He Shall Rise Again

 

 

Our Bible Study was from John chapter 11.  I took notes as our teacher Linda taught the lesson.

 

Jesus had been notified that his friend Lazarus was sick, but He delayed leaving and waited two days.  Jesus said, we shall go now, because Lazarus sleeps.  Naturally the disciples thought Jesus meant taking a rest, so Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus is dead, let us go. 

Mary and Martha were the sisters of Lazarus, and this was the Mary who had anointed Jesus with expensive, sweet smelling ointment.   Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.  Martha met Jesus with the words, "if only" you had been here our brother would not have died.  Jesus said, he shall rise again.  Martha said unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:  And whosoever lives and believeth in me shall never die. Do you believe this?    She said unto him, Yes, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Martha left to tell Mary that Jesus was asking for her.  Mary came speaking the same fearful words spoken by Martha.  You could have prevented this if you were here.

Jesus saw all the friends who were weeping loudly and He groaned in His spirit and was troubled.  He asked, "where have you laid him?"  And Jesus wept.

Jesus commanded that they remove the stone from the mouth of the grave, but Martha protested, "He has been dead four days, and by now he stinks."

Jesus said unto her, "Didn't I just tell you that, if you would believe, you should see the glory of God?"

Jesus prepared himself.  He knew the entire picture from the first day Lazarus took sick.  He had been listening to His Father God because a mighty miracle would soon happen.

Jesus began to give thanks to His Father, and said; Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  And I knew that you hear me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

You can just imagine the shock of the people as Lazarus came walking out from the grave, still bound with grave clothes.    Jesus said, loose him and let him go.

Many believed on Jesus, but the Chief Priests and Pharisees counseled together how to  handle Jesus.  One of them Caiaphas, being the high priest declared that it was expedient that one man die for the nation, so that the whole will not parish.

From that day the Jewish religious leaders plotted to put Jesus to death.