John 11:1-31

Summary
In this passage we saw how Jesus went about performing miracles and many believed on him. We also learnt how a certain man named Lazarus, whom God loves, fell ill and later died. When the news of his ill health got to Jesus, even though Lazarus was dead at that point, Jesus assured that the sickness was not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby
In verse 15, Jesus said, I am glad for your sake that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
Jesus got to the tomb of Lazarus, and said, roll away the stone and ordered Lazarus to come forth. Lazarus came forth.

LIFE APPLICATION
The bible makes us understand that in the world there are tribulations, there are challenges, there are troubles, and there are unwanted situations that are not pleasant to us. In all of these, the bible states clearly that they are not unto death. They are not permanent. These tribulations will not consume us if we can display our understanding of the word of God; rather they are there for the glorification of God Almighty.
As Christians, we need to have absolute faith in God and obey His instructions fully. Jesus said roll away the stone. We have to roll away all forms of unbelief in order to receive our miracle

PERSONAL DECLARATION
God loves me; I will not be moved by any situation, but by what the Word says about the situation.

Reading – John 11:1-31

The death of Lazarus

11 Now a man named Lazarus was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay ill, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) ³ So the sisters sent word to Jesus, ‘Lord, the one you love is ill.’

⁴ When he heard this, Jesus said, ‘This illness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.’ ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was two more days, ⁷ and then he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go back to Judea.’

⁸ ‘But Rabbi,’ they said, ‘a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?’

⁹ Jesus answered, ‘Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the day-time will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. ¹⁰ It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.’

¹¹ After he had said this, he went on to tell them, ‘Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.’

¹² His disciples replied, ‘Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.’ ¹³ Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

¹⁴ So then he told them plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵ and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.’

¹⁶ Then Thomas (also known as Didymus^[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’

Jesus comforts the sisters of Lazarus

¹⁷ On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸ Now Bethany was less than two miles^[b] from Jerusalem, ¹⁹ and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ²⁰ When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

²¹ ‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’

²³ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’

²⁴ Martha answered, ‘I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’

²⁵ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’

²⁷ ‘Yes, Lord,’ she replied, ‘I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.’

²⁸ After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. ‘The Teacher is here,’ she said, ‘and is asking for you.’ ²⁹ When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. ³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. ³¹ When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

Footnotes:

1. John 11:16 Thomas (Aramaic) and Didymus (Greek) both mean twin.
2. John 11:18 Or about 3 kilometres