Let's Go Wake Him!

John 11 – The Death and Raising of Lazarus

11: 1-16 – The Death of Lazarus

Text:

Now a certain man was sick: Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 And Mary anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 The sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 5 (Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.) 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two days longer where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let’s go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone You, and yet You are going there again?” 9 Jesus replied, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks at night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 This He said. After this, He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. Still, I am going so that I may awaken him from sleep.” 12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will come out of it.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death. Still, they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus died, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let’s go to him.” 16 Therefore Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s also go, so that we may die with Him!”

Commentary: Sign #7 of 7

Jesus was in Perea “beyond the Jordan” Jn.10:40 and received a message from the sisters. Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus, among his and his disciples’ most intimate friends. They often lodged with them (Lk.10:38), Bethany in Judea was Jesus’ “home in the south”. The siblings were God-fearing and knew Jesus to be the Messiah. Bethany was on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, within two miles of Jerusalem. (This Mary is described in John 12 anointed her Saviour with expensive ointment then wiping His feet with her long hair. Three other Mary’s in the life of Jesus were: Mary the Virgin Mother Lk.2:34, Mary the wife of Clopas

and Mary Magdalene Jn.19:25). Martha and Mary knew of the danger to Jesus, but never doubted that He could heal at a distance. Hearing the grave news, Jesus yet delayed for two more days: Lazarus was sick - now dead. The disciples cautioned Jesus that in Jerusalem, less than forty minutes’ walk away, they had twice tried to stone Him to death. This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may awaken him from sleep.”  they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep.  (Perhaps our friend is merely ill, they thought) 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus died, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let’s go. Jesus set forth to go; Thomas bravely declared Let’s also go, so that we may die with Him!” (Although the name Thomas in Aramaic/Hebrew is translated “Twin” in the Greek, nowhere in the Bible or Church History is there mention of Thomas having a literal twin). Remembered by some as “doubting Thomas”, Thomas here displays devotion, courage, loyalty and zeal. Regarding “Sleep” “Death”, Mt.9:24. In the language of heaven, death of the righteous is only ‘sleep’, rest from their labours, Rev.14:13. As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness.

I shall be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake. Ps.17:15.   And many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Dan12:2.

Jesus avoiding braggadocio, knowing Lazarus to be dead, simply says, Let’s go wake him! (Calm repose after a life of toil, with future resurrection to eternal life.” Barnes).  

By: Dr. Laurence Wedderburn September 5, 2024