The Decision to Kill Jesus

Lesson #184

At the end of our last lesson, we were told that some of the Jews “went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.” “So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”” (John 11:47 – 48 ESV). The religious leaders come together and prove that they are controlled by the powers of darkness by what they say. They confess that Jesus performs many signs that demonstrate his divine power, but they do not accept the fact that God is in their midst and desires to reveal great and marvelous things to them. They do not consider what God wants to accomplish in and through them, but instead they think of the potential loss of power and prestige as people believe in and follow Jesus in this new expression of religion. Clearly they are not true shepherds because they are not interested in leading people to God, but to keep them under their control. They are afraid that if people leave Judaism and establish this Christian form of worship and witness under Jesus Christ, that the Romans will come and remove their temple and control in their nation. These Jewish leaders are willing to oppose God and what he wants to accomplish in the hearts and lives of people to maintain their own position of glory. Clearly they have given up God’s call for them to represent him to the people they were asked to shepherd. They clearly are not willing to humble themselves to serve the people, as Jesus is, but to seek glory that is rightfully God’s.

As they make fools out of themselves, “. . . one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.”” (John 11:49 – 50 ESV). What Jesus is doing is unconventional; it is radical. It is a behavior that is outside of their belief and their comfort zone. Their religion is neatly packages in a box with secure walls and provides them with a measure of safety. It is Jesus who has the potential of unsetting the Romans and thus their wrath against them. Since Jesus is the problem, Caiaphas presents a brilliant plan; eliminate that which has the potential of upsetting the Romans; kill Jesus. With this plan, only one person needs to die, the trouble makes, bringing the situation back to normal, thus protecting them and the people from possible destruction. This is indeed a brilliant plan as it eliminates the one they all hate so much.

Prayer

Father, I see a similar thinking with the radical Islam believers, who are convinced that Allah is the one true God, who believe Muhammad is the true prophet and teacher of Islam, and who feel threatened by Christians. Just as the Jews decided to eliminate Jesus and his threat to them, these terrorists have decided to eliminate Christians. Father, the persecution that Jesus experienced and that Christians experience today I see as a normal expression of the sinful nature of humans. The normal expression of sin is to hate God and without your intervention in our lives, I am convinced that no one has the ability on his own to come to Christ. Father, thank you for your provision, in Jesus Christ, for our salvation. 

Power of the Spoken Word

Lesson #183

We ended the last lesson at John 11:43: “When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”” (ESV). In the beginning God said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3). The universe came into existence by God speaking it into existence.  “He (Jesus) was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:2 – 3 ESV). It appears that Jesus was the one who spoke and out of nothing came everything. “He was in the world, and the world was made through him” (John 1:10a ESV). God created everything, but the Father and the Spirit worked through Jesus who spoke the words; he who is known as the Word of God (John 1:1). Getting closer to our text, “Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way” (John 4:50 ESV). Jesus who spoke the universe into existence can surely speak a person back to life. Here, Jesus cries out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” Should we not expect Lazarus to come out?

“The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”” (John 11:44 ESV). John is rather short on words here, saying only that the man who had died came out. Nothing was recorded about Lazarus’s reaction or any of the aftermath of his raising. Nothing was said about how Lazarus came out with his hands and feet bound with linen strips and his face wrapped with a cloth, but in reality these are but details we can live without. The important thing is that Jesus spoke and that which was decomposing is now alive and well. Jesus, as the resurrection, will speak and the decomposed bodies of those in Christ will rise to inherit perfect bodies to house our perfect souls and conclude our salvation. Jesus then gives one last instruction to unbind Lazarus and let him go.

You can imagine the divided response that occurred as a result of this miracle? Let us start the next section of this chapter, defined by John 11:45 – 53, and see what the reactions are. “Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done” (John 11:45 – 46 ESV). As we have seen in the past, when Jesus performs a miracle we have those who believe in him and we have those who do not and oppose him. This division exists even to this day and is so clear in many countries in the world where persecution continues to grow in intensity.

