Seven Miracles in the Gospel of John (Part 7)
John 11:1-46
I. SLEEPING (v. 1-27)
Verse 3 – a man named Lazarus (v. 1) is SICK, he is the brother of Mary and Martha
Verse 4 – “This sickness is not unto death…”
Verse 6 – interesting that the Lord WAITED to go see Lazarus, also Lazarus’ condition got WORSE!
- cf. Psalm 27:14
- cf. Psalm 130:5 – “in his word do I hope” – KNOWING that He WILL return, yet we WAIT
Verse 11 – “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth…”
Verse 13 – “Howbeit Jesus spake of his death” – they thought SLEEP, so WHICH is it – SLEEP or DEATH?
- cf. 1 Kings 2:10, 11
- cf. 1 Kings 11:43
- cf. Psalm 13:3
- cf. Daniel 12:1, 2
Verse 15 – “Lazarus is dead”
***Are verses 25 and 26 a CONTRADICTION???
Does a person who BELIEVES in Jesus Christ DIE… or NOT?
Verse 25 – “though he were dead, yet shall he live:”
Verse 26 – “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die…”
This ONLY makes sense if you understand that the PHYSICAL and SPIRITUAL are NOT the same!
Another application – TWO GROUPS – cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17
- v. 25 – “the dead in Christ” (v. 16)
- v. 26 – “we which are alive and remain” (v. 17)
II. WEEPING (v. 28-37)
Verse 31 – Mary WEEPING
Verse 33 – Mary AND the Jews WEEPING
- First mention of anyone WEEPING – cf. Genesis 23:2 – Abraham WEPT over Sarah after she died
- Second mention of anyone WEEPING – cf. Genesis 43:29-30 – Joseph WEEPING after seeing his brother Benjamin after many years
- Joseph KNEW who Benjamin was, but Benjamin had no idea who Joseph was
Verse 35 – “Jesus wept” – WHY was Jesus weeping?
- The first group – Mary, Martha, and the Jews are weeping because they are SORROWFUL over the death of a loved one
- Jesus Christ KNOWS these Jews and is WEEPING – He KNOWS them, but they do not REALIZE who HE is!
Verse 33 – Jesus GROANS and was TROUBLED
Verse 39 – Jesus GROANS after this question (DOUBTING Him) is asked
- Jesus WEPT over the UNBELIEF of those present
- Luke 19:41-44 – Jesus WEEPING over Jerusalem
II. RISING (v. 38-46)
Verse 38 – a CAVE with a STONE – sound familiar?
Verse 39 – FOUR days – corruption set in – Jesus was in the grave THREE days and rose BEFORE corruption set in
Verse 42 – Jesus’ desire was for those present to BELIEVE on Him
Verse 43 – In these miracles, the WORDS of Jesus Christ have made ALL the difference!!! Here it is THREE words: “Lazarus, come forth.”
Verse 44 – envision Lazarus BOUND yet COMING OUT OF THE GRAVE!
Verses 45-46 – notice the DIVISION between the BELIEVERS and UNBELIEVERS
Remember where we STARTED this whole study – cf. John 20:30-31 – these miracles were RECORDED so that we might read them and BELIEVE!
- There are TWO TYPES of people in this world – those who BELIEVE on Jesus Christ and are only trusting in Him for salvation… and those who DO NOT BELIEVE on Him