========================
John 11:1-57
========================
1Now a man named Lazarus was
sick. He was from Bethany, the
2(This Mary, whose brother
Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped
his feet with her hair.)
3So the sisters sent word to
Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
4When he heard this, Jesus
said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that
God’s Son may be glorified through it.”
5Now Jesus loved Martha and
her sister and Lazarus.
6So when he heard that
Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,
7and then he said to his
disciples, “Let us go back to
8“But Rabbi,” they said, “a
short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”
9Jesus answered, “Are there
not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble,
for they see by this world’s light.
10It is when a person walks
at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”
11After 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.”
12His disciples replied,
“Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”
13Jesus had been speaking of
his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.
14So then he told them
plainly, “Lazarus is dead,
15and for your sake I am glad
I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
16Then Thomas (also known as
Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die
with him.”
17On his arrival, Jesus found
that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
18Now
19and many Jews had come to
Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.
20When 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.
22But I know that even now
God will give you whatever you ask.”
23Jesus said to her, “Your
brother will rise again.”
24Martha answered, “I know he
will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25Jesus said to her, “I am
the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even
though they die;
26and 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.”
28After she had said this,
she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she
said, “and is asking for you.”
29When Mary heard this, she
got up quickly and went to him.
30Now Jesus had not yet
entered the village, but was still at the place where
Martha had met him.
31When 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.
32When Mary reached the place
where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had
been here, my brother would not have died.”
33When Jesus saw her weeping,
and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in
spirit and troubled.
34“Where have you laid him?”
he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
35Jesus wept.
36Then the Jews said, “See
how he loved him!”
37But some of them said,
“Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from
dying?”
38Jesus, once more deeply
moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
39“Take away the stone,” he
said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there
is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40Then Jesus said, “Did I not
tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41So they took away the
stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard
me.
42I knew that you always hear
me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may
believe that you sent me.”
43When he had said this,
Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44The dead man came out, his
hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus
said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
45Therefore many of the Jews
who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.
46But some of them went to
the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.
47Then the chief priests and
the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. “What are we accomplishing?”
they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.
48If we let him go on like
this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away
both our temple and our nation.”
49Then one of them, named
Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all!
50You do not realize that it
is better for you that one man die for the people than
that the whole nation perish.”
51He did not say this on his
own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the
Jewish nation,
52and not only for that
nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and
make them one.
53So from that day on they
plotted to take his life.
54Therefore Jesus no longer
moved about publicly among the people of
55When it was almost time for
the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to
56They kept looking for
Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, “What do
you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?”
57But the chief priests and
the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should
report it so that they might arrest him.
----------------------------------------
1)
According to
verse 1 who was sick?
o A man named Lazarus was.
2)
According to
verse 1 where was Lazarus from?
o He was from
3)
According to
verse 1 who also lived in
o Mary and her sister Martha also lived there.
4)
According to
verses 1 and 2 who was Lazarus related to?
o He was the brother of
§
Mary.
§
And her sister
Martha.
5)
According to
verse 2 what did Mary do for Jesus?
o She
§
Poured perfume on
Jesus.
§
And wiped his
feet with her hair.
6)
According to
verse 2 what happened to Lazarus?
o He lay sick.
7)
What was the
reason for the editorial comment about Mary in verse 2?
o Mary is a common name.
o The editorial comment is there to avoid confusion with
other people with the same name.
8)
According to
verse 3 what was the message that the sisters sent Jesus?
o They sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is
sick.”
9)
What was the
sisters’ implicit request for Jesus that they did not vocalize?
o They wanted Jesus to
§
Come.
§
And heal Lazarus.
10)
Why did the
sisters not vocalize their desire for Jesus to come and heal Lazarus in the
message they sent him?
o They wanted to respect Jesus’ sovereign will as to
what he chose to do.
o They also considered whatever he chose to do to be
what was best for them.
o In other words they trusted
in Jesus’ goodness.
11)
How did the
sisters depict Lazarus’ relationship with Jesus in the message they sent him?
o Lazarus was the one.
o Whom
o Jesus loved.
12)
What emotion does
the news of a loved one being sick evoke?
o It evokes the emotion of
§
Anxiety for the
loved one’s wellbeing.
§
And desire to see
the loved one immediately.
13)
Why did the
sisters not simply say that Lazarus was sick?
o Regardless of their trust in Jesus’ goodness they were
doing some arm-twisting for him to
§
Come quickly.
§
And heal Lazarus.
o In other words their trust was
less than complete.
14)
In accordance
with what Jesus said in verse 4 what was his message that was relayed back to the
sisters?
o This sickness will not end in death.
o No, it is for God’s glory.
o So that
o God’s Son may be glorified through it.
15)
In accordance
with what Jesus said in verse 4 what is God’s purpose for Lazarus’ sickness?
o It is for God’s glory.
o So that
o God’s Son may be glorified through it.
