The Man Who Can Raise the Dead – John 11:17-45

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Pastor Scott L. Harris
Grace Bible Church, NY
January 14, 2018

The Man Who Can Raise the Dead
John 11:17-45

Introduction

Mankind has always had a fascination with death because it is one enemy that always wins. Regardless of how many medical breakthroughs are made and the length of life is extended through them, death eventually claims everyone. As one person has quipped, the greatest killer in America is death, ten out of ten people die. Because of this, the great quest of man has been how to prepare for and deal with death.

There are those who deny that existence of the human soul, and so they deal with death as simply the cessation of the chemical activity that makes up life. For them, there is no essential difference between the death of a human and the death of the fish they had for dinner. They try to deal with death by removing its eternal ramifications. This is a common idea among atheists.

Some religions treat death as part of the normal sequence of repeating events. Death is the door which releases your soul from its current body to return in the future in another body of some type. This is the teaching of Hinduism and other Eastern mystical religions. Their quest is to find a way to break the repeating cycle and its pain to reach the state of Nirvana – nothingness.

Other religions treat death as the door through which the person enters into a life similar to the current one, but better because the problems and pains of this world are left behind. This is the idea of the “happy hunting ground” or similar commonly found in animistic religions.

Other religions see death as the door to judgment of the soul. Those who have done “good” as defined by that particular religion get to go to a good place often called heaven, and those that have lived a “bad” life are punished in some manner. Depending on the religion, the punishment ranges from eternal torment, to temporary torment before graduating to a good place, to annihilation. These are religions of personal achievement.

In true Biblical Christianity, death is the door to judgment of the soul, but it is God’s grace that grants a person a place in heaven and not personal effort since no one can merit it by their own good works. Those who do not receive this grace are justly sentenced to eternal punishment in Hell according to that person’s own deeds. In true Christianity, death is still an enemy, but it is a conquered enemy. Death does not have the victory in the present or in the future. Only in Biblical Christianity is the answer “yes” to the great question, “Has anyone conquered death, and if so, can they enable me to conquer it too?”

This morning we are going to continue in our study of John 11 and His great miracle in raising Lazarus from the dead. Other people had been raised from the dead in the past. Elijah raised the widow’s son (1 Kings 17); Elisha raised the Shunammite’s son (2 Kings 4); Jesus had already raised the synagogue official’s daughter (Luke 8) and even stopped a funeral and raised a young man back to life (Luke 7). But in each of these cases, it could be argued by the unbelieving that the person had not really died for the resurrection was either done in private or was very soon after the person’s death. That would not be the case with Lazarus.

The Death of Lazarus – John 11:1-19

Recall from last week that Martha and Mary of Bethany had sent word to Jesus that their brother, Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, was sick (vs. 1-3). They trusted Jesus to respond according to that love. When Jesus heard the news, He responded “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it” (vs. 4). Martha and Mary would have understood that initially to simply mean that their brother would not die, but after he did die, they would have considered the last part of the message concerning the glory of God and concluded Jesus was referring to the resurrection to come on the last day as promised by the prophets (vs. 24). They did not know that Jesus waited two days after He received the message before beginning His journey to Bethany. Jesus’ statements in verses 12, 14 & 15 make it clear that He had purposely waited until Lazarus was dead because He was planning on “awakening him” so that the disciples would believe. (See: Sickness for the Glory God)

Look at John 11:17. So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off; 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning [their] brother.

The practice of the Jews was to bury the individual on the same day as the death if possible or the next day if death occurred during the night. They did not embalm the body as did the Egyptians, but only anointed the body with spices which helped to cover up the stench of death. The same is still true today among most Jews. They do not embalm the body and they hold the funerals very soon after the person dies.

The mourning period would follow lasting three days to a week or longer. Friends and neighbors would gather to weep, wail and lament the deceased. John points out that Bethany was only about 15 stadia, or about 2 miles, from Jerusalem. This is to explain why so many people had come to console Mary and Martha. Bethany was a separate village, but close enough to Jerusalem that many were able to come.

