We Go So that You May Believe

Lesson #177

We ended the last lesson with the disciples thinking that Lazarus was alive and having a restful sleep, but, “Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”” (John 11:14-15 ESV). There are some who question the death of Lazarus, but Jesus makes it very clear, “Lazarus has died” and his death was, I am sure, not an easy thing. Do you anticipate your death to be an easy thing, something you think will be a pleasant experience? Lazarus was sick and any sickness that snuffs our life is not something you would call pleasant. If Jesus loved this family so deeply, then why did he allow Lazarus to suffer unto death like this. How is this love to set Lazarus up to suffer and die and cause grief among family and friends?

Jesus also made it clear in his statement to his disciples, that he is glad that he was not there while Lazarus was sick, because if he was he would be expected to heal him. Jesus did not want to heal him, but wanted him dead because he wanted to demonstrate his power in physically raising Lazarus from the dead and use that as an illustration of his ability to raise all believers and provide them with perfect bodies in heaven. Jesus had planned this event to help his disciples, and others, believe. Now that we know that the death of Lazarus was planned for a purpose, we are ready to go visit the family of the deceased and learn from Jesus. But I am not so sure about the disciples: “So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”” (John 11:16 ESV). The disciples had no clue what Jesus was going to do. Their main concern was their safety. Think about their lack of faith. They were with Jesus in the boat in the midst of a mighty storm and witnessed his power in subduing the storm, so why couldn’t they believe he could protect them from an angry mob?

This brings us to the end of the first major section of chapter 11, defined by John 11:1 – 16. We will finish this lesson by starting the next major section of chapter 11, defined by John 11:17 – 27. In this section we find another I AM statement Jesus claims for himself. In John 11:25, Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life,” which is the fifth in a series of seven. For further information on the “I AM” statements of Jesus see Lesson #137.

Prayer

Lord, the thing that stood out in this lesson is how at times you allow us to go through suffering for various reasons. You may want to reveal something about what we are like, about how we are growing or maybe not growing; you may want to reveal to us something about yourself that we need to know; maybe you want to teach us something or grow our faith; maybe it is something else like what Job went through, but whatever it is, it will be for our benefit as we will see in coming lessons when you raise Lazarus from the dead. 

I Go to Awaken Him

Lesson #176

After being told that Lazarus was sick, Jesus waits for two days to allow him to die. “Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”” (John 11:7 ESV). After waiting for two days I think the disciples were kind of surprised that he was going now, especially since it was not safe for Jesus to go to Judea now. “The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?”” (John 11:8 ESV). Think about how you would feel if you were a disciple and knew that Jesus was going to return to an area of danger. Is your concern for Jesus or for yourself? If they were to stone Jesus, what might they do to you? What thoughts might you have about why Jesus was going back? Was it to grieve with the family, to encourage them, or maybe raise Lazarus from the dead? How does Jesus answer them?

“Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.”” (John 11:9-10 ESV). Jesus begins his answer with a physical example of working during the twelve hours of daylight. At night when it is dark you would not be able to see and would stumble around. But the wording Jesus uses implies something deeper; it suggests a spiritual dimension. Since Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12), then to walk in the day means to walk in the light that Jesus provides; to walk in fellowship with him, believing in and obeying his words. In contrast, to walk in the night means you not walking with Jesus in his light; you are not in fellowship with him and you do not believe in or obey his words. To walk in darkness apart from him means there is no light or spiritual life within. But there is still another level to the response Jesus gives to his disciples. As long as Jesus is on earth, it is day for him and he has work to do. At this time the work Jesus has to do in located in Judea. As Jesus continues to work he gets closer and closer to the final work he has been assigned to do on the cross.

“After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”” (John 11:11 ESV). Again a dual meaning is conveyed in this response. The disciples hear physical sleep and wonder why Jesus is going for the purpose of wakening Lazarus from needed restful sleep, but Jesus knows Lazarus is dead and he is going for the purpose of raising a dead stinking body to life. As you can imagine, the disciples and Jesus are on two entirely different pages at this point. This is clear from the next two verses: “The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.”” (John 11:12-13 ESV).

We will finish this conversation in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, the multilevel found in these verses point out a rather unique aspect of the Bible. We have looked at many verses in which there is a physical aspect, that often doesn’t make any sense to an unbeliever, but when studies by one spiritual alive it takes on meaning. To an unbeliever, the Bible is not much more than a history book containing stories and poems, but to the believer it is indeed a living book. Father, as I study for these lessons, the life I encounter nourishes my soul and draws me closer to your heart. 

Lazarus Dies

Lesson #176

“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill” (John 11:1 – 2 ESV).  We spend most of the last lesson trying to determine if this Mary also anointed the head of Jesus. Scripture doesn’t name that person, but tradition identifies this Mary with that woman. After considering a number of things we also assumed the probably that it was this Mary. Let us continue in our study.