16)
In accordance
with what Jesus said in verse 4 what is the more ultimate purpose of Lazarus’ sickness?
o So that God’s Son may be glorified through it.
17)
What is God’s purpose
for the man being born blind in John 9:1-3?
o It happened.
o So that
o The works of God might be displayed in him..
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 9:1-3 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
1As he went along, he saw a
man blind from birth.
2His disciples asked him,
“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3“Neither this man nor his
parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might
be displayed in him.
+++++++++++++++++++++
18)
What can God use
misfortunes such as birth defect and sickness for?
o God can use them for his own purpose.
19)
According to
verse 5 how did Jesus relate to Martha and her sister and Lazarus?
o Jesus loved them.
20)
According to
verses 5 to 7 what did Jesus do as a result of his love for Martha and her sister and Lazarus when he heard that
Lazarus was sick?
o He
§
Stayed where he
was two more days.
§
And then appealed
to his disciples for them to go with him back to
21)
What did the
sisters expect Jesus’ love for them would compel him to do that was contrary to
what he actually did as a result of his loving them?
o They expected that Jesus’ love for them would compel
him to
§
Rush to Lazarus’
bedside.
§
And heal him.
o But as a result of his loving
them he instead chose to
§
Stay where he was
two more days.
§
And then appeal to
the disciples for them to go with him back to
22)
What would the
sisters need to do if they genuinely wanted to trust in Jesus’ goodness, given
that their conception of love conflicted with Jesus’ expression of love for
them?
o They needed to leave it up to Jesus to express his love
for them instead of constraining it with their own conception.
o Surrendering what we hold dear to us and leaving it up
to Jesus to decide what is best for us is what trusting in his goodness is
about.
23)
According to
verse 8 what was the disciples’ response to Jesus’ appeal for them to go with
him back to
o They were questioning Jesus’ wisdom of going back to
o Since
o A short while ago the Jews there tried to stone him.
24)
What was the disciples’
concern about going with Jesus back to
o They were concerned about safety.
25)
According to
verse 8 what made
the disciples’ particularly concerned about safety because of timing?
o It was just a short while ago.
o That
o The Jews in
26)
What had the disciples thought was the reason Jesus did not go to
o They thought it was because Jesus was mindful that the
Jews in
27)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 9 how many hours of
daylight are there?
o Twelve.
28)
According to what
Jesus said in verses 9 and 10 what is the contrast between those who walk in the daytime and those who walk at night and
why?
o Those who walk in the daytime will not stumble.
o For
o They see by this world’s light.
o But those who walk at night will stumble.
o For
o They have no light.
29)
How did what Jesus
said in verses 9 and 10 apply to himself and the disciples in the current
situation, given John 8:12?
o The disciples would not stumble spiritually.
o If
o They followed Jesus who is the light of the world back
to
o But they would stumble spiritually.
o If
o They didn’t follow him.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 8:12 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
12When Jesus spoke again to
the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will
never walk in darkness, but will have the light of
life.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
30)
What were the disciples
trying to stay away from when they tried to persuade Jesus to stay away from
o They were trying to stay away from physical danger.
31)
What was the cost
of following Jesus for the disciples in the current situation?
o They would face physical danger.
32)
What in discipleship
terms were the disciples struggling with when it came to following Jesus back
to
o They were struggling with the cost of following Jesus.
33)
What was the paradox
about following Jesus back to Judea and staying away from physical danger in
o Following Jesus back to
o Even though
o They would be walking into physical danger.
o Choosing not to follow Jesus, they would stumble spiritually.
o Even though
o They would be staying away from physical danger.
34)
What was the only
safe choice for the disciples?
o Following Jesus back to
35)
How did the twelve
hours of daylight that Jesus referred to in verse 9 apply to himself and the disciples,
given John 16:28?
o Jesus would be with the disciples for only a limited
amount of time.
o Before
o He returned to the Father.
o They needed to follow him.
o While
o He was still with them.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 16:28 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
28I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and
going back to the Father.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
36)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 11 what happened to Lazarus
and what was Jesus going to do about it?
o Lazarus had fallen asleep.
o But Jesus was going back to
37)
According to
verse 12 what did the disciples say in reply?
o They replied that
Lazarus would get better.
o If
o He slept.
38)
In accordance
with verses 11 and 12 how did the disciples continue to try to dissuade Jesus
from going back to
o Jesus should not wake
Lazarus up.
o Since
o He would get better with sleep.
o So they were saying that there was no need for Jesus to go
back to
39)
Whose safety were
the disciples ultimately concerned about in trying to dissuade Jesus from going
back to Judea?
o Their own.
40)
According to
verse 13 what did the disciples think Jesus meant by Lazarus having fallen
asleep?
o They thought Jesus meant natural sleep.
