ADULT STS LESSON 153 JESUS: THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE
MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25,26).
TEXT: John 11:1-57
The text under consideration narrates a story of the sickness and eventual death of a certain man named Lazarus, and the demonstration of Christ’s power to raise him from death. The miracle here is the last of the signs recorded in our Lord’s ministry by John. The writer’s main focus is to point all humanity to Jesus, the Son of God so that they will believe in Him and not die spiritually but have eternal life. The miracle is a preview of Jesus’ resurrection from death (and ours too) and a proof that death has no power over true children of God. Christ declares: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death” (John 8:51).
The account shows that:
One, Christ has power over death and holds the keys to life and death.
Second, it proves that if we believe in Him, though we die physically, we shall rise again.
Third, Jesus identifies with our situations and shares in our grief and sorrow.
The lesson also introduces us to the diabolical plot of the chief priests and the Pharisees to arrest and kill Christ. This wicked plan stemmed from the miracle He performed at Bethany when He raised Lazarus from death. On hearing the account of this miracle from some informants, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered in council to consider what to do with Christ. His response in this situation presents useful patterns for believers who face persecution, opposition, ridicule and threat to their lives. As Christ continued with His soul-saving ministry in spite of the persecution He suffered, we should not be surprised, disappointed or cease to do right when our good deeds are misunderstood or repaid with evil.
DISTRESS CALL TO THE MASTER (John 11:1-32; Psalm 50:15; Matthew 11:28-30; Philippians 4:6,7; Hebrews 12:1,2; James 5:14-18; Romans 14:8,9; 2 Corinthians 8:5)
Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary had been sick and the two sisters sent a special message to acquaint Christ with their brother’s deteriorating condition. Jesus did not immediately go to Bethany, the town of Martha and Mary (Lazarus’ sisters), but waited for two days before returning to Judea. Though He knew that Lazarus would have died before He arrived Bethany, He was sure that a greater miracle would happen in its place. No doubt, His delay had a specific purpose in order that God might be glorified (verse 4). Besides, God is never in a hurry, as He knows the right time to meet our needs in order to fulfil His best purposes. Believers therefore, should learn how to wait patiently for Him to do according to the counsel of His own will.
Whatever our situations and conditions, God can be glorified in them. He makes “all things work together for good to them that love [Him]” (Romans 8:28). Two days after news of Lazarus’ sickness reached the Lord, He told His disciples it was time to “go into Judaea again”. The disciples felt that such a move could be suicidal and tried to talk Him out of it. But Jesus explained that the work of saving souls must continue in spite of the dangers that sometimes attend it (verses 9,10). He knew that if the appointed hour for Him to lay down His life for our sins had not come, no man could kill Him. In His divine wisdom, Christ chose to delay the visit to the ailing Lazarus and allowed him to die and be buried before going to raise him. Jesus arrived Bethany four days after Lazarus had died and was received by Martha whose reaction was: “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (verse 21). Mary used the same words to show her disposition to His delay. They believed that their brother would have been healed if the Lord had arrived earlier.
Even when the Lord assured them that their brother would rise again, they understood it to mean resurrection on the last day. But Christ also meant that He has power to raise him from . death and bring comfort to their hearts. Although Lazarus had died, Martha still believed that Christ could ask God to do anything and He will answer Him. Jesus Christ revealed that believers in Him shall live forever. This truth is a source of hope for all children of God. When death comes at the appointed time, it shall be a means of our transition to eternal glory. “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25,26). Jesus is the Author of resurrection and life; He has power to raise from the dead.
What a comfort to true believers that the grave is not our end. Though our faith in Jesus would not prevent death from doing its bidding (since it is appointed unto men once to die), but we shall rise again. Jesus rekindled Martha’s dwindling hope at the situation in her family by declaring, “Thy brother shall rise again”. Our God can rescue any situation (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37).
DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE AND POWER (John 11:33-46; Matthew 9:18-25)
“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled” (John 11:33). The Lord demonstrated His sympathy, love, compassion and concern for this grieving family and shared in their grief and sorrow.