Jesus did not begin His journey until Lazarus was dead, and by the time He arrives, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. This indicates that if Jesus was in the region of Bethany beyond the Jordan in Perea, He traveled slowly since it would normally only be a two day journey from that area at the most. Or Jesus was in the region of Galilee where it could have taken four days to make the journey. Jesus could have known about Lazarus’ burial in the same way that He knew about his death through His omniscience, but the text seems to indicate that someone probably told Jesus about the burial as He came near to Bethany.

John also points out that “many of the Jews” had come to mourn Lazarus. John’s usage of this term is not about ethnic heritage, for most of the people in the area would have been Jewish. Rather, it points back to his earlier usage of the term in reference to the religious leaders and their followers. This will explain the reaction of some of them later in the course of events. The fact that many of them came out to comfort Mary and Martha indicates something of the standing of family in the community as being well known and respected.

We must leave the motives of the different ones that came to speculation, but the text is clear that there was a desire on their part to console Lazarus’ sisters. The fact that some of them opposed Jesus (10:24, 31,33) did not keep them from coming to the aid of Martha and Mary. However, Martha is aware of the opposition and acts accordingly when she hears that Jesus is near.

Jesus and Martha – John 11:20-28

Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him; but Mary still sat in the house.

Jesus was on the outskirts of the village (vs. 30) and someone told Martha that He was near. It is probable that Jesus sent someone to get Martha in view of the fact that Jesus did the same to Mary a short time later (vs. 28). Jesus has a specific purpose for not coming into the village, but it was not fear of the Jews. Jesus had already made it clear to His disciples back in verses 9 & 10 that He did not fear them and knew that He would complete His work.

The temperament of each of the two sisters is different. Mary is the more contemplative and quiet one, so Martha went out to meet Jesus while Mary stayed in the house. The fact that Martha’s departure did not attract any attention, as did Mary’s a short time later, also indicates Martha’s busy nature. She was deeply grieved over her brother’s death, but she is still active while Mary has become still and reflective. Martha’s heart is revealed when she meets Jesus.

21 Martha therefore said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.”

Martha does not state this as criticism or resentment of Jesus, but rather an expression of her grief. Lazarus had died four days ago. The timing of the events are such that Lazarus would have died either just before or soon after the messenger returned from telling Jesus that Lazarus was sick. From her viewpoint, it would have been very difficult if not impossible for Jesus to have arrived in time. Her statement is one of both grief and testimony of her faith in Jesus. Again, she calls Jesus, “Lord,” and then expresses her belief that Jesus could have healed Lazarus. There is no doubt in her mind about His power or the compassion He would have extended to Lazarus had He been present. In addition, she adds her continuing belief that Jesus can approach God the Father with anything and it will be granted. Though Lazarus is dead, her trust in Jesus has not diminished in the least.

How many of us have that same kind of faith in Jesus? Too often when some tragedy or trial comes upon us and we do not get from God what we want, we quickly listen to our lies of our adversary and start doubting God’s goodness and love for us. As I pointed out last week, His goodness and mercy is proven by the very fact that you are still alive and not under His just condemnation in eternal Hell. God has proven His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). The problem is our self-centeredness. God does not exist for our benefit and pleasure. He created us for His own purposes and pleasure. Humans do not like the fact that we are but creatures brought into existence by our Creator to fulfill His desires instead of our own, but it is the truth. It is our rebellion against Him and this truth that causes us to believe the devil’s slander against God and keeps us from being content in this life. We may not understand why things happen as they do, but we can be confident in God’s love for us and that His plans are for our good and His glory. Martha believed that and trusted Jesus. You should too.