41)
In accordance
with verse 14 how did Jesus correct the disciples’ misunderstanding?
o Jesus told them plainly that Lazarus was dead.
42)
What was the
difference between the sisters’ conception of love given verse 3, and Jesus’
expression of love for them given verse 4 and verses 40 to 44?
o The sisters expected Jesus to come quickly to heal Lazarus.
o So that
o Lazarus would not die.
o But Jesus let Lazarus die.
o So that
o Through Lazarus’ being raised they would
§
See
Ø
God’s glory.
Ø
And Jesus being glorified
through it.
§
And believe.
43)
How much did the
sisters’ conception of love differ from Jesus’ expression of love for them?
o They were polar opposites of each
other.
44)
How difficult is
it to trust in Jesus’ goodness and why?
o It is very difficult.
o Because
o We need to
§
Completely
surrender what we hold dear to us.
§
And embrace
something.
§
That
§
We are totally
uncomfortable with.
45)
What do we see in
misfortunes such as birth defect and sickness from the perspective of our human
nature?
o Our misery.
46)
In accordance
with what Jesus said in verse 4 what are we to see in our misfortunes instead?
o God’s glory.
o And Jesus being glorified through them.
47)
What is the change
in our focus when we trust in Jesus’ goodness and embrace what he decides is
best for us, given verse 4?
o From our misery to Jesus’ glory.
48)
What kind of disciples
would have difficulties trusting in Jesus’ goodness?
o Those who are self-absorbed with their misery.
49)
In accordance
with what Jesus said in verse 4 what would the
sisters be able to see concerning their misery that would fulfill the desire of
their heart, if they genuinely trust in Jesus’ goodness?
o Their misery surrounding Lazarus’ death was not the end game.
o Other possibilities than death would open up.
50)
What power must those
who trust in Jesus’ goodness believe that he has, given verses 23 to 27?
o They must believe that Jesus has the power to do what is
humanly impossible.
51)
What is the
difference in perspective of overcoming personal misery in the context of
empowerment between those who trust in Jesus’ goodness and those who don’t?
o Those who trust in Jesus’ goodness are
able to see possibilities beyond their misery because of their belief in his power.
o Those who don’t trust in Jesus’
goodness are hopeless because of their
powerlessness.
52)
What did the disciples
think what Jesus meant by waking Lazarus
up in verse 11, given verse 14?
o They thought Jesus meant raising Lazarus from the dead.
53)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 15 what was he glad
about for the disciples’ sake?
o Jesus was glad that he was not there at
o So that
o They might believe.
54)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 15 what was he trying to engender among the disciples
through the way he handled Lazarus’ sickness?
o Faith in Jesus.
55)
What would
engender greater faith in Jesus among the disciples, healing Lazarus or raising
him from the dead?
o Raising Lazarus from the dead would.
56)
From the
perspective of the sisters what was
greater glory for God and how would Jesus be more glorified, Lazarus being
healed or Lazarus being raised from the dead?
o Lazarus being raised from the dead.
57)
How had the disciples
changed their mind about what they thought was the reason Jesus did not go to
o They had thought it was because Jesus was mindful that
the Jews in
o But then Jesus told them that it was for the sake of engendering
faith among them.
58)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 15 what did he again appeal to the disciples for them to do?
o Jesus again appealed to them for them to go with him
back to
59)
How did the disciples
need to cooperate with Jesus for him to engender faith among them, given verse 15?
o They needed to go with Jesus back to
60)
What risk would the
disciples face in order to develop greater faith in
the current situation?
o They would face physical danger.
61)
According to
verse 16 what was Thomas also known as?
o He was also known as Didymus.
62)
According to
verse 16 what did Thomas say to the rest of the disciples that they should do?
o He said that they
should go with Jesus back to
o That
o They might die with him.
63)
What did Thomas think
would happen to him and the rest of the disciples if they went with Jesus back
to
o He thought that they
would die with Jesus in
64)
What motivated Thomas
to be willing to follow Jesus to his own death, given that he thought Jesus was
going to engender faith among the disciples by raising Lazarus from the dead?
o He had faith in Jesus.
o That
o Jesus would raise the disciples from the dead too.
o If
o They.
§
Went with him back
to
§
And died.
65)
How strong was Thomas’
faith in Jesus that he thought Jesus would raise him from the dead if he went
with Jesus back to Judea and died and why?
o It was so strong.
o That
o He was willing
to follow Jesus to his own death.
o Even before
o He saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead.
66)
How contagious was
Thomas’ faith in Jesus?
o It was so contagious.
o That
o Upon Thomas’ appeal all the disciples went with Jesus back
to
67)
According to
verse 17 what did Jesus find on his
arrival?
o On his arrival Jesus found that Lazarus had already
been in the tomb for 4 days.
