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John 11 Bible study questions and application

1. Introduce the study tonight by discussing the quote from Mitch Albums book, ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’… Everyone knows they are going to die, but nobody believes it… if we did, we would do things differently… Learn how to die, and you will learn how to live”.

2. Ask for one or two volunteers to share their experience facing the death of a loved one.

3. There are some unexpected actions by Jesus in the unfolding of this event. Looking at each of these discuss the reasons why Jesus acted in the way he did.

a. Jesus receives a pleading for desperate help and He responds by delay. (1-16)

This is significant in the light if 1st century death and burial practices and superstitious beliefs that the soul hovers around for 3 days. Jesus waits therefore for 4 days as the right moment to perform the miracle. Jesus’ timing is regulated by His Father’s will, and not by the request of friends or even family.

By waiting to leave until Lazarus had died, and therefore ensuring that he could not arrive until the fourth day after the death, Jesus is accomplishing two things:

 He is powerfully demonstrating himself to be the resurrection and the life. V25  He is powerfully establishing the faith of his disciples’ v15, and some Jews who were onlookers v45, but also of the Bethany family itself.

The delay is for the good of all concerned, including Lazarus, Mary and Martha.

Now this has such application for us. For most of us – as in a child the “now” things win – but what is God’s will?

In all your pleas that you are sending to God for help (personally, for others, for the church) there are those desperate requests where there appears to be no response or delay – this does not mean that God does not like you.

You see the sovereignty of God is not worth much if you don’t trust His providence.

b. Jesus comes up against devastating loss and consoles grief by drawing attention to himself (V17-27)

Jesus responds with some reassuring words but continues in explanation by drawing her attention to who he is. 2

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?”

Jesus’ concern is to divert Martha’s focus from an abstract belief in what takes place on the last day, to a personalized belief, now, in him who alone can provide it. He not only raise the dead on the last day but is himself the resurrection and the life. There is neither resurrection nor eternal life outside of him.

When Jesus asks Martha, “do you believe this?” he is not asking whether he can bring her brother back to life now, but if her faith can go beyond quiet confidence that her brother will be resurrected in the last day, to a personal trust in Jesus as the resurrection and the life.

Martha’s, yes Lord, confirms her personal confidence in Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.

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

Never be slow in turning to Jesus in your grief and never be embarrassed to point suffering people to Jesus for in their deepest loss they need the reality of God. And he has disclosed himself in his Son c. Jesus confronts death and displays his sovereignty over it with tears. (v28- 44)

There are 2 emotional responses worth noting in Jesus response to the scene of grief and death.

33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit (outraged) and troubled.

There is then the well-known verse 35 – Jesus wept.

Why these responses?

Outraged at the mess of sin and unbelief that had in fact brought all this about. Death is not the way it is supposed to be. Death is unnatural.

Not only the outrage and being troubled but also grief and weeping. For the same reason, surely could not have been for Lazarus for he was about to raise him from the dead.

But weeping for the lostness and sin and unbelief and the consequential pain that automatically follows.

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This tells more of what He is like. In spite of having authority and power to call someone from the grave, see what a depth of tender mercy there is in Christ towards his people in a lost world.

See the display of sovereign power

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.”

This then the sign pointing to Jesus claim that he is indeed the resurrection and the life.

He is the great and Almighty God but He is full of compassion and mercy.

4. Discuss each of the implications raised in the message from John 11

a. Not an isolated miracle by a magnificent sign b. Jesus has the power over death (of the soul and body) c. Delayed responses from Jesus have a purpose

5. How does learning to die teach you how to live in the present?