23 Jesus ^said to her, “Your brother shall rise again.” 24 Martha ^said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Jesus tells Martha that He is going to do just what she had expressed. God will grant Jesus any request that He makes, and because of that, He is going to raise Lazarus from the dead. However, Martha does not understand that Jesus is talking about the immediate future. She believed He was talking about the distant future when the resurrection of the righteous would take place. Her hope, as was the hope of all the godly Jews, was in God’s promises concerning the eternal future. The resurrection had been prophesied in Isaiah 26:19 and Daniel 12:2. David expressed this hope in Psalm 16:9-11 and 17:15 and Asaph alludes to it in Psalm 73:25-26. Job gives the earliest expression of this hope Job 19:25-27, “And as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26 “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27 Whom I myself shall behold, And whom my eyes shall see and not another. My heart faints within me.” As Christians we share that same hope with even more promises secured by Jesus’ resurrection.

Jesus now brings Martha to a better understanding of the hope of resurrection and in whom it is based. John 11:25-26, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? ”

This is the fifth of Jesus’ “I Am” statements in John (I am the bread of life – 6:35-51; I am the light of the world – 8:12; I am the door – 10:7-9; I am the good shepherd – 10:11-14). Jesus states here that He is the resurrection and the life. They are bound up in Him. Resurrection comes first because it is the guarantee of the promise of eternal life with God. The believer’s hope for a blessed eternal future is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the creator of all things (John 1:3) and it is by His power that all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). Jesus had yet to become the first born from the dead (Colossians 1:18) through His own resurrection, but He had already proven His power over death by raising a young man and the Synagogue official’s daughter as I mentioned earlier.

Martha expressed her belief and hope in the resurrection to occur in the future. Jesus brings her to a deeper faith in Him by proclaiming Himself to be the object of that very hope. It is only those who believe in Him that will share in the first resurrection unto life (Revelation 20:5-6). Those that reject Jesus will take place in the second resurrection unto judgment and the second death of eternal hell (Revelation 20:11-15). Again, as I have pointed out many times, this belief is not an intellectual assent which has no practical effect on the life. The participle used here points out that this is an ongoing belief. The Hebrew mind set is that a belief affects how you live. Belief in Jesus results in faith, trust and following after Him.

In making His declaration to Martha, Jesus also explains something of the nature of this life and gives hope concerning both those who were still alive and those who had already died physically. “He who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Lazarus had died physically, but that which actually is Lazarus, his soul, is still alive. What was true for those that had died physically, was equally true for those that were still alive physically. That which makes them alive, their souls, would never die. They would not be separated from God. Paul states this in Romans 8:10-11, 10 “And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” This would have been very comforting to Martha.

Martha responds, 27 She ^said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, [even] He who comes into the world.” Again we find that Martha had a good understanding of Jesus. While many of the religious leaders failed to grasp Jesus’ many declarations that He was the Messiah (10:24, etc.), Martha understood very clearly and declares her personal belief in Him. She states her belief using a perfect tense which demonstrates that this was a settled conviction for her. She had already come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah and she continues to so believe.

What other things Jesus may have said to Martha we do not know, but we do know that He asked her to get her sister. 28 And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister, saying secretly, “The Teacher is here, and is calling for you.” Martha did not want to attract the attention of all the people that were there and so she talks to Mary so others could not hear. Perhaps she wanted Mary to have the same privilege that she just had to talk to Jesus alone.

Jesus and Mary – John 11:29-32

Mary immediately responds. 29 And when she heard it, she ^arose quickly, and was coming to Him. She gets up and goes to Jesus who is still outside the village. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.

If the goal was for Mary to have a private meeting with Jesus, that plan was frustrated. 31 The Jews then who were with her in the house, and consoling her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. The quickness of Mary’s departure attracted the attention of those that were with her. As the text states, they thought she was going to the tomb to weep, so they also got up and followed her for they had come to comfort her. I think it was in Jesus’ plan for these people to come out to see what He was about to do, for it was for the glory of God and that the Son of God may be glorified by it (vs. 4).

