Right or wrong A man had cheated the government in his tax filing. Over time he began to feel guilty during sleepless nights. Then he wrote a letter to the tax authorities and added 500 euros to the envelope, saying: “I cheated you, therefore I send you 500 euros that I still owe you. If I remain to experience sleepless nights I will send you the rest.”

What are you thankful for this week? What difficulty or stress have you experienced this week? Would it be good that someone prays for this?

bread We find this passage in . . . . . . . . . . . . First we studied the passage where Jesus claims: “I am the . . . . . . of . . . “ life John 6:25-59 We find this passage in . . . . . . . . . . . . light Secondly we studied the passage where Jesus claims: “I am the . . . . of the . . . . . “ world John 8:12-30 Thirdly we studied the passage where Jesus claims: “I am the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . We find this passage in . . . . . . . . . . . . I AM John 8:31-59 Good Shepherd We find this passage in . . . . . . . . . . . . Fourthly we studied the passage where Jesus claims: “I am the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John 10:1-18

CSMN Chinese Fellowship Jesus claims: “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:3-6, 17-45)

The people In this story three people are prominent: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. All good friends of Jesus. Lazarus is mentioned only in John 11 and 12. However, his sisters, Mary and Martha, are mentioned several times, and Jesus visited their house frequently. John 11:3 speaks of Lazarus as the one Jesus loved. John 11:5 shows that Jesus loved Mary and Martha as well.

Definition of Terms Tomb: (verse 17) A burial place, larger and more complex than a simple grave, usually used by wealthy people or those of high position. Both natural caves and hollow spaces cut out of rock were used for tombs. Lord: (verse 21) Another word for “master” or “ruler.” Resurrection: (verse 24) The bringing back to physical life of someone who had died. The resurrection at the last day: (verse 24) The time when Christ will come to earth again and gather His followers together; a time of great joy for Christians because they will receive new bodies and be with Christ in heaven forever (Daniel 12:2, 3; 1 Corinthians 15:51, 52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17). Love: (verse 36) Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him”. Here in the Greek language the word έϕιλει (fileo= love as a friend) is used, and not the Greek word αϒαπη (agape= Godly unconditional love)

Traditional Jewish burial cave hewn into the rocks Weeping chamber Shelves for the bodies A body wrapped in linen including the head Wheel-shaped rock Trench

Context of the Bible passage, where Jesus claims: “I am the Resurrection and the Life” This story happens just after Jesus did many miracles, He explained His origin and authority, and just one week before Jesus was going to be arrested, put to death on the cross and was going to be resurrected from the death by God’s power. John 11:3-6 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”  4 When 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.” 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. fileo agape When the people speak about ‘love’ they use the word ‘fileo’, but Jesus loves with ‘agape-love’. Think about verse 4, where Jesus says that the sickness of his friend Lazarus will not end in death. What could that mean? Jesus was at the east side of the Jordan river. He was called to come to Bethany, a one day walk, to the home of His close friends Lazarus, Mary and Martha. Why would Jesus wait another two days before going there, to heal his friend?

John 11:17-27  17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When 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. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”  23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  25 Jesus said to her “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”   約 翰 福 音 11:17-27  17 耶 稣 到 了 ， 就 知 道 拉 撒 路 在 坟 墓 里 已 经 四 天 了 。 18 伯 大 尼 离 耶 路 撒 冷 不 远 ， 约 有 六 里 路 。 19 有 好 些 犹 太 人 来 看 马 大 和 马 利 亚 ， 要 为 他 们 的 兄 弟 安 慰 他 们 。 20 马 大 听 见 耶 稣 来 了 ， 就 出 去 迎 接 他 ； 马 利 亚 却 仍 然 坐 在 家 里 。  21 马 大 对 耶 稣 说 ： 主 阿 ， 你 若 早 在 这 里 ， 我 兄 弟 必 不 死 。  22 就 是 现 在 ， 我 也 知 道 ， 你 无 论 向 神 求 甚 麽 ， 神 也 必 赐 给 你 。  23 耶 稣 说 ： 你 兄 弟 必 然 复 活 。  24 马 大 说 ： 我 知 道 在 末 日 复 活 的 时 候 ， 他 必 复 活 。 25 耶 稣 对 他 说 ： 复 活 在 我 ， 生 命 也 在 我 。 信 我 的 人 虽 然 死 了 ， 也 必 复 活，26 凡 活 着 信 我 的 人 必 永 远 不 死 。 你 信 这 话 麽 ？ 27 马 大 说 ： 主 阿 ， 是 的 ， 我 信 你 是 基 督 ， 是 神 的 儿 子 ， 就 是 那 要 临 到 世 界 的 。

