John 11
1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
This Mary is the sister of Lazarus who anointed Christ Jesus in the house of Simon the leper. Matthew 26:6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, ("Simon the leper" of Matthew 21:1-11) Matthew 26:7 There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. This is the second anointing of Christ. Christ means "Anointed One". We that accept Him are anointed by Him. There is power in Anointing in Christ Jesus Yahshua's name, Praise God †
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.
Martha went to the Jordan river to tell Christ Lazarus was very sick.
4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.
What was about to happen was for a reason. It was going to show the power of God in Christ. It would be for the purpose and glory of YHVH, God.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
Now make no mistake, Christ loves them even if He doesn't react immediately.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
Christ stays at the Jordan river and remember it's for the glory of God, not that He didn't care. There is a purpose behind everything God did and does in our lives.
7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.
8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
Christ was about to be stoned when they were in Judaea last time. They're cautioning Christ, the kenites want Him dead.
9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.
Those stones will trip you up if you walk in the darkness, that's why we have Christ. If you stay in Christ, you walk in Light, you see The Path and when you're in Him, that path is much smoother.
10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.
11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
Christ is telling them their friend Lazarus is dead but He is going to raise him from his death. They take it as though he's just sleeping.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
They believe he'll be fine because he's sleeping it off.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
They are closing their eyes and ears to the meat of Christ's Words. They need to be looking at that spiritual meaning. After all they have heard Christ say, they should pause and think about the things He tells them. If you want to understand God's Word, close your eyes and ears to the flesh. You must erase your earthly way of thinking to understand the meat of God. His Spirit will open it to you. Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. So Christ tells them in a way they will understand.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.
If Christ had been there on the spot, the lesson to be learned would be lost. An instantaneous healing is much different then bringing someone back to life that has been dead for days. Spiritually speaking, there are people walking around in their 80's, 90's and perhaps in their 100's that are dead. Christ is The Only Way to life and without him, you stay dead. If you haven't repented and follow Him daily, your dead. Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death. Romans 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
The context for that comment is the fact Christ was about to be stoned before they left Judaea. So Thomas is saying they should return to Judaea where they will be stoned and also die.
17 Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
This was by purpose. Due to the traditions taught by those religious leaders, Christ waited four days. They're thinking is the soul wonders around looking for its body for three days and if it can't be found it, that soul goes away, never to return.
18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off:
Less than two miles away from Jerusalem was Bethany.
19 And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.
20 Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house.
Mary stayed in the house, she's very depressed because of the death of her brother.
21 Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Martha's faith is evident here. She knew the power of Christ and had no doubts that Christ would have healed her brother.
22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.
She continues in that faith.
23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.
Christ is telling her what He is going to do, but she doesn't fully understand.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Sadly she believe when you die you lay in a hole in the ground. This is because of humans traditional teaching and not of God's Word. 2 Corinthians 5:7-8 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Sadly people still believe you go into a hole in the ground until The Lord comes back on the second advent. This isn't Biblical. Study Luke 16. A dividing place fixed between two parts of heaven, were you can see others on each side. Good and bad separated until the beginning of the Millennium. This 1000 years is for learning. It's not another chance, but a time to hear what should have been taught by those that chose not to teach Truth. There will be no deception at this time.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
This is immediately, both physically and spiritually, our souls are made new in Him. Fleshly, in our daily walk, we are made alive, confident in the fact we have been given life eternal. He died for us, that we may live today and forever. The condition here and throughout is "Belief in Him and what He has done." John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
If you're alive right now and you believe in Christ, you will never die. Do you believe?
27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
She knows Who He is and believes all He says and does. We know her faith.
28 And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.
Martha is passing the good news, The Anointed One has come and He wants Mary to come to Him.
29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him.
Faith!
30 Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
Remember in verse 20 Martha had went to Christ outside of town. They're going back to this place to see Christ.
31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
These are the hired mourners. Tradition indicates they go to the house of the family that had a death to comfort them because they believe that soul walks around for a time, looking for its body and then goes into a hole until a certain time it is raised. ALL of it is demonic doctrine, made up from humans. They followed Mary as she went to see Christ.
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
She knows Christ would have healed Lazarus if He had been there.
33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.
Christ wasn't happy to see these hired mourners, with their fake crying, while following their tradition of beating themselves on the back. Christ continued on.
