PREFINAL

MODULE 8
THE RESSURECTION OF LAZARUS

MOST ESSENTIAL LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Exhibit understanding and analyze biblical narrative accounts
• To apply the skills of contextual exegesis of the text
• To make certain applications from the text into real life experience
• To write a reflection essay based on the reading assignment

INTRODUCTION

This module is a collection of stories of Jesus’ miracles. It explores the significance of these
signs to the personhood and identity of Jesus. A narrative analysis is done to exegete the
implications of these accounts. It also encourages the learner to make applications to real life
experiences.

LESSON INPUTS

Resurrecting Lazarus (John 9)

Narrative outline:

I. The Death of Lazarus (11:1 – 16)

11:1 One Lazarus - It is probable, Lazarus was younger than his sisters. Bethany is named,
the town of Mary and Martha, and Lazarus is mentioned after them, 11:5. Ecclesiastical history
informs us, that Lazarus was now thirty years old, and that he lived thirty years after Christ's
ascension.
11:2 It was that Mary who afterward anointed, &c. She was more known than her elder sister
Martha, and as such is named before her.
11:4 This sickness is not to death, but for the glory of God - The event of this sickness will
not be death, in the usual sense of the word, a final separation of his soul and body; but a
manifestation of the glorious power of God.
11:7 Let us go into Judea - From the country east of Jordan, whither he had retired some
time before, when the Jews sought to stone him, 10:39 ,40.
11:9 Are there not twelve hours in the day? - The Jews always divided the space from
sunrise to sunset, were the days longer or shorter, into twelve parts: so that the hours of their
day were all the year the same in number, though much shorter in winter than in summer. If
any man walk in the day he stumbleth not - As if he had said, So there is such a space, a
determined time, which God has allotted me. During that time I stumble not, amidst all the
snares that are laid for me. Because he seeth the light of this world - And so I see the light of
God surrounding me.
11:10 But if a man walk in the night - If he have not light from God; if his providence does no
longer protect him.
11:11 Our friend Lazarus sleepeth - This he spoke, just when he died. Sleepeth - Such is the
death of good men in the language of heaven.But the disciples did not yet understand this
language. And the slowness of our understanding makes the Scripture often descend to our
barbarous manner of speaking.
11:16 Thomas in Hebrew, as Didymus in Greek, signifies a twin.With him - With Jesus, whom
he supposed the Jews would kill.It seems to be the language of despair.

II. Jesus Comes to Bethany (11:17 – 37)

11:20 Mary sat in the house - Probably not hearing what was said.
11:22 Whatsoever thou wilt ask, God will give it thee - So that she already believed he could
raise him from the dead.
11:25 l am the resurrection - Of the dead. And the life - Of the living. He that believeth in me,
though he die, yet shall he live - In life everlasting.
11:32 She fell at his feet - This Martha had not done. So she makes amends for her slowness
in coming.
11:33 He groaned - So he restrained his tears. So he stopped them soon after,
11:38 He troubled himself - An expression amazingly elegant, and full of the Highest propriety.
For the affections of Jesus were not properly passions, but voluntary emotions, which were
wholly in his own power. And this tender trouble which he now voluntarily sustained, was full of
the highest order and reason.
11:35 Jesus wept - Out of sympathy with those who were in tears all around him, as well as
from a deep sense of the misery sin had brought upon human nature.
11:37 Could not this person have even caused, that this man should not have died? - Yet they
never dreamed that he could raise him again! What a strange mixture of faith and unbelief.

