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Lesson 7 |
Raising of Lazarus |
John Chapter 11 |
v1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
v2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
v3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Devotion to the Lord does not mean we are free from tests and distress.
v4 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.
v5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Our disappointment's can be the Lords appointments to bring Him glory.
v6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
Disappointment's and delays are all under His control.
v17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
v18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
v19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
The Lord had raised Jairus daughter (Mark 5v41). Then the widows son at the city of Nain. (Luke 7v14) but neither of these were in the grave.
v20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
v21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
v22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
No one ever died in the presence of the Lord.
v23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
v24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
v25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
v26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
v27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
These verses are the great assurance of life after death. Death is only the means of entering into the rest which was promised by the Lord.
v28 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.
v29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
"He calleth for thee" should always bring a quick response.and we should always know where to find Him.
v30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
v31 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.
v32 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.
v33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
Sometimes your devotions to the Lord can be misunderstood.
v34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
v35 Jesus wept.
The Lord enters into all our sorrows and grief
v36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
v37 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
v38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
v39 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.
The Lord expects us to do what is within our power (take away the stone) before he will perform those things which are within His power.
v40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Faith in His power will bring Glory to the Lord.
v41 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.
v42 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.
The purpose of this miracle was to show that He was the Son of God
v43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
v44 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.
"Note" The Lord said Lazarus come forth. Had he said come forth all the dead would have come out of the graves.
v45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Only the Messiah could raise one from the dead. The proof of His Lordship is clearly seen.