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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conflict - The Clash of Belief and Unbelief, The Raising of Lazarus, Part XCV, John 11:23-29 - Lesson 92
Read for review, verses John 11:17-22, Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
John 11:23, Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Jesus is about to give beauty for ashes.
He is about to give oil of joy for mourning.
He is about to give the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
He arrives in Bethany and his first words are of the resurrection of Martha's brother.
It is a place of mourning but Jesus does not mourn. He encourages hope.
Lazarus was one of his and Jesus will never leave his even in death.
John 11:24, Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
She understands these words.
These are the words that we say at a funeral.
She understands them as being a future happening for her brother.
Yes, I know that my brother was God's child and that God will raise him at the last day.
She knew Job's words in her Bible:
Job 19:25,26 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
But Jesus wanted her to know by whose power this would take place.
He wanted her to know more than general knowledge that a resurrection would take place.
He wanted her to know that by him would the resurrection take place.
John 11:25, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Martha, the resurrection will take place by my power.
Martha, I have mastery over death.
Get your eyes off of a future event and on to me.
The resurrection is not an event but a person.
I am the resurrection, Jesus says.
Certainly we are to look forward to time of the resurrection.
But it is not future events that we are to occupy ourselves with but with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The second coming event is only important because it is when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to this earth.
He is the "I am" he says. He deals with the present for he is the eternal present.
Martha, This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Be glad in this day, Martha, pay attention to this day.
Watch me for I am the resurrection and the life.
All power resides in me.
Occupy yourself with me and not the gifts from me.
For, as Jesus said in John 11:26, And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Here Christ speaks of never dying.
Here Christ alludes to the fact that believers may sleep but they will not die.
He is the life and when a believer is in Christ he is in the life and cannot die.
As Jesus cannot die so to can a believer not die.
Jesus is eternal and those that are in Jesus Christ are also eternal and cannot die.
If a man keep my saying he shall never see death! Martha, believest thou this?
John 11:27, She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
His question is as to the resurrection.
She answers as to the incarnation.
No doubt she did not understand completely what Jesus said.
She gave a wonderful testimony but she missed the issue.
But she said that she was convinced that this man Jesus was the Christ foretold as to coming into the world.
She affirms that he is the Christ, he is the Son of God and that he is Lord.
He is the one to follow.
But she is asked one thing and answers another.
Her faith is small but she does evidence faith that God can use and bring forth fruit.
John 11:28,29, And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
Martha hurries home to tell Mary that the Master or as she calls him "teacher" is come.
Because of the Jews present she tells her secretly, perhaps whispering in her ear:
(Whisper here) "The Master is come, and calleth for you."
Christ's presence was not commonly known at this time because he had not entered the village.
Martha wanted to keep it secret until Mary had a personnel time with him.
So she whispers the news that he wants to see Mary.
Mary was a quiet and a calm person but this whisper arouses her to action.
She arises quickly and goes to Christ.
She did not wonder who the Master was for she had only one Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. |