John 11
Common Theme
Jesus reveals His power over death and His identity as the resurrection and the life. The raising of Lazarus displays God’s glory and foreshadows Christ’s own victory over the grave.
Questions
- How does Jesus’ delay in coming to Lazarus challenge or strengthen your understanding of God’s timing?
- What does this miracle teach us about the relationship between faith and seeing the glory of God?
God Shot
God shows Himself as the Giver of life who holds authority even over death. His compassion and power work together to reveal His glory and His desire for people to believe in Him.
Deeper✝
John 11
John 11 and 12 mark a pivotal moment in Jesus’s ministry, focusing on themes of death and life, particularly through the story of Lazarus. Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, falls ill, prompting his sisters, Mary and Martha, to seek Jesus’s help. However, Jesus delays his visit, allowing Lazarus to die, which serves to amplify the miracle of his resurrection. Upon arriving in Bethany, Jesus encounters deep mourning, reflecting the community’s strong ties and the cultural practices surrounding death.
Martha expresses faith in Jesus’s healing abilities, leading to a profound revelation where Jesus declares himself as "the resurrection and the life." This statement emphasizes that eternal life is found in a relationship with him, transcending physical death. Mary, overwhelmed with grief, also confronts Jesus, who is deeply moved by the sorrow surrounding him, showcasing his empathy and anger towards death.
The climax occurs when Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating his authority over death and foreshadowing his own resurrection. This miracle leads to a division among the witnesses, with some believing in Jesus while others report to the Pharisees, prompting the Sanhedrin to plot his death. Caiaphas’s statement about sacrificing one man for the nation hints at the greater theological implications of Jesus’s mission.
Ultimately, the narrative invites reflection on the nature of faith, the reality of death, and the hope found in Jesus, who offers life both now and eternally. The story underscores the importance of community, mourning, and the transformative power of belief in Christ.
✝Deeper summary excerpt from NIV Application Commentary, One-Volume Edition.