The Resurrection and the Life (John 11:1-44)
Paul Kalanithi’s future looked bright. At the age of 36, he was almost done with ten years of training as a neurosurgeon. Kalanithi and his wife, Lucy, anticipated having children and raising a family. They looked forward to a new season of life. Kalanithi was in his final year of neurosurgical residency at Stanford University. That was when his severe back and chest pains started, along with dramatic weight loss. After the results of an initial health check came back normal, Kalanithi attributed the symptoms to overwork. But the health concerns did not go away; they got worse. More tests were done. This time, it was bad news: stage IV lung cancer.
In his book, When Breath Becomes Air, Kalanithi reflects on facing his own death: “I began to realise that coming in such close contact with my own mortality had changed both nothing and everything. Before my cancer was diagnosed, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. After the diagnosis, I knew that someday I would die, but I didn’t know when. But now I knew it acutely. The problem wasn’t really a scientific one. The fact of death is unsettling. Yet there is no other way to live.”
When was the last time we thought of the fact that we will die? Perhaps we prefer to push such morbid thoughts out of our minds. Death is not something we think about very often, if at all. Maybe this is how we cope with living under death’s constant shadow. In a culture obsessed with comfort, control, prosperity and personal happiness, to think or speak of death seems so out of place.
In fact, some hope to make death obsolete. Last September, the Don’t Die Summit was held in Singapore. It is founded by tech tycoon Bryan Johnson, whose mission is simple: Don’t die. Johnson believes we can “biohack” our way to living longer. His health plan includes waking up at 4.30am, eating all his meals before 11am, and going to bed at 8.30pm every day without fail, as well as consuming more than 100 daily supplements and exercising for at least an hour every day. I am not sure if I would call this living.
Likewise, Yuval Noah Harari, author of the bestseller Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, believes humankind has the potential to overcome death and become Homo deus, “god man”. He thinks science has “redefined death as a technical problem”. But is death just a clinical matter to be fixed by technology? Then, why does death fill us with such unease and dread? Why does death still break our hearts with grief? If death is supposedly “natural”, why do we feel deep down as though something is fundamentally wrong with the world? The inevitability of death weighs on us all.
When is the last time we thought of the fact that we will die? Philosophers in the past used to say, “Memento mori”. Remember death. We must all confront our own mortality. In fact, realising our days are numbered will teach us wisdom. For it is only by honestly and humbly remembering death that we see our need for the One who can give us life.
Believe in Jesus, the resurrection and the life.
We have been steadily making our way through the Gospel of John since January. Today, we providentially come to John 11. Given that it’s Easter Sunday, our text is especially apt. In these verses, Jesus declares “I am the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)” This is the big idea: Believe in Jesus, the resurrection and the life. To grasp the significance of what Jesus says, we must first confront the problem of death.
The problem of death (Jn 11:1-16)
As we read John 11:1-3, only John’s Gospel makes mention of Lazarus. He is different from his namesake in the parable in the Gospel of Luke. This Lazarus is the brother of Mary and Martha, who are mentioned in Luke 10. The two sisters seem to have different dispositions. Martha was “anxious and troubled about many things”, while Mary “chose the good portion” by listening to Jesus’ teaching. John tells us this Mary will, later on, show her devotion to Jesus by anointing him with expensive perfume.
Their brother, Lazarus, is very sick. “So the sisters sent to (Jesus), saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” As we heard from chapter 10, Jesus met increasing unbelief in Jerusalem. Because his opponents sought to kill him, he left Jerusalem to go across the Jordan river, to where John the Baptist had been baptising before. But now, the sisters ask Jesus to come heal their brother in Bethany, which was only a few kilometres from Jerusalem. To return to the region of Judea would be dangerous. The sisters appeal to Jesus’ love for their brother. Instead of using his name, they simply refer to him as “he whom you love”. This points to the close relationship and deep affection Jesus had for this family. He is who fully God became fully man to live among ordinary people like you and me. Jesus is God with us. What a blessing it is to be known by Jesus as those whom He loves. We try so hard to make a name for ourselves in the world, yet the name Jesus gives us is so much better than anything we could ever earn for ourselves.
Jesus is certain Lazarus will not die (Jn 11:4). Being sovereign over life and death, He is in complete control. Lazarus’ illness serves God’s purpose; it will glorify God. He is able to work all things for His glory and the good of His people. Specifically, the Father will glorify the Son. Life can be painful and perplexing. We may not always understand our circumstances, but we can trust the sovereign God who holds all things in His hands. He works for our good and His glory.
