Text: John 11:38-44, Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead
Learning Objectives: The resurrection of Lazarus symbolically foreshadows Jesus’ own resurrection, and those who witness the miracle are invited to see reality the way God sees it.
Know: The mystery of Jesus’ resurrection creates a pathway to full and lasting life.
Feel: Jesus sees and calls each person by name. This may lead one to feel seen, valued, and hopeful.
Do: Pray a daily prayer to “behold” Jesus this week and track its impact.
*For this week, you will need: one Bible per person, participant’s guides, leader’s guide, audio speakers, access to “It’s Alright (For Lazarus) by Peter Furler Band
Introduction (15 minutes)
Icebreaker Question: Do people usually get your name right (the pronunciation or spelling?)
Pray Together - How can the group pray for each person today? Spend a few minutes praying for what is shared and invite the Holy Spirit to direct your discussion.
Observation of the text (20 minutes)
*Note: In this section, make observations and comparisons within the text. Resist the urge to interpret or speculate (that’s the next section)!
Introduce the text text:
Each Gospel is a unique portrait of Jesus. We are reading from the Gospel of John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples. It’s the fourth Gospel in the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, then John).
This story (John 11:38-44) takes place in the town of Bethany, close to Jerusalem where Jesus is going to be arrested in just a few weeks. In the previous section (John 11:1-37), John tells us that Jesus’ friends, Mary and Martha, send word that their brother Lazarus is sick. We learn that Jesus is very close with this family, and even though the Jewish religious leaders in that region want to kill him, he and his disciples set out for the home of Mary and Martha.
When Jesus arrives, he learns that Lazarus died four days ago. Both Martha and Mary go out to meet Jesus on the road, along with a group of Jews who are there to mourn with them. Jesus is brought to the tomb where Lazarus’ body lies, and there he weeps. The people speculate about who Jesus is. Some are moved by his love for Lazarus; others blame Jesus for not coming sooner to heal Lazarus before he died.
Here's where we pick up the story.
Read John 11:38-44 aloud together. Pay close attention to who is present and what they are doing.
Who are the main characters? Who else is present?
Jesus, Martha, and Lazarus. Others present: Mary, “they” (the people standing there, the people who rolled away the stone), the Jews who came to mourn with Martha and Mary, Jesus’ disciples, and the Father
What happens? What are the main actions?
Summary: Jesus approaches the tomb, instructs people to remove the stone, Martha protests, Jesus responds to her and prays to the Father aloud, they remove the stone, Jesus calls Lazarus out, Lazarus walks out wearing grave clothes
What does the narrator call Lazarus?
“The dead man” (v. 30 and 44)
Who calls Lazarus by name?
Jesus is the only one who calls Lazarus by his name (which means “whom God helps”)
Divide into two groups and report back
Group A: In verse 40, Jesus says to Martha, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” When did Jesus talk to Martha about believing him? Read John 11:21-27. Describe the scene.
Martha tells Jesus that he could have prevented Lazarus’ death if he had come earlier. Jesus says he will rise again, and Martha thinks he’s talking about the final resurrection “at the last day.” Jesus says, “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” Martha says she believes Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
Group B: Read John 20:1-10. What is similar about the resurrection of Lazarus and the resurrection of Jesus? What is different?
Similarities: Jesus and Lazarus are both buried in a tomb; both have been wrapped in linen and a head covering
Differences: Jesus is outside the tomb and his grave clothes are folded; Lazarus is inside the tomb and he comes out still covered in the grave clothes
Interpreting Observations (30 minutes)
Verse 38 describes Jesus as “deeply moved.” Other Bible translations say Jesus was “angry” or “disturbed.” The original word (in Greek) means “to snort with anger” or “to be moved with indignation.” How does this definition change your understanding of Jesus’ reaction to Lazarus’ death? Why is Jesus angry? What may be causing his indignation or disturbance?
Who is Jesus angry at? Could he be angry at Death itself? Perhaps humans were not originally created for death. Death holds us hostage. There is more going on beneath the surface of this story.
Why is it significant that Jesus calls Lazarus by name?
Death doesn’t know our true name. Jesus sees and knows us intimately. God knows who we really are and calls us from death into life.
How might Lazarus have felt to return to his body and walk out from the tomb?
Disoriented? Bewildered? Sad? Happy?