“So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill” (John 11:3 ESV). Lazarus was apparently sick enough to cause concern, so the sisters sent someone to inform Jesus that Lazarus was sick. John makes it very clear by the wording of this request that Jesus had a special place in his heart for this family. “But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it”” (John 11:4 ESV). Looking ahead, we know that Lazarus does die, but if we look ahead even further, we know that he lives again physically. Death is not the real issue, but the glory of God is. Jesus healed illness and raised others to increase the faith of those witnessing the events, demonstrating his ability to do the works of God. In restoring physical life to Lazarus, Jesus will use this as an illustration in teaching those there, that he has the power to also restore spiritual life. In chapter 9, Jesus used a man born blind and demonstrated the works of God by restoring his sight. What Jesus has in mind here is to demonstrate that he has the power to give spiritual life to a person born spiritually dead.

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11:5 ESV). Again, John emphasizes the love Jesus has for this family because he knows that Jesus is going to do something that on the surface doesn’t show much love on his part for this family. “So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was” (John 11:6 ESV). Jesus knew that if he stayed those two extra days, it would mean certain death for Lazarus. Jesus chose to wait to be sure Lazarus would be dead when he filled the request to come to be with Lazarus and his sisters. At the end of waiting these two days, Jesus tells his disciples his plans to go visit. We will look at their response in our next lesson.

Prayer

Father, how often you do things that at first glance seem not to make sense or demonstrate your love for me, but time has a way to revealing that your ways and thoughts are not necessarily my ways and thoughts. You are all knowing and you see things and have plans I don’t know about. Scripture is clear and you demonstrate to me so often that you deeply love me and want the best for me. Father, help me fully trust all of my life into your loving hands. Conform me into the image of your beloved Son. 

Lazarus Is Sick

Lesson #175

With this lesson we begin our study of the first major section of chapter 11, defined by John 11:1 – 16. In this section Jesus is notified that Lazarus was sick, but Jesus does not respond and waits until he dies before going to him. His death will provide Jesus with the opportunity to present some very important material. Let us begin our study and see what God has for us to learn from this section.

“Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha” (John 11:1 ESV). The setting of our narrative is the village of Bethany, located about two miles from Jerusalem (verse 18). The three main characters of our narrative are named: Lazarus, Mary and Martha; a brother and two sisters. Bethany was identified as the village of Mary and Martha, suggesting that they were well known by people in the area. It seems from Luke 10:36 that these women were accustomed to entertain Jesus with their hospitality. Since Lazarus was identified simply as living in Bethany, we can conclude that he was not as well-known as his sisters.

“It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill” (John 11:2 ESV). This Mary is not the sinful woman who anointed the Lord’s feet at the table in the Pharisee’s house in Jerusalem (Luke 7:37). She was a different Mary. This anointing that John identifies with Mary, at this time, has not occurred yet (John 12:3), but is important enough to this event to mention here. John mentions this anointing to show a very special relationship between Mary and Jesus.

I probably should not raise this point, but I think it demonstrates the importance of careful Bible study. There is another anointing we all know about that is recorder in both Mathew and Mark. “Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at the table” (Matthew 26:6 – 7 NASB). Who was this woman? It is commonly thought to be the same Mary that anointed his feet in John 12: “Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair” (John 12:1 – 3 ESV). Some say Mary also anointed his head and is thus the woman in the Matthew 26 account. Careful inspection reveals the dinner in the house of Simon the leper occurred two days before Passover. The dinner put on by Mary and Martha appeared to be at their home and it occurred six days before Passover.  If we assume two separate dinners, which satisfies the Scriptures, it is possible to assume the woman in Mathew 26 was Mary. That conclusion is based on the foot and head anointing being acts of love expressed by Mary toward Jesus and that the anointing of the head of Jesus and what he says ties very well into the account being developed in John 11. I therefore tend to lean toward the woman in Matthew being Mary. This is not directly supported by Scripture and shows why it is important to distinguish between truth and tradition. Until this study I had assumed that the Scripture named Mary as the woman who anointed the head of Jesus, but I was mistaken.

Prayer

Father, this lesson enforces my resolve to not teach from denominational Bible studies. These studies are a level removed from the Scriptures allowing interpretation to be heard as truth. These studies cover the material quickly and usually include just the easy parts and do not allow time to uncover what the Bible really teaches. I believe this is a good reason why believers today are so ill-informed on what the Bible actually teaches. Father, we desperately need to take time for proper Biblical training to lay a foundation for holy living and an effective witness. Father, we desperately need your discipline in this matter. 

Understand Who I Am by My Works

Lesson #174

We come to a text that I find very difficult to clearly explain. “Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?” (John 10:34 – 36 ESV). The reference to “gods” is from Psalm 82:6, but that doesn’t help me and I don’t find real insight from commentaries at the level I want to write here. There was something about what was said that the Jews seem to understand that caused them to back off a bit. What Jesus said doesn’t lead to any conclusion that resolved the matter, but was a maneuver on his part to keep the stones from flying and gives him time to say more on the matter.

“If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands” (John 10:37 – 39 ESV). Jesus wants them to seriously consider his works and if they do not sincerely believe he is doing the works of his Father, then they shouldn’t believe what he says. But, Jesus says, if I do the works of my Father and you don’t believe me, at least believe the works so that “you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” That was more than they could take, so “they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands” because it was not yet time for him to die as he had more work to accomplish. This is true for you and I as believers. If there is still work God wants to use us for, then our lives are protected from death until we are released. Jesus escapes from their hands and the Jerusalem story ends with anger, unbelief and murderous plans.

