The Resurrection at Bethany
Introduction
In an Associated Press news story from Johannesburg dated July 25th, 2011, it was reported that a South African man thought to be dead woke up after 21 hours in a morgue fridge.
A man woke up to find himself in a morgue fridge nearly a day after his family thought he had died, a South African health official said. A Health department spokesman said that the unnamed man, aged 50, awoke on Sunday afternoon, 21 hours after his family called in an undertaker who sent him to the morgue after a severe asthma attack.
The morgue owner, Ayanda Maqolo, said he sent his driver to collect the body shortly after the family reported the death. Maqolo said, “When he got there, the driver examined the body, checked his pulse, looked for a heartbeat, but there was nothing.”
But a day after the staff put the body into a locked refrigerated compartment, some of the morgue workers heard someone shouting for help. They thought it was a ghost, the morgue owner said. In fact, they ran out. When they told Mr. Maqolo about what they had heard, he said, “I couldn’t believe it! … I had to show them I wasn’t scared, so I called the police.” After police arrived, the group entered the morgue together.
He said the man was pale when they pulled him out, and he asked them how he got there. The health department said the man was then taken to a nearby hospital for observation and later discharged by doctors who deemed him stable.
Sizwe Kupelo, the health department spokesman, urged South Africans to call on health officials to confirm that their relatives are really dead.
The man’s family was informed that he was alive during a family meeting convened to make funeral arrangements. Mr. Maqolo said, “They’re very happy to have him home.” But Maqolo said the man is still trying to recover from the traumatic experience. The man reportedly said, “I couldn’t sleep last night, I had nightmares. But today I’m much better.” http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/25/south-african-man-wakes-morgue http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/07/25/south-african-man-wakes-after-21-hours-in-morgue-fridge/
The shock and fear of those morgue workers would probably be just a small sampling of how people in the little town of Bethany felt the day that Jesus raised Lazarus.
Perhaps you’ve heard the little story about the lady who died, and for the next few months a credit card company continued to bill her for their annual service charges on her credit card, and then added late fees & interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00, but with all of their charges it accumulated to about $60.00.
A family member placed a call to the creditor telling them that she had died. And the creditor said, “The account was never closed and the late fees & charges still apply.” The family member said, “Maybe you should turn it over to collections.” And the credit card service rep said, “Since it is several months past due, it already has been.” The family member said, “So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?” The customer service person said, “Either report her account to the frauds division or report her to the credit bureau; maybe both!” The family member said, “Did you just get what I was telling you … the part about her being dead?” The credit card person finally said, “Our system just isn’t setup for death. I don’t know what more I can do to help.” The family member said, “Would you like her new billing address?” They said, “That might help.” And the family member said, “Odessa Memorial Cemetery, Highway 129, Plot Number 69.” The credit card rep said, “Sir, that’s a cemetery!” And the family member replied, “What do you do with dead people on your planet?”
Well, I’ll tell you what Jesus did with dead people on His planet. He raised them from the dead! In fact, He never attended a funeral that He didn’t break up.
During the earthly life and ministry of Jesus, we have the record of 3 individuals who were raised by Jesus from a state of death including (1) a young man at Nain, (2) Jairus’ daughter at Capernaum, and (3) Lazarus at Bethany.
In the first service this morning, we journeyed with Jesus to a Galilean village about 6 or 7 miles southeast of Nazareth. It was a little place called Nain. And it was there that the Lord raised the dead son of a widow woman; a young man that had died earlier that day.
In the second service this morning, we went to a place called Capernaum where Jesus raised the little 12 year-old daughter of a religious leader named Jairus. Though this girl had died, Mark 5:41 says that Jesus “took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.”
Tonight, we’re looking at John chapter 11, at THE RESURRECTION AT BETHANY when Jesus raised a man named Lazarus who had been dead for four days.
According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, the name Lazarus is an abbreviated form of the name Eleazer, and it means “GOD HAS HELPED.” And God certainly helped Lazarus, didn’t He? This man, Lazarus in John 11 was…
The brother of Mary and Martha. He appears only in the Gospel of John, although Luke mentions his sisters. The family lived in Bethany on the southeast side of the Mount of Olives, about 3 km. (1 ¾ miles) from Jerusalem. They were apparently well-to-do, since Lazarus had a private tomb and Mary anointed Jesus with a very expensive ointment.