68)
According to
verse 18 how far was
o
69)
According to
verses 18 and 19 what had many Jews from
o They had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in
the loss of their brother.
70)
Where did Jesus live
in
o
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud Matthew 4:12-17 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
12When Jesus heard that John
had been put in prison, he withdrew to
13Leaving
…
17From that time on Jesus
began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
71)
How far is
o About 85 miles.
72)
How long does it
take to travel from
o About 2 days.
73)
At what point in the
context of Jesus’ timeline did Lazarus
die?
o Jesus left
o After
o Lazarus had already been in the tomb for 2 days.
o Given that
o It takes 2 days to travel from
o So Lazarus died around the time
o When
o Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick.
o Since
o He stayed where he was 2 more days before leaving for
74)
At what point did
the sisters receive Jesus’ message in verse 4?
o They received Jesus’ message.
o After
o Lazarus had already been in the tomb for 2 days.
o Since
o It took the messenger 2 days to travel from
75)
How did the
sisters feel when they received Jesus’ message and why?
o Numbness.
o Because
o Jesus’ message stated that the sickness would not end
in death.
76)
What did the
sisters think of the glory of God and his Son being glorified through Lazarus’
sickness that Jesus referred to in his message?
o It
§
Rang hollow.
§
And was out of
touch with reality.
77)
According to
verse 20 what did Martha do when she heard that Jesus was coming?
o She went out to meet Jesus.
78)
What was Jesus
doing such that verse 20 says that ‘Martha heard that Jesus was coming’?
o Jesus was
§
Staying at a place.
§
And not traveling
non-stop to where Martha and Mary were.
o Such that
o Martha heard
that he was coming.
79)
Why was Jesus not
traveling non-stop to where Martha and Mary were, given verses 28 to 30?
o Jesus was waiting to see if the sisters would go out
to meet him.
80)
Why did Martha go
out to meet Jesus?
o She did it to honor Jesus.
81)
According to
verse 20 what did Mary do while Martha went out to meet Jesus?
o She stayed at home.
82)
According to
verses 21 and 22 what did Martha say to Jesus?
o Martha said,
§
“Lord, if you had
been here, my brother would not have died.
§
But I know that
even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
83)
Did the sisters know
that Jesus had put off coming to
o Yes, because Jesus arrived 2 days later than expected.
84)
Would Jesus have arrived
in time before Lazarus died to heal him,
had he not put off coming to
o No, because Jesus
would have found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for 2 days.
o Even if
o He had not put off coming to
85)
Did the sisters know
that Jesus would not have arrived in time before Lazarus died to heal him even if Jesus had not put off coming to
o Yes.
86)
But was Jesus’ putting
off coming to
o No.
87)
What did the sisters think of Jesus’ love for them as a result of his putting off coming to
o They were having doubt about Jesus’ love for them.
88)
What did the sisters’ doubt about Jesus’ love for them do to them
in terms of their sorrow?
o It added to their sorrow.
89)
According to
verse 21 what was Martha’s lament?
o She lamented that Lazarus would not have died.
o If
o Jesus had been there.
90)
In accordance
with verse 21 how did Martha wish that reality had been different?
o She wished that Jesus had been there.
o So that
o Lazarus would
§
Have been healed.
§
And not have
died.
91)
Why did Martha
bring up the impossibility of Jesus’ having been there for Lazarus’ healing?
o Just to vent her frustration over the missed
opportunity for Lazarus’ healing.
o Since
o Jesus could otherwise have healed him.
92)
What was Martha’s
assumption in her lament for what was required of Jesus for Lazarus’ healing?
o She assumed in her lament that Jesus needed to be in
the presence of Lazarus in order to heal him.
93)
According to
verse 22 what did Martha know for a fact what
option Jesus still had for addressing the current situation?
o She knew for a fact that even then God would give
Jesus whatever he asked.
94)
What was Martha hoping
that Jesus would do without her asking, given verses 4 and 22?
o She was hoping that Jesus would ask God on their
behalf to raise Lazarus from the dead.
95)
How had Martha remained
steadfast in her attitude toward making request of Jesus?
o She continued to
§
Respect Jesus’
sovereign will as to what he chose to do.
§
And consider whatever
he chose to do to be what was best for them.
96)
How did Martha do
in terms of trusting in Jesus’ goodness?
o She remained steadfast in trusting in Jesus’ goodness.
97)
How do we
interpret Martha’s going out to meet Jesus in the context of trusting in Jesus’
goodness?
o She remained steadfast in trusting in Jesus’ goodness.
98)
Did Martha let her
doubt about Jesus’ love for them come between her and Jesus and why?
o No, because she continued to trust in Jesus’ goodness regardless
her doubt.
99)
What did the Jews
who came to comfort the sisters in the loss of their brother know about their relationship
with Jesus?
o They knew that they were Jesus’ buddies.
