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Texts -- John 11:1-31 (NET)

Context
The Death of Lazarus
11:1 Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick . He was from Bethany , the village where Mary and her sister Martha lived . 11:2 (Now it was Mary who anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and wiped his feet dry with her hair , whose brother Lazarus was sick .) 11:3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus , “Lord , look , the one you love is sick .” 11:4 When Jesus heard this, he said , “This sickness will not lead to death , but to God’s glory , so that the Son of God may be glorified through it .” 11:5 (Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus .) 11:6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick , he remained in the place where he was for two more days . 11:7 Then after this , he said to his disciples , “Let us go to Judea again .” 11:8 The disciples replied , “Rabbi , the Jewish leaders were just now trying to stone you to death! Are you going there again ?” 11:9 Jesus replied , “Are there not twelve hours in a day ? If anyone walks around in the daytime , he does not stumble , because he sees the light of this world . 11:10 But if anyone walks around at night , he stumbles , because the light is not in him .” 11:11 After he said this , he added , “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep . But I am going there to awaken him .” 11:12 Then the disciples replied , “Lord , if he has fallen asleep , he will recover .” 11:13 (Now Jesus had been talking about his death , but they thought he had been talking about real sleep .) 11:14 Then Jesus told them plainly , “Lazarus has died , 11:15 and I am glad for your sake that I was not there , so that you may believe . But let us go to him .” 11:16 So Thomas (called Didymus ) said to his fellow disciples , “Let us go too , so that we may die with him .”
Speaking with Martha and Mary
11:17 When Jesus arrived , he found that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days already . 11:18 (Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem , 11:19 so many of the Jewish people of the region had come to Martha and Mary to console them over the loss of their brother .) 11:20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming , she went out to meet him , but Mary was sitting in the house . 11:21 Martha said to Jesus , “Lord , if you had been here , my brother would not have died . 11:22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God , God will grant you .” 11:23 Jesus replied , “Your brother will come back to life again.” 11:24 Martha said , “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day .” 11:25 Jesus said to her , “I am the resurrection and the life . The one who believes in me will live even if he dies , 11:26 and the one who lives and believes in me will never die . Do you believe this ?” 11:27 She replied , “Yes , Lord , I believe that you are the Christ , the Son of God who comes into the world .” 11:28 And when she had said this , Martha went and called her sister Mary , saying privately , “The Teacher is here and is asking for you .” 11:29 So when Mary heard this , she got up quickly and went to him . 11:30 (Now Jesus had not yet entered the village , but was still in the place where Martha had come out to meet him .) 11:31 Then the people who were with Mary in the house consoling her saw her get up quickly and go out . They followed her , because they thought she was going to the tomb to weep there .

Pericope

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Hymns

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  • Dikau Yang Bangkit, Mahamulia [KJ.194]
  • Haruskah Hanya Penebus [KJ.430]
  • Kristus Bangkit! Soraklah' [KJ.188]
  • Yesus, Kau Kehidupanku [KJ.179]
  • [Joh 11:11] If Death My Friend And Me Divide
  • [Joh 11:23] Within The Churchyard, Side By Side
  • [Joh 11:25] All Hail, Thou Resurrection!
  • [Joh 11:27] God The Father’s Only Son
  • [Joh 11:28] Master Hath Come, The
  • [Joh 11:28] We Have A Message

Questions

Sermon Illustrations

Who Is Jesus Christ?; A Transformed Body; Accounts of People Raised from the Dead; Four Principles of Prayer:; Mark 16:16; Mark 16:16; Immortality and Resurrection; God Never …; A Sign for Unbelievers

