Sunday School Lesson on Resurrection

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Sunday School Lesson on Resurrection

Introduction

A. "The One You Love Is Sick"

My family originally came from western Ken-tucky. Not so long ago it was common forwomen there to marry at a young age. My grand-mother was married at 14 and had three childrenby age 17. I was born when my mother was 19,and as a result I enjoyed the blessing of younggrandparents.

My grandmother was a second mother to me.She figures large in almost every one of mychildhood memories. She loved all of us dearly,and I cannot count the number of wonderfulhours I spent in her home. Even now her housesymbolizes peace and comfort and love to me.I recently had the privilege of holding herhand while she died, someone who loved me

unconditionally. As we stood by the hospital bedin her final days, I often wondered what Jesuswould have done about her situation. I wonderedwhy God had not healed her.

Since then I have come to see that such feel-ings reflected my own grief and selfish desiresmore than a real concern for my grandmother.In death she has now found a true life in Godthat I cannot yet comprehend. Do we maintainour trust in Jesus when death hits so close tohome?

B. Lesson Background

John 1:15-12:50 has been called The Book ofSigns within that great Gospel. The raising ofLazarus is one of the signs in the Gospel of Johnthrough which Jesus revealed himself to be theSon of God (compare John 2:11; 4:54). What wemay call the "purpose statement" of John'sGospel stresses the importance of the signs: "Andmany other signs truly did Jesus in the presenceof his disciples, which are not written in thisbook: but these are written, that ye might believethat Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and thatbelieving ye might have life through his name"(John 20:30, 31).

While the earlier signs demonstrated Jesus' di-vine power, the resurrection of Lazarus revealedJesus' authority over the grave. One can scarcelyignore a deed of this magnitude. The account issignificant to the larger flow of John's Gospel inthat it leads the chief priests and Pharisees toplot Jesus' death (11:45-53). Today's lesson is notabout Lazarus's resurrection itself, but rather it isabout the facts and attitudes that preceded it.

I. Sobering News(John 11:1-7)

A. Sickness (vv. 1-4)

1, 2. Now a certain man was sick, namedLazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and hersister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointedthe Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet withher hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)Back in John 1:28 the apostle identified "Beth-any beyond Jordan" as the place where John theBaptist had preached and baptized. At the end ofJohn 10, Jesus left Jerusalem for a preaching tourin that same area after the Jews attempted to ar-rest Him for blasphemy (10:39-42). Mary andMartha, however, live in a different villagenamed Bethany. This town is less than two milesfrom Jerusalem, east of the Mount of Olives.Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (sisters andbrother) seem to be close friends of Jesus. Perhaps He stays in their home whenever He at-tends a feast in Jerusalem. On one of these visits,Martha had criticized Jesus for not making Maryhelp her prepare a meal. In reply He remindedher that food is less important than devotion toHis teaching (Luke 10:38-42). The mention hereof the anointing by Mary looks forward to John12:1-3.

HOUSE OF AFFLICTION

I am often fascinated by biblical place names.The name Bethlehem means "house of bread."Isn't that an interesting name for the placewhere Jesus was born—the one who proclaimedhimself as the bread of life? Jerusalem means-city of peace"—the capital city of the landwhere the prince of peace walked. Bethsaida, onthe shore of the Sea of Galilee, means "house offishing." That is certainly an apt name for a fish-ing port.

The meaning of Bethany, for its part, is a bituncertain. It could mean "house of dates or figs."Other possible meanings are "house of poverty,""house of the poor," or even "house of the af-flicted ones."

There is no indication that Mary, Martha, andLazarus were poor, but we can assume safelythat the town of Bethany at least had its normalshare of death, disease, disappointment, maritaldiscord, family squabbles, and other perennialsetbacks to human prosperity. Leprosy was adevastating disease, and in Bethany lived Simonthe leper (Matthew 26:6). And then there wasLazarus. With his death there were two grief-stricken sisters plus a whole crowd of othersweeping with them. Bethany was definitely ahouse of affliction at that time.

If you stop to think about it, each of us lives ina "house of affliction" of some kind—discord,strife, pairs, delusion, fatigue, abandonment, de-spair. But it is Jesus, and only Jesus, who canmove us into a permanent "house of joy." Thechange that Jesus brought about at Bethany withLazarus's resurrection was temporary, sinceLazarus obviously died again later. The changethat Jesus is able bring to us because of His own resurrection can be permanent and eternal, if wewill allow it.—J. B. N.