Jesus’ delays do not contradict His love. We can rest assured that the Good Shepherd knows what He is doing.
Because Jesus loves these siblings, He does not go to them at once (Jn 11:5-6). This is the exact opposite of what we would expect. If our loved one is seriously ill, we would immediately rush to his or her side. Jesus, however, delays out of love for Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. This is surprising, given the urgency of the situation. Why does Jesus wait? We may wonder why God does not answer our prayers sooner. Why does He seem slow to deal with our troubles and ease our suffering? In tough times, we often focus on the here and now. Because we struggle to look beyond our situation, what we want or ask for may not be what is best for our souls. Because Jesus loves us, He may lead us through the valley longer to reveal more of His glory. His ways are higher than ours. Jesus’ delays do not contradict His love. We can rest assured that the Good Shepherd knows what He is doing. He will guide us to green pastures.
So, after two days, Jesus says to His disciples in John 11:7, “Let us go to Judea again.” Having just escaped from Jerusalem, the disciples are shocked that Jesus wants to return. It sounds like they will be heading to their deaths. As the hour of Jesus’ crucifixion gets closer, the shadow of the cross looms ever larger. Although the focus here is on Lazarus, the death of Jesus hangs ominously in the background. Jesus’ reply to the disciples in John 11:9-10 urges them to follow Him. The time is coming for Jesus to do His Father’s will, which will lead Him to the cross.The darkness will descend. If the disciples are not to stumble, they must walk by the light of the One who is the light of the world.
In John 11:11-15, we see that Lazarus has succumbed to his sickness. Prompted by this, Jesus now intends to go to raise Lazarus. Look at John 11:11: “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples are slow to understand, thinking Lazarus is simply taking rest in sleep (Jn 11:13). Jesus has to put it plainly in John 11:14, “Lazarus has died.” Hang on, did Jesus get it wrong? He had said Lazarus’ illness would not lead to death. Yet due to Jesus’ delay, His friend has died. Did Jesus miscalculate the time and end up being too late to heal Lazarus? No, Jesus intends to do something bigger and more significant that will grow His disciples’ faith. He says in John 11:15: “For your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” If Jesus had been with Lazarus earlier, He could have healed Him and kept Him from dying. But Jesus actually rejoices this was not the case. In God’s sovereign plan, Lazarus’ death will accomplish an even greater purpose: It is so that the disciples might believe in Jesus. For Jesus, Lazarus’ death is an opportunity for God the Father to be glorified and to glorify His Son. When the disciples witness Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead, they will believe in Him. The joy of knowing Jesus outweighs even the sorrow of losing a loved one. So, now that Lazarus has died, the time is right. Jesus is never late. Lazarus’ death foreshadows how Jesus’ death will lead to salvation.
Commonly known as “Doubting Thomas”, he has a bit of a poor reputation (Jn 11:16). But here, Thomas displays devotion and courage. He encourages his fellow disciples to keep following Jesus, even to death. Perhaps Thomas speaks better than he knows. There seems to be some resignation in his words. It is true nonetheless: As Jesus’ disciples, we must take up our cross and follow Him. But we walk by faith, not resignation. We die with Christ because we trust His promise to raise us up.
The promise of life (Jn 11:17-27)
By the time Jesus arrives in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days (Jn 11:17). The Jews believed a dead person’s soul would hover over the body for three days before departing. Since four days have passed since Lazarus died, his soul has left. He is well and truly dead. Jesus ensures He arrives four days after Lazarus’ passing. Why? It is to emphasise the finality of death. The more hopeless the situation, the more it has the potential to display the glory, wisdom and power of God. Many of us are proud of being self-sufficient and self-reliant. This is why falling sick or ageing can be so challenging. We dislike having to depend on others. Yet, this is how God often works in our lives. He takes us through trials to bring us to an end of ourselves, to humble us and chip away at our stubborn pride. Trials teach us to trust God, not ourselves. This was a lesson the apostle Paul had to learn as well. He says in 2 Corinthians: “We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”
Since Bethany is near to Jerusalem, many mourners came from there to comfort the family. Martha, ever the busy one, goes out to meet Jesus, while Mary remains in the house. In John 11:21, Martha says to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” She is not blaming Him, but simply stating her belief that He could have intervened earlier to heal her brother. Though disappointed, Martha is still hopeful Jesus can help because of His relationship with God the Father (Jn 11:22): “But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” She shows persevering faith amid grief and sorrow. Even in a time of painful loss, we can still trust in Jesus. We can bring our confusion and questions to Him. Our assurance is founded on the unbreakable bond between God the Father and the Son. We can confidently ask of Jesus, because we know the Father will grant the requests of the Son.
