The Fisherman's Story

A Study in the Gospel of John John 11:1-46   by Samuel E. Ward   February 12, 2012   Introduction:  Review   V. The "The Fisherman's Story" Contains the Record of Several Manifestations of the Opposition Against Jesus, John 9:1-11:57   A. Opposition to Jesus Was Manifested After Healing of the Blind Man, John 9:1-41 B. Opposition to Jesus Was Manifested After the Good Shepherd Discourse, John 10:1-21 C. Opposition to Jesus Was Manifested in the Debate in Solomon's Colonade, John 10:22-42.   Continuing in the observation of particular incidents that exposed the hostility of certain Jews, especially the religious leaders, we move next to note that . . .   D. Opposition to Jesus Was Manifested in the Raising of Lazarus from the Dead, John 11:1-44.   When our Savior bid [John the Baptist's] disciple go and tell their Maser what things they had seen and heard, he commands them to inform him, that by his divine power "the dead were raised;" alluding no doubt to the Ruler's daughter, who was raised immediately after her decease; and the Widow's son, who at the command of Jesus, rose out of his coffin, as they were carrying his corpse to the burial. These were pregnant proofs, that Jesus was indeed the Messiah that was to come into the world. But his raising of Lazarus from the dead, after he had lain four days dead, and saw corruption, is still, if possible, a greater miracle; and consequently a stronger proof of his being the Anointed, the Christ of God.   George Whitefield (1714-1770), "The Raising of Lazarus" http://www.ccel.org/ccel/whitefield/sermons.xli.html   The persuasiveness of this miracle convinced many that Jesus was the Messiah for  whom they had been hoping for centuries. That Jesus was this Messiah was not a hope that was shared by the Pharisees and Sadducees who saw in Jesus a triple threat:   ·         First, to the devotion of the people to the Law of Moses and their traditions ·         Second, to their power and hold over the people ·         Third, to the relative peace the Jews had with their occupier.   Events stemming from this miracle would ultimately lead to Jesus being crucified on the cross.   1. Jesus was sought and found in Perea, John 11:1-16   a. An urgent word sent to Jesus, John11:1-3   (John 11:1-3 NIV)  Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. {2} This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. {3} So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."   1) The sick man, Lazarus, was a beloved follower of Jesus. 2) Mary would later anoint Jesus' feet in preparation for His burial. (See John 12:1-8) 3) Martha was the one who chided her sister for sitting at Jesus feet while she made dinner for their guest during an earlier visit. (See Luke 10:38-42.) This is probably why Martha did not go with Mary to meet Jesus on the road.   b. A comforting promise made to Lazarus' sisters, John 11:4-6   (John 11:4-6 NIV)  When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." {5} Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. {6} Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.   Later, the Apostle Paul would give this counsel on what believers ought to do in the midst of affliction.   (Rom 12:12 NIV)  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.   Hope joyfully à Wait patiently à Pray faithfully   1) Why hope joyfully?  Because God always is working for the good of those who love Him, Rom 8:28.   (Rom 8:28 NIV)  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.   2) Why wait patiently?  Timing is everything to God. He needs never to hurry and is never late in accomplishing His purposes. All of our experiences are designed to bear fruit and fruit is a growth process that requires patience,   (James 5:7-8 NIV)  Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. {8} You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.   3) Why pray faithfully?  To give up on prayer is to give up on either God's ability to answer or the effectiveness of prayer offered by the righteous,   (James 1:5-8 NIV)  If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. {6} But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. {7} That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; {8} he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.   (James 5:16 NIV)  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.   c. A warning given to Jesus by His disciples, John 11:7-8   (John 11:7-8 NIV)  Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." {8} "But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"   d. An explanation given by Jesus for both his decision and delay to go to Lazarus, John 11:9-16   (John 11:9-16 NIV)  Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. {10} It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light." {11} After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up." {12} His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." {13} Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. {14} So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, {15} and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." {16} Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."   1) Jesus worked because He knew His time for service was short.   (John 7:33-34 NIV)  Jesus said, "I am with you for only a short time, and then I go to the one who sent me. {34} You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come."   2) We should work because we don't know how short our time for service might be. John 9:4   (John 9:4 NIV)  As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.   2. Jesus arrives at a grieving village in Judea, John 11:17-37   a. He observes a grieving community, John 11:17-19.   (John 11:17-19 NIV)  On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. {18} Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, {19} and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.   b. He ministers to a grieving Martha, John 11:20-27.   (John 11:20-27 NIV)  When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. {21} "Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. {22} But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." {23} Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." {24} Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." {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."   1) Martha's expression of a submissive faith—"I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask." 2) Jesus' promise of a resurrection for Lazarus—"Your brother will rise again." 3) Martha's belief in the resurrection of the righteous--"I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." 4) Jesus explains that He is the source of resurrection and eternal life—"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." 5) Jesus asks for and receives Martha's faith in Him—"Do you believe this?"  "Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."   By this statement of faith, Martha was perhaps indicating her understanding that Jesus had power over death and not that death had power over life.   c. He ministers to a grieving Martha, John 11:28-36.   (John 11:28-36 NIV)  And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." {29} When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. {30} Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. {31} When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. {32} When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." {33} When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. {34} "Where have you laid him?" he asked. "Come and see, Lord," they replied. {35} Jesus wept. {36} Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"   Mary expresses the same disappointment that Jesus had not been there to heal Lazarus and  Jesus offers no explanation. He simply shares in her grief  and thereby shows His love.   d. He receives criticism from some in the community, John 11:37.   (John 11:37 NIV)  But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"   3. Jesus performs the greatest miracle of His earthly ministry, John 11:38-44.   (John 11:38-44 NIV)  Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. {39} "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." {40} Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" {41} So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. {42} I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." {43} When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" {44} The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."   a. There was a reluctance to dare to hope. b. There was a reminder of Jesus' promise. c. There was a prayer offered as witness to the dual purpose for this miracle –   1) To show the glory of God's power and authority 2) To show the source of Jesus' power and authority   d. There was the command of Jesus for the dead Lazarus to rise . e. There was the proof of Jesus' power before them.   Do not be reluctant to hope in God, act in accordance with that hope, pray that God would glorify Himself, and know that for believers, our prayers for the raising of believers who have fallen asleep in death is that they shall be raised to life. Concerning believing loved ones who have gone to be with the Lord, why would we even pray that they be brought back only to have to experience death again?   5. Jesus' miracle causes many to make their choices concerning Him, John 11:45-46.   (John 11:45-46 NIV)  Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. {46} But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.   Conclusion   1. When Jesus sees your suffering and grief, He is deeply moved in spirit and troubled for you 2. When you weep, Jesus weeps with you. 3. When you stand before a grave and grieve, Jesus grieves with you. 4. Remember, He said, I am the resurrection and the life!"   Do you not long for that time, when Jesus shall say unto you, "Come up hither?" Well! Blessed be God, yet a little while, and that same Jesus, who cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth;" shall with the same voice, and with the same power, speak unto all that are in their graves, and they shall come forth. That all who hear me this day may be then enabled to lift up their heads and rejoice, that the day of their complete redemption is indeed fully come, may Jesus Christ grant, for his infinite mercy's sake. Amen, and Amen. George Whitefield