The Gospel of John: John 11.17-37

Read and meditate on John 11.17-37.
John 11 is a study in timing, and in Jesus’ ability to manage events so that God receives glory. Jesus acknowledged only one schedule – His own. As His followers, we need to learn to wait on Jesus, and for Him.

                                    ¹⁷And it was so,
when Jesus came, He found that he had been
already four days in the tomb by then.
¹⁸Now Bethany was near Jerusalem,
about two miles away. ¹⁹And many then
among the Jews came with the women to
give comfort to the dead man’s sisters, who
were mourning. ²⁰Just as soon as Martha heard
that He was coming, she went to the Lord,
but Mary stayed at home. ²¹Then Martha said
to Jesus, “Had You been here, now, instead
of dying, Lazarus would be still alive.”
²²But even now I know that God will give
You anything You ask.” ²³Then Jesus said
to her, “Your brother, Lazarus, who is dead,
will rise again.” ²⁴She said to Him, “I know
that at the resurrection it is so
that he will rise again.” ²⁵And He replied,
“I am the resurrection and the life.
He who believes in Me shall live, though he
may die. ²⁶Whoever lives and trusts in Me
shall never die. Do you believe Me?” ²⁷She
replied, “Yes Lord, I know that You are He,
You are the Christ, the Son of God, He Who
is come into the world.” ²⁸She went  back to
her sister secretly and said, “Now He
has come, and calls for you.” ²⁹As soon as she
heard that, she rose, and quickly came to Him.
³⁰Now Jesus to the town had not yet come,
but was remaining in the place where He
had met with Martha. ³¹Those who came to be
with Mary, and to comfort her, when they
saw her go quickly forth, they made their way
to follow her, because they thought that she
was going to the tomb, and hope to be
with her and weep there. ³²Mary came to where
the Lord was, falling down before Him there
and saying, “Lord, if You had been here, he
would not have died.” ³³And when He saw that she
was weeping, and the people weeping too,
He groaned within His Spirit, and was moved
and troubled. ³⁴And He said, “Where have you laid
him?” And they said to Him, “Come to his grave
and see.” ³⁵And Jesus wept. ³⁶The Jews then said,
“See how He loved him!” ³⁷So then others said,
“Could not this Man, Who made a blind man see,
have kept this man from dying?”

- John 11.17-37

Reflect
1. The account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead has thus far been a lesson in waiting. Jesus waited two days after He learned about Lazarus condition before heading out for Bethany. Then He waited outside Bethany, and waited for both Martha and Mary to make their way to Him. He also waited while the people gathered and began reflecting on what He might have done had He been there. Why all this waiting?  Complete this prayer: Lord, I need to learn about waiting for You, because…

2.  Jesus also made Martha, Mary, His disciples, and everyone else wait to know what He was going to do. He never announced His plan or made any promises, except for an oblique word to Martha in verse 23. Why do you suppose Jesus didn’t just tell everyone what He was planning to do? Was He trying to accomplish something in them? Was He waiting for just the right moment? What do you think? I can’t always know what You’re going to do, Lord, but You have promised that whatever it is, it will…

3.  Explain the connection between faith, resurrection, and the glory of God suggested in verses 1-37. What are the implications of this for our daily service of waiting on the Lord? Revive me daily, Lord, by filling me with Your Spirit and immersing me in Your Word. Then I will…

4.  Jesus also seems to have waited for the emotional pitch to rise to the right level – all that weeping! We might have expected that Jesus would want to dispel all the sorrowing as quickly as possible, but He did not. Why? Is sorrowing an important affection? Explain. I sorrow and am sad sometimes, Lord, but let me never forget as I do that…

5.  Finally, Jesus also waited until a crowd had gathered around Him. Mary led the Jews to Jesus, and then they all processed to the tomb. Keeping in mind John 11.4, 14, and 15, how can you see that all this waiting was necessary for Jesus to realize the purpose of this situation? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“His tears were like the rain, and Lazarus like a grain of wheat, and the tomb like the earth. He gave forth a cry like that of thunder, and death trembled at his voice. Lazarus burst forth like a grain of wheat. He came forth and adored his Lord who had raised him.” Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD)

The Scriptures often direct us to wait on the Lord. What does that mean? How should wait on Him? Are there any lessons about waiting on the Lord to be discerned from John 11.1-37?

Closing Prayer
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed.
This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
And saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
And delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Psalm 34.1-8

Psalm 34.1-9, 3 (Alleluia [Lowe]: Mighty God, While Angels Bless You)
I will bless the Lord at all times; I shall praise Him evermore!
My soul makes its boast in Jesus – Him we gladly all adore!
    Magnify the Name of Jesus!
    Let us lift His Name in praise!

When I sought the Lord, He answered, and from fear delivered me.
Those who look to Him are radiant; shamed their face shall never be.
    Magnify the Name of Jesus!
    Let us lift His Name in praise!

When I cried to God, He heard me, and from trouble rescued me.
‘Round their camp His angel lingers that they may delivered be.
    Magnify the Name of Jesus!
    Let us lift His Name in praise!

Taste and see how good is Jesus; blessed are all who in Him hide.
None shall lack for any blessing who in Christ will e’er confide.
    Magnify the Name of Jesus!
    Let us lift His Name in praise!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.