1. Dr. Adrian Todd - www.gatewaychurch.org.uk
John 20:31
So that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Dr. Adrian Todd -

2. John 11 - Resurrection
The story of the raising of Lazarus is bracketed by vv 8 & 53, the plot to kill Him
Bethany - House of the Poor
Lazarus - Eleazar, he who God helps
Jesus is obviously very fond of Martha, Mary and Lazarus vv 3, 5, 36
The raising of Lazarus is the 7th sign & “I, I Am”
the most important
the whole of John revolves around v50

3. Why wait two days?
It would have made no difference to whether Jesus arrived in time
Lazarus had been dead 4 days
Suggestions
there were things still to do where He was
He spent time praying, see vv 41-42
it was dangerous to go, would it upset “the time”?
Walking in the day (see 1:4-5)

4. The Encounter with Martha
Martha goes to meet Jesus v20
If… v21
Even now… v22 half hope, half faith
Your brother will rise v23
…on the last day v24
I am the Resurrection and the Life vv25-26
Yes Lord, I have believed… v27 see Peter 6:69
Martha goes to tell Mary, secretly v28

5. Mary Mary is sitting (see Luke 10 & John 12)
She gets up quickly, twice, both words used can mean resurrection vv29, 31
If… (again) v21
They weep
see John 20
another Mary is weeping
She asks, “Where have you laid him?” (20:2,13)
Come and see (see 1:39)

6. Troubled in Spirit Jesus is the Word made flesh, He feels
see Isaiah 53:4, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief
Jesus is troubled in spirit vv33, 38
can mean deeply moved
can also mean angry
Does Jesus get a revelation of the full meaning of death?

7. The Raising of Lazarus Lazarus had been dead 4 days
tradition was to return to the grave for 3 days
by the 4th day the spirit has departed
Lazarus was fully dead
This is a very public resurrection (see Jairus’ daughter & the widow of Nain’s son)
Jesus looks up v41
God is up, the tomb is down

8. Better for one man to die
If a donkey can prophesy, then so can an unbelieving High Priest
He was probably a sadducee
The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World (1:29, 36)
also 2:19-21, 3:14-15, 6:51, 10:15-18
It all leads to here, and from here
We begin to have a more complete picture of who Jesus is
Chapters reveal it all in action

9. What needs to be resurrected?
Don’t move the stone v39
there will be a smell
Unbind him and let him go v44
We are set free from all that ties us up and denies us life to the full
If we do not move the stone (confession?), there can be no resurrection