Does Martha expect Jesus to raise her brother from the dead? Given the context, I do not think so. When Jesus says, “Your brother will rise again” (Jn 11:23), Martha thinks He means the resurrection on the last day (Jn 11:24). The Old Testament speaks of a final judgement when the general resurrection of the dead will take place. It says in Daniel 12:2, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” It is appointed for all to die once, and after that comes judgement. We will all have to give an account to God for how we have lived. God made us for His glory, but we have disregarded Him and lived as though He did not exist. We have not given God the worship He alone is worthy to receive. The Bible calls this sin. This is why we all must die, for we have all sinned against God and fallen short of His glory. The sting of death is sin. Death is not a “technical problem”, but the symptom of our spiritual rebellion and estrangement from God, who has given us life and breath and everything. We fear death because judgement follows. When we stand before God the holy and righteous judge, what will we have to say for ourselves?
Martha’s faith is genuine, but it is incomplete (Jn 11:25-27). So, Jesus presses in with the truth about himself in John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus, who deals gently with Martha, is also patient with us when our faith is weak and not fully formed. The hope of the resurrection is not merely based on an abstract truth, but it is anchored in a person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Thanks to Him, death will not win. Jesus came to defeat death by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. Jesus died to bear God’s judgement in the place of sinners, so that our sins can be forgiven and we can be made right with God if we trust in Jesus to save us. In Christ, God declares us righteous when we stand before Him. Jesus rose from the dead in victory over sin and death. He has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light. By trusting in Christ, we are set free from death’s grip. Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
Jesus not only raises the dead; He is the resurrection and the life. He is the only Saviour. Only in Him do we have life. Therefore, we must believe in Jesus. He says in John 11:25-26a, “Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” Though we experience physical death, we shall live because Jesus will raise us up. Death does not get the last word. Death does not win. If we believe in Jesus, we will receive eternal life now. We shall never die, for we have passed from death to life. Even now, we can have the blessings of love, joy and peace found in a new life with Christ. God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. This is why we celebrate Resurrection Sunday! This good news changes how we live. Before, we were slaves to success, thinking we had to maximise our gains in this life. But now, the hope of the resurrection sets us free to live sacrificially for Jesus, who gave His life for us. We can be sure of having something far better than this world, which is passing away. We can live for the Lord, knowing that in Him our labour is not in vain. We shall have an eternal reward. This good news changes how we die. We no longer have to fear death. We need not grieve as those who have no hope. Physical death is but the door to further life and fellowship with God. To live is Christ and to die is gain.
We need not grieve as those who have no hope. Physical death is but the door to further life and fellowship with God. To live is Christ and to die is gain.
Jesus’ question to Martha is for us too: Do you believe this? (Jn 11:26b) Martha says, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” Her confession echoes John’s purpose in writing the Gospel. This is the reason why Jesus delayed: that Martha, along with us, might believe in Him who is the resurrection and the life. The momentary affliction of losing a loved one has brought about eternal good. The wise God knows what is best for us. The easiest path is not necessarily the best path. God’s goal is that we know and follow Jesus. Will we trust in His promise of eternal life?
The raising of the dead (28-44)
Having confessed her faith in Jesus, Martha goes to call Mary (Jn 11:28-32). Jesus wants to speak with her too. The Good Shepherd comforts and cares for His sheep. Mary’s devotion to Jesus is evident in how she rises quickly to go to Him and falls at His feet. Her words, like Martha’s, convey deep sorrow: Why didn’t you get here sooner, Lord? We, too, groan while we wait on the Lord. Living in a fallen world is tough. We struggle with sin and suffering. We lament our losses. How long, O Lord, we cry. Soon after I turned 21, my father passed away suddenly. He was in his late 40s. Many of us know the grief of losing a loved one. We long for the day when we will mourn no more.
