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John

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Different Hearts, Different Opinions

John 11:36-37

The graveside scene was poignant.  Mary and Martha mourned the death of their brother Lazarus, surrounded by the ritual wailing of the village folk (John 11:17-19).  Jesus was weeping too (John 11:35); not just to be socially appropriate, but because He loved Lazarus and his sisters.  Death had engulfed the little family and Jesus felt their pain personally.  The deadly consequences of the Fall had thrown this family's life into helpless turmoil (Genesis 3:19).  The onlookers had their opinions.  Some saw how much Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters, while others criticised Him for not arri

Critical Unbelief

John 11:38-41a

Martha was mixed-up in her mind and heart, as most people are when their loved ones die.  The death of her brother, Lazarus, was a profound shock: so too was Jesus' apparent lack of interest, until He arrived four days after the funeral.  Nevertheless, Martha had been willing for Jesus to teach her about His power to raise the dead (John 11:21-27).  She said she believed that Jesus had the power to raise the dead.  Then came the test of her faith as they moved toward the tomb.

God At Work

John 11:41-44

It was an awesome moment.  At Jesus' command the huge stone, covering the rock tomb of Lazarus, was taken away.  Then all eyes were upon Jesus as He called out to Father God.  He intended His prayer to be overheard.  It was important that everybody grieving around the grave could hear God the Son and God the Father working together, as He did on six other occasions as well (Luke 3:21-22; Matthew 11:25-26; John 12:27-28; Matthew 26:26; Luke 23:34; Luke 23:46).  This time, Jesus wanted Martha and Mary to understand that when the Father and the Son decide to raise the dead, nothing can stop th

Jesus Exposes Loyalties

John 11:45-48

Raising Lazarus from the dead was a remarkable miracle.  Jesus wanted the community in Bethany to believe in Him (John 11:41-42) and many of them did.  Those who had come to sympathise with Mary's bereavement now shared Mary's joy.  Mary and Martha had their brother back home alive and well.  Emotionally, they were happy; financially, they were now secure because their breadwinner was able to work; and spiritually, they were satisfied because they had God's power at work in their family.  Their doubts had gone and they gave praise to God.
 

Angry But Prophetic

John 11:49-53

It had to come to a head.  The discussions about Jesus were going on and on.  Many of the people loved Him, but the religious power-holders hated Him.  The idea that Jesus might become so popular that the Roman occupiers would blame the High Priest and ruling Council, threatened their position and reputation (John 11:48).

A Wanted Man

John 11:54-57

Everybody knew that Jesus would be arrested sooner or later.  The Council had agreed with the High Priest that Jesus should die (John 11:49-53), and although they did not know how to achieve their objective legally, the momentum of hatred against Jesus was unstoppable.  Then the leaders involved the ordinary people: they had to report His location so that He could be arrested.  

The Value Of Worship

John 12:1-6

A celebratory dinner had been organised in Bethany about three miles outside of Jerusalem.  Jesus had travelled some ten miles from Ephraim in the Judean wilderness northeast of Jerusalem (John 11:54), with His disciples, to be there.  Lazarus, who had been dead for four days, was alive because Jesus had called him out of the tomb (John 11:43-44).  Jesus was the Guest of Honour, Lazarus was at the table (in those days they reclined on low couches or mats, radiating around a low table), his sister Martha served the food and his other sister Mary had planned a special surprise for Jesus.

Prophetic Or Trivial Worship

John 12:7-8

The fragrance of Mary's perfume had filled the house (John 12:1-3).  Emptying half a litre of expensive fragrant oil over Jesus' feet, she was saying 'thank you' for raising her brother from the dead after four days in the tomb (John 11:38-44).  She was pouring out her worship to the Life-Giver.  Jesus said that her act of worship was also prophetic.  It pointed forward to the day when He would be in the tomb and although women would come on the third day after His death with spices to anoint His body, they would find the tomb empty (Luke 24:1-8).  There would be no opportunity to express t

The Power Of Truthful Witness

John 12:9-11

Everybody had heard that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 12:1).  Wherever Jesus went He attracted a crowd and the celebration dinner in Bethany provided an extra reason - Lazarus was there as well. So, large numbers of people came to see the living and the Life-Giver together.  After four days in the tomb, what will Lazarus look like, they wondered.
 

Glimpsing The Glory, Proclaiming The Praise

John 12:12-16

Five days before the Passover, everybody was excited.  It was a national festival and spiritual high point in the year.  So many people, who had heard of Jesus, hoped He would be there.  When they found that He was close to Jerusalem, they went out to meet Him.  All that they had heard about Jesus pointed in one direction only: that He must be God's Messiah, the King in David's line who had come to save them.

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