YOUTH STS LESSON 153 THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

TEXT: John 11: 1-57    

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” (John 11:25).

In a little town called Bethany which was a short distance from Jerusalem, was a small family which Jesus visited to raise Lazarus from the dead. This visit and consequent miracle show the willingness and interest of God in all categories of people regardless of where they live and who they are. It is the will of God that all youths both in the villages or cities, poor or rich families, blacks or whites, boys or girls get to know of His saving power and yield themselves to Him.

Question 1: What sickness of the soul can lead to greater consequences and danger than the sickness of Lazarus?

Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha became sick and this led to his death. While we know that sickness of the body is painful and can lead to death, there is a more serious and universal sickness suffered by all, including boys and girls. This sickness is the sickness of the soul which is sin. While sickness of the body leads to physical death, this spiritual sickness leads to eternal death and separation from God. Sin requires divine intervention for its treatment and healing. This comes only through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). After Jesus raised Lazarus from dead, the Pharisees were unhappy. The miracle provoked them to hatred and contempt. Meanwhile, Jesus applied divine wisdom and withdrew Himself from Jewry (Jerusalem) though it was the will of God for Him to die for the salvation of the whole world. This the high priest Caiaphas also said, “not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation…” (verse 51, 52).

1.PREPARATION FOR MIRACLE (John 11:1-40; Acts 9:36- 42; 2 Kings 4:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Romans 14:8,9)

“Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick” (John 11:1). This shows the love and affection of the sisters of Lazarus for their brother. They did not remain carefree or unmoved, but displayed sacrificial and selfless love in looking for the best solution they knew for the healing of their brother. The statement “he whom thou lovest”, displays the concern of Jesus Christ for people. Jesus loves all men including youths and this love should make all sinners come willingly to Him to experience His saving power. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We also discover that Mary and Martha did not look for solution for their problems in wrong places. They came to Jesus and stated the problem to Jesus. When we are faced with the challenges of life, we should come to Jesus. Jesus is the answer to all our problems.

Our spiritual, academic, physical and social lives are in His hands. “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 11:25). However, Mary and Martha had faith in Christ’s ability. “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever to wilt ask of God, God will give it thee” (verses 21,22).

Question 2: What lessons do we learn from Martha’s confidence in Jesus?

By the time Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus had been dead and buried for four days. Many were already mourning him and the news of Jesus’ arrival spread fast. Mary and Martha heard the news and Martha hurried to meet Jesus. Martha’s confidence in Christ is worthy of emulation. “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee” (John 11:21,22). There is nothing that any youth may need that God cannot and will not supply if the youth believes in the power of Christ.

Question 3: What are the preparations we are to make in order to receive miracles?

Mary, upon the invitation of Martha, came to Jesus. We discover that even in their grief, they had unity of purpose and persuasion. She repeated what Martha had earlier said. Unity is very essential to revival. As we pray to the Lord, one of the basic preparations we need to have is to be unified in prayers. Scriptures enjoin us to walk in unity as it brings peace and blessings. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). Part of the preparation we also see was complete obedience to the words of Jesus Christ. There was no argument or resistance to the instructions of the Lord.

All the instructions and words of the Lord were fully complied with including the removal of the stone. Even though there were those who were against Jesus, yet, the family did not identify with the faithless people. They chose rather to pitch their tent with the Lord and abide by His promises. God is never late. He always comes just in time, though we may not understand why He comes when He comes. As Mary came to Jesus, she unburdened her sorrowful spirit at the feet of Jesus Christ and wept. This displays her sincerity and commitment of purpose in prayers. Many youths today do not take prayer time seriously. Some others pray after other people or recite psalms or prayer books. Mary did not follow the writings of anyone here, but rather poured out her tears at the feet of Jesus Christ.

What better place can a youth unburden his soul than at the feet of Jesus! To the shock and amazement of all the people gathered there, “Jesus wept”. Christ identified fully with the human nature to redeem fallen man. He felt hunger, thirst, weakness and sorrow. This shows His eternal love for man. He wept to identify with family at their time of grief and not because He was helpless. This is in accordance with the Scriptures that “…whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26). Also, remember that no matter what you are faced with, “… we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).

2.PRAYER FOR MIRACLE (John 11:41-46; James 5:16)

“…And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:42:44). We see an impressive conclusion to this miraculous encounter of an unpopular family in a small town. After the stone was removed, Jesus started the prayer for the miracle. Youths need to make sure they remove every hindrance to the miracles God wants to perform in their lives.

Question 4: What do we learn from the removal of the stone before Jesus raised Lazarus?

