The Gospel Story – 10/30/2022

Jesus has power over death

Text: John 5:24

John 11:1-44

• 4 – “the Son of God may be Glorified” – Real purpose of Lazarus’ illness, not death.
• 6 – “two days longer” – The decision to delay did not bring about Lazarus’ death, Jesus already knew the plan. Jesus loved the family and would be clear as to strengthen their faith.
• 11 – “fallen asleep” – NT refers to death – for believers it refers to raised to enteral life.
• 14 – The resurrection of Lazarus was designed to strengthen Jesus’ disciples’ faith in Him as the Messiah and Son of God – in the face of strong Jewish rejection.
• v.17 – “four days” – Stresses the magnitude of the miracle. (Jews didn’t embalm, so by then, the body would have been in a state of decomposition.
• 21 & v. 32 – Not a rebuke but trust in His healing power.
• 25 – The 5^th“I am” – here Jesus moved Martha from abstract belief in the resurrection that will take place “on the last day” to a personalized trust in Him alone.
• 35 – Greek word – bursting into tears – not because of Lazarus’ death, but out of grief for a fallen world caught up in sin-caused sorrow and death.
• 43 – This is a preview of the power of Christ to be fully displayed in the final resurrection when all the dead hear the voice of the Son of God and live.