The Resurrection & The Life
The Resurrection & The Life
John 11:1-27
Main Idea: Jesus purposes painful delays to reveal his resurrection glory, inviting us to believe.
I. The Loving Delay of Christ (11:1-6)
For the first time in John’s gospel, we are introduced to a family of siblings: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha (cf. 12:1-3; Lk. 10:38-39). They send word to Jesus that Lazarus (“he whom you love”) is sick. In the presence of his disciples, Jesus’ response to this news is surprising for two reasons:
John 11:4: “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (cf. 9:3; 1:14)
Jesus continually reorients this scene back to himself; what is about to happen is less about death and more about his glory. Jesus has been showcasing his glory through a number of “signs,” but this will be the most dramatic and final of his recorded miracles in John.
John 11:5-6: “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus… SO [or ‘therefore’]... he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.”
The love of Jesus for this family is stressed twice (11:3, 5) because what Jesus does here does not appear to be loving; rather than rushing to the aid of his friends, he intentionally delays, ensuring that Lazarus dies. According to John, Jesus is actually demonstrating his love by a purposeful and painful delay.
“As Christ is the only mirror of the grace of God, we are taught by this delay on his part that we ought not to judge the love of God from the condition which we see before our eyes. When we have prayed to him, he often delays his assistance, either that he may increase still more our [zeal] in prayer, or that he may exercise our patience, and, at the same time, accustom us to obedience. Let believers then implore the assistance of God, but let them also learn to suspend their desires, if he does not stretch out his hand for their assistance as soon as they may think that necessity requires; for, whatever may be his delay, he never sleeps and never forgets his people.”
~ John Calvin, Commentary on the Gospel According to John
II. The Glorious Purposes of Christ (11:7-16)
With supernatural knowledge that Lazarus has died, Jesus indicates to his disciples it is now time to return to Judea. This startles the disciples because:
They were finally having some ministry “success” (10:42)
The last time they were in Judea, the Jews wanted to stone Jesus (cf. 8:59; 10:31)
Rather than taking on the posture of “self-preservation” (like the disciples), Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” leads them directly “through the valley of the shadow of death” (Ps. 23:4). He assures them that if they walk with him - “the Light of the world” - they will not stumble.
Jesus reveals to the disciples that Lazarus has died, using the frequent biblical metaphor of “falling asleep.” Just like so many others in John’s gospel, the disciples take literally and earthly what is meant figuratively and spiritually, and they see it as an opportunity to avoid the danger of Judea. Surprisingly, Jesus indicates he was “glad” he was not there “for your sake… so that you might believe” (11:15; cf. 20:31).
“Christ is not glad because of sorrow, but only on account of the result of it. He knew that this temporary trial would help his disciples to a greater faith, and he so prizes their growth in faith that he is even glad of the sorrow which occasions it. He does as good as say, ‘I am glad for your sakes that I was not there to prevent the trouble, for now that it is come, it will teach you to believe in me, and this shall be much better for you than to have been spared the affliction.’ We have thus plainly before us the principle, that our Lord in his infinite wisdom and superabundant love, sets so high a value upon his people’s faith, that he will not screen them from those trials by which faith is strengthened.”
~ Charles Spurgeon, “A Mystery! Saints Sorrowing and Jesus Glad!”
III. The Resurrection Life of Christ (11:17-27)
When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. This may be a significant time marker, as the Jews believed that the soul hovered over the body of a deceased person for three days and then departed, leaving no doubt that Lazarus had died.
Martha leaves her grieving family and friends and rushes out to meet Jesus, full of grief, confusion, and pain: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Despite her hard question, she still expresses some small measure of faith: “I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”
When Jesus promises Martha that Lazarus will rise again, she responds with what feels like a mere “platitude” about the resurrection on the last day. Jesus then makes it plain: “I AM the resurrection and the life” (cf. Jn. 1:4). Jesus’ promise to Martha is good news for both:
Those facing their own death: “whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (cf. Ps. 116:15; 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:21)
The living who grieve death: “and everyone who lives and believes in me, shall never die” (cf. Rev. 20:6)
“Martha must learn that the last day has already dawned... Resurrection is no longer a mere doctrine: it has a living face and a name. Jesus is himself the presence of the life which is God’s gift beyond death. To be bound to Jesus by faith is to share already now the life which is beyond death. To one so bound, death is the gateway to life and life is no longer bounded by death because it is the life which is raised out of death.”
~ Lesslie Newbigin, The Light Has Come
1 Corinthians 15:17–19: And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Revelation 1:17b–18: Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.