100) What was the question that was repeatedly asked
the sisters when the Jews came to comfort them
in the loss of their brother?
o Why didn’t you ask Jesus to heal Lazarus?
101) What might be the answer the sisters consistently gave?
o Jesus was not there with them.
102) What might the Jews have told the sisters, given verse
37 and John 4:46-53?
o Jesus could heal a person without being in the presence
of the person.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 4:46-53 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
46Once more he visited Cana
in
47When this man heard that
Jesus had arrived in Galilee from
48“Unless you people see
signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never
believe.”
49The royal official said,
“Sir, come down before my child dies.”
50“Go,” Jesus replied, “your
son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.
51While he was still on the
way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.
52When he inquired as to the
time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the
afternoon, the fever left him.”
53Then the father realized
that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will
live.” So he and his whole household believed.
+++++++++++++++++++++
103) So did Martha have even more doubt about Jesus’ love for
them than his putting off coming to
o Yes, because Martha knew that Jesus could heal a
person without being in the presence of the person.
o Yet he chose not to do so for Lazarus.
104) How do we characterize Martha’s trust in Jesus’ goodness,
given that she knew he had chosen not to heal Lazarus?
o It was firmly anchored in Martha.
o Even though
o It was incomplete.
105) Did Mary let her doubt about Jesus’ love for them come
between her and Jesus and why?
o Yes, because she did not go out with Martha to meet Jesus.
106) What is the contrast between Martha and Mary in terms
of their trust in Jesus’ goodness?
o It was firmly anchored in Martha.
o It was not in Mary.
107) According to what Jesus said in verse 23 how did he vocalize
Martha’s wish?
o Jesus said that Lazarus would rise again.
108) When did Martha want Lazarus to be raised from the
dead and why, given her verbiage in verse 22?
o She wanted Lazarus to be raised right then.
o Because
o She said ‘even now’.
109) According to verse 24 what did Martha know for a fact concerning Lazarus’ rising again?
o She knew for a fact that Lazarus would rise again in
the resurrection at the last day.
110) When is the resurrection at the last day, given John
5:26-29?
o It will happen.
o When
o Jesus comes again to judge the world.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 5:26-29 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
26For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also
to have life in himself.
27And he has given him
authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28“Do not be amazed at this,
for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice
29and come out—those who have
done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will
rise to be condemned.
+++++++++++++++++++++
111) According to what Jesus said in verses 25 and 26 what was
his reply to Martha?
o Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.
o The one who believes in me will live.
o Even though
o They die.
o And whoever lives by believing in me will never die.
o Do you believe this?”
112) What is the current count of the ‘I am’ declarations
Jesus had made in the current gospel account?
o This is the fifth declaration.
113) According to what Jesus said in verse 25 what is the
consequence for those who believe that he
is the resurrection and the life?
o They will live.
o Even though
o They die.
114) What did Jesus mean that those who believe that he is the resurrection
and the life will live even though they die?
o They will
§
Be raised.
§
And have eternal
life.
o Even though
o They die a physical death.
115) According to what Jesus said in verse 26 what is the
consequence for those who live by
believing that he is the resurrection and the life?
o They will never die.
116) What did Jesus mean that those who live by believing that
he is the resurrection and the life will never die?
o Those who have eternal life by believing that he is
the resurrection and the life will never die a spiritual death.
117) According to what Jesus said in verse 26 what did he
question Martha on?
o Jesus questioned her.
o Whether
o She believed that he is
§
The resurrection.
§
And the life.
118) In accordance with what Jesus said in verse 26 what
was he trying to engender in Martha?
o Jesus was trying to engender faith in Martha.
119) Where did Martha acquire
the knowledge she stated in verses 22 and 24?
o From Jesus.
120) How did Jesus engender faith in Martha, given verses 25
and 26 and verses 22 and 24?
o Jesus engendered faith in Martha
§
Through his
testimony of himself.
§
And based on the
knowledge.
§
That
§
She had acquired
from him before.
121) In accordance with the way Jesus engendered faith in
Martha what must faith be informed by?
o Knowledge.
122) Between faith and knowledge which comes first, given Martha’s
case?
o Knowledge comes first.
123) But would faith have the opportunity
to be engendered in Martha if she did not trust in Jesus’ goodness and did
not go out to meet him?
o No.
124) How important is trusting in Jesus’ goodness for faith
to be engendered in Martha’s case?
o It is crucially important.
125) How important is continuing to trust in Jesus’
goodness for faith to be sustained in a disciple who is doubting his goodness?
o It is crucially important.
126) Would Martha’s knowledge do her any good if faith in Jesus
was not engendered in her and why?
o No, because it is faith in Jesus that brings knowledge
to its fulfillment in those who have faith.
o Such that
o They can enjoy the benefit of the knowledge.
o Knowledge without faith does not render the benefit to
those who possess it.