Is the resurrection of Lazarus permanent? What will happen as his body ages?
Someday, Lazarus is going to die again. Everything in this physical world is temporary—even miraculous healing.
Elsewhere in scripture, Jesus is described as “the firstborn from among the dead” (Colossians 1:18). Here, we read that Lazarus was raised from the dead, too. How is Jesus’ resurrection different?
Lazarus’ resurrection is a symbolic foreshadowing of something greater to come. Jesus links his resurrection to “the glory of God” (Colossians 1:25-26, 40). The glory of God is revealed through the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus walks right through death into resurrection life so that we can follow him there. Jesus gets through the dead end of death—something we could not do alone.
Personal Application (25 minutes)
Listen to this song together: “It’s Alright (For Lazarus) by Peter Furler Band
It's alright
The echo of the veil torn
Is louder than your sisters' mourn
And the Spirit's wind...
It blows across the last divide
A ferry back to our side
The bitter and the sweet collide
And now everything's changed
So it's alright
You can open your eyes now
And through the shroud
Hear my voice
Over the crowd
This is not for you
But if you knew
All it will signify
You'd know why
I cry
I cry
Breathe in
Hear your heart beat again
Feel the rags fall away
Touch your skin
I know you didn't ask for this
It doesn't even feel like home
But now that you're completely
Known
Lift up your head
And when it's time to leave again
You'll be more than ready to
'Cause this time when you leave, my
Friend
Be there to welcome you
This song imagines Jesus singing to Lazarus. What thoughts or emotions come to the surface as you listen?
The narrator refers to Lazarus as “the dead man” but Jesus calls Lazarus by name. Are there any areas of your life that feel dead or entombed? Imagine Jesus saying your name, calling you towards him, into life. What do you feel? How might that look like in your situation?
Martha, Lazarus, and the others were given a tangible experience of the glory of God. They are beginning to see deep mysteries of the eternally good God showing up in their own lives. Consider praying this prayer for the next seven days and track how it impacts you:
“Lord Jesus, you are the eternally good God. I give your Spirit permission to rewire my brain so that I may see the glory of the Father. Show me the lens through which you see the world. Give me a glimpse of resurrection life—life set right in your kingdom. Let me behold your majesty and be transformed by what I witness. Amen.”
Pray Together (perhaps using the prayer above)
Questions for further thought…
There is so much in this story. You could spend a second week here if you wanted to!
Questions about The Father
According to Jesus, what does the Father do (v. 41-42)?
Heard Jesus, always hears Jesus, sent Jesus
Jesus wants Martha, the Jews, and the disciples to believe that the Father sent him (v. 42). Why? Why does the narrator want readers (us) to know that the Father sent Jesus?
The Father is part of the redemption plan for creation. Jesus is revealing God’s heart for the world.
Questions about Martha’s Perspective
How do you think Martha felt when Jesus instructed the stone to be moved away?
Confused? Disturbed? Unsettled? Irritated? Hopeful?
What does it mean to see the “glory of God”? The Greek word for “glory” has three main definitions:
opinion, judgement, or view;
splendour or brightness (of stars, angels, or the perfection of God);
and a most glorious condition or exalted state (of God, the risen Christ, and resurrected humans in heaven).
Considering these definitions of glory, how else might we interpret Jesus’ words: “If you believe, you will see the glory of God”?
“If you believe me, you will know the views of God.”
“If you believe me, you will behold the majesty of God.”
“If you believe me, you will experience the glorious condition of God the Father in heaven.”
Martha believes Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, but she doesn’t yet understand what that means. What might God be teaching Martha in this story?
Martha thinks Jesus is going to uncover the corpse of her beloved brother. She doesn’t have a mental script for what is about to happen. She doesn’t understand how Jesus sees the world. Perhaps God is expanding her imagination and capacity to recognize the glory and mystery of God.
Is it possible to believe Jesus is who he says he is and not understand him or recognize him in action?
Yes! We don’t have a mental model for the ways of God and his Kingdom. We can believe Jesus and also not understand what he’s like, what his values are, or what he is doing. Belief is meant to lead us to follow Jesus, who transforms our thinking and living.
What can we do to see what God is doing (in scripture and in our own lives) and be transformed in our thinking and living?
Approach God with humility and curiosity. Prayerfully read scripture with humility and curiosity. Trust that God is working on deeper levels than our awareness goes.