Prayer

Father, I pray for my readers that you would bless them through the word that is contained in each lesson. I pray that it would not return empty, but that it would accomplish that purpose for which it was sent. I pray that along with me, these lessons would draw us closer in our walk with the Lord; that we would learn more about who the real Jesus is and his love and provision for us. 

The Preparation and the Call

Lesson #182

In our last lesson we started the next section, defined by John 11:38 – 44. The section begins with Jesus giving instructions to remove the stone that blocked the entryway to the tomb followed by Martha’s concern that maybe that was not such a good idea because surely by this time the body would begin to smell or as some translations say, “stink.” We will pick up the conversation at this point.

“Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”” (John 11:40 ESV). Jesus reminds Martha of their earlier conversation in which they talked about he being the resurrection, but Martha did not form a sufficient hope to expect some kind of miracle at this point. It seems that Jesus and Martha had more conversation than John recorded and from that conversation Jesus made it clear that if Martha believed what Jesus said, then she should now be expecting to see the glory of God. Are we not often like Martha when we read certain promises in the Bible? There is so much in our natural life, especially here in the west, that tends to interfere with our faith being able to live out the promise.

“So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”” (John 11:41 – 42 ESV). Not knowing what to expect, the people are obedient and took away the stone. As Jesus lifts up his eyes toward heaven there must have been dead silence to hear and see what he was going to do. Jesus begins by addressing God as his Father and thanks him for being readily available to hear him. But Jesus said, “you have heard me” implying that Jesus has already been in prayer about what is soon to take place. Jesus and his Father are clearly on the same page and are about to do something very revolutionary. This preliminary conversation with his Father is for the benefit of the people standing around, that they would have a stronger understanding that Jesus is the Son of God and that he was sent by his Father to accomplish the necessary work to secure our salvation. The demonstration that is about to take place is to advance the understanding of what that work involves.

Having establish communication with his Father, in the hearing of the people, Jesus then “cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”” (John 11:43 ESV). We will stop here and start the next lesson at this point.

Prayer

Father, the point that stood out for me in this lesson was the question, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” Lord, in our western culture in which we have so much it seems we seldom have no other options but to call out to you for help and then watch your hand provide. As I read the testimonies of those under persecution, I realize their walk with you is very different than my walk with you is. Persecution provides so many opportunities to believe and see your glory that we don’t have here. 

At the Tomb

Lesson #181

When Jesus saw Mary weeping at his feet and the Jews also weeping, he was greatly troubled and he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” (John 11:34 ESV). The pieces are coming together, emotions are sober, and Jesus has a gathering of people around him. He asks where they laid Lazarus and they told him to follow them and they would show him. As they near the tomb where Lazarus lay, the emotions of Jesus bubbled over and “Jesus wept” (John 11:34 ESV). This is the shortest verse in the Bible, but it demonstrates the humanity of Jesus.

As Jesus wept, “the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”” (John 11:35 – 36 ESV). Again the Jews are divided into two groups. The first group speaks with candor and modesty and point out the love Jesus had for Lazarus, but the second group maliciously slander him for not healing Lazarus to keep him from dying. If Jesus had the power to give sight to a man born blind, then surely, they reason, he could have prevented this death. They had expectations of what Jesus should have done and since he failed to meet these expectations, they now turn against him with complaint. Have you ever expected God to do something for you and when he didn’t your expectation turned into a complaint? We need to be careful not to subject God to the desires of our flesh and limit him from doing greater things for us in his time.

“Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it” (John 11:38 ESV). Jesus knows what he is going to do with Lazarus and as a result Lazarus will again have to experience physical death. Jesus also knows the hatred that will increase against him when he links the raising of Lazarus to him being the resurrection and he knows the extreme suffering he must endure when he takes upon himself our sin and drinks completely the cup of God’s wrath and then dies in our place to defeat the power of death.

“Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”” (John 11:39 ESV). Jesus moves into action and gives orders to take away the stone that sealed the tomb where Lazarus lay and when he does, Martha cries out in shock and disbelief. Her thoughts go to the decomposing body of her brother and wants things left as they are to take their natural course. There is no thought, based on her earlier conversation with Jesus about the resurrection, that Jesus could take his decomposing body and raise it again to good health. Her course of action is to leave things as they are, but in so doing she limits Jesus in the work he was sent to do. She fails to grasp the fact that standing before her is the eternal Son of God who spoke the universe into existence. Beyond this, Jesus must demonstrate and convince those present that he is the resurrection and that he has the power to raise from the grave all who die in him. Jesus needed this decomposing body of Lazarus as a means of demonstrating to all of us that one day our decomposed bodies will be raised as a perfect eternal body to house our eternal soul. What a glorious day that will be and being in Jesus we will experience that resurrection.

Prayer

Father, as I write about what Jesus is about to do with the decomposing body of Lazarus and realize that he will raise each one of our decomposed bodies to perfect eternal bodies to house our eternal souls, I get real excited. What Jesus is about to do is such a clear example that he is the resurrection and what he will do for us in the end. Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus! 

Mary Goes to Meet Jesus

Lesson #180

In our last lesson, Martha had just informed Mary that Jesus was calling for her and quickly rose to go to him. “When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there” (John 11:31 ESV). I believe it was Martha’s intent to have Mary be alone with Jesus, but that wasn’t going to happen as the Jews who were in the house consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out so they followed her. They assumed she was going to the tomb to weep, but they soon found out differently. This may have been what Jesus was planning on because he wants the Jews to witness another miracle, designed to further their understanding of who he really is and why his Father sent him to earth.

“Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”” (John 11:32 ESV). Notice the difference in the approach of these two sisters when meeting Jesus. Martha faces Jesus and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”, but Mary fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” They both said the same thing, but their body language was quite different. I think Martha was showing more pride and that Jesus didn’t care enough to be there to meet their need. Mary shows some disappointment, but her posture reflects love and a measure of forgiveness.

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled” (John 11:33 ESV). Another difference between these two sisters is how they are affected by the death of their brother. Maratha doesn’t show much emotion and is very businesslike during this family tragedy. Mary, on the other hand, is deeply moved by the death of Lazarus; was the one morning and is the one now weeping at the feet of Jesus. The emotion of Mary was felt by the Jews and they weep along with her. This weeping caused Jesus to be deeply moved in his spirit and deeply troubled him. Maratha seems to stand out as being different from those gathered there. She is clearly the one in charge and seems to feels responsible to take care of things during this time of trial for the family. With Mary and the Jews, Jesus feels the emotion of the situation and that greatly troubles him.

Jesus may have been deeply trouble for several reasons. Jesus is also human and in his spirit he is troubled because by allowing the death of his friend he has brought such grief and caused such suffering for his friends. Jesus may also feel some anger at the evil of death and have thoughts about his suffering, which is needed to allow the power of God to flow through him in overcoming death. Jesus knows his plans for Lazarus and how he will use the miracle of raising him to demonstrate that he is the resurrection. Jesus knows that this will bring him one big step closer to his death on the cross.

Let us stop here and finish up this section in our next lesson when we will try to answer the question, “Why did Jesus weep?”

Prayer

Father, I am touched by the difference in the approach of these two sisters toward Jesus. Maratha seems upset that Jesus failed to meet her expectations concerning Lazarus. Mary was disappointed, but in humility and love she was at his feet weeping. Martha seems to desire control and results, but Mary is willing to surrender and see what is next. Of these two, Mary is my encourager. I desire her humble, teachable spirit.  

The Conversation Between Martha and Jesus

Lesson #179

Up to this point, Jesus has raised people, who have died physically, back to physical life without any connection to their spiritual life. The time has now come when Jesus must include the spiritual dimension. He introduces this concept when he said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 ESV). Notice the wording Jesus uses. He does not say he will bring about the resurrection or that he will be the cause of the resurrection, but he says something much stronger; he says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus is connecting the resurrection from the dead to an eternal fellowship with God and it occurs only through a relationship with him. This relationship with Jesus is established as of necessity by his statement, “Whoever believes in me.” This resurrection will not occur apart from Jesus Christ. The one who will experience the resurrection is the one who has eternal life before he or she dies, who lives on after physical death. The resurrection will then provide a new, perfect body to complete our salvation. If you are only born physically you will experience two deaths: spiritual and physical. If you are born both physically and spiritually you will experience only one death: physical death. You must be born twice in order to be a new creature in Christ to which a resurrection body can become a part of and that second birth occurs only in relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus asks Martha if she believes this to which she says, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:27 ESV). She says she believes, but she limits her belief to Jesus being the Son of God the one who is coming into the world and does not include the aspect of he being the resurrection. We will see shortly that she still has more to learn.

