He is “the resurrection, and the life” v.25John 11:25XWaiting for response and when he returns those who have believed in him, though dead, shall live v.25John 11:25XWaiting for response while believers who are alive when he returns will never die v.26.John 11:26XWaiting for response As a demonstration of his ability to do this he raised Lazarus who had been dead for four days and whose body had begun to decompose v.39.John 11:39XWaiting for response He commanded them to remove the stone from the entrance of the sepulchre v.39,John 11:39XWaiting for response prayed to his Father vs.41-42,John 11:41-42XWaiting for response and called Lazarus with a loud voice v.43,John 11:43XWaiting for response whereupon Lazarus came out of the tomb, alive. So, in the future, “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” 1 Thessalonians 4:16.1 Thessalonians 4:16XWaiting for response
We read of Mary three times in the scriptures and on each occasion we find her at Jesus’ feet with her actions misunderstood (John 12:3-5,John 12:3-5XWaiting for response v.31-32,John 11:31-32XWaiting for response and Luke 10:39).Luke 10:39XWaiting for response
We should be impressed by the raising of Lazarus, as many Jews were and believed v.45,John 11:45XWaiting for response for this represents the one great and glorious hope for the future - to live again by resurrection from the dead. The religious authorities, however, did not believe and, because of the raising of Lazarus, “took counsel together for to put Jesus to death” v.53,John 11:53XWaiting for response therefore Jesus removed himself from Judea and their jurisdiction until the time for his crucifixion drew near.
In this chapter we read of Jesus rising his friend Lazarus whom he loved v.3John 11:3XWaiting for response from the dead and this is recorded, no doubt, to confirm that he will raise all his friends from the grave when he comes. The friends of Jesus die during his absence but because they will be awakened from the dead they are described as “sleeping” v.11.John 11:11XWaiting for response When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick unto death he did not go immediately to him even though, as Lazarus’ sisters said, if he had been there he would not have died vs.21,32.John 11:21,32XWaiting for response The reason Jesus remained away for two days was because he loved Lazarus and his two sisters vs.5-6.John 11:5-6XWaiting for response And so it is now. Jesus is away in heaven but he knows that his friends whom he loves are dying. If he returned he could prevent them from dying, but God’s purpose requires that a multitude of saints are developed over two thousand years while Jesus remains away, so most of them have fallen into the sleep of death. Nevertheless, Jesus loves them and in due time he will come again and raise them from the dead “in the resurrection at the last day” v.24.John 11:24XWaiting for response