John 11:32, Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary said the same thing to Jesus that Martha had said and for the same reasons. Mary was grieved and she and Martha had probably said something like this to each other when Lazarus was sick , “If only Jesus were here, Lazarus would be healed.” Mary expresses her own submission and belief in Jesus by her falling at Jesus’ feet, which is an act of worship, and addressing Him as “Lord.”

The Compassion of Jesus – John 11:33-38

This would have been a very emotional scene and it fills Jesus with intense feelings. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her, [also] weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled, 34 and said, “Where have you laid him?” They ^said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept.

Jesus is a compassionate savior who understands us (Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 53:4). Jesus was “deeply moved in spirit and troubled” and He “wept.” The words used here convey the idea that Jesus’ soul was agitated by what He was seeing. The result was that He wept. The word “wept” (dakruvw / dakru ) here is different from the “weeping” (klaivw / klai ) of everyone else. They were crying or wailing with their grief. Jesus was simply shedding tears.

The sense I get from this is that though Jesus knew that He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, He was still moved to tears because of the grief that death had caused Mary & Martha and their friends. They would have been tears of sympathy prompted by seeing Mary and the people weeping. I also think Jesus wept over the sin that had entered the world that had perverted God’s original design and was the cause of physical death. These were tears prompted because of His soul being agitated over the consequences of sin. Jesus may have even wept over the sinful response He knew that some of those watching were going to have. A similar thought prompted Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:37-38.

Jesus’ tears were noticed by those who had come with Mary, but there was a mixed response to them. 36 And so the Jews were saying, “Behold how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have kept this man also from dying?”

Some of these Jews saw Jesus’ tears as evidence of His great love for Lazarus and therefore an expression of His own grief. They could not have imagined what Jesus was about to do and therefore could not have known that His tears where out of sympathy rather than personal grief over Lazarus.

Others were still controlled by their hatred of Jesus and criticize Him. While they correctly acknowledge Jesus power to do miracles, they malign Him as someone who failed His friend in letting Him die. It is somewhat strange that they specifically cite His recent healing of the man born blind since they had doubted it earlier and denied it could have been by God’s power since the miraculous healing was done on a Sabbath (John 9). (See: Receiving Sight & Exposing Blindness) The reference here then is a recognition that Jesus was powerful, yet lacking the ability to protect a friend He loved. It was a denial of Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah. They did not believe as did Martha that God would give Him whatever He asked. They believed death was beyond Jesus’ ability to conquer.

Perhaps they had not heard about Jesus raising other people from the dead, or perhaps they just saw Lazarus’ death as too different. There is a Rabbinic tradition that the soul of a dead person remained near the body for three days in the hope of reunion, but then departs because the body enters into a state of decomposition. This tradition was written down a couple of hundred years after this event, but like most traditions, it may have existed a long time before it was written down. In either case, these Jews treat Lazarus’ death as final and that Jesus had failed him.

Jesus now takes action. 38 Jesus therefore again being deeply moved within, ^came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. This would have been a typical tomb of that time in which a burial cave had been cut out of the limestone. The entrance would have been blocked by a rolling stone. This would allowed future access for placing in additional bodies and putting the bones left over from decomposed bodies into an ossuary, a bone box. John again specifically points out that Jesus has intense emotions which are motivating Him to action.

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead – John 11:39-44

39 Jesus ^said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased,^ said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been [dead] four days.”

Jesus orders the stone to be moved away which sparks a protest by Martha which John records as proof of Lazarus’ death. This puts a strong emphasis upon the miracle that Jesus is about to perform. Martha did not know what Jesus was about to do, but she was concerned that Lazarus’ body would have already started to decompose after being dead for four days and would stink. I think any of us can understand Martha’s concern. It is hard enough to know that your loved one is dead, but the agony of the grief does not need to be increased by having to smell the stench of death from the decomposing body.

