The raising of Lazarus
Icebreaker
Ask your group to recall instances where people are raised from the dead in the Bible – both old and new testaments. Here are most, if not all, of them. Maybe prompt with verses if appropriate.
· In 1 Kings 17:22 Elijah raised a boy (son of the widow at Zarephath)
· In 2 Kings 4:34-35 Elisha raised a boy (the Shunammite’s son)
· Jesus raised Jairus' daughter (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:41-42; Luke 8:52-56)
· Jesus raised a widow's son (Luke 7:11-15)
· In Acts 9:40-41 Peter raised a woman (Tabitha) & in Acts 20:9-20 Paul raised a man (Eutychus)
Context
As we have seen from the icebreaker, Jesus was operating in the tradition of the great prophets Elijah and Elisha in bringing people back to life. Peter, working in God’s power, did so in his ministry too.
Jesus is moving closer to Jerusalem and to the conclusion of his ministry. Following Jesus’ last visit to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Dedication he travelled into the countryside east of Jerusalem and east of the Jordan river to preach in the villages probably in a region called Perea (you may recall that Herod Antipas was ruler, or tetrarch, of Galilee and Perea). Jesus had incensed the Jewish Leaders in Jerusalem to the point where he was narrowly avoided stoning, so he was safer in Perea.
But then Jesus and the disciples get the message to come quickly to tend to Lazarus at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus in Bethany, some 2 miles south-east of Jerusalem. In many ways it is the call that marks the move to Jerusalem and beginning of the end of Jesus earthly ministry. Jesus returns to the house of his friends to perform his seventh and final sign recorded by John before he subsequently moves on to Jerusalem.
The Message of bad news: Read John 11 v 1-16
Q1. Jesus loved Mary, Martha and Lazarus dearly (v 1-3) but he did not rush back immediately to save Lazarus. Why do you think that was so?
· Did he have important ministry to finish beyond the Jordan?
· Did he simply know he had control of the situation (see v4 and v11)?
· Was it important that Lazarus was dead on his arrival at Mary and Martha’s house?
Q2. Does this give us any insight into God’s timing in answering our prayers – why sometimes he does not give us an immediate response?
Q3. Why, in v16 does Thomas say of Jesus; “Let us also go, that we may die with him”?
Refer back to Jesus various visits to Jerusalem and particularly to the preceding account of his last visit at the Feast of Dedication. See John 10 v 31-39. He and the disciples narrowly avoided a severe stoning and narrowly escaped the grasp of the city Jews.
Jesus with Mary and Martha: Read John 11 v 17-37
Q4. Is there any significance to Lazarus being 4 days dead on Jesus’ arrival?
In his book “The life and times of Jesus the Messiah”, A. Edersheim notes that the Jewish mourning customs of the time regarded the first 3 days after death as being the most intense period of mourning during which the dead person was still “present” to witness the mourning and grief of family and friends. Other Middle Eastern faiths (e.g. Zoroastrianism) had similar 3-day beliefs. Therefore, by the 4th day, Lazarus would have been regarded as well and truly dead. Indeed, as the ever-practical Martha notes in v39, by this time there would have been a bad odour because decay would have set in.
Q5. Re-read v21. Can we believe that even when the “bad thing” has already happened to us or others, that Jesus still has power to redeem the situation?
· Martha accepts that her brother has died but still puts the situation in Jesus hands.
· Jesus reminds Martha that not only can he raise Lazarus (v23) but he IS the resurrection.
Q6. Do you think Martha understands what Jesus tells her in v 25-26? What does it mean for you and how does it put your life here today into perspective?
Q7. What does v35 tell us about Jesus?
It seems clear that Lazarus’ death is part of the unfolding revelation of who Jesus was and at one level the cynic could say that Lazarus death was just a stage upon which Jesus revealed his identity as the “resurrection and the life” but v37 tells us something different. Even if God has a plan complex and vast beyond our imagination, he meets us personally, loves us and is moved by what moves us.
Jesus raises Lazarus: Read John 11 v 38-45
It is intriguing, I think, that Jesus declares that his prayer is so that others may hear and believe. After all, he knows that the Father always hears him.
Q8. How big a thing do we feel comfortable praying for? How do we react if we do not see the answer we are hoping for?
Q9. Can our prayers be prophetic? In view on v41-42, how carefully should we consider and bring before God the words we pray when called to pray in public?
Prayer
· Ask that our Father might increase our faith. That we may be bold to approach Him with all things and have the faith and wisdom to accept the outcome.
· Give thanks that that, even within God’s vast plan that, just as Jesus wept over Lazarus, the He cares for each one of us.