There are a few possible meanings for “Bethany” including ‘the house of dates; the house of song; the house of affliction; or the house of depression.’ At times, Bethany was like a house of dates, which was the sweet fruit of the date palm. And at times, Bethany was like a house of song. But with the death of Lazarus, Bethany had become (for Mary and Martha) a house of affliction and a house of depression.
But when Jesus came to town, He restored the house of affliction and depression to the house of dates and song. Listen to what he told Martha in verse 25…
(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.
As we consider this account today, let’s notice…
I. The Passing of Lazarus
A. Consider His Diseased Body
1. He Was Certainly Sick
The Bible says…
(John 11:1-2) Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. {2} (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
sick – Greek 770. astheneo, as-then-eh'-o; from G772; to be feeble (in any sense):--be diseased, impotent folk (man), (be) sick, (be, be made) weak.
sick – Greek NT:770. asthenoon; to be weak, feeble; universally, to be without strength, powerless; sick.
(From Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)
2. He Was Critically Sick
(John 11:3) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
behold – Greek 2396. ide; used as an interjection to denote surprise; lo!:-- lo, see.
He was so sick that the sisters wanted the Miracle Worker to take notice of it.
(John 11:37) And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
These who are speaking seem to indicate that Lazarus was a worst case scenario, but that Jesus could have healed him, “even this man,” as sick as he was.
We see his Diseased body, but…
B. Consider His Dead Body
1. His Death Is Mentioned Clearly
See John 11:11-14
(John 11:14) Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
plainly – Greek 3954. parrhesia; all out-spokenness, i.e. frankness, bluntness, publicity; by implication assurance:--bold (X -ly, -ness, -ness of speech), confidence, freely, openly, plainly (-ness).
2. His Death Is Mentioned Consistently
Death or deadness is mentioned about 9 times in this chapter in relation to Lazarus…
(John 11:13) Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
(John 11:14) Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
(John 11:21) Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
(John 11:32) Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
(John 11:37) And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
(John 11:39) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
(John 11:41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
(John 11:44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
We see his Diseased body, and we see his Dead body. But let’s…
C. Consider His Decaying Body
1. Think About The Extent Of Death’s Hold Here
(John 11:17) Then when Jesus came, He found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
(John 11:39) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
stinketh – Greek 3605. ozo, od’-zo; a primary verb (in a strengthened form); to scent (usually an ill “odor”).
John Gill wrote…
It seems as if she had no notion that Christ was about to raise her brother from the dead; and that the stone was commanded to be removed for that purpose, not merely for a sight of the dead, but that the dead might be seen to come forth alive: she imagined that Christ only wanted to have the stone removed, that he might have a sight of his deceased friend, which she thought would be very disagreeable and nauseous.
… The Jews say, that “for three days the soul goes to the grave, thinking the body may return; but when it sees the figure of the face changed, it goes away, and leaves it…” And after three days that defilement is turned upon his face. Hence, they do not allow anyone to bear witness of one that is dead or killed, that he is such an one, after three days, because then his countenance is changed, and he cannot be well known.
2. Think About The Examples Of Death’s Hold Elsewhere
We’ve already looked at two examples of death’s hold elsewhere. As Arthur Pink said in his Exposition of the Gospel of John…
It is true that Christ had raised the dead before, but even here the climax is again to be seen. Mark records the raising of Jairus’ daughter, but she had only just died. Luke tells of the raising of the widow’s son of Nain, but he had not been buried. But here, in the case of Lazarus, not only had the dead man been placed in the sepulcher, but corruption had already begun to consume the body.
a. There Was A Daughter Who Was RECENTLY Dead
(Mark 5:35) While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
b. There Was A Son Who Was “RIGOR MORTIS” Dead
(“Day Old Dead” – Like “Day Old Bread”)
(Luke 7:11-12) And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. {12} Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
c. Then There Was This Brother (Lazarus) Who Was Real Dead
(Four Days In The Grave = Graveyard Dead)
C. H. Spurgeon said…
Lazarus had been dead four days. When a man has newly died he might seem to resemble an engine just now in full action, and now though motionless, the valves, wheels, and bands are still there: only rekindle the fire and reapply the motive force and the machinery will work. But when corruption comes, valves displaced, wheels broken, metal eaten away, what can be done now? … There are some who are symbolized by this case, who are altogether abominable. The pure mind desires to have them put out of sight. It does not seem possible to restore them to purity, honesty, or hope. But when the Lord makes them live, the most skeptical are obliged to confess “this is the finger of God.” However far a man may be gone he is not beyond the Lord’s arm of mighty mercy. (From The Biblical Illustrator)
In other words, you can’t be too dead for the Lord to raise you up. And you can’t be too lost for the Lord to save you. And you can’t be too far gone for the Lord to help you.
