Seven Miracles in the Gospel of John (Part 7)

by · 02/08/2020

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

  1. v. 25 – “the dead in Christ” (v. 16)
  2. 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