He was so moved that it is written: “Jesus wept”. Christ’s love for humanity is not merely in words but in deed and in truth. He laid down His life to redeem us from eternal perdition. His affection for Lazarus and his sisters manifested for all to see to the extent that His critics testified, “Behold how he loved him”. Jesus came to the grave and instructed them to take “…away the stone. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth”. The Lord demonstrated what He was later to accomplish in His resurrection the conquering of death. This event brought to bear two different effects of the miracle: many of the Jews believed as a result of what they saw. On the other hand, some of the Jews reacted in a way that indicated that they were not comfortable with Him. They went back to report to the Pharisees. These two different reactions of the people depict the responses of people to Christ’s message. True seekers come to Him and when they see God’s work, they believe, get saved and even receive miracles. But doubters and sceptics go away empty.
3.DISAPPROVING PLOT TO ARREST CHRIST AND THE PROPHECY OF THE HIGH PRIEST (John 11:47-57; 5:16; Mark 3:1-7; Acts 4:18,21,23-28; Psalm 2:1-5; John 16:2,3)
“Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we?… If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him…” (John 11:47,48). The ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was fast gaining ground and His fame spreading abroad. The miracle of raising Lazarus from death encouraged many of the Jews to believe the gospel. The gospel impact had spread round the entire regions of Judea and Jerusalem and the authorities were no longer comfortable with the emerging new faith. As a result, they consulted together to try to destroy the arrowhead of the revival. An attempt to exclude anyone or group of people from hearing the gospel for whatever reason is tantamount to curtailing the spread of the gospel, which the Scripture declares, “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16).
Satan will not sit idly and allow soul-winners snatch his slaves without any resistance. Thus, he motivated the religious people to plot against Christ. These Jewish leaders had two primary concerns: one religious and the other political. They wanted to guard their endangered religious position as Christ became more prominent and accepted by the common people. They also feared that they might lose their national identity completely to the Romans if their citizens embraced the gospel which advocated peace and love for enemies rather than force and violence. Propelled by these two concerns, they gathered a council for the sole objective of getting rid of the Messiah and halting His message. Therefore, the righteous should not count it strange when they are persecuted or opposed by the unrighteous. The Scriptures rightly declare that, “he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now”.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (Galatians 4:29; 2 Timothy 3:12). It is certain that since the world antagonised our Master, they will do the same to us (John 15:18-20). We should beware lest we be discouraged because of oppositions to the gospel and quit our duty post. The persecution Christ went through was in line with what was written concerning Him. Caiaphas the high priest had prophesied that, “it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not” (verse 50). He said further that “Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (verses 51,52). God is not stereotyped or limited in His choice of vessels when communicating divine truth or warning to humanity. However, even though He used Caiaphas (an unsaved soul), His perfect will is to communicate His truth through clean, godly vessels (Isaiah 52:11).
His will was for Christ to die for the whole world. Those who, as a result, repent of their sins and are reconciled to Him become His children. They will be gathered in heaven at the rapture of the saints. “Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples” (verses 53,54). While we are to endure persecutions in the course of spreading the message of salvation, we are at the same time expected to fulfil our days and ministry on earth. This is where believers need to apply wisdom. Jesus knew He yet had a ministry to accomplish. It was therefore, wise for Him to relocate from the place of danger to a safer place and continue His ministry. In sending out His disciples to the mission field, Jesus counselled them to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves, adding that they should flee to other cities when ministry becomes hazardous in a particular place (Matthew 10:16-23). It is not cowardice or unbelief to take precaution in times of danger or opposition on the field of ministry (Proverbs 22:3). It is foolishness and not faith to defy warnings of danger in the course of ministry or service, when a believer’s life is threatened. The consequences can be grave, if we fail to take caution. Because of their conspiracy, they sought “for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?” The Pharisees, because of their unbelief said and did what they did (John 11:55-57). We should not oppose or criticise Jesus but believe in Him to benefit from His glory. Everywhere He went, His disciples followed Him. The good and beautiful thing was that the disciples continued with Him. The secret of being with Christ in heaven is that we continue till the end.
Question for review:
- What can we learn from Lazarus’ rise from death?
- Why did the Jewish religious leaders resist Christ and His ministry?
- What does the request sent by Lazarus’ sisters teach us about approaching God in faith?
- What should be our attitude when the answer to our prayers seems delayed?
- Explain the significance of Christ’s power over death.
- Identify the two primary concerns of the Jewish religious leaders that informed their gathering a council. What was their main objective?
- What is the possible consequence of a believer’s failure to take precaution in a life-threatening situation on the field of evangelism?