We’ve noticed the Passing of Lazarus. Now, let’s notice…
II. The Presence of the Lord
Jesus had delayed His coming for the glory of His Father (John 11:4) and for the good of His friends (John 11:15). But when He arrived…
A. He Brought Clarity
1. He Made It Clear That He Was LIGHT, and He Works In Spite Of DARKNESS
(John 11:7-10) Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again. {8} His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again? {9} Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. {10} But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
Jesus was not merely saying that they should travel in the daytime when it was safer. But He was saying that the time of His life and ministry was like the daylight hours, and until the time came for him to die (or “stumble”) that they could walk the path of ministry without fear. As John MacArthur explained…
The twelve hours in the day symbolize the duration of the Lord’s earthly ministry as allotted by the Father. Just as no one can lengthen or shorten a day, so the disciples’ concern could not extend the time allotted to Jesus, nor could the Jews’ hostility shorten it. The one who walks in the day need not fear that he might stumble; thus Jesus was perfectly safe for the prescribed time of His life. The night, signifying the end of His earthly ministry, would come at the precise time set by God’s eternal plan, and only then would the Lord stumble in death.
2. Further in the chapter, He Made It Clear That He Was LIFE, and He Works In Spite Of DEATH
(John 11:23-26) Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. {24} Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. {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: {26} And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John Phillips wrote that…
No mere man could have made such a claim to have mastery over death. He prefaced that awesome claim with his emphatic I AM. He was about to prove to Martha, Mary, and the world that this was not religious rhetoric but a statement of fact.
My friend Tom Hayes said…
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection.” That’s enough to get Lazarus up. “And the life.” That’s enough to keep him up.
He brought Clarity. But also…
B. He Brought Comfort
“And indeed,” as George Whitefield said, “they stood in much need of consolation.”
1. There Is Comfort In His Distinctiveness – Who He Is
(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.
One songwriter said, “I’m glad I know who Jesus is!” And I say AMEN to that. As Albert Barnes said…
This was a noble confession. It showed her full confidence in Him as the Messiah, and her full belief that all that He said was true.
2. There Is Comfort In His Deeds – What He Does
(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. {29} As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly (without delay, suddenly, readily), and came unto him.
come – Greek 3918. pareimi; to be near, i.e. at hand:-- (be here) present.
calleth for – Greek 5455. phoneo; to emit a sound; by implication it means to address in words or by name.
He came, and He called. There is comfort when He knows who we are and where we are. And there is comfort when He comes where we are and gives us a personal summons.
He brought Clarity. And He brought Comfort. But then…
C. He Brought Compassion
1. Observe His Term Of Compassion
(John 11:11) These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
friend – Greek 5384. philos, fee'-los; properly dear, i.e. a friend; act. fond, i.e. friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.).
The word suggests that Lazarus was someone dear to Jesus, someone that Jesus was very fond of. And I would suggest that the same is true of you this morning. You are dear to the Lord, and He cares about you!
2. Observe His Tears Of Compassion
(John 11:33-36) When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, {34} And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. {35} Jesus wept. {36} Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
weeping (vs. 33) – Greek 2799. klaio, klah'-yo; of uncert. affin.; to sob, i.e. wail aloud (whereas G1145 is rather to cry silently):--bewail. weep.
wept – Greek 1145. dakruo, dak-roo'-o; from G1144; to shed tears:--weep.
G. Campbell Morgan said…
“The Word made flesh,” weeping is a revelation of God’s sympathy, … so sensitive. In a little while He will wipe all tears away; but while they are there, even though He will dry them, and end the sorrow, He enters into fellowship with the sorrow.
John Trapp said…
The love of Christ – “Behold how He loved him.” What? for shedding some few tears for him? Oh, how then did He love us for whom He shed the dearest and warmest blood in all His heart! (The Biblical Illustrator)
We’ve noticed the Passing of Lazarus. And we’ve noticed the Presence of the Lord. Now, let’s notice…
III. The Power of Life
A. Blessings Were Obvious
1. There Was The Blessing Of A Divine Relationship
(John 11:41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
The UBS (United Bible Societies) New Testament Handbook explains that…
The verb translated listen to in TEV is in the aorist indicative, which … expresses action already accomplished.