127) Why was Jesus able to engender faith in Martha through
a dialog, given that she was mourning the death of her brother?
o It is because she remained
§
Rational.
§
And hopeful.
o In her grief.
128) According to verse 27 how did Martha confess her faith
in Jesus?
o She believed that Jesus is
§
The Christ.
§
The Son of God.
o Who is to come into the world.
129) Why did Martha confess that Jesus is the Son of God,
given his message for them in verse 4?
o Jesus referred to himself as God’s Son in his message.
130) What is the chain of witnesses who had testified about
Jesus so far?
o God had testified to John the Baptist about Jesus.
o John the Baptist
had testified to two of his disciples about Jesus, one of them being Andrew and
the other John.
o Andrew had testified to his brother Peter about Jesus.
o John had testified to his brother James about Jesus.
o Andrew had testified to his hometown friend Philip
about Jesus.
o Philip had testified to his friend Nathanael about Jesus.
o Jesus had testified about himself to the Samaritan
woman who was a stranger.
o The Samaritan woman had testified about Jesus to other
Samaritans in town as an estranged cultural insider.
o Jesus had testified about himself to the royal official.
o The royal official had testified about Jesus to his
whole household.
o Jesus had testified about himself to the man born blind.
o Jesus had testified about himself to Martha.
131) What benefit was it for Martha that she believed in Jesus
without the aid of seeing the sign that she was hoping for, given John 20:24-29?
o She was more blessed than those who need to see a
sign.
o Before
o They would believe.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 20:24-29 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
24Now Thomas (also known as
Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25So the other disciples told
him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks
in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his
side, I will not believe.”
26A week later his disciples
were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were
locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
27Then he said to Thomas,
“Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my
side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28Thomas said to him, “My
Lord and my God!”
29Then Jesus told him,
“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not
seen and yet have believed.”
+++++++++++++++++++++
132) According to verse 28 what did Martha say to Mary after
she had confessed her faith in Jesus, went back and called her sister aside?
o She said to Mary, “The Teacher
§
Is here.
§
And is asking for
you.”
133) According to verse 29 what did Mary do when she heard that
Jesus was asking for her?
o She
§
Got up quickly.
§
And went to Jesus.
134) What did it take for Mary to pay attention to Jesus in
her current situation and why?
o It took individual attention from Jesus for Mary to
pay attention to him.
o Because
o She
§
Had doubt about
his love for them.
§
And was hurt.
135) How could a more rational disciple help a more emotional
disciple in a misfortune as seen in the case of the sisters?
o The more rational disciple can help remind the more emotional
disciple of Jesus’ care for the latter.
136) According to verse 30 where was Jesus after his conversation
with Martha?
o Jesus
§
Had not yet
entered the village.
§
But was still at
the place.
§
Where
§
Martha had met
him.
137) Why did Jesus stay put after
his conversation with Martha?
o Jesus was waiting to see if Mary would go out to
meet him.
138) What would the sisters’ not going out to meet Jesus indicate in terms of trusting in Jesus’
goodness?
o They did not trust in Jesus’ goodness.
139) Would Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead if the sisters did not go out to meet him and why?
o No, because they did not trust in Jesus’ goodness.
o If
o They did not go out to meet him.
140) According to verse 31 what did the Jews do who had
been with Mary in the house, comforting her when they noticed how quickly she
got up and went out?
o They followed her.
141) According to verse 31 why did the Jews think Mary went
out?
o They supposed she was going to the tomb to mourn there.
142) According to verse 32 what did Mary do when she reached
the place where Jesus was and saw him?
o She fell at Jesus’ feet.
143) Why did Mary fall at Jesus’ feet?
o She was
§
Deeply in grief.
§
And was in need of Jesus comforting her.
o Even though
o She had doubt about Jesus’ love for them.
144) According to verse 32 what was Mary’s lament?
o She lamented that Lazarus would not have died.
o If
o Jesus had been there.
145) Why were Martha and Mary lamenting the same thing?
o It is because together they had lamented the
unfortunate missed opportunity for Lazarus to be healed
o If only
o Jesus had been there.
146) But did Mary like Martha have more doubt about Jesus’
love for them than his putting off coming to
o Yes, because Mary also knew that Jesus could heal a
person without being in the presence of the person.
o Yet he chose not to do so for Lazarus.
147) According to verse 33 what was Mary doing in addition
to lamenting?
o She was weeping.
148) What is the contrast in personality between Martha and
Mary?
o Martha was rational.
o Mary was emotional.
149) Why did Jesus not try to engender faith in Mary through
a dialog as he did in Martha?
o It is because Mary was overcome with emotion in her
grief.
o While
o Martha remained
§
Rational.
§
And hopeful.