We next find Jesus across the Jordan where the atmosphere is much improved. “He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” And many believed in him there” (John 10:40 – 42 ESV). Jesus goes to the place where John the Baptist had prepared the soil for his initial arrival and remained there for a while. John did no miracles, but simply said things about Jesus, which the people realized, after being with him, were true. Here faith had the opportunity to flourish and many believed in him there as we come to the end of chapter 10.

Prayer

Father, as I watch Jesus do the work of ministry among the people I can’t help but think about my brothers and sisters in other countries where they face persecution. In spite of the dangers they continue to witness with some who hear believing and others growing in hostility, just as it was with Jesus. Some are able to continue to do the work of ministry for some time and others are imprisoned or killed in a short time, but as with Jesus I believe they are able to continue until their work in finished. Why then does the western Christian seem to be an abnormality? Is it because our idols of safety and comfort have bound us? 

Evidence that Jesus Is God

Lesson #173

In John 10:24 the Jews asked Jesus to tell them plainly if he was the Christ. In John 10:30, Jesus made it very plain who he was when he said, “I and the Father are one.” In this lesson we will look at John 10:31 – 33 and the reaction by the Jews to who Jesus said he was.

“The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.”” (John 10:31 – 33 ESV).

In verse 30, when Jesus claimed to be one with the Father, it was clear to the Jews that he was claiming to be God. They heard blasphemy because in verse 30 they said, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” When Jesus claimed to be one with the Father, was he really implying that he was God? To be sure that is what Jesus meant, we will list six passages in John that support this.

1. John 1:1, 14a: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . .  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” This is very clear that Jesus is God.
2. John 5:19: “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” It is impossible for any human to say that he does only what he sees the Father doing.
3. John 8:58: “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am”. Jesus has to be more than human to say he existed before Abraham did.
4.  John 10:18: “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” It is impossible for a human to be able to raise himself from the dead.
5. John 12:41: “Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.” John considers the glory of God that Isaiah saw to be the glory of Jesus.
6.  John 20:28: “Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”” Jesus accepted the assessment of Thomas as to who he was and also his worship.

From the above verses, we know for sure that Jesus was claiming to be equal with God and for that the Jews were about to kill him. Since Jesus was to die on a cross, not by stoning, he had to again escape from them or somehow defuse the situation. We will see how he does that in our next lesson.

Prayer

Father, thank you for the evidence, given in John, that supports the claim that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, the Messiah. Thank you for the evidence we as believers have by the indwelling Spirit that Jesus is indeed the way and the truth and the life. I long for that day when I will be able to see Jesus, face to face in all his glory. 

Are You One of His Sheep?

Lesson #172

We continue with the response Jesus was making to the request made by the gathering about the clarity of what Jesus had been saying about himself. They wanted him to clearly tell them whether he was the Christ or not. We will look at John 10:25 – 30. “Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep”” (John 10:25 – 26 ESV). Jesus has already told them he is the Christ the promised Messiah, but they do not believe. Is there a reason they do not believe; is there a reason why your friend or neighbor does not believe? I believe there is. Those who are children of God, “who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13 ESV). It is not our will that we believe, but the will of God. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44 ESV). No one born physically has the desire or the ability to love and believe what God says concerning salvation. God the Father in his sovereignty, determines who his children will be. We are adopted and he makes the choice as to who will be born again.

Jesus tells them they do not believe because they are not among his sheep. Those whom the Father chooses are lost sheep that we are sent out into the world to find. As we share or preach the word, they will hear and be drawn to Jesus and at the right time the Father will cause them to be born again and Jesus will give them eternal life. These lost sheep, by hearing the word, grow in their understanding, like a baby grows in the womb of its mother. When the time is right, these lost sheep are called out of the sheepfold by Jesus and they follow him in belief and are born again.

Jesus continues by saying, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27 – 28 ESV). It is clear from the response of these people that they do not hear with understanding or believe what Jesus is saying and therefore are not his sheep. Notice three important conditions: 1) his sheep hear his voice, 2) Jesus knows them by name, and 3) his sheep follow him. But those who are his sheep he gives eternal life, which has no end. Once you have been given eternal life you will never perish, because if you could then you weren’t given eternal life. There is therefore no possibility of you losing your salvation. There is also no power in the universe that can snatch a sheep out of his hand. He gave his life for us and as a result we are eternally secure with him. Jesus adds more: “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one” (John 10:29 – 30 ESV). We are the Father’s children and therefore protected by the power of almighty God. Jesus then draws unity with the Father. Here we see two persons and one God. As you can expect, this will result in a violent reaction on the part of those who are not his sheep.

Prayer

Father, as I study for these lessons, I realize my need for help to live like a member of the family of God. My talk, my thoughts, my behavior and my appearance should reflect who I belong to. I should stand out like a foreigner who is living amongst us. I should seek to be holy and righteous and reflect your love to those around me. God, I pray for your help to live as I should.