John MacArthur said that…
In contrast to the Jewish practice of His day, Jesus addressed God directly as Father. The prayer was not for Jesus’ benefit, but so the people standing around would believe that He had been sent by the Father. It was a public affirmation of Jesus’ mission and unity with the Father, which would soon be authenticated by the raising of Lazarus.
The idea is that Jesus had already been praying about this situation. Jesus went to the Father on Lazarus’ behalf, and He will intercede for you too!
2. There Was The Blessing Of A Dynamic Resurrection
(John 11:43-44) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. {44} And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
came forth (vs. 44) – Greek 1831. exerchomai: -- (the word is also rendered as depart (out of), escape, get out, go (forth, out).
The great Baptist theologian of the 1700’s, John Gill said…
He calls him by his name, not only as being his friend, and known by him, but to distinguish him from any other corpse that might lie interred in the same cave; and he bids him come forth out of the cave
Others have speculated that if Jesus had not specified Lazarus, that every corpse in every grave in the whole world would have risen in obedience to the command “Come forth.”
Blessings were Obvious. But then too…
B. Bondage Was Overcome
1. There Was The Bondage Of The Stone
(John 11:39) Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
(John 11:41) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
stone – Greek 3037. lithos, lee'-thos; appar. a prim. word; a stone (lit. or fig.):--(mill-, stumbling-) stone.
Jesus wants us to remove any stumbling blocks that would impede dead sinners from coming out of the place of death.
John Gill said…
He that could command him to come forth, could have commanded away the stone, but He chose to have it removed this way, that the corpse might be seen, and even smelt; and that it might be manifest, there was no fallacy, nor any intrigue (deception or ruse) between Him, and the sisters of the deceased in this matter: this order was contrary to a rule of the Jews, which forbid the opening of a grave after it was stopped up; but a greater than the fathers of the traditions was here, even He who has the keys of hell, or the grave, and can open, or order it to be opened, when He pleases.
2. There Was The Bondage Of The Shroud
(John 11:44) And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Spurgeon said…
Why are these bandages left? Because Christ will not work an unnecessary miracle. … Men could do this, therefore Christ did not. That those who came to unwind Lazarus might be sure that he was the same man who died. … He was a moving man bound hard and foot. How he moved I do not know. Some of the old writers thought that he glided, as it were, through the air, and that this was part of the miracle.
Spurgeon went on to say…
See, here is a living man in the garments of death! That napkin and other grave-clothes were altogether congruous with death, but they were much out of place when Lazarus began again to live. It is a wretched sight to see a living man wearing his shroud. They are bound hand and foot, so that they are compelled to inaction; we can show them how to work for Jesus. Sometimes these bands are those of sorrow, they are in an awful terror about the past; we have to unbind them by showing that the past is blotted out. They are wrapped about by many a yard of doubt, mistrust, anguish, and remorse. “Loose them, and let them go.” … Go and tell them that things are not what they [were]: that old things have passed away, and behold all things have become new.
Blessings were Obvious. And Bondage Was Overcome. But then…
C. Belief Was Operating
1. Consider the Believing Of the Man
(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:
(John 11:43) And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
Perhaps as Lazarus was there in Abraham’s bosom in the heart of the earth, one of the other departed saints came to him (perhaps uttering the same words that Martha had declared to Mary) saying, “The Master is come and calleth for thee.” And Lazarus excused himself and went back to the world of the living because he believed in Jesus.
2. Consider The Believing Of The Many
(John 11:45) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
believed – Greek 4100. pisteuo, pist-yoo'-o; from G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication it means to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
What’s the benefit of seeing one pass from death unto life? It cultivates faith in other people!
Conclusion
Over 120 years ago, William T. Sleeper published this song, and it is a song that Lazarus could easily have sung as he made his exit from the tomb that day in response to Jesus saying, “Lazarus come forth!” Lazarus could have sung…
Out of my bondage, sorrow, and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness, and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee;
Out of my sickness, into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of unrest and arrogant pride,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy blessed will to abide,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of myself to dwell in Thy love,
Out of despair into raptures above,
Upward for aye on wings like a dove,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the fear and dread of the tomb,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the joy and light of Thy throne,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the depths of ruin untold,
Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold,
Ever Thy glorious face to behold,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
What about you friend? Are you ready to come out of that death experience that you are in? Has your relationship with God become sickly, and is it at the point of death? Is your marriage in critical condition today? It was the family (Mary and Martha) who asked the Lord to come help Lazarus. Is there a family member that you are concerned about today?
The songwriter said, “Jesus I come to Thee.” Would you come?