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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • 9:18-19 This incident evidently happened shortly after Jesus and His disciples returned from Gadara on the east side of the lake (cf. Mark 5:21-22; Luke 8:40-41). The name of this Capernium synagogue ruler was Jairus (Mark 5:...
  • This is one of the sections of Mark's Gospel that has a chiastic structure (cf. 3:22-30; 6:14-29; 11:15-19).A The appeal of Jairus for his daughter 5:21-24B The healing of the woman with the hemorrhage 5:25-34A' The raising o...
  • The appearance of Elijah on the mountain led to a discussion of his role as Messiah's forerunner. This conversation developed as the disciples followed Jesus down the mountain.9:9 Jesus again commanded secrecy (cf. 1:34, 43-4...
  • Though Mark did not record it, Jesus gave His disciples much additional instruction as they travelled from Capernaum in Galilee toward Jerusalem (cf. Matt. 8:19-22; 18:15-35; Luke 9:51-18:14; John 7:2-11:54). Evidently Jesus ...
  • 8:49-50 Jesus' words of encouragement as well as His recent demonstration of power prepared Jairus for what followed. He had just witnessed Jesus overcome ceremonial defilement and disease. He needed to believe that Jesus cou...
  • This is another incident involving women who became disciples of Jesus (cf. 8:1-3; et al.). Like the parable of the good Samaritan it shows Jesus overcoming prejudice. As the former parable illustrated the meaning of the seco...
  • In this parable the rich man and his brothers who did not listen to Moses and the prophets (vv. 29-31) represent the Pharisees (vv. 16-17). The Pharisees believed in a future life and a coming judgment, but they, as the rich ...
  • John's presentation of Jesus in his Gospel has been a problem to many modern students of the New Testament. Some regard it as the greatest problem in current New Testament studies.15Compared to the Synoptics that present Jesu...
  • In one sense the Gospel of John is more profound than the Synoptics. It is the most difficult Gospel for most expositors to preach and to teach for reasons that will become evident as we study it. In another sense, however, t...
  • I. Prologue 1:1-18A. The preincarnate Word 1:1-5B. The witness of John the Baptist 1:6-8C. The appearance of the Light 1:9-13D. The incarnation of the Word 1:14-18II. Jesus' public ministry 1:19-12:50A. The prelude to Jesus' ...
  • John began his Gospel by locating Jesus before the beginning of His ministry, before His virgin birth, and even before Creation. He identified Jesus as co-existent with God the Father and the Father's agent in providing creat...
  • John's return to the Word in verse 14 from verse 1 introduces new revelation about Him. Though still part of the prologue, the present section focuses on the Incarnation of the Word.1:14 The Word, who existed equal with God b...
  • The writer recorded John the Baptist's witness to Jesus' identity as preparation for his narration of Jesus' public ministry. He was the first of the Apostle John's witnesses to the Incarnation.Previously the writer had menti...
  • John now presented evidence that Jesus knew people as no others did and that many believed in His name (2:23). This constitutes further witness that He is the Son of God. John summarized several conversations that Jesus had w...
  • 6:35 Jesus now identified Himself as the bread about which He had been speaking (cf. v. 47; Isa. 55:1). He did not say He hadthe bread of life but that He wasthat bread. He claimed to be able to satisfy completely as bread an...
  • "John 7 has three time divisions: before the feast (vv. 1-10), in the midst of the feast (vv. 11-36), and on the last day of the feast (vv. 37-52). The responses during each of those periods can be characterized by three word...
  • Having announced His departure Jesus proceeded to offer the Holy Spirit for those who believed on Him (cf. chs. 14-16).7:37 The feast of Tabernacles lasted seven days (cf. Deut. 16:13). However the day following the feast was...
  • 8:48 Since the Jews could not refute Jesus' challenge they resorted to verbal abuse (cf. 7:52). Perhaps they called Him a Samaritan because He had questioned their ties to Abraham. This may have been a Samaritan attack agains...
  • The major theme of the Gospel, Jesus' identity as the Son of God, continues dominant. It was just as important for Jesus' disciples to grow in their understanding of who He was and to grow in their faith in Him as it was for ...
  • In this pericope John stressed Jesus' deliberate purpose in allowing Lazarus to die and the reality of his death.11:1-2 "Lazarus"probably is a variant of "Eleazar"meaning "God helps."379The Synoptic writers did not mention hi...
  • The scene now shifts from the region near Bethany of Perea (1:28; 10:40) to the Bethany in Judea. Both towns became sites where people believed on Jesus.11:17 There is some evidence that the later Jewish rabbis believed that ...
  • The emphasis in this pericope is on Jesus' compassion in the face of sin's consequences.11:30-32 Mary's physical response to Jesus was more emotional that Martha's had been, perhaps reflecting her temperament. Again we find M...
