why did Jesus disciples not want Jesus to go to Bethany at all? 3. Who came to meet Jesus as He walked toward Bethany? What did she say that shows that she believed that Jesus could still raise Lazarus? 4. Jesus said to Martha, I am the resurrection and the life. How is that of great comfort to God s people when they put their loved ones in the grave? 5. How did it happen that there were more people than just Mary and Martha and the disciples who were at the grave of Lazarus when Jesus was there? 6. How did Jesus show, on the way to the grave, that He is a Savior who feels with His people in their sadness? 7. Why did Martha at first not want the grave opened? 8. Why did Jesus, before He called Lazarus from the grave, pray to God? 9. How did the Pharisees in Jerusalem find out about what Jesus did in Bethany? Why were they troubled by so great and wonderful a miracle? 10. What did the Sanhedrin decide that they must do with Jesus? What did Jesus do about that?

4 The Raising of Lazarus 4 Lesson 30 COMPLETING SENTENCES 1. One day while Jesus was in Perea He received an urgent message from His good friends Mary and Martha, who lived in. Bethany was only a short distance from Jerusalem; and Mary and Martha must have known that the Jews there were of a mind to kill Jesus. The sisters were reluctant therefore to do anything which might make Jesus feel obliged to come back where His life was threatened; but their brother Lazarus was sick, and seemed to be failing fast. So they sent a messenger to tell Jesus simply, Lord, behold, he whom thou is. They thus asked for nothing, leaving the remedy entirely to Him (John 11:1-3). 2. Jesus response was, This sickness is not death, but for the of God, that the might be thereby. Though His hearers probably understood Jesus to mean that Lazarus would not die, Jesus said rather that Lazarus sickness was not unto, that is, for the purpose of, dying. He would in fact die, but his sickness was not in order that he might die and go to glory, but in order that He might die and be raised, for Jesus glory (John 11:4). 3. We read that Jesus Martha and her sister and Lazarus, and that when He heard that Lazarus was sick He abode days still in the same place where He was. A strange way that is, it would seem, to show love to delay for two days going to a friend on his deathbed. But the truth is that because He loved them so, He would wait till Lazarus was not only dead but four days in the grave, in order that He might give them something better than a mere cure (John 11:5, 6). 4. After two days, then, Jesus said to His disciples, Let us go into again. The disciples, knowing the danger involved, advised against it, saying, Master, the Jews (of Jerusalem) of late sought to thee; and goest thou again? Jesus however reminded them that there are hours in the day implying that His own day was not yet finished, so He could not yet fall into the hands of the Jews (John 11:9). 5. Jesus then told them why they must go to Bethany, namely, because our Lazarus ; but I go that I may him out of sleep. The disciples, slow to understand, and quick to seize a reason for staying out of Judea, said, Lord, if he, he shall do well. Jesus therefore told them, Lazarus is. And He adds that He is for their sakes that He was not there, to the that ye may that is, so that this could be the occasion for a most marvelous miracle, which would serve for the confirmation of their faith. Still not understanding, and still very fearful, but convinced that further resistance would be to no avail, Thomas said, Let us also go, that we may with him (John 11:11-16). 6. When they reached Bethany they found that Lazarus had lain in the grave days already. There were still, however, many (that is, Jews from Jerusalem which was about fifteen off) on hand to them concerning their brother. That, at least, was their (the Jews ) reason for coming to Bethany. The purpose of God in thus bringing these Jews together on that day was in order to provide witnesses to the miracle which Jesus would perform (John 11:17-19). 7. When heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet Him, and said, Lord, if hadst been here, my brother had not. Then she added, hoping against hope, that even now, thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus, in reply, said simply, Thy brother shall again. Martha, not daring yet to believe that Jesus was declaring that He would raise Lazarus now, said, I know that he shall rise again in the at the day (John 11:20-24).