3.Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying,Lord, behold, he whom thou Invest is sick.The exact nature of Lazarus's illness is notspecified and is probably not relevant to thestory. Clearly, however. the sister's believe thathis condition is critical—they would not botherJesus over a minor case of the flu.

Mary and Martha naturally assume that Jesuswill be concerned about His friend's condition.They probably expect Him to rush back to townfor a healing (see comments on John 11:22,below). IA. (iti.,tiun #1, page 208,1

In addition to John's overall emphasis onChrist's divine power, we will see this story pro-vide insight into Jesus' humanity. John depictsJesus as experiencing the ups and downs ofhuman feelings and relationships. Lazarus is Hisfriend, and the sisters know that it will be nat-ural for Jesus to be concerned about him.

4.When Jesus heard that, he said, This sick-ness is nut unto death, but for the glory of God,that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.When Ilse message reaches Jesus, He inunedi-ately replies with what would seem to be verygood news: This sickness is not unto death. Whenthat statement is added to the remainder of theverse—that the Son of God might be glorifiedthereby—those who are listening probably inferthat Jesus will honor the request to go and healLazarus. As on so many other occasions, Jesus'power will indeed be revealed. Lazarus's circum-stance ultimately will bring greater glory toGod—but not in a way that anyone is expecting!We should pause to stress that this verseshould not be taken to mean that God causes allsickness. Of course God is glorified by the confi-dence that believers can display in the face of ill-ness or death. But here Jesus is simply sayingthat He plans to bring good from a bad situation.

B. Delay (vv. 5-7)

5. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister,and Lazarus.

John now confirms the sisters' claim in verse 3("he whom thou lovest") by noting that Jesus re-ally does care deeply for Lazarus and his family.This verse leads the reader to expect that Jesuswill leave for Bethany immediately, just as thesisters suppose.

6, 7. When he had heard therefore that hewas sick, he abode two days still in the santeplace where he was. Then after that saith he tohis disciples, Let us go into Judea again.

These verses are stunning in light of what haspreceded. Jesus loves Lazarus and seems to havejust indicated in verse 4 that He would go to healhim. But after telling everyone, in effect, "Don'tworry," Jesus chooses to wait two days beforedoing anything.

The disciples may interpret this delay as asign of caution, for the Jewish authorities in Jeru-salem apparently have put out a warrant forJesus' arrest (John 10:39; 11:8). But in John 11:14,15 (not in today's text) Jesus makes it clear thatHe is "glad" for the delay.

While Jesus' actions (and inactions!) mayseem harsh or confusing, they are clearly calcu-lated to glorify God to the fullest possible extent.In the first place this incident illustrates Jesus'claims throughout the Gospel of John that Hedoes not act according to His human desires andinterests. Instead He does everything to pleaseGod. "My meat is to do the will of him that sentme, and to finish his work" (John 4:34: compare5:30; 7:17. 18). Everything must proceed onGod's plan and God's timing, even if this ispainful for Jesus and His friends.

Second, the event as it unfolds will showclearly that Jesus wants this to be more than ahealing. He will demonstrate, rather, that Hispower reaches even beyond the grave.

II. Courageous Belief(John 11:17-27)

A. Already Dead (vv. 17-20)

17. Then when Jesus came, he found that hehad lain in the grave four days already.

Jesus' intentional delay ensures that Lazarushas already lain in the grave four days. Jesus hasthe ability to heal from a distance, if He so de-sires (Luke 7:1-10). But that is not the plan here.[See question #3. page 208.]

By the time Jesus arrives, the tone haschanged from hopeful expectation to that of griefand mourning. The reference to four days is sig-nificant. Some ancient Jews believe that the soulof a departed person hovers around the body forthree days. On the fourth day, when signs of de-composition are clearly evident (such as thestench that Martha will mention in verse 39), theperson's spirit supposedly departs for good. Tobe dead for four days would thus mean some-thing like "really, really dead."

Whether or not this four-day theory is true, noone can doubt that Lazarus is actually dead.There is no reasonable way to suggest that Jesussimply resuscitates Lazarus or brings him out of a coma. The situation calls for a resurrectionrather than a healing.

