John Chapter 11

What do we learn about Bethany from the following verses?

• John 11:18 -- It was less than two miles from Jerusalem
• John 1:19-28 -- Where John the Baptist baptized
• Luke 19:28-37 -- Where the colt he rode into Jerusalem came from, and the starting point for his ride into Jerusalem
• Matthew 26:6 -- Home of a man known as Simon the Leper
• Matthew 21:17 -- Where he spent the night
• Luke 24:50-51 -- Where Jesus ascended into heaven

Why was Lazarus sick?

Jesus said in verse 4: ”it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it."

What do verses 1-5 reveal about the character of Lazarus, Mary and Martha? Why do you think so?

A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair. Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”

4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

Lazarus was friendly, lovable, close to his sisters.

Mary was caring, served and valued Jesus, and loved her brother.

Martha was loved her brother.

What does the disciples reply to Jesus in verse 8 demonstrate?

But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”

• That they did not understand Jesus was omniscient
• That Jesus was not afraid of the Jews
• That Jesus was resigned to do the will of the Father
• Fear

Why did Jesus wait 2 days before going to Bethany after he heard Lazarus was sick?

Because he wanted to make sure Lazarus was dead so that he could raise him from the dead and by so doing demonstrate that he was the Son of God.

What does Jesus mean in his response to the disciples in verse 9?

Jesus replied, “There are twelve hours of daylight every day. During the day people can walk safely. They can see because they have the light of this world. 

Jesus was walking by the spirit and will therefore not stumble.

Compare Jesus’ expectation of what was to happen when he returned to Judea to Thomas’ expectation.

Then he said, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but now I will go and wake him up.”The disciples said, “Lord, if he is sleeping, he will soon get better!” They thought Jesus meant Lazarus was simply sleeping, but Jesus meant Lazarus had died. So he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.  And for your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there, for now you will really believe. Come, let’s go see him.” Thomas, nicknamed the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”

Jesus’ expectation was to raise a friend from death Thomas’ expectation was to be killed along with Jesus.  Remember: Bethany was only two miles from Jerusalem, where only days previously Jesus had been surrounded by angry religious Jews, who had picked up stones in order to kill Him. A little while later they tried to arrest him, but both times Jesus and his disciples had managed to get away. They had fled to relative safety on the other side of the Jordan River. 

Both Martha and Mary tell Jesus when they meet him "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." What did they not understand?

That Jesus intended to arrive after Lazarus’ death.

What Martha’s response to Jesus’ revelation? 

25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

27 "Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

Why did Jesus speak to the Father before he raised Lazarus and what did his speech imply?

• To demonstrate that God was with Him had sent Him.
• To give glory to the Father.
• That he prayed to God the Father and his prayer was heard.

Who else did Jesus raise from the dead?

• The daughter of Jarius, the synagogue ruler (Mark 5:35-43)
• The widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11-15)
• Himself

What did the Sanhedrin not understand or wrongly presuppose?

• That they could control Jesus.
• That they were God’s chosen people and God was in control not the Romans.
• The Messiah came to save the world, not just Jews.

Why did Caiaphas wish to kill Jesus?

Because he thought Jesus threatened his office as High Priest, the political power of the Sanhedrin and the nation of Israel.

Do you think Caiaphas understood he was prophesying? Why or why not?

No. He was unknowingly prophesying because his intent was evil yet his actions were ordained by God. As in the story of Joseph, what men intend for evil, God can use to His purposes and turn to good

What did Caiaphas himself not realize about the statement he made: “You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” or, what truth did his statement foreshadow?

His statement was a foreshadow of the truth of the world’s eternal salvation. Jesus would die so that none perish but all come to repent.

In a spiritual sense it was better that one man die for our sins on the cross, had Jesus not done so, we would all perish forever at death – all mankind not just the nation of Israel.

Why do we become so sorrowful when faced with the death of a loved one if we believe in eternal life?

In my opinion, we become sorrowful when faced with a death of a loved one, because it's the end of sharing our life with them.  In addition, since we haven't seen Jesus or God, it's hard to imagine life beyond what we know as life.