5 Lesson In her great grief, Martha was not yet seeing anything beyond that grave in which her brother lay dead. If she is to have lasting comfort, if she is to understand the significance, later, of the raising of her brother, she must understand what Jesus means when He says to her now, I am the and the : he that in me, though he were, yet shall he. Jesus speaks here of spiritual, not physical life. Every man, apart from Christ, is spiritually dead in sin. One has the new, the imperishable resurrection life, only as he is united by faith to Christ. Whosoever and in, Jesus said, shall never. Only when one understands and believes that, is the sting of death gone. And only when Martha understands and believes that, can she fully appreciate the beautiful picture involved in the raising of her brother from that tomb in Bethany. Jesus therefore asks, thou this? (John 11:25, 26). 9. Martha could not have understood, as we can today, all that was implied in Jesus being the resurrection and the life. She did, however, very much want to understand and to believe, and she quickly gave expression to what she did believe, namely, that thou art the, the Son of, which should come into the world (John 11:27). 10. Having said that, Martha hurried off to fetch Mary, because she did not want her sister to miss any of the comforting instruction which, they were sure, Jesus alone could give. Jesus, too, evidently wanted Mary present, for we read that Martha said to Mary, The is come, and for thee. Martha did that, however,, in order, if possible, to avoid having all of the mourners tag along with them when they went to Jesus. But such was not to be. For when Mary arose and went out, the mourners assumed she was going to go to the to there, and they 5 The Raising of Lazarus her. Thus did God provide for witnesses to the miracle (John 11:28-31). 11. On seeing Jesus, Mary burst into tears and fell at His feet, repeating the words of Martha, Lord, if thou hadst been here... And Jesus, beholding the heartbroken Mary, in His spirit and was. And Jesus. Not for the loss of Lazarus did Jesus weep for He knew full well that Lazarus was about to be raised. He was, rather, touched by the grief of those whom He loved. A comfort to us! No doubt, too, in Jesus in Himself when He came to the, He was reflecting on the cause of all that misery, namely, sin the evidence of which He saw even in those whom He loved (John 11:32-38). 12. The grave was a, before which lay a large. When Jesus said, Take ye the stone, Martha s faith faltered. Mindful only of the finality and the corruption of death, it seemed to her to be so wrong, now, to open up that grave. Lord, she said, by this time he, for he hath been four days. Jesus gently reproved her, however, and then, after the stone was removed, He lifted up His toward heaven in prayer to His Father not to pray for power to raise Lazarus, for He had that power in Himself; but rather to make it clear to the people which by that God had Him (John 11:38-42). 13. And then Jesus cried with a voice, Lazarus, come! It is that same voice which quickens those who are dead in trespasses and sins, and which will some day raise our mortal bodies from their graves. As a sign of that great power, the decomposing body of Lazarus was brought back to life and health. For Lazarus walked out of the grave, bound hand and foot with grave. And there was again the twofold reaction to so amazing a miracle. Many of the Jews who witnessed it,

6 Lesson 30 on Him. But some of them went to the to report what Jesus had done (John 11:43-46). 14. The chief priests and (that is, the Sanhedrin) were hastily called together to decide this question: What do we? for this man doeth many. They reasoned that if they continued to let Jesus, all Jewry would come to believe on Him, and, when the people would at last prevail upon Jesus to be their king, the would come and take away their (that is, the Sanhedrin s) place and nation. Obviously, therefore, their first concern was with their own positions (John 11:47, 48). 15. After considerable debate,, the high priest, declared that it is for us that one man should for the people, and that the whole nation not. All unintentional on the part of wicked Caiaphas, of course, but John points out that these words constitute in fact a beautiful prophecy, by Israel s high priest. For the death of Jesus would indeed be for His people of that nation and, John adds, not for that nation only, but that He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered (John 11:49-52). 16. The majority evidently favored the advice of Caiaphas, and from that day, they took together to put Him to. And Jesus, knowing their evil design, walked no more among the Jews. He went to a city called, probably in Perea, and remained there till the time of the last Passover (John 11:53, 54). QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT 1. Though Mary and Martha must have understood that they were watching their brother die, their message to Jesus was simply, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. Do you see how that can be an example to all of God s people when they cry to God in their distress? 6 The Raising of Lazarus 2. We read that Jesus loved Lazarus and his two sisters, and that He remained therefore two days in Perea when He heard that Lazarus was sick. Can we learn something from that about the way of divine love? 3. In response to His disciples fear of His going to Judea, Jesus reminded them that there are twelve hours in the day. In other words, His hour had not yet come. Can we have the same confidence about the time of our death, or did that apply only to Jesus? 4. Jesus remained in Perea two days before setting out for Bethany. When He arrived, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. Evidently therefore the two-day delay in Perea was not necessary if it was intended to assure only that Lazarus would be dead when Jesus arrived. Jesus must then have had something more in mind. Do you know what that was? 5. Were it not for the presence of the mourners, the great miracle of the raising of Lazarus would have been witnessed by no more than Mary and Martha and the disciples. Why was it important that there be more witnesses present? 6. Jesus talked to Martha about His being the resurrection and the life. Do you see how that knowledge would help one who grieves at the loss of a loved one? Do you see how it would help Martha and Mary later understand the significance of the miracle? 7. Can you explain how the words Jesus wept can be a source of great comfort to God s people everywhere? 8. When news of the miracle reached Jerusalem, the Sanhedrin decided that they were going to have to get really serious about arresting Jesus and having Him put to death. Was the raising of Lazarus just the straw that broke the camel s back, or was there something about that miracle which added significantly to what the Sanhedrin saw as a threat to their own power?