18, 19. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jeru-salem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many ofthe Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfortthem concerning their brother.

The Jews place high value on the ethical needto comfort the bereaved. Funerals may last for aweek. Lazarus's funeral seems to be especially re-markable in this regard. The fact that many of theJews had come from Jerusalem to the little townof Bethany to mourn for hint suggests that thefamily is well known and perhaps wealthy.Clearly Jesus is not the only person who lovedLazarus. I See que,I ion 04. page 208.1

John may also wish to emphasize the size ofthe crowd in order to stress that a large numberof people will witness Lazarus's resurrection(11:45). Fifteen furlongs is about one and three-quarter miles.

20.Then Martha, as soon as she heard thatJesus was coming, went and met him: but Marysat still in the house.

The fact that Mary stays in the house does notnecessarily mean that she feels angry towardJesus. She is not indifferent about His arrival, asverses 31-33 will reveal.

Perhaps the reason that Mary stays in thehouse can be explained this way. The houseseems to be packed with mourners; a messengerarrives, finds Martha, and tells her that Jesus ison His way. In her excitement Martha perhapsgoes straight to Jesus without pausing even to tellher sister. Note that Mary does not seem to beaware of Jesus' arrival until verse 28, after Mar-tha goes back to the house.

We may also speculate that Martha does notwant to draw too much attention to Jesus rightaway: when she finally does tell Mary that Hehas come, she pulls her aside no that the crowdcan't hear (again, v. 28). Martha seems to see theneed for Mary to have a private moment to shareher grief with Jesus.

B. Steady Faith (vv. 21-27)

21.Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, ifthou hadst been here, my brother had not died.At first glance Martha's comment Lord, if thouhadst been here, my brother had not died maysound like criticism. But in view of the state-ments to follow, it appears that Martha wishesto reassure Jesus that she does not holdLazarus's death against Him. Martha's mind isclouded with grief at the moment. We may guessthat she assumes that Jesus had very legitimatereasons for His delay. One reason could include the obvious danger of visiting a town so close toJerusalem.

WHAT IF ?

History is filled with "what if" situations.What if General Robert E. Lee had remained inthe Union Army as the American Civil Wasbroke out? What if the apple had not fallen onIsaac Newton's bead? What if Martin Luther hadnot been frightened by a lightning bolt in a thun-derstorm? What if Christopher Columbus had be-lieved that the earth was flat? What if U.S.President John F. Kennedy had not gone to Dal-las in November 1963? What if U.S. PresidentFranklin Delano Roosevelt had died of polio inthe 1920s before his election? We can speculateendlessly about such situations, but it doesn'tchange anything now.

Martha told Jesus that if He had been there,then her brother would not have died. But Jesushad intentionally stayed away. In Jesus' wisdomHe saw there was more ultimate benefit to Laz-arus and his family (and, indeed, for the entireworld) for Him not to be there.

Since God controls the present as well as thefuture, He can see things and place them in aperspective that we don't have. As Christians webelieve that God is still ultimately in charge ofthe universe, and everything happens accordingto His plan. If we had our way, we would wantthings to work out for our immediate benefit,and we probably would miss out on some of theultimately better benefits that God has in storefor us.

We do well to remember that God is holdingout for the grander good that we can't perceive.It's a good thing we can't control all the "whatifs" of history. Instead we can trust that God is incontrol and managing the world quite nicely inHis own way.

22. But I know, that even now, whatsoeverthou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.This verse is clearly a statement of Martha'scontinuing faith in Jesus. Even so, commentatorsare divided on the exact meaning of her words.Lazarus needs more than a healing now. so per-haps by saying whatsoever than wilt ask of God,God will give it thee, Martha thinks that God willempower Jesus to raise Lawrie; from the dead.On ass earlier occasion Jesus had interrupted afuneral in Nein to bring a corpse hack to life(Luke 7:11-15). Is Martha expecting Jesus to dothe same thing now for His good friend?

Against this possibility. however, are Martha'scomments in verses 24 and 39. Those verses strongly imply that she does not really expectJesus to help Lazarus at this point. Thus herwords here are intended to show Jesus that sheholds no grudge and has not lost faith in Him. Hedid not heal Lazarus, but of course that does notmean that Jesus is not a unique messenger ofGod.

Martha's remarkable faith in the face of grief iscertainly commendable. She seems, however, tounderestimate Jesus' power.