III. Lazarus is Raised to Life (11:38 – 44)

11:38 It was a cave - So Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and their wives, except Rachel, were
buried in the cave of Machpelah, Genesis 49:29 - 31. These caves were commonly in rocks,
whichabounded in that country, either hollowed by nature or hewn by art. And the entrance
was shut up with a great stone, which sometimes had a monumental inscription.
11:39 Lord, by this time he stinketh - Thus did reason and faith struggle together.
11:40 Said I not - It appears by this, that Christ had said more to Martha than is before
recorded.
11:41 Jesus lifted up his eyes - Not as if he applied to his Father for assistance. There is not
the least show of this. He wrought the miracle with an air of absolute sovereignty, as the Lord
of life and death. But it was as if he had said, I thank thee, that by the disposal of thy
providence, thou hast granted my desire, in this remarkable opportunity of exerting my power,
and showing forth thy praise.
11:43 He cried with a loud voice - That all who were present might hear. Lazarus, come forth -
Jesus called him out of the tomb as easily as if he had been not only alive, but awake also.
11:44 And he came forth bound hand and foot with grave clothes - Which were wrapt round
each hand and each foot, and his facewas wrapt about with a napkin - If the Jews buried as
the Egyptians did, the face was not covered with it, but it only went round the forehead, and
under the chin; so that he might easily see his way.
IV. The Sanhedrin Plots to Kill Jesus (11:45 – 57)

11:45 Many believed on Him - And so the Son of God was glorified, according to what our
Lord had said, 11:4 .
11:46 But some of them went to the Pharisees - What a dreadful confirmation of that weighty
truth, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose
from the dead!
11:47 What do we? - What? Believe. Yea, but death yields to the power of Christ sooner than
infidelity.
11:48 All men will believe - And receive him as the Messiah. And this will give such umbrage
to the Romans that they will come and subvert both our place - Temple; and nation - Both our
Church and state. Were they really afraid of this? Or was it a fair colour only? Certainly it was
no more. For they could not but know, that he that raised the dead was able to conquer the
Romans.
11:49 That year - That memorable year, in which Christ was to die.It was the last and chief of
Daniel's seventy weeks, the fortieth year before the destruction of Jerusalem, and was
celebrated for various causes, in the Jewish history. Therefore that year is so peculiarly
mentioned: Caiaphas was the high priest both before and after it. Ye know nothing - He
reproves their slow deliberations in so clear a case.
11:50 It is expedient that one man should die for the people - So God overruled his tongue, for
he spake not of himself, by his own spirit only, but by the spirit of prophecy. And thus he gave
unawares as clear a testimony to the priestly, as Pilate did to the kingly office of Christ.
11:52 But that, he might gather into one - Church, all the children of God that were scattered
abroad - Through all ages and nations.
11:55 Many went up to purify themselves - That they might remove all hinderances to their
eating the Passover.

This module is a collection of stories of Jesus’

miracles. It explores the significance of these signs Main Idea:
to the personhood and identity of Jesus. Narrative Jesus makes a declaration of
analysis is done to exegete the implications of these Himself as God. (I am the
resurrection and the life). Gives
accounts. It also encourages the learner to make
proof and evidence to his claim.
applications to real-life experiences Witnesses are given the chance
to believe what they have seen
SUMMARY and they have the choice to
• Miracles are supernatural occurrences that reject the proof in front of their
prove the divinity of Jesus. eyes.
• Miracles are signs done by Jesus to affect .
the witness to convey belief.
• Miracles though not to be considered
normative, are still signs of the inauguration of God’s Kingdom.

REFERENCE:
 Garland, D. E., Wilkins, M. J., Burge, G. M., Fernando, A., & Bock, D. L. (2015). NIVAC Bundle 6:
Gospels, Acts. Retrieved from https://www.overdrive.com/search?q=5B178E8D-83DA-4A13-B117-
53217C125776
The new international commentary on the New Testament (Book, 1974) [WorldCat.org]. (n.d.). Retrieved
July 17, 2019, from https://www.worldcat.org/title/new-international-commentary-on-the-new-
testament/oclc/44641603&referer=brief_results
Zondervan Bible Publishers (Grand Rapids, Mich. ). (2017). Holy Bible: New International Version.
(Berlin, 1983)

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