THE GOSPEL OF JOHN III. The Opposition to the Son of God (5:1–12:50) A. At The Feast In Jerusalem (Jn 5:1-47) B.During The Passover (Jn 6:1-71) C. During The Feast Of Tabernacles (Jn 7:1 – 10:21) D. During The Feast Of Dedication (Jn 10:22-42) E. Because Of The Death And Resurrection Of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-57)

1. The Report of Lazarus’ Illness (11:1- 16) a. Lazarus Is Sick (vv. 1-3)a. Lazarus Is Sick (vv. 1-3) b. Jesus Delays (vv. 4-7)b. Jesus Delays (vv. 4-7) c. His Disciples Object (v. 8)c. His Disciples Object (v. 8) d. Jesus Explains (vv. 9-16)d. Jesus Explains (vv. 9-16)  Read Jn 11:11.  Jesus now reveals the purpose of His plan to go to Judea.

 The death of believers is often compared to sleep. ~ Gen 47:30 KJV ~ 2Sam 7:12 KJV ~ Matt 27:52 KJV Acts 7:60 KJV ~ Acts 7:60 KJV ~ 1Thes 4:13 KJV ~ The comparison is, of course, very appropriate: believers expect a glorious awakening on the other side.

 It is instructive to observe the beautiful and comforting manner in which Scripture everywhere speaks about the death of believers. ~ Ps 116:15~ Ps 116:15 ~ Lk 16:22~ Lk 16:22 ~ Lk 23:43~ Lk 23:43 ~ John 14:2~ John 14:2 ~ Phil 1:23; 2Tim 4:6~ Phil 1:23; 2Tim 4:6 ~ Phil 1:21, 23~ Phil 1:21, 23 ~ 2Cor 5:8~ 2Cor 5:8

 The passages which speak of believers falling asleep do not teach an intermediate state of unconscious repose (soul-sleep). ~ William Hendriksen: “Though the soul is asleep to the world which it has left (Job 7:9, 10; Is. 63:16; Eccl. 9:6) it is awake with respect to its own world (Luke 16:19.31; 23:43; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21-23; Rev. 7:15-17; 20:4).”

 Notice of the contrast between the plural “our friend” and “I am going” is not accidental in Jn 11:11: Jesus alone is the resurrection and the life (v. 25).  But in v , it seems that the disciples do not understand Jesus.  Read Jn 11:14. ~ It is the waking up of a man who has just died!

 Read Jn 11:15. ~ Had Jesus been present, a healing miracle would have been expected of Him. ~ The raising of Lazarus displayed Christ’s power – the resurrection from the dead is a crucial belief of Christian faith. ~ Jesus not only raised Himself from the dead (Jn 10:18), but He also has the power to raise others.

 Yet even at this point, the disciples still misunderstood Jesus’ claim to power over death although He had clearly stated this several times (note Thomas’ reaction in v.16): ~ Jn 5:21 NRSV ~ Jn 6:40 NRSV ~ Jn 6:54 NRSV ~ Jn 8:51 NRSV ~ Jn 10:17-18 NRSV ~ Jn 10:27-28 NRSV

~ Only Jesus can refer to death as sleep because only He has power over death. ~ For those who believe in the resurrection, death is merely sleep in comparison to eternal life.  “Let us go to him.” ~ Jesus had already indicated that He was anticipating their faith growing as a result of what would happen with Lazarus.

 Delays ~ Measured by our timetable, many of our prayers’ answers may seem delayed. ~ But knowing that we deal with a wise and loving God, we must consider that the problem may be with our timetable rather than God’s.

~ Though we experience delays, we can be sure that Jesus does initiate help for us. ~ He will come to our aid.~ He will come to our aid. ~ His help may well come in different ways and forms than we expect, but we can depend on His dependability! ~ GOD WILL COME TO YOU IN YOUR TIME OF NEED.

 Read Jn 11:16. ~ We often remember Thomas as “the doubter”. ~ The Fourth Gospel describes him, indicates his character: his despondency and devotion (to Jesus). ~ He is ever afraid that he may lose his beloved Master, or that some evil will befall Him.

~ He does not think first of all of Lazarus nor of himself but of his Lord, who must not be permitted to die alone!  At the same time he also loved the Lord and was a man of great courage. ~ Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.

~ C. S. Lewis: “A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions.” ~ The disciples may not have understood why Jesus would be killed, but they were loyal. ~ We may face unknown dangers in doing God’s work. It is wise to consider the high cost of being Jesus’ disciple.

~ Thomas was ready to move out.~ Thomas was ready to move out. ~ Courage often boils down to trusting Jesus and moving out. ~ We don’t realize God’s power until we take the first step. ~ Sooner or later you too will have the opportunity to take a step of courage. ~ And your step may motivate others to take action too.