From all that happened, we learn the following:

(i) hindrances to the work and will of God must be removed before youths can get the best of God. Hindrances can include sin, prejudice, unbelief, malice.

(ii) Christ decided to use human vessels to remove the stone. Serving God is a privileged assignment which every Christian youth needs to be grateful to God for. Christian youths have a lot to learn from the pattern of Christ’s prayer

(i) Jesus lifted up His eyes to the Father in full concentration. Distractions can lead to unanswered prayers.

(ii) While praying, Jesus first acknowledged the Father and thanked Him. God should be praised whenever we pray to Him.

(iii) Christ stated His confidence and faith in the Father to answer His prayers. Doubts are miracle-blockers. The Bible says that “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8);

(iv) The prayer of Jesus Christ was clear, focused and without vain repetitions. Prayer is talking to God our Father and youths must ensure that when they pray, they let the Lord know what they want. 

(v) The raising up of Lazarus displays the ultimate power of Christ to raise every believer that believes in Him from the dead.

3.THE PLOT TO ARREST JESUS (John 11:47-57; 7:30-32, 45, 18:3, 12, Matthew 10:17, 18, Acts 14:21, 22; 2 Timothy 3:12; Proverbs 29:25; Matthew 10:28; John 16:33)

 “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? For this man doeth many miracles” 47). The Jewish leaders constituted a group of persecutors. They used their influence to employ military officers to hunt after Jesus Christ. This they did earlier but failed and they have resumed their hunt. “The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him” (John 7:32). They gathered and planned what they could do to stop Jesus Christ from progressing in His work seeing that many of their followers would believe, as some had believed and followed Him.

Question 5: What lesson do we learn from the conspiracy of the Jewish council against Jesus Christ?

Our Lord has told us that “the disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord” (Matthew 10:24). Christian youths should expect their share of whatever Christ experienced. As it was done to Jesus Christ, some people in our school or neighbourhood will gather against us, not because they see evil in us, but because our good deeds are a testimony against them. They would report us to the Principal, the family head or the community rulers whether as individuals or as a group of Christian youths (Matthew 10:17; Acts 14:21,22). It is expressed in the Scripture that, those that will live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution Timothy 3:12). “If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation” (verse 48).

The Jewish leaders were not only afraid of losing their followers to Jesus but much more, that the Romans would make them to lose their nationality. “And one of the them, name Caiaphas being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not” (verse 49,50). Caiaphas who was the high priest that year announced the redemptive work which Christ came to do. Obviously, he did not even understand the depth of what he said, that Christ is the Saviour of the world. This is the testimony that both the Old Testament and the New Testament saints held about Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world. We can see from the case of Caiaphas that it is not sufficient to know the truth but to apply it to our lives. There are so many youths who can tell others about the redemptive work like Caiaphas but who do not have the experience. That is, they have not personally, in an experiential manner, benefitted from the death of Jesus Christ.

Question 6: How can a youth benefit from the redemptive story?

To benefit from the redemptive story, believe that Jesus truly came to die for your sins. Confess those sins, repent from them and accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. This decision will make you to be part of the future gathering unto Christ. A youth who merely enjoys hearing the sermons about the miracles, suffering and death of Jesus Christ without a definite decision of salvation is as empty and religious as Caiaphas. That is the case of many youths who come to the church today. “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness” (Ezekiel 33:31).

“And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad” (verse 52). The redemptive work that Jesus did about two thousand years ago was not only to save us from sin but also to prepare us for His kingdom. This implies that, at the end, the redeemed youths will gather with other saints at the feet of Jesus. “Then 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: 17). Therefore, we cannot afford to be negligent of our redemption. (1 John 3:1-3). “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). When the Jewish leaders agreed together in their council to kill Jesus, He kept Himself away from their midst. This is wisdom which the Lord wants us to use in time of life-threatening persecutions and crisis.

Question 7: What lesson can we learn from Jesus’ continuation of the ministry in Ephraim?

Jesus Christ did not retreat or surrender. He did not stop working for God. This is a great lesson for us. When we suffer persecution as Christians, and it demands our relocation, we should not keep out of God’s service. We should keep on the firing line. The apostles, being escaped from the prison by divine intervention of the angels, kept on preaching. After the death of Stephen, there was a great that were in persecution which scattered the saints Jerusalem. Those saints kept on in the path of duty; retreat to re-fire! Therefore, Christian youths should “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8: 4). Hold the forth and be not discouraged in the service of the Lord. He will reward you. Be “Therefore, my beloved brethren, ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).