  • Jesus proceeded to vindicate His claim that He was the One who would raise the dead and provide life (v. 25).11:38 Jesus again felt the same angry emotion as He approached Lazarus' tomb (cf. v. 33). Tombs cut into the limesto...
  • Even this most powerful miracle failed to convince many that Jesus was God's Son. Many who had come to console Mary believed on Him, but the depth of their faith undoubtedly varied. A faith based on miracles is not the highes...
  • In contrast to the hatred that the religious leaders manifested stands the love that Mary demonstrated toward the One she had come to believe in. Her act of sacrificial devotion is a model for all true disciples. This is the ...
  • The importance of this incident in Jesus' ministry is evident from the fact that all four Gospel evangelists recorded it. Matthew and Mark placed this event before Mary's anointing of Jesus in Simon's house (vv. 1-8). However...
  • 14:5 Thomas voiced the disciples' continuing confusion about Jesus' destination. Apparently the "Father's house"did not clearly identify heaven to them. Without a clear understanding of the final destination they could not be...
  • Jesus realized that the Eleven did not fully understand what He had just revealed. He therefore encouraged them with a promise that they would understand His words later.14:25-26 Jesus had made these revelations to His discip...
  • 16:25 "These things I have spoken unto you"(NASB) indicates another transition in the discourse (cf. 14:25; 16:1, 4, 33; 17:1). Jesus acknowledged that He had not been giving direct answers to His disciples' questions. He had...
  • John omitted the earthquake, the angel rolling away the stone that covered the tomb entrance, and his sitting on the stone (Matt. 28:2-3). He also did not include the appearance of two angels to the women who visited the tomb...
  • This is the first of four of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances that John included in his Gospel.Jesus' Post-resurrection Appearances627Easter morningto Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:10-18)to other women (Matt. 28:9...
  • John did not mention when this conversation happened. It could have taken place anytime between Easter evening and the following Sunday. None of the evangelists recorded post-resurrection appearances between these two Sundays...
  • 20:26 John located this post-resurrection appearance eight days after Easter Sunday, namely the following Sunday. His "eight days"(Gr. hemeras okto) evidently included both Sundays. Perhaps he identified the day because, by t...
  • John followed the climactic proof that Jesus is God's Son with an explanation of his purpose for writing this narrative of Jesus' ministry. This explanation constitutes a preliminary conclusion to the book.20:30 "Therefore"ti...
  • Stephen's speech caused a revolution in the Jews' attitude toward the disciples of Jesus, and his martyrdom began the first persecution of the Christians.Luke recorded the Sanhedrin's response to Stephen's message to document...
  • 3:8 Paul had regarded his advantages over other people as what put him in a specially good position with God. However, he had come to realize that absolutely nothing apart from Jesus Christ's work on the cross was of any valu...
  • Paul next turned to another subject on which his readers needed instruction in view of their newness in Christ (cf. 3:10). He outlined the immediate hope of his readers. He did this to explain that those of their number who h...
  • This pericope furnishes the plot for the drama that unfolds in the rest of the chapter.12:1 John saw a "sign,"something that signified or represented something else (cf. v. 3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:29). Usually John used ...
  • ". . . it is not difficult to see why the early church understood John to be teaching a millennium in Revelation 20. Three arguments support this interpretation: (1) the teaching of two resurrections, (2) the binding of Satan...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • If a man die. shall he live again?'--Job 14:14.I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die.'--John 11:25-2...
  • Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When He had heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was.'--John 11:5-6.WE learn from a later verse of this chapter that Lazarus...
  • Believest thou this! She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord.'--John 11:26-27.As each of these annual sermons which I have preached for so long comes round, I feel more solemnly the growing probability that it may be the last. Like a m...
  • Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. 31. 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 ...
  • But his arrival there brought calm and majesty. Now the time has come which He had in view when He left his refuge beyond Jordan; and, as is often the case with ourselves, suddenly tremor and tumult leave the spirit when face...
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