“A Journey with John” Day 20: Good news and a plot (John 11:20-57)

Last time, Jesus received bad news from Mary and Martha that their brother, Lazarus, is very ill. Jesus didn’t seem to be upset, indicating that this illness would not result in death, but that He could be glorified through it. Then, the next thing we hear is that Lazarus has died! We left the scene as Jesus and His disciples arrived in Bethany, where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus live.

Before heading out on today’s adventure with our guide, let’s see the new people to whom we were introduced last time:

>Martha - Friend of Jesus and sister to Mary and Lazarus

>Mary - Friend of Jesus and sister to Martha and Lazarus

>Lazarus - Jesus