Scripture reading – John 11
The Resurrection: Dead Men Will Walk Again! (John 11:1-45)
Bethany, the hometown of three siblings, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, is the setting of our devotional study in John 11. Verse 2 reminds us this was the same Mary who anointed Jesus “with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair (John 11:2). The scene is one of crisis and desperation, for “Lazarus was sick” (John 11:2). His sisters, Mary and Martha, sent for Jesus, and said “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick” (John 11:3).
Mary and Martha believed Jesus would come quickly to their home in Bethany and heal Lazarus, whom they thought was terminally ill. Nevertheless, Jesus expressed with certainty: “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby” (John 11:4b). Though He tarried, John 11:5 assures us, “Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” Still, Jesus’ love did not spare Lazarus of his illness nor move Him to leave with haste to their home. Two days passed when Jesus suddenly announced to His disciples, “Let us go into Judaea” (John 11:6).
The mention of going to Judaea raised alarm with the disciples. Knowing the village of Bethany was to the east of Jerusalem, the disciples desired to dissuade Jesus from going (John 11:8). They reminded Him that His enemies had threatened to stone Him (John 10:31; John 11:8). Then, Jesus said plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him” (John 11:14).
After a day’s journey, Jesus and His disciples arrived on the outskirts of Bethany, about “fifteen furlongs off” (i.e., 2 miles out, John 11:18). They were met by some who informed Him Lazarus was dead and had been “lain in the grave four days already” (John 11:17). When Martha heard Jesus was close by, she came to Him. She complained, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:21). Nevertheless, Martha expressed her faith that, with God’s power, Jesus could perform a miracle. Jesus answered her faith and said, “Thy brother shall rise again” (John 11:23).
Martha then stated her faith in the “resurrection at the last day” (John 11:24). Jesus, however, encouraged her weak faith and said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26)
Confessing her faith that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of God” (John 11:27), Martha rushed to her house, found Mary, and whispered, “The Master is come, and calleth for thee” (John 11:28). Mary instantly ran out of the house and came to Jesus. Overcome with sorrow, through tears, she said, “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (John 11:32). Moved by her tears and sorrow, Jesus asked, “Where have ye laid him?” (John 11:34). The Scriptures, wonderfully and tenderly recorded the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept” (John 11:35).
When Jesus commanded the removal of the stone that sealed the cave where Lazarus was buried, Martha protested (John 11:39). She said, “Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days” (John 11:39). Jesus lovingly rebuked Martha when He asked, “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40).
Then, lifting His eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, and with a loud voice, commanded, “Lazarus, come forth”(John 11:43). Miraculously, Lazarus came from the tomb, his hands and feet bound “with graveclothes: and his face…bound with a napkin” (John 11:44a). Jesus then said to the people, “Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44b).
An Intolerable Crisis (John 11:45-57)
The apostle John noted later that Jesus raising Lazarus after four days of death was the zenith of Jesus’ miracles. Two responses to Lazarus being raised from the dead were noted (John 11:45-46). The miracle caused many Jews to believe Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God (John 11:45). For His enemies, however, the miracle was intolerable, and they determined Jesus must die, or else their power and position among the people would be lost (John 11:46-53).
Afterward, Jesus withdrew from Jerusalem, for He knew the hearts of His enemies were against Him (John 11:54). Only when it was time to offer Himself as the Passover Lamb did He return to Jerusalem and present Himself as the Christ, the Son of David, and heir to the throne of Israel (John 11:54-57).
Closing thoughts –
God has appointed a day when Christ will return, and on that day:
“The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout…and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Are You Ready for His Coming?
Copyright © 2024 – Travis D. Smith
* Please subscribe to the Heart of a Shepherd daily devotionals by entering your name and email address at the bottom of today’s devotion.
The Internal Revenue Service recognizes Heart of A Shepherd Inc as a 501c3 public charitable organization. Your donation is welcome and supports the worldwide ministry outreach of www.HeartofAShepherd.com.
Heart of A Shepherd Inc.
7853 Gunn Highway
#131
Tampa, Florida 33626-1611