How long had Lazarus been dead How long had Lazarus been dead? Is it possible that during this time he was just in a trance or had experienced a fainting spell? Why or why not? V. 17: He had been dead four days. A person lying in a grave for four days without food or water, with a cloth wrapped around his head (V. 44), could not have been in a trance. How did Martha react when Jesus came? Vs. 20-22: She was eager to meet Jesus and tell Him her sorrow over the death of her brother and her regret that Jesus had not healed him before he died. This demonstrated her belief in Jesus’ power over sickness.

How did Jesus respond to Martha’s faith in His power? V. 23: He stated that her brother would rise again (be given physical life again). What did Martha think Jesus meant when He said that her brother would rise? What did Jesus mean? V. 24: Martha thought Jesus was referring to the resurrection promised on the last day when all of Jesus’ followers will be given new bodies and new life. Jesus, however, meant Lazarus would come back to life when He commanded him to come out of the grave.

What unique claim did Jesus make about Himself? V. 25: He claimed to be the resurrection (giving life to those who die physically) and the life (giving eternal life to those who believe). In verse 25, Jesus talked about first being “the resurrection” and then “the life.” Why is the order so important? Jesus wanted to make a spiritual point. From the human perspective we see: physical life—death—resurrection. But Jesus sees things differently: spiritual death—resurrection—spiritual life. Spiritual death is our natural condition apart from God. For us to have spiritual life, we must first be resurrected spiritually by entering into a personal relationship with God through Christ. What did Martha think it meant to believe in Jesus? V. 27: To believe that He was the Christ or Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament, and the Savior and Son of God.

Jesus is both God and human. Jesus had emotions. Which verse? John 11:28-37  28 And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31 When 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.  32 When 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.”  33 When 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. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 約 翰 福 音 11:28-37 28 马 大 说 了 这 话 ， 就 回 去 暗 暗 的 叫 他 妹 子 马 利 亚 ， 说 ： 夫 子 来 了 ， 叫 你 。 29 马 利 亚 听 见 了 ， 就 急 忙 起 来 ， 到 耶 稣 那 里 去 。 30 那 时 ， 耶 稣 还 没 有 进 村 子 ， 仍 在 马 大 迎 接 他 的 地 方 。 31 那 些 同 马 利 亚 在 家 里 安 慰 他 的 犹 太 人 ， 见 他 急 忙 起 来 出 去 ， 就 跟 着 他 ， 以 为 他 要 往 坟 墓 那 里 去 哭 。 32 马 利 亚 到 了 耶 稣 那 里 ， 看 见 他 ， 就 俯 伏 在 他 脚 前 ， 说 ： 主 阿 ， 你 若 早 在 这 里 ， 我 兄 弟 必 不 死 。 33 耶 稣 看 见 他 哭 ， 并 看 见 与 他 同 来 的 犹 太 人 也 哭 ， 就 心 里 悲 叹 ， 又 甚 忧 愁 ， 34 便 说 ： 你 们 把 他 安 放 在 那 里 ？ 他 们 回 答 说 ： 请 主 来 看 。 35 耶 稣 哭 了 。 36 犹 太 人 就 说 ： 你 看 他 爱 这 人 是 何 等 恳 切 。 37 其 中 有 人 说 ：他 既 然 开 了 瞎 子 的 眼 睛 ， 岂 不 能 叫 这 人 不 死 麽 ？ Jesus is both God and human. Jesus had emotions. Which verse?

