LESSON XI.—SABBATH, SEPTEMBER 9, 1899
THE RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS.
1 "Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 And it was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 The sisters therefore sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick. 4 When Jesus heard it, He said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified thereby. 5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. 6 When therefore He heard that he was sick, He abode at that time two days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He saith to the disciples, Let us go into Judea again. 8 The disciples say unto Him, Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone Thee; and goest Thou thither again? 9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If a man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. 10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because the light is not in him. 11 These things spake He; and after this He saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 The disciples therefore said unto Him, Lord, if he is fallen asleep, he will recover. 13 Howbeit Jesus had spoken of his death; but they thought that He spake of taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus therefore said 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. 16 Thomas therefore, who is called Didymus, said unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with Him. 17 "So when Jesus came, He found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 18 Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off; 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him; but Mary still sat in the house. 21 Martha therefore said unto Jesus, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22 And even now I know that, whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give Thee. 23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on Me, though he die, yet shall he live; 26 and whosoever liveth and believeth on Me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord; I have believed that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, even He that cometh into the world. 28 And when she had said this, she went away, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is here, and calleth thee. 29 And she, when she heard it, arose quickly, 30 and went unto Him. (Now Jesus was not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha met Him.) 31 The Jews then which were with her in the house, and were comforting her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up quickly and went out, followed her, supposing that she was going unto the tomb to weep there. 32 Mary therefore, when she came where Jesus was, and saw Him, fell down at His feet, saying unto Him, Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the Spirit, 34 and was troubled, and said, Where have ye laid him? They say unto Him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 The Jews therefore said, Behold how He loved him! 37 But some of them said, Could not this Man, which opened the eyes of him that was blind, have caused that this man also should not die? 38 Jesus therefore again groaning in Himself cometh to the tomb. 39 Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus saith, 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. 40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou believedst, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes, and said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest Me. 42 And I knew that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the multitude which standeth around I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me. 43 And when He had thus spoken, He cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. 45 "Many therefore of the Jews, which came to Mary and beheld that which He did, believed on Him. 46 But some of them went away to the Pharisees, and told them the things which Jesus had done. 47 The chief priests therefore and the Pharisees gathered a council, and said, What do we? for this Man doeth many signs. 48 If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him; and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. 49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 Now this he said not of himself; but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation; 52 and not for the nation only, but that He might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad." Note.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further. - In the extremity of Lazarus' sickness, what message did his sisters send to Jesus? Why? John 11:1-5. (Luke 10:38-42; John 9:3.)
- How long did Jesus remain in Perea after receiving this message? What conversation followed Christ's announcement that He would return to Judea? Verses 6-14. (Deut. 31:16; margin; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. 15:51.)
- What object had Jesus in delaying His journey to Bethany? Verse 15.
- When He arrived there, how long had Lazarus been dead? Verse 17.
- Whom did Jesus find at Bethany on His arrival? Vs. 18, 19.
- While still outside of the town, who went out to meet Jesus? Verse 20.
- Upon meeting the Lord, what conversation passed between Him and Martha? Verses 21-27. (John 5:21; Col. 3:4.)
- When Martha returned to the house with a message from Jesus to Mary, what did she immediately do? Verses 28-30.
- Did the Jews present suspect her mission? Verse 31.
- When Mary met Jesus, with what words did she greet Him? Verse 32.
- How was Jesus troubled at her presence? Verses 33-35.
- When the Jews saw Jesus weeping, what reproachful words did they offer? Verses 36, 37. (John 9:18.)
- Knowing the sentiments of some of these Jews, with what feelings did Jesus approach the grave? Verse 38.
- What word of authority then came from the Saviour's lips? What reply did Martha make? Verse 39.
- With what words did Jesus reprove the unbelief of Martha? Verse 40.
- When the stone was removed from the grave, how did Jesus address His Father? Verses 41, 42. (John 12:30.)
- What word of command was then uttered? With what effect? Verses 43, 44.
- While many of the Jews were constrained to believe in Jesus, what did some of them do? Verses 45, 46.
- In the council that followed, what fears were expressed? Verses 47, 48. (Acts 4:16, 17.)
- What counsel did the high priest then offer? Verses 49-52. (John 18:14.)
Side Lights.—"Desire of Ages," chapter 58; "Spirit of Prophecy," vol. 2, chapter 31.