John 11, a journalistic look

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 I published an 80-page book study, The Gospel According to Lazarus.*  That allowed me to be able to teach the Bible lesson this week on short notice.  Here's an outline, and I recommend the book. More, I recommend John 11. I have still not studied the depth of Christ's claim: I am the resurrection and the life. 

John 11

In John 14:6 Jesus claimed to be the way, the truth, and the life. He didn’t just claim it, He proved it by having power over death. John 11 is the first record of this truth, the main one being His own resurrection. It is one of the most quoted and comforting chapters in the Bible and yet we don’t usually dig deep. Let’s look at it like a news story in real time.

1.     The Who

a.     Lazarus. Don’t know backstory—widower? Age? Well-off? How did they know Jesus?

b.     Mary; 12:3

c.      Martha: Luke 10:38-42

d.     Jesus; totally in control; v. 4

e.     Thomas: v. 16. He’s not being dramatic

f.      The “Jews” – John’s particular use of it

                                               i.     Their neighbors (comforting sisters)

                                              ii.     The cultural situation (v. 55, Passover of the Jews)

                                            iii.     The scoffers (37)

                                            iv.     The enemies (46)

2.     The When: Sometimes between Feast of Dedication (Hanukah, 10:22) and Passover, 12:1; this is nearing the end.

3.     The Where.

a.     Bethany, village near Jerusalem, less than 2 miles; Jesus “liked” it; “Simon the Leper” lived there.

b.     10:40, Jesus is in Jordan 2-4 days walk from Bethany

c.      This clarifies the timeline: 

                                               i.     Lazarus is ill. Sisters send word, by food. 2 + days

                                              ii.     Jesus stayed two more days

                                            iii.     Lazarus dies. (Jesus knows this, does not need report)

                                            iv.     Jesus and disciples leave that day or next, journey takes days.

                                              v.     Lazarus has been dead 4 days when they arrive.

4.     The Why: Lazarus is dead. V. 14-15. Jesus wasn’t there, key point.

a.     Belief that the spirit left hovering the body after the third day.

b.     This is a total miracle.

c.      Martha’s (20-27) and Mary’s (28-33) reactions: Different, the intellectual and the emotional faiths, both needed. Jesus responds to both as they need.

5.     The What: Jesus raised Lazarus. 38-44. Lazarus would die again and be resurrected; but he is being restored to his sisters, perhaps as their sole support.

6.     The outcome 

a.     Reactions: before: 36-37 – finding fault

b.     Reports: good faith (45), bad faith 46

c.      Revenge, 47-57

 The “I am” statements found in the Gospel of John are the bread of life (6:35), the light of the world (8:12), the door (10:7), the good shepherd (10:11, 14), the resurrection and the life (11:25), the way, the truth, and the life (14:6) and the true vine (15:1). 

As a final note, meditate on this: where in your life has God brought life from death, raised up something dead, or transformed something you believed unalterable?

*I am going to start pushing my writing. It's the only way to sell and get readers. I am not interested in the money (too much, especially for Biblical writings); I want to be read.

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