Jesus pauses to comfort and encourage Martha before proceeding with plan. 40 Jesus ^said to her, “Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” This was a reminder of what He had told her before she went to get Mary.

41 And so they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me. 42 “And I knew that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the people standing around I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me.”

Jesus has the stone covering the tomb rolled away and He begins to pray. Remember from verses 4 and 15 that the purpose of this miracle was to bring glory to the Father and to the Son and to cause people to believe. Through this prayer Jesus places the focus on these three things being accomplished. There is glory to the Father because through the prayer it is acknowledged that this miracle would be done through the Father’s will and power. The Son is glorified because the prayer emphasizes that the Father always hears the Son. People would be caused to believe because in hearing the prayer and seeing the miracle, they are confronted with the proof of Jesus’ claim that He was sent by the Father. The prayer would have been spoken very loudly for the benefit of those standing around.

43 And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” 44 He who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus ^said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Jesus does not have to touch Lazarus, but only to call Him out from the grave. There can be no claim that Jesus somehow just revived a man who was in a coma. This is a miracle for in an instant the process of decomposition was instantly reversed and the body restored to proper functioning while the soul of Lazarus was rejoined with that body so that he could hear Jesus’ command to come forth and obey. And when Lazarus did come hobbling out in his grave clothes, Jesus had him unbound. His grave clothes would have been strips of linen that were wrapped around the body and included a napkin that was placed over the face.

The Response – John 11:45-46

The response to this miracle was mixed. 45 Many therefore of the Jews, who had come to Mary and beheld what He had done, believed in Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done. As has been the case throughout the ministry of Jesus. The miracle caused some to believe Jesus’ claims to be true, while others continue to reject despite what they had just witnessed. In this case, their hatred for Jesus is so great that they go off to tell the Pharisees that they might plot evil against Jesus.

Things have not changed. It is still the same way today. Some will believe the claims of Jesus Christ and the evidence proving the claims to be true. God gives his grace to those who will humble themselves. Others are proud and will reject Christ regardless of any proof presented to them. God resists them and they condemn themselves, for they will not escape God’s judgment (1 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

We need to remain humble people before God. We, like Lazarus, Martha & Mary, may not understand all that God is doing at the moment, but we can be sure of His love for us and that He is working to glorify Himself through us. We can also rejoice and take comfort in our Savior’s compassion for us. He is our high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15) and ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). The same one who prayed to the Father and then called Lazarus from the grave is the same one who continues to intercede with the Father on behalf of all that belong to Him. That is the source of great comfort and peace for you and me and all who believe in Christ regardless of present circumstances. We share a common hope for the future that enables us to endure in the present. I know my own resurrection to eternal life in Heaven is entrusted to the one who has the power to raise men from the dead.

Sermon Notes
The Man Who Can Raise the Dead: John 11:17-45

Introduction

The great quest of mankind has been how to prepare for and deal with _________

Denial of the existence of the human soul seeks to __________ the eternal ramifications of death

Belief in cyclic reincarnation seeks to give yet ______________to reach Nirvana – the state of non-existence

The idea of entering a life __________to the present beyond death is common in animistic / pagan religions

Religions of personal ______________believe judgment based on whether you were “good” or “bad” awaits

The Bible proclaims eternal condemnation for sin but offers salvation based on God’s ___________

Only Christianity says, “_______, someone has conquered death and He can enable you to conquer it too.”