We will finish this lesson by beginning the next section, which is defined by John 11:28-37.

After having this conversation with Jesus on the road into Bethany, Maratha “went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”” (John 11:28 ESV). From this verse it is easy to conclude that Martha is concerned about the safety of Jesus, because she went, not she and Jesus, to Mary and in private she told her about Jesus calling for her. It appears that Martha is trying to get Jesus and Mary together without a large crowd. Referring to Jesus as “The Teacher” was a natural way for any disciple of Jesus to refer to him at that time.

“And when [Mary] heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him” (John 11:29-30 ESV). Martha disrupts Mary’s grieving to inform her about Jesus, which prompts her to quickly go to meet him. As we suspected earlier, Jesus waited to meet Mary outside of the village, where he had talked with Martha.

We will see next time that Mary wasn’t alone when she went to meet with Jesus.

Prayer

Father, as I prepare this lesson I am touched by Martha’s struggle in trying to grasp the concept of Jesus being the resurrection, not just the one who will bring it about or cause it to happen. In thinking about this I realize that since he is the resurrection and the life, I have to be in him and he in me if I am to experience the resurrection. The resurrection is a process that occurs in him, not external to him. Apart from Jesus there is no resurrection; simply eternal death apart from God. 

Maratha Meets Jesus On the Road

Lesson #178

“Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days” (John 11:17 ESV). Since there is no mention that Lazarus was embalmed, as is sometimes the custom, and since Martha tells Jesus at the tomb that the body would stink by now, it is assumed that he wasn’t and that he was buried shortly after his death.

“Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother” (John 11:18 – 19 ESV). Since Bethany was so close to Jerusalem, many of the Jews went to Bethany to console Martha and Mary concerning the death of their brother. Word had also gotten back to Bethany that Jesus was on his way, “So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house” (John 11:20 ESV). We know from Luke 10:40, that Martha was entrusted with the management of the affairs of the family and as a result she felt responsible to go and meet Jesus, probably without notifying Mary. The fact that Mary remained seated in the house, the posture for grieving at that time, indicates she was totally absorbed in the grieving process.

Martha finally intercepts Jesus and immediately says to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.”” (John 11:21 – 22 ESV). How do you suppose Martha said “Lord”? Was she upset; did her voice reflect that she was unhappy with Jesus for his lack of concern for Lazarus? Remember this and compare it with what Mary does and says when she meets Jesus. Martha, in a way, blames Jesus for the death of Lazarus when she said, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Surely, Martha had seen Jesus heal others and because of his love for them she easily concluded that had Jesus been there he would have healed him, restoring him back to good health, but Jesus wasn’t there and Lazarus died.

The rest of Maratha’s statement is rather interesting. It sounds as though she thinks he might, even at this late time, raise him up and restore his health. However, we will soon see that this thought is not supported by much faith on her part. Jesus picks up on this thought and said to her, “Your brother will rise again” (John 11:23 ESV). To Maratha, that statement did not suggest that Jesus would raise Lazarus now, but later, because she said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24 ESV). Jesus then makes it clear that he is about to do something that will reveal more about who he is and what he is capable of doing. We will look at that in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, as I think about Maratha’s responds to Jesus I sense that she hopes Jesus might, even at this late date, raise Lazarus and return him to good physical health, but in response to Jesus telling her that Lazarus would rise again, she lacks the faith to claim what she was hoping for and succumbs to him being raised at the resurrection on the last day. Father, this lack of faith, displayed by Martha, is quite like our western faith, which is quite lukewarm when compared to those who, in other cultures, are able to live out their faith. After teaching in China, I am painfully aware of this in my own life and seek your help in overcoming this weakness.