The scene is profoundly poignant (Jn 11:33-36). Mary is weeping at Jesus’ feet. The Jews who followed her from the house are also weeping. Faced with this overflow of grief, Jesus is deeply moved in His spirit and greatly troubled. John 11:35 says it simply: Jesus wept. He is the glorious Son who is fully God. All things were made through Him. Yet, Jesus is also very near to us. The eternal Word became flesh and lived among us. He is not indifferent to or uninvolved in our sorrow, for he too knows the pain of losing a loved one. Because Jesus is able to sympathise with our weaknesses, He can be our compassionate and merciful high priest to help us. He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. So, go to him. Jesus invites us to rest in him: “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matt. 11:28-30)”
But it is much more than sadness that stirs Jesus’ soul. The translation “deeply moved” isn’t strong enough to capture the meaning of the original word. It means to be angry, outraged, indignant. Likewise, to be greatly troubled means to be deeply agitated. The question is: What is Jesus getting all worked up about? It cannot simply be the fact that His dear friend has died. After all, Jesus, who is sovereign over life and death, already knows Lazarus’ illness does not lead to death (Jn 11:4). Jesus is angry at death itself. Death is so universal that we accept it as a part of the natural order of things. But it was not so in the beginning. Death had no place in God’s creation. It was an intruder that came in through sin. Death is unnatural. It is the enemy of God’s good creation. One Christian writer (B. B. Warfield) puts it well: “The spectacle of the distress of Mary and her companions enraged Jesus because it brought poignantly home to his consciousness the evil of death, its unnaturalness, its violent tyranny.” Encountering death gives us a sense of how something is fundamentally wrong with the world.
Jesus has come to put death to death through His death. He will destroy death by dying and rising. Jesus’ hour has not yet come, but it is drawing nearer. In the verses after our passage, the Jewish leaders conspire to kill Jesus. Speaking more truth than He realises, the high priest Caiaphas says in John 11:50: “It is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” Jesus’ rage reflects the resolve of one preparing to do battle with the enemy. The Good Shepherd triumphs by laying down His own life for the sheep. Jesus dies for the sins of His people, so that we who believe in Him might live. He breaks death dominion over us.
To show his power over death, Jesus will raise Lazarus from the dead. This is a live lesson on how Jesus saves. It is a small preview of a much greater resurrection — Jesus’ own. Lazarus has been buried in a cave-tomb, with a large stone sealing its entrance shut. Later, Jesus himself will walk out alive from a similar tomb. Nothing can deter him, certainly not unbelief. Some of the Jews are sceptical (Jn 11:37-39). But Jesus commands that the stone be removed. Even Martha has doubts. She says in John 11:39: “Lord, by this time there will be an odour, for he has been dead four days.” Surely, Lazarus is past the point of no return. But Jesus encourages Martha’s faith in John 11:40. Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” Believing comes before seeing. Believing is seeing. To behold the glory of God the Father, we must believe in his Son. Only by knowing Jesus can we come to know God. The Son’s death and resurrection are the supreme display of God’s glory.
After the stone is removed, Jesus looks up towards heaven and prays aloud (Jn 11:41-42). We see His intimate relationship with God. Jesus is the beloved Son who calls God “Father”. Jesus has already prayed for Lazarus’ life, and He thanks the Father for hearing Him. This explains why Jesus is so confident that Lazarus will live. Because the Father and the Son are one, Jesus is assured that the Father will always hear Him. But He says this out loud for the benefit of those around Him, that they might hear and believe Jesus is the Son whom the Father has sent.
God the Father has given Jesus power over life and death. By listening to Him, we are set free from our bondage to death.
With a loud command, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:43-44). The Creator who spoke the universe into existence is also the Saviour who speaks life into the dead. The prophet Ezekiel saw in a vision how God’s word and Spirit can give life to dry bones. Here, we see the prophecy fulfilled: Jesus’ voice gives life; His words are the words of life. Recall Jesus’ words in John 5:25: “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” God the Father has given Jesus power over life and death. By listening to Him, we are set free from our bondage to death.
The raising of Lazarus is the seventh and final sign in John’s Gospel. It is the climatic sign that points to the greatest work of all: Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead. Lazarus, though restored to mortal life, would later die. It is but a tiny foretaste to whet our appetites for the amazing feast that is coming. It cannot compare with Jesus’ resurrection. On this Resurrection Sunday, we look back with praise and thanksgiving for how Christ is risen. Unlike Lazarus, Jesus was raised with a glorified body, never to die again. Jesus’ resurrection was the first, signalling the start of the new creation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.
Paul Kalanithi died in 2015. He had grown up in a Christian home, but turned away from the faith as a young man. In an article he wrote shortly before his death, Kalanithi spoke about returning to Christianity: “I returned to the central values of Christianity — sacrifice, redemption, forgiveness — because I found them so compelling… The main message is Jesus… that mercy trumps justice every time.” It takes a dying man to teach us how to live. When was the last time we thought of the fact that we will die? We remember death to be reminded of Jesus Christ and the great salvation He has won for us. In Christ, we will also be raised with Him. We may lose the battle with sickness now, but Jesus has already won the war by defeating death. This is our undying hope. If we repent and trust in Jesus, He is our resurrection and our life. Will we believe in Him?