The Death of Lazarus – John 11:1-19

“This sickness is not unto death, but for the _______of God, that the Son of God may be glorified by it”

Jesus purposely ____________ two days until Lazarus was dead before leaving to “awaken him”

Lazarus had been in the tomb _________ days by the time Jesus arrived

The Jews buried their dead _________ without embalming

Mourning after burial would last 3 days to a ________ or longer

    Many of the Jews, which would have included religious ____________, came to mourn Lazarus

Jesus and Martha – John 11:20-28

Martha goes out to the ______________ of the village to meet Jesus as He was arriving

Lazarus was dead, but Martha’s ___________in Jesus remained strong and steadfast

Our faith should be as strong as Martha’s, but our own self-centeredness ______us to truth and trusting God

Martha believes Jesus is speaking of the prophesied ________resurrection, not an immediate one of Lazarus

Jesus declares “I am the resurrection and the life” – He is the _________ of faith for that hope

Those who believe in Jesus receive the resurrection to ____, those that reject are resurrected to eternal death

The ________ continues to live even if the physical body dies

Martha declares her faith is a settled _________________ that Jesus is the promised Messiah

Martha leaves to get Mary telling her ____________ to avoid attention

Jesus and Mary – John 11:29-32

The quickness of Mary’s departure attracted the attention of those present who then _____________ her

Mary was also grieved, but expressed her own _____________ and submission by falling at Jesus’ feet

The Compassion of Jesus – John 11:33-38

Jesus is compassionate and understands us (Heb. 4:15) and _________ (shed tears – not weeping / crying)

Reasons to weep: in __________for the grief of His friends; over sin that causes death; lament over unbelief

A mixed response among the Jews over Jesus’ tears: 1) Evidence of His _______. 2) Evidence of His failure

While acknowledging Jesus’ ability to heal, they did not believe He could _________ the dead

Jesus is filled with intense _____________ and goes to the tomb

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead – John 11:39-44

Martha objects to having the stone removed for fear of the _________ of death which would be released

Jesus pauses to comfort and encourage Martha and to _____so people would know the source of the miracle

The prayer ___________ the Father who hears; the Son whom the Father hears; and is a cause for belief

Jesus only has to call Lazarus and the process of decay is instantaneously reversed and _______is restored

Lazarus hobbles out ____________ in his cloth strips wrapping his body

The Response – John 11:45-46

The ____________ caused some to believe and others to continue to reject and plot evil against Jesus

People still respond the same way to the story of Jesus: Some believe and others ______________ evidence

Be ___________ and believe as did Martha & Mary for we have a compassionate and all powerful Savior

You can ____________ both your present and future to Jesus, the man who can raise the dead

KIDS KORNER
Parents, you are responsible to apply God’s Word to your children’s lives. Here is some help. Young Children – draw a picture about something you hear during the sermon. Explain your picture(s) to your parents at lunch. Older Children – Do one or more of the following: 1) Count how many times Martha, Mary & Lazarus are mentioned. 2) Discuss with your parents what Martha believed that gave her hope.

THINK ABOUT IT!
Questions to consider in discussing the sermon with others. How do different groups view death? How do you view death? Why did Jesus wait two days before going to Bethany? What is the significance of Lazarus being dead for four days? Was Martha (or Mary) critical of Jesus? What is Martha’s hope for Lazarus? Why? What is the significance of Jesus’ “I am” statement in verses 25-26? What does it mean to “believe in” Jesus? Lazarus was dead, how was he still alive (vs. 25)? Why did Martha understand what the religious leaders did not? Why did the Jews follow Mary? Why did Jesus weep? How did that differ from the weeping of those mourning? Why did some of the Jews criticize Jesus? Why does John record Martha’s concern about Lazarus’ stinking? Why did Jesus pray out loud? How did this miracle glorify the Father? The Son? Did it accomplish any other purpose? What miracles had to occur in order for Lazarus to come out of the grave? What effect does this miracle have on your beliefs and how you live your life? Why did some of the Jews continue to oppose Jesus even after seeing this miracle? Why is there still such a mixed reaction to Jesus with some believing and others rejecting despite any evidence presented to them? What is your own belief about Jesus? Why? What is Jesus’ current ministry to Christians? How has God proven His love for sinners? What is the future hope of the righteous? What assurance do we have these promises will come true? What is the future destiny of the unrighteous? What is your future?


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