The revelation of the resurrection and the life 11:17-29The scene now shifts from the region near Bethany of Perea (John 1:28; John 10:40) to the Bethany in Judea. Both towns became sites where people believed on Jesus. read more
Jesus proceeded to make another of His "I am" claims. He meant that He would personally effect resurrection and provide eternal life (cf. John 5:21; John 5:25-29). He wanted Martha to think about the Person who would do the resurrecting rather than the event. Jesus raises people to life just as He satisfies people as bread and is, therefore, the essential element in resurrection. Without Him there is no resurrection or life. This was really a double claim. Jesus meant that He was the... read more
Christ the Resurrection and the Life1-44. The raising of Lazarus. The last and greatest of the seven ’signs’ recorded in this Gospel is related with such photographic minuteness of detail, that it is clear that the evangelist was present. Three points about it are specially noteworthy: (1) that it was a physical miracle, which no ingenuity can reduce to a case of faith-healing; (2) that it was definitely worked to produce faith in Christ (John 11:42); (3) that more than any other miracle it was... read more
(25) I am the resurrection, and the life.—She has spoken of the resurrection as a truth which she believes, and as an event in the far-off future, so remote from the present life indeed, as to be powerless to comfort her now. The two first words of His answer, expressed in the fulness of emphasis, teach her that the resurrection is to be thought of as His person, and that it is to be thought of as actually present. “I,”—his words mean—“and none beside Me, am the Resurrection. I am the... read more
Bethany John 11:1 One of Robert McCheyne's sayings is still remembered in Collace (the scene of the early ministry of Dr. Andrew Bonar): 'Bethany was known in Scripture not so much as Bethany, but as the town of Mary and her sister Martha'. I wonder who in this place gives the name by which it is known in heaven? It will not be known there as Collace, but as the town of perhaps some bedridden believer up in the hills. Reminiscences of Dr. Andrew Bonar, p. 8. References. XI. 1. Expositor (4th... read more
Chapter 23JESUS THE RESURRECTION AND LIFE.“Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, of the village of Mary and her sister Martha. And it was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. The sisters therefore sent unto Him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom Thou lovest is sick. But 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. Now Jesus... read more
CHAPTER 11 1. The Sickness of Lazarus Announced. (John 11:1-4 .) 2. The Delayed Departure and the Death of Lazarus. (John 11:5-16 .) 3. The Arrival at Bethany. (John 11:17-27 .) 4. Weeping with Them That Weep. (John 11:28-38 .) 5. The Resurrection of Lazarus. (John 11:39-46 .) 6. The Prophecy of Caiaphas. (John 11:47-52 .) 7. Seeking to Kill Him. (John 11:53-57 .) The resurrection of Lazarus is the final great sign or miracle in this Gospel. It is the greatest Of all. Some critics have... read more
THE DEATH OF LAZARUS (vs.1-27) The raising of Lazarus in this chapter is a striking witness to the fact that the plotting of the Jews to kill the Lord Jesus was vanity; for He Himself is superior to death. Since He is able to raise Lazarus, then supposing they do kill the Lord, He will rise again. Besides this, the eternal life with which His sheep are blessed, given them on the basis of the sacrifice of Himself, the Good Shepherd, is here clearly implied to be resurrection life, a life... read more
FEAST OF THE DEDICATION The Feast of the Dedication took place midway between that of the Tabernacles and the Passover, or some time corresponding to our December or January. It is mentioned nowhere else in the Bible, and it is not positively known just what it commemorated. Where Jesus had been in the meantime is not revealed except that it is not stated that He returned to Galilee. We dwell on this period to call attention to the same features as in the previous one, viz: the putting... read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 11:1-44
1. The seventh sign: raising Lazarus 11:1-44Jesus had presented Himself as the Water of Life, the Bread of Life, and the Light of Life. Now He revealed Himself as the resurrection and the life. This was the seventh and last of Jesus’ miraculous signs that John recorded, and it was the most powerful revelation of His true identity. [Note: See Edersheim, 2:308.] It shows Jesus’ authority over humankind’s greatest and last enemy: death. Some scholars view Jesus’ resurrection as one of His signs.... read more