34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
35 Jesus wept.
He weeps because of what He is about to do, in giving of Himself. The people will be doing the same traditions of humans after He gives all He has. It's as though His sacrifice would be in vain to these people. He sees their evil and the rejection they have for Him and The Truth. Ever told others about Christ Jesus and The Truth of His Word, they reject everything you gave. You also want to weep.
36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
These fakes see Christ angry and crying and they believe He does this because He loved Lazarus. The fact is, it had nothing to do with His love for Lazarus and everything to do with everyone's behavior. I've said, when I die, I want a party. I'm not in a hole in the ground, I'm with The Lord. It's a celebration not a time of sorrow. We are sad when someone dies because we will miss them, but that's our greed. We need to be happy for them. I'm in no way saying you can't cry, or miss that person, I'm saying we must understand where they are at that moment and it's a wonderful thing if they chose to have Christ in their lives.
37 And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?
The same ones that think Christ cry's for the loss of His friend are saying, "If this was the same man that gave sight to a blind man, couldn't He have saved His friend from death?"
38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Christ is very mad at these fakes while He walks up to the grave of Lazarus. He hears them talking and sees them in their traditions and He doesn't like it one bit. Yes, Christ gets mad and yes, God hates things. Few pastors today teach it. "Groaning" = ἐμβριμάομαι embrimáomai, em-brim-ah'-om-ahee; from G1722 and βριμάομαι brimáomai (to snort with anger); to have indignation on, i.e. (transitively) to blame, (intransitively) to sigh with chagrin, (specially) to sternly enjoin:—straitly charge, groan, murmur against. From ἐν (G1722) and brimaomai (to snort with anger)
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
She has faith in Christ, but here, she questions His actions. After all they have seen, they still question what He does.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
Christ had told her once before, at the Jordan river. John 11:4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. What was about to happen was for a reason. It was going to show the power of God in Christ. It would be for the purpose and glory of YHVH, God. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
Christ has The Father behind everything He does, because They Are One. As Christians, when others doubt, you believe. When others hate, you are loved. When others reject, you are heard. Our faith isn't with people, but God. Christ has shown us The Way.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
Christ didn't have to speak out loud, but He did so they would believe what they are seeing and hearing and believe He is The Anointed One sent of God, so He said "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me" out loud.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Lazarus was brought out in the open by God. We can see Lazarus didn't walk out because he is bound and blinded. It was to show everyone there and us today, Christ has power through The Father and is The Way to life.
45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
They BELIEVE and by this minds are changed, souls are saved.
46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.
47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
"What are we going to do? That man performs a lot of miracles", He's affecting their egos and their pockets.
48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
They're afraid of losing their power. They believe if Christ is allowed to continue, He'll have all the people following Him and even the Romans accepting Him. If the Romans accept Him, they believe they'll lose control of the Temple and thereby their control of the people. Let's face it, they believe they're worshiped by the people and they're in fear of losing that. That's the way most "pastors" and "teachers" are today. It's about them, the numbers and the money. They have little to no regard for God or teaching His Truth, His Word. 2 Tim. 4:3-4 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
This high priest was appointed to this office by Valerius Gratus, governor of Judaea, after removal of Simon, son of Camith, 18 AD and was removed in 36 AD by Vitellius, governor of Syria, who appointed Jonathan, son of Ananus (Annus, father-in-law of Caiaphas), his successor. This was nothing but a political position given, but not of God.
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
This statement is true, but they're intent is nothing but evil. God's purpose is being done and as much as they hate God, they're following His will. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
He thinks he is doing it for the people that have been "fooled" by Christ, but this is being done because God wills it.
52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
This high priest is afraid word will get out about Christ and His power and it would cause a gathering of those "lost tribes" back to Israel and the people would become one nation. I'm sure if that happened, he feels war with the Romans would ensue and they would lose the control they feel they have over the people.
53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
The tribe of Ephraim, the biggest of the ten, had scattered by 722 B.C. and is today known as Britain and United Kingdom. Ephraim's genealogy begins in, Genesis 49:22-26 and Manasseh growing to be part of Britain and United Kingdom and American today.
55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
The kenites have decided to murder Christ and now they're hoping He will come back to Jerusalem for passover so they can take Him.
57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.
The wanted posters are out. Not literally, but you get the picture. They've put the word out and they want the peoples help in bringing Christ to "justice".