The Gospel of John: John 11.38-48

Read and meditate on John 11.38, 39.
Jesus is led to the tomb of Lazarus, which is a cave, against the entrance of which a large stone had been set. Lazarus has been in that tomb four days.

                                                            ³⁸Therefore, He
was groaning in Himself, and came unto
the tomb, which was a cave, a stone laid to
the entrance. ³⁹Jesus said, “Remove the stone.”
But Martha, she who was the dead man’s own
dear sister, said to Him. “Lord, it has been
four days; and surely there will be a stench.”

- John 11.17-22

Reflect
1.  This is the second time John has told us that Jesus was groaning. Here, however, He was groaning “in Himself.” He was irritated and agitated, and we can see Him straining to keep His agitation to Himself. Why was this situation so troubling to Jesus? Why was He so restrained here, as opposed to what we saw in John 2? Complete this prayer: Lord, sometimes it’s best that I keep my feelings to myself, such as when...

2.  Caves were common burial places in John’s day, carved into rock and covered by a large stone, to discourage animals and grave robbers. Why do you suppose John wanted us to know this particular detail about Lazarus’ tomb? What does this portend? Lord, you are always present in every passage of Scripture, and always pointing us forward to…

3.  The form of the verb, “Take away”, is perhaps significant, if only to immerse us more fully into the drama. First, it is in the imperative mood; that is, it’s a command. Jesus, arriving at the tomb, assumed the authority to command those who had charge over the dead. Was He challenging any social taboos or protocols? Second, the verb is plural, so Jesus was directing His instruction to at least two, and possibly more, grown men. It would take that many to move the stone. Imagine you were there, hearing Jesus say this, and realizing what it would take to move that stone. What would you be thinking? What did Jesus want you to be thinking? What does He want us to be thinking? You are Lord of life and death, Jesus, and You command that…

4.  Bless Martha, always thinking about others. “Lord, before You have them do that, may I just point out that…” On what plane was Martha’s mind operating? On what plane was Jesus’ mind operating? We have the mind of Christ, not of Martha (1 Cor. 2.16). What implications are suggested here concerning the kind of mindset we should bring into our daily lives? How can we do that more consistently? Lord, let me not be constrained in my thinking, planning, or acting by the limitations of this world, but by the boundless possibilities of…

5.  Francis Schaeffer was once asked why our experience of Christian faith isn’t more real, more truly spiritual. He responded by saying that our lack of true spiritual reality comes about because “while we say we believe one thing, we allow the spirit of the naturalism of the age to creep into our thinking, unrecognized.” Martha was a woman of faith, as we have seen; but hers was a faith in process. She believed in Jesus, as far as she knew Him (v. 27). But she clearly did not understand all the ramifications of her faith. She had some growing to do before her faith would become more real, because while she believed that Jesus was Christ and Son of God, her mindset was still worldly, material, temporal, and small. Can you see in her any similarities with Christians today? With your own faith? Explain. Bring together into one the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Are you—as someone who has bestowed the kind of power on your apostles that can remove mountains—are you not able to roll away a small stone from the entrance of the cave? But he chose not to roll the stone away because the spectators did not believe. Otherwise, they might have been able to say that what he did relied on trickery and deceiving the eyes. They would say there had been an apparently dead man laid in the grave, and that [Jesus] wanted to make it look like he called and the other heard. And so now he leads them to the grave, so that after they have rolled away the stone, the foul smell might reach them and furnish them with testimony that the man was actually dead. And then, once they believe Lazarus has died, they will no longer doubt his resurrection. The Lord had already planned for this when he came. Notice what immediately follows. Martha approaches the stone and says, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead for four days.’ But the ever-living one, who is fully conscious of his power, says, ‘I chose to learn this from you, [Martha]. In fact, repeat what you said about him, “By this time he stinks.” Repeat it, proclaiming that his resurrection is real.’ His death was established several times in order that the fact of his resurrection might be established.… He commanded the Jews to roll away the stone with their own hands, reserving for himself the greatest sign so that they might be witnesses of the sign done by him.” Hippolytus (fl. 222-245 AD)

Jesus wanted to make sure the reality of death was clear and unmistakable to everyone at that tomb – the weeping and groaning, the difficulty of moving that stone, the stench from the tomb, the shock of violating a social norm. Why so much careful orchestration? How did all this relate to what Jesus had promised about this situation?

Closing Prayer
O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You maintain my lot.
The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Yes, I have a good inheritance.
I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel;
My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.
I have set the LORD always before me;
Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16.5-11

Psalm 16.7-10, 11 (refrain) (All to Christ: Jesus Paid it All)
I bless Your Name, O Lord; my mind instructs each night;
You teach me by Your Word and guide me in the right
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

You are ever with me, Lord; in You I shall not fall.
But rejoicing in Your Word, I abide within Your call.
    Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
    Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

Soon Your glory I shall see, for as Jesus rose again,
You come to gather me to my home with you in heav’n.
   Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand;
   Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.

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.