The Plot To Kill Lazarus

John 12:9-11

9 When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

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In chapter 11, we saw that Jesus’s decision to go back to the area around Jerusalem to save Lazarus would lead directly to His own death—life for Lazarus would mean death for Jesus. Here, we see that the leaders of the Jews would also like to have Lazarus murdered as well, since his very existence meant that people were believing in Jesus.

The reason the crowd’s arrival is important is because it shows the chief priests that they won’t be able just to grab Jesus in broad daylight—they will need another way to get at Him when the crowds aren’t around. Judas will be the one who gives them what they need; he betrays Jesus on the night of the Last Supper, when everyone in Jerusalem is preparing for the Passover meal.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The chief priests would rather commit murder than have the people believe in Jesus, even though believing in Jesus would mean life for Israel. It is a remarkable statement of human wickedness—we would rather kill than admit we were wrong.

Resuscitation Vs. Resurrection

John 11:38-44

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

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Earlier, Jesus said that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. Here, it’s just a simple command—“Lazarus, come out”—and Lazarus comes back from the dead!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
What happens with Lazarus is different than what will happen with Jesus. Lazarus is merely resuscitated—that is, he is brought back from the dead and then goes on living a normal human life before he (presumably) eventually dies. Jesus, on the other hand, goes through death and comes out the other side, so to speak. He is part of the new creation, living in a different reality. (This is why the post- resurrection appearances are so important—they can tell us a lot about the future reality that is coming.)

"So..."

John 11:5-16

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7 Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” 12 The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

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John knows exactly what he’s doing:

5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus [John 11:5].

After telling us of Jesus’s affection for the family in Bethany, this is John’s very next sentence:

6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was [John 11:6].

Wait, what?!

That’s the point. The very fact that Jesus delays is part of something better that will be given to Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

P.S. I love the way Jesus refers to death as “sleep.”

P.P.S. That last line from Thomas cracks me up—I can almost hear his note of resignation about accompanying Jesus back into danger: “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

QUESTION OF THE DAY
Why does Jesus refer to death as “sleep?”

The Moment That Leads Directly To The Death Of Jesus

John 11:1-4

11 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill. 3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

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If this were a movie, the soundtrack would include some ominous notes here, because this is the event that will directly lead to Jesus’s death. Lazarus will die in Bethany, which is right outside Jerusalem.

Jesus has had to leave Jerusalem because the Jewish leadership has decided to kill Him. But, when He gets word of Lazarus’s death, He goes right back into danger in order to save His friend, and then events move quickly until His death on the cross.

QUESTION OF THE DAY
Jesus sees the difficulty regarding Lazarus as an opportunity for God’s glory. What are you worried about today? How could you see that present difficulty as an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed?

No Good Options

Here’s what you need to understand about Jesus and Lazarus:

Jesus has just had to flee Jerusalem and take refuge out in the wilderness, beyond the Jordan River, because the people in Jerusalem tried to stone him. (See the immediately preceding chapter, John 10:31-39).

Then, he gets word that Lazarus, who lives right outside Jerusalem, is sick to the point of death. Here’s the problem:

• If he goes to Lazarus, he will be going to his own death;

• If he doesn’t go to Lazarus, then Lazarus will die.

It’s one or the other.

So, this is why John says:

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “‘Let us go back to Judea.’

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

He waits two days, but then decides to go anyway, knowing he’s going to his death.

Which prompts this reaction from Thomas:

“Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “‘Let us also go, that we may die with him.’”

At the Last Supper, Jesus will tell his disciples that the greatest love one person can show another is to lay down his life for him. With Lazarus, Jesus demonstrates the principle: he saves Lazarus, but ensures his own death.

Today’s Scripture

John 11:1-44