2BC BIBLE STUDY NOTES
Wednesday in the Word
Second Baptist Church
November 5, 2025
John 11
Introduction: The seasoned saints used to sing, “There are something I may not know and there are some places that I can’t go, but I am sure of this one thing that God is real, for I can in my soul.” You must believe that God can do anything that he says he can do. God specializes in major miracles just to show off what he can do, so that God can get glory. Do you know that God really wants to get glory out of your life?
Verses 1-3. In the opening verses we are introduced to three of the main characters in this chapter, Lazarus and his two sisters Mary and Martha. We are told that Lazarus lives in Bethany and is very sick. His sisters sent word to Jesus, that the “one you love” is sick. We are also told that Mary is the one who poured perfume on the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. These facts help the reader understand that Jesus has a special relationship with this family and there was an expectation that he would come quickly due to the sickness of Lazarus and his relationship with the family. Jesus has performed miracles for people that he had no relationship with on a natural level, surely, he would perform a miracle for someone that he had a good relationship. What are some expectations we have when we call on the Lord?
Verse 4. Jesus received word that Lazarus was sick and declares that his sickness will not end in death, but it is for God’s glory so that the God’s son might be glorified through it.” Jesus says that Lazarus died so God could get glory. Jesus was saying this situation did not just happen. There is a reason. Beloved God always has a plan. Nothing just happens. God reminds us again that his plan is bigger than our understanding. His plan is greater than our comprehension. Jesus was telling his disciples that this moment in the life of Lazarus was designed to bring glory to God. God can use the most difficult and trying moments in our lives to draw us closer to him and help us see how powerful and mighty the Lord is. Nothing just happens. Everything happens for a reason, and for the believer, everything happens for us to be used by God in a more wonderful and powerful way. God knows exactly what God is doing. The Lord was using the death of Lazarus to show those around what he could do. Nothing just happens.
Verses 5-7. Verse 5 reiterates that Jesus loved this family, but when he heard the news about Lazarus being sick, Jesus chose to remain where he was for 2 more days before going to see his sick friend. This delay in leaving reminds us that God does not move on our schedule. We must believe that God does not always rnove when we ask, but when the time is just right. Verses 6-7 shows that Jesus did not come when the sisters Mary and Martha told him that Lazarus was sick. Scholars agree that the messengers took about a day to reach Jesus with the news, and Lazarus probably died shortly after the messengers left. Jesus waited two more days after he got the message and then it took him a day to get to the village where Lazarus lived. Jesus waited and prolonged his return, because he moves on his time not ours. We need to be sensitive to the timing of God. We can’t rush God. We must be patient and believe that God has everything under control. Jesus waited to respond to the request of Mary and Martha.
Verses 8-16. When Jesus told his disciples that they needed to return to Judea, his disciples reminded him that certain people wanted to stone him, and it would be dangerous. Jesus reminded his disciples of the importance of his work and mission. After he said that he told them that he had to go because his friend Lazarus was asleep and he needed to wake him up. His disciples assumed when Jesus referred to Lazarus as sleeping he meant that he was resting and getting better. Jesus quickly corrected them and said he was dead. Jesus also declares that Lazarus died so that people would believe in Jesus. Jesus is making it clear that the situation of Lazarus was designed to get maximum glory and lead people to believe and put their faith in Christ. A disciple named Thomas was not so keen on the idea of returning to Judea because of the threats that were made and the possibility of being killed.
Verses 17-19. We learn that Lazarus has been dead for 4 days. The family had the funeral and placed him in a tomb. The sisters requested Jesus to come and heal their brother, but Jesus was too late for a healing. Jesus is going to answer a request that they didn’t know he could do. Lazarus is dead and a large group of people have come to mourn his death. This is due to the proximity of Bethany to Jerusalem. By this time, many arrived to mourn with the family. This is an important point. If Jesus arrived earlier the crowd would not have been there. Jesus deliberately waits for the witnesses to be at the maximum amount. The situation has gone from bad to worse and the number of people in attendance has grown from a few to many. Can you believe when things have gone from bad to worse and everyone knows? God wants some witnesses to your blessing so you can’t hide who delivered you and blessed you.
Verses 20-22. When Jesus got close to the city, only one of the two sisters came out to meet him. Martha goes out to meet Jesus while Mary stayed at home. Martha greets Jesus with the accusation that he was late and if he was on time her brother would be alive. She is human and her heart is broken. It is okay to be hurl but don’t accuse God of neglect. God has not forgotten about us, we just don’t understand his timing. Martha is hurt, but she still has faith. In verse 22, she states that “even now, God will give you whatever you ask.” This is a faith statement. And at some point, we need to have an “even now” kind of faith. Even when I can’t see how this could work or turn around, I still believe. Martha was upset too, but she still had faith in Jesus. Can you be upset and still have faith in God? Can you be hurt and still believe? Can you be disappointed and still trust in the Lord?
Verses 23-27. Jesus responded to Martha by telling her that Her brother would rise again. She assumed Jesus was referring to the afterlife, but Jesus emphatically declares he is referring to Lazarus rising from the dead. Jesus asked Martha if she believed in Jesus, and she declared that she did. Martha said she believed that “Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of God, who is come into the World.” She made a faith statement that many of Jesus close disciples did not fully believe yet. Martha has demonstrated extraordinary faith despite her pain. She has faith and her situation has not changed.
Verses 28-31. After Martha speaks with Jesus, she went home to inform her sister that Jesus was on his way. Mary and those who were mourning with her left the house and went to Jesus. The people with Mary assumed she was going to the tomb to mourn.
Verses 32-37. When Mary reached Jesus, she said the same thing Martha initially said about him not coming in time to save their brother. She was weeping and the others with her were weeping as well. Jesus was moved by their weeping. Jesus asked them where they put the body of Lazarus. They led Jesus to the tomb, and Jesus wept. The weeping of Jesus has many levels; on one level he wept at the death of Lazarus and on another level he is weeping: the people don’t know that he has the power to raise Lazarus from the dead. Instead of greeting Jesus with hope and expectation, Jesus was greeted with dismay and despair. Of course, people in the crowd were talking like people do at funerals. Some were amazed at his love for Lazarus and others were gossiping about him being days late for his friend.
Verses 38-40. When Jesus arrived at the tomb, he told the men to take away the stone that was in front of the tomb. Jesus tells them to do their part in this miracle. They put the stone there and they had the power to remove it. Jesus wants them to do the part they had power to change and let him do the part that they could not do. Martha interjected that it might be a bad idea to open the tomb because the body would have a bad odor at this point. Jesus responded by stating something awesome was about to happen. Sometimes we put limitations on what the Lord can do.
Verses 41-45. When the men took the stone away, Jesus looks up and prays that those around him would believe. Jesus let us know that the situation was designed to get many to believe in who he was. Miracles are designed to help people put their faith in God. Jesus calls Lazarus by his name and tells him to come out. Lazarus walks out still bound in his ceremonial grave clothes. Jesus tells the crowd to take the clothes off and set him free. Many believed what Jesus did and put their faith in him.
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