Focal Passage: John 11:25-27 38-44
Sometimes a chapter of the Bible is so filled with excitement and life-truths that to focus on only a few verses of it seems almost irreverent. That’s the case today; our focal passage is just ten verses (out of 57 jam-packed ones) in John 11. In the series All Signs Point to Jesus, we come to the seventh ‘sign’ the Apostle John selected to reveal Jesus as God. In this one, The Sign of His Power Over Death, Jesus raises His friend Lazarus from the dead.
I could hardly summarize this chapter more succinctly than Jotham McCauley does (in thebiblerhymes.com): “Jesus paused, for our sakes, then arrived—Long after Lazarus had died. He called for Mary, up she leapt, Fell at His feet, then Jesus wept. Went to the tomb, then with a shout, He called to Lazarus, ‘Come out!’ There’s more to the rhyme and more to the story, so let’s recall the whole chapter as in our focal passage we listen in on a meaningful conversation and look in on a miracle resuscitation:
Verses 25-27: THE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION
Jesus had indeed “paused’ in His arrival — much longer than Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters, thought He would, especially after they had notified Jesus about their brother being so sick. God’s DELAYS can be difficult to understand, can’t they? Read how our Lord explained His delay, “for our sakes” back in verse 15.
Mike Dawson
In this chapter Jesus had already had meaningful conversations with His disciples and later with Mary, but we listen in only on the one with Martha. She naturally questioned His delay, and heard Him promise, “Your brother will rise again” (verse 23). She assumed Jesus meant the final resurrection; but He assured her, “I AM the resurrection and the life” (verse 25).
In addition to highlighting the seven sign-miracles we’ve been studying, John also highlighted in his Gospel seven statements Jesus made, each about His divine nature and role; they’re called “The ‘I AM’ statements.” Jesus said, “I AM the world’s true Bread…Light…Door…Shepherd…Way, Truth and Life…and Vine.” But of all seven, surely to claim being THE Resurrection and THE Life is the most unbelievable! That is, unless He actually is! And in the next moments of the story, He PROVES it, unquestionably.
Verses 38-44: THE MIRACLE RESUSCITATION
During this ‘Holy Week’ (from Jesus’ triumphal entry to His glorious resurrection), we think of His seven ‘sayings’ (or better, ‘shouts’) from the cross. He also gave ‘shouts’ from the grave of Lazarus. Read all five of them, word for word; each contains a mini-message:
“Remove the stone!” Is there a ‘stone’ blocking your witness for Christ?
“Didn’t I tell you … ?” If you really believe—as you say you do, you’ll see God’s glory.
“Father, I thank You … !” Praying like Jesus involves thanking God BEFORE He answers.
“Lazarus, come out!” Brother, sister, RUN OUT OF THAT GRAVE! You’re alive; act like it!
“Loose him and let him go!” Get rid of any wrappings of your old, dead life; go ‘M.A.D:’ (“Go Make A Difference!”)
One question: “Resuscitation?” Yes. Lazarus “rose up” that day, however a day came when he “went down” again. JESUS alone is “THE Resurrection;” He arose — and is alive forevermore! (Revelation 1:18.) B&R — Dawson is pastor emeritus at First Baptist Church, Columbia, and has served as transitional interim pastor at numerous churches across the state since retiring from full-time ministry.
