THE GOSPEL OF JOHN III. The Opposition to the Son of God (5:1–12:50) A. At The Feast In Jerusalem (Jn 5:1-47) B.During The Passover (Jn 6:1-71) C. During The Feast Of Tabernacles (Jn 7:1 – 10:21) D. During The Feast Of DedicationD. During The Feast Of Dedication (Jn 10:22-42)(Jn 10:22-42) E. Because Of The Death And Resurrection Of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-57)

1. The Report of Lazarus’ Illness (11:1-16)1. The Report of Lazarus’ Illness (11:1-16) 2. The Return of Jesus to Bethany (11:17-37) 3. The Raising of Lazarus (11:38-44)3. The Raising of Lazarus (11:38-44) a. Jesus’ Preparation (vv a)a. Jesus’ Preparation (vv a) b. Martha’s Doubting (vv. 39b-40)b. Martha’s Doubting (vv. 39b-40)  Read Jn 11:39b-40. ~ Charles Spurgeon: “In shunning a trial, we are seeking to avoid a blessing.”

 “... if you believe.” ~ This is said because our faith smooths the way for God’s power and goodness to be displayed to us. ~ Ps 81:10~ Ps 81:10 ~ Again, unbelief blocks God’s way and, as it were, keeps His hands closed. ~ Matt 13:58~ Matt 13:58

~ This does not mean that God’s power is limited by men’s will, but because, as far as they can, their malice opposes it, and therefore they do not deserve it to be shown to them.  Of course, Jesus cannot have meant that the performance of the miracle was dependent upon Martha’s exercise of faith.

 “... see the glory of God.” ~ Observe that a miracle is called “the glory of God,” because God, by displaying in it the power of His hand, glorifies His name. ~ The purpose of the whole event was for Jesus to exhibit the glory of God. ~ Recall Jn 11:4.~ Recall Jn 11:4.

~ In order for the miracle to occur and for God to be glorified through it, the sisters would have to believe enough to order the stone to be removed from the tomb’s entrance. c. Jesus’ Prayer (vv )c. Jesus’ Prayer (vv )  Read Jn 11:  Before actually performing the miracle Jesus offered a prayer.

 First, He prayed as the One sent by the Father.  Second, He “raised His eyes,” the throne of God being in heaven, and said, “Father (not our Father), I thank You that You have heard Me.”  Third, the public nature of His prayer is not a matter of show. ~ Quite the reverse, because:~ Quite the reverse, because:

1) The prayer seeks to draw His hearers into the intimacy of Jesus’ own relationship with the Father. ~ That the Father always hears the Son follows naturally from Jn 5:30 and 10:30. 2) The prayer demonstrates the truth of Jn 5:19ff., i.e. that Jesus does nothing by Himself, but is totally dependent on and obedient to His Father’s will.

~ Therefore, Christ means that they are in such close agreement that the Father denies Him nothing. ~ But Christ called on the name of the Father so that men should be more fully assured that this was truly a divine work.  The purpose of the prayer: that the surrounding multitude “may believe” that Jesus is the Sent One, the true Messiah, divinely commissioned to carry out His mediatorial task.

 Public prayers, though like private prayers addressed to God, must be crafted with the public in mind as well.  GOD LISTENS! ~ His confidence, “I knew that you always hear me,” was expressed for our benefit. ~ Our prayers are arrogant if we assume how God will answer; our prayers are confident if we affirm that God listens.

~ OUR CONFIDENCE COMES NOT FROM WHAT WE PRAY OR HOW WE PRAY BUT TO WHOM WE PRAY AND THROUGH WHOM WE PRAY. ~ Christian, God listens when you pray! d. Jesus’ Command (v. 43)d. Jesus’ Command (v. 43)  Read Jn 11:43.

~ But Jesus cried out so forcibly in order that everyone in the crowd might be aware of the fact that the dead would respond to His call! ~ It was His voice, the expression of His omnipotent will, which caused the dead man to come to life and to obey the command. ~ The voice of Jesus is potent and lifegiving! ~ Jn 5:25~ Jn 5:25

 Christ’s power is more clearly seen by the fact that He did not touch the body with His hand but only called out, using His voice. ~ We are reminded of the centurion whose faith the Lord commended in Lk 7:7. ~ Here, Christ points to us the secret and wonderful efficacy of His Word.

~ So in the raising of Lazarus Christ shows us a visible sign of His spiritual grace which we daily experience through the perception of faith and the knowledge and application of His Word, for Christ shows that His voice brings life.