150) According to verse 33 what happened to Jesus when he saw
Mary weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping?
o Jesus was deeply
§
Moved in spirit.
§
And troubled.
151) According to verse 34 what did the sisters say to Jesus when he asked them where they
had laid Lazarus?
o They told Jesus to
§
Come.
§
And see.
152) According to verse 35 what did Jesus do?
o Jesus wept.
153) Was Jesus mourning the death of Lazarus when he wept and why, given verses 32 and 33?
o No, he was empathizing with Mary and those who were mourning
the death of Lazarus.
154) According to verse 36 what did the Jews say when they saw
Jesus weeping?
o They said how Jesus loved Lazarus!
155) According to verse 37 what did some of the Jews say?
o They were questioning if Jesus who opened the eyes of the blind man could not have
kept Lazarus from dying.
156) What did those Jews imply with their remark concerning
the definite feasibility of Jesus healing Lazarus, given that they knew that Jesus
did not come in time before Lazarus died?
o They implied that Jesus could have healed Lazarus
without being in the presence of Lazarus.
157) What did those Jews further imply, supposing that Jesus
could indeed heal Lazarus without being in his presence?
o They implied that Jesus had chosen not to heal Lazarus.
158) According to verse 38 what was Jesus’ emotional state while
coming to the tomb?
o Jesus was once more deeply moved.
159) According to verse 38 what was the arrangement for the
tomb?
o It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.
160) According to what Jesus said in verse 39 what did he
ask that was to be done?
o Jesus asked that the stone be taken away.
161) According to verse 39 what was the status of Martha’s brother?
o Her brother was a dead man.
162) According to verse 39 what did rational Martha say was
the condition her brother?
o By that time there was a bad odor.
o For
o He had been in the tomb 4 days.
163) According to what Jesus said in verse 40 what had he
told the sisters they would see if they believed?
o They would see the glory of God.
164) In accordance with verses 39 and 40 what was Martha’s rational
thinking hindering?
o It was hindering
§
First their belief
in Jesus’ word.
§
And ultimately their
seeing the glory of God.
165) According to verse 41 how did the sisters express their
belief in response to Jesus’ prompting?
o They took away the stone.
166) According to what Jesus said in verse 41 what did he
thank the Father for?
o Jesus thanked the Father that he had heard him.
167) What did Jesus confirm that Martha said in verse 22?
o Jesus confirmed that God would give him whatever he asked.
168) According to what Jesus said in verse 42 what did he
know concerning the Father’s hearing him?
o Jesus knew that the Father always heard him.
169) From whom might Martha have picked up her pattern of
making statements of knowledge in verses 22 and 24, given verse 42?
o From Jesus.
170) According to what Jesus said in verses 41 and 42 what
was the benefit for the people standing there of hearing what he said?
o It would engender faith among them.
o That
o God sent Jesus.
171) According to verse 43 what did Jesus
call in a loud voice?
o Lazarus, come out!
172) According to verse 44 what did the dead man do in response to Jesus’ call?
o The dead man came out.
173) How did Jesus confirm that God sent him and why, given
verses 41 and 42?
o Jesus confirmed it by raising Lazarus from the dead.
o Because
o The Father had indeed
§
Heard him.
§
And enabled him to
raise Lazarus.
174) According to verse 44 what was on the body of the dead
man?
o His hands and feet were wrapped with strips of linen.
o And a cloth was around his face.
175) According to what Jesus said in verse 44 what did he
tell the sisters to do for the dead man?
o Jesus told them to
§
Take off the
grave clothes from him.
§
And let him go.
176) How did Jesus fulfill God’s purpose that he mentioned
in verse 4?
o Jesus made it clear that it was God who enabled him to
raise Lazarus from the dead.
o Therefore God received the
glory of Lazarus’ being raised.
o Jesus then also received the glory.
o Because
o He raised Lazarus.
177) How could the sisters have done better in terms of
trusting in Jesus’ goodness by improving the verbiage of the message they sent him?
o They could have refrained from using Jesus’ love for Lazarus
to compel him to come quickly to heal Lazarus.
178) What could Mary learn from her fixation on Jesus’
dealing with Lazarus’ sickness and Jesus’ choosing to deal with Lazarus’ death
instead?
o She should not limit what God should and could do
through Jesus.
179) What could Mary learn from Martha in dealing with Jesus’
putting off coming to
o She should not have let her ensuing doubt about Jesus’
love for them come between her and Jesus.
180) How could Mary learn from Martha in managing her
emotion from the loss of her brother in her interaction with Jesus?
o She should not have let the emotion from the loss of
her brother come between her and Jesus.
181) Between Martha and Mary who was more blessed as a result of the way Jesus handled Lazarus’ sickness and why?
o Martha was more blessed.
o Because
o She believed in Jesus without having seen the sign of Lazarus’
being raised from the dead.