23, 24. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shallrise again. Martha saith unto hint, I know thathe shall rise again in the resurrection at the lastday.

Massy ancient Jews expect a final day of judg-ment, when the Messiah will appear in order tobring an end to this wicked world. At that timethe righteous dead will be resurrected to enjoyeternal life. "And many of them that sleep in thedust of the earth shall awake, some to everlastinglife, and some to shame and everlasting con-tempt" (Daniel 12:2).

Martha probably assumes that Jesus must bereferring to the glorious occasion that the proph-et Daniel mentions. So she interprets Jesus' re-marks as words of pastoral comfort. It does notyet occur to her that Jesus will raise her brothermuch sooner than this. She is about to receivemore than she expects.

25, 26. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrec-tion, and the life: he that believeth in me,though he were dead, yet shall he live: andwhosoever liveth and believeth in me shallnever die. Believest thou this?

Resurrection and eternal life are not blessingsthat we have to wait until the end of time to enjoy. Rather, we experience their hope rightnow through faith in Christ, who has all powerover death.

The statements about death and life are pow-erful, aren't they? Believers who die physically(like Lazarus) will live eternally through Christ'spower to save. If we choose in this life to believein Jesus, we will never die spiritually in thesense that Christ grants us eternal life with Himin Heaven—even though our current bodies ob-viously will fail and decay. For more insight onour physical resurrection, see 1 Corinthians15:12-55.

27. She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believethat thou art the Christ, the Son of God, whichshould come into the world.

Martha undoubtedly does not understand whyLazarus had fallen ill or why Jesus had waitedbefore coming to Him. She undoubtedly does notunderstand (yet) what He means by saying thatthe dead will live.

Even so, Martha is firm in her understandingof one thing: she knows that Jesus is God's Son.This verse is John's equivalent of Peter's confes-sion at Matthew 16:16: "Thou art the Christ, theSon of the living God." This kind of confession isa vital part of receiving eternal life.

Martha's confession touches on two key ele-ments of John's portrayal of Christ. First, sheseems to understand that Jesus is not just a polit-ical messiah. Rather, she realizes that He is theone who came from Heaven to reveal the Fatherto the world (John 1:14, 18; 3:13; 6:51: etc.).Second, Martha's comment parallels John20:31. That verse is often cited as the "purposestatement" of the Gospel of John that we noted inthe lesson Introduction. Nowhere else in the Gospel of John do we see such a strong expres-sion of faith, a fact that testifies to Martha's firmcommitment in the face of grief.

Conclusion

A. The Final Breath

Perhaps you think it strange that today's les-son text does not include the account of the ac-tual resurrection of Lazarus (John 11:38-44). Weall like to read "a happy ending," don't we? Thatresurrection itself is indeed marvelous. But byleaving out that event, today's lesson has forcedus to examine the faith and emotions of Martha.It is a faith that knows something of Jesus butnot everything. It is kind of an "in between"faith. It is the kind of faith that says, "Lord, I be-lieve; help thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24). It'sthe kind of faith that many of us still have!Jesus' question Believest thou this? in verse 26is applicable not only to Martha but to all of us.It's easy to sit in a Bible study class and say, "Ofcourse, I believe that Jesus can grant us eternallife"; it's harder to feel that way as we stand be-side the grave of a loved one.

As we close the lid of the casket, or as we faceserious health problems ourselves, how will weanswer the question, Believes( thou this? Do wereally believe that Jesus has conquered death andthat He has the power to grant eternal life? Realfaith is tested at the final breath, whether ours orthat of someone we love.

Several years ago the wife of a retired Biblecollege professor died. The funeral exhibitedwhat a Christian funeral should: sadness andgrief over the of loss of a loved one, but also aconfident realization of an eternity with Jesusinto which she had crossed. The husband sheleft behind said it best: "Of course I'm going tomiss her. But let's face it—I haven't beenpreaching fairy tales all these years!" He had nodoubt where she was. He had real faith thatpassed the test.

B. Prayer

Father, we do not want to die, and we do notwant to lose people that we love. Help on findpeace in the knowledge that Christ is the sourceof resurrection life. Help us share that peace witheveryone vvho suffers grief. Give us the faith toreally believe that Jesus has conquered death forus. In Jesus' name, amen.

C. Thought to Remember

Christ still has power over death.

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