John 11:28-44


"When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, ‘The Teacher is here and is calling for you.’ And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?’ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out.’ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’" (John 11:28-44 ESV)


Jesus, Our Comforter in Times of Grief

In this passage, we see a powerful picture of Jesus as the Comforter. Both Mary and Martha are grieving the loss of their brother, Lazarus, and express their sorrow to Jesus. Mary falls at Jesus’ feet, saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” This statement reflects both her deep grief and her belief in Jesus’ power to heal. Jesus’ response is one of profound empathy—He is "deeply moved" and weeps with them. His tears show that He enters into our suffering and grief, and He is not distant from our pain.

Jesus doesn't just observe human suffering from a distance; He experiences it with us. This is part of the beauty of the Incarnation: Jesus, fully God and fully man, is able to sympathize with our weaknesses and sorrows. His weeping with Mary and the others shows His deep love for humanity and His personal care for each of us. In moments of deep pain and loss, we can draw near to Jesus, knowing He understands and shares in our grief, offering comfort through His presence and through the Holy Spirit.

Scriptures to Study:

Psalm 34:18, Hebrews 4:15-16, Isaiah 53:3-4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4


The Power of Belief in the Face of Death

When Jesus commands the stone to be rolled away, Martha hesitates, concerned about the physical reality that Lazarus has been dead for four days. Yet Jesus responds with a reminder of faith: “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” This statement challenges us to trust in God's power even when circumstances seem impossible. In our walk with Christ, there will be moments where our faith is tested by the seeming finality of a situation. Yet Jesus calls us to believe that no situation, not even death, is beyond His power.

The raising of Lazarus is a powerful testimony to Jesus' authority over life and death. It is not merely a miracle to comfort the grieving sisters but a profound revelation of Christ's divine authority. Lazarus' resurrection points us to the ultimate victory over death that Jesus will accomplish through His own death and resurrection. For disciples of Christ, this serves as a reminder that in Jesus we have eternal life, and that no matter what we face in this life—even death—we can trust in His power to bring life and hope.

Scriptures to Study:

John 5:24-25, Romans 8:11, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14


The Glory of God Revealed Through Christ

Jesus' prayer before raising Lazarus shows His perfect communion with the Father. He thanks God for always hearing Him and prays aloud so that the people around might believe that He was sent by God. This is crucial for our understanding of Christ's mission. The miracles of Jesus are not just displays of power, but revelations of God’s glory. They point to His divine nature and the reality that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, sent to redeem the world.

When Lazarus steps out of the tomb, the onlookers witness the undeniable power of God at work in Jesus. This miracle is a preview of the ultimate glory to be revealed in Christ's resurrection, where He conquers death once and for all. As believers, we are called to live in the light of this glory. Jesus has already won the victory over sin and death, and through Him, we too experience the newness of life. The glory of God is revealed not only in moments of miraculous intervention but also in the transformed lives of those who trust in Him.

Scriptures to Study:

John 17:1-5, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Philippians 3:10-11, Revelation 21:4


Summary of Key Points


Life Application Questions