182) Had Jesus accomplished the objective for the disciples that he laid out in verse 15 and why?
o Yes, because he had engendered greater faith among them
than seeing Lazarus healed.
o When
o They saw him raise Lazarus from the dead.
183) Who among the disciples felt particularly good about going
with Jesus back to
o Thomas did.
o Because
o He had demonstrated greater faith in Jesus even before
seeing the sign of Lazarus’ being raised from the dead.
o But we’ll see.
184) According to verses 45 and 46 what was the status of belief
in Jesus among the Jews who had come to
visit Mary and who had seen what Jesus did?
o Many of them believed in Jesus.
o But some of them
§
Went to the
Pharisees.
§
And told them
what Jesus had done.
185) Where did those Jews who had come to visit Mary and who
believed in Jesus upon seeing him raise Lazarus from the dead come from, given verses
18 and 19?
o They had come from
186) What is the Sanhedrin?
o According to the Merriam-Webster
dictionary the Sanhedrin is the
§
Supreme council.
§
And tribunal.
o Of the Jews during postexilic times
§
Headed by a High
Priest.
§
And having
Ø
Religious.
Ø
Civil.
Ø
And criminal.
§
Jurisdiction.
187) According to verse 47 what did the chief priests and the Pharisees do?
o They called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.
188) According to verses 47 and 48 what was the fear that
the chief priests and the Pharisees voiced at
the Sanhedrin?
o Jesus was performing many signs.
o Everyone would believe in him.
o If
o They let him go on like that.
o Then the Romans would
§
Come.
§
And take away
both
Ø
Their temple.
Ø
And their nation.
189) What were the chief priests and the Pharisees
acknowledging that Jesus was doing?
o Jesus was performing many signs.
190) What did the chief priests and the Pharisees choose to
do with Jesus regardless of the many signs he was performing?
o They chose to reject Jesus.
191) Why would the Romans take away the Jews’ temple and nation when everyone believed in Jesus?
o The Romans
§
Would consider the
Jews to be starting a rebellion.
§
When
§
They rallied
around Jesus as the Christ who would deliver them from the Roman rule.
§
And would quell the
rebellion.
192) According to verses 49 and 50 what did Caiaphas who
was high priest that year say?
o They needed to realize that it was better for them.
o That
o One man died for the people.
o Than that
o The whole nation perished.
193) What did Caiaphas suggest should happen to Jesus for
the wellbeing of the Jewish nation?
o Jesus should die.
194) According to verse 51 what was the origin of that which
Caiaphas said in verses 49 and 50?
o He did not say that on his own.
o But as high priest that year he prophesied.
195) According to verses 51 and 52 what did Caiaphas prophesy?
o He prophesied that Jesus would die
§
For the Jewish
nation.
§
And not only for
that nation.
§
But also for the scattered children of God.
o To
§
Bring them
together.
§
And make them one.
196) Who are the scattered children of God?
o They are the Gentile disciples.
197) Whom are the Gentile disciples to be brought together and
made one with?
o They are to be
§
Brought together.
§
And made one.
o With the Jewish disciples.
198) According to verse 53 what did the Jewish leaders decide
to do?
o From that day on they plotted to take Jesus’ life.
199) What level of leadership of the Jewish nation does the
Sanhedrin represent?
o It represents the highest level of leadership of the Jewish
nation.
200) What level of decision does the decision of the
Sanhedrin represent?
o It represents the decision of the highest
level leadership of the Jewish nation.
201) When had the consensus to kill Jesus been made before that
was at the highest level of leadership of the Jewish nation?
o Such a decision had never been made at the highest
level of leadership before.
o That was the first time.
202) Why did the
chief priests and the Pharisees call the meeting of the Sanhedrin to finally
reach the consensus to kill Jesus at that juncture, given verses 18 and 19 and
verse 45?
o Jesus raising Lazarus
from the dead in the public setting must have caused an uproar among the Jews.
o And so many Jews from
o That
o The Jewish leaders were alarmed.
203) According to verse 54 what did Jesus avoid doing as a
result?
o Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people
of
204) According to verse 54 where did Jesus go instead?
o Jesus withdrew
§
To a region near
the wilderness.
§
To a village
called Ephraim.
205) According to verse 54 whom did Jesus stay with in
Ephraim?
o With his disciples.
206) According to verse 55 what did many do when it was almost time for the Jewish
Passover?
o They went up from the country to
207) According to verse 56 whom were the people looking for?
o They kept looking for Jesus.
208) According to verse 56 what did the people ask
one another as they stood in the temple courts?
o What do you think?
o Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?
209) According to verse 57 what orders had the chief priests and the Pharisees given concerning
Jesus?
o They had given orders that anyone who found out where
Jesus was should report it.
o So that
o They might arrest him.
========================
John 11:1-57
========================