John 11:38-45 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb John 11:38-45  38 Jesus, 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.”  40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I 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.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The 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.” 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 約 翰 福 音 11:38-44 38 耶 稣 又 心 里 悲 叹 ， 来 到 坟 墓 前 ； 那 坟 墓 是 个 洞 ， 有 一 块 石 头 挡 着 。 39 耶 稣 说 ： 你 们 把 石 头 挪 开 。 那 死 人 的 姐 姐 马 大 对 他 说 ： 主 阿 ， 他 现 在 必 是 臭 了 ， 因 为 他 死 了 已 经 四 天 了 。 40 耶 稣 说 ： 我 不 是 对 你 说 过 ， 你 若 信 ， 就 必 看 见 神 的 荣 耀 麽 ？ 41 他 们 就 把 石 头 挪 开 。 耶 稣 举 目 望 天 ， 说 ： 父 阿 ， 我 感 谢 你 ， 因 为 你 已 经 听 我 。 42 我 也 知 道 你 常 听 我 ， 但 我 说 这 话 是 为 周 围 站 着 的 众 人 ， 叫 他 们 信 是 你 差 了 我 来 。 43 说 了 这 话 ， 就 大 声 呼 叫 说 ： 拉 撒 路 出 来 ！44 那 死 人 就 出 来 了 ， 手 脚 裹 着 布 ， 脸 上 包 着 手 巾 。 耶 稣 对 他 们 说 ， 解 开 ， 叫 他 走 ！ 45 那 些 来 看 马 利 亚 的 犹 太 人 见 了 耶 稣 所 做 的 事 ， 就 多 有 信 他 的 ； video clip

How did Jesus respond to the suffering He saw in Mary and the other mourners? Vs. 33-35: He had compassion and deep concern. He wept out of a sense of loss and showed true love for the others present when He suffered with them. How did Martha reveal her disbelief in Jesus’ claim to be the resurrection and the life? V. 39: She did not think Jesus should open the tomb because Lazarus’s body was decomposing. She thought it impossible for Jesus to save her brother. Jesus wept. What do you think is the kind of love that Jesus had for Lazarus? Is it the same love that the Jews thought He had? Jesus had Godly love (αϒαπη) for Lazarus, but the Jews thought Jesus had only love as a friend (ϕιλεω) for Lazarus.

Why do you think Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead Why do you think Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? Explain your answer. V. 42: He raised Lazarus to bring glory to God so that people would see and believe that God the Father had sent Him, and they would put their faith in Him. Did the people expect Lazarus to be resurrected? Explain. They did not expect Lazarus to be resurrected. They knew Jesus was a great teacher and that He had power over sickness and nature, but they did not expect Him to restore life to Lazarus. How did Jesus’ actions affect many of the Jews present? V. 45: Many believed in Jesus. How do we know Lazarus’s resurrection actually happened? It was done in public. Many people saw it. Jesus spoke in a loud voice. They heard Him. They had to touch Lazarus to remove his grave clothes. They could see that he was alive and could touch him. He ate dinner with Jesus later (John 12:2).

Now we will split into discussion groups!

What titles did people use to address Jesus in this passage What titles did people use to address Jesus in this passage? Explain the meaning of each. Vs. 21, 27, 32, 34, 39: “Lord”: another name for master and ruler, a term of respect and reverence; v. 27: “The Christ”: the Messiah, anointed on (one chosen for a special purpose); v. 27: “The Son of God”: indicates that Jesus had the same character as God the Father, not that He was God’s biological offspring; v. 28: “Teacher”: one who reveals truth. Besides being physically dead, in what other ways can a person be “dead”? Does Jesus have power over these types of “death” as well? We can be alive physically but spiritually dead (without a relationship with God). We can also be emotionally dead (depressed or hurt), or intellectually dead (not thinking about important issues of life). Jesus is able to give all aspects of our lives meaning, purpose, and joy. He came to give us full life (John 10:10).

What evidence did Jesus give in John 11:17-45 for His claim to be “the resurrection and the life”? The physical resurrection of Lazarus. What kind of life does Jesus offer to each of us? Jesus offers an abundant, full life. It’s obvious that sin has created many deep problems in the world, but when we commit ourselves to be God’s followers, He gives us the power to cope with the difficult times we and others around us face. How do people receive the life that Jesus offers? Explain your answer. The abundant life Jesus offers is only available through faith—accepting and believing what Jesus has done for us. He died for our sins and rose from the dead so we can have eternal life (1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 4:9-10). Some religions teach reincarnation. That is a belief that after death a departed spirit returns to earth to the earth to live again in the form of another human or animal. The Bible teaches the opposite. See Hebrews 9:27 and Job 7:9-10.

What shall we pray for?