He is “the resurrection, and the life” v.25Waiting for response for John 11:25 and when he returns those who have believed in him, though dead, shall live v.25Waiting for response for John 11:25 while believers who are alive when he returns will never die v.26.Waiting for response for John 11:26 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.Waiting for response for John 11:39 He commanded them to remove the stone from the entrance of the sepulchre v.39,Waiting for response for John 11:39 prayed to his Father vs.41-42,Waiting for response for John 11:41-42 and called Lazarus with a loud voice v.43,Waiting for response for John 11:43 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.Waiting for response for 1 Thessalonians 4:16
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,Waiting for response for John 12:3-5 v.31-32,Waiting for response for John 11:31-32 and Luke 10:39).Waiting for response for Luke 10:39
We should be impressed by the raising of Lazarus, as many Jews were and believed v.45,Waiting for response for John 11:45 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,Waiting for response for John 11:53 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.3Waiting for response for John 11:3 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.Waiting for response for John 11:11 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.Waiting for response for John 11:21,32 The reason Jesus remained away for two days was because he loved Lazarus and his two sisters vs.5-6.Waiting for response for John 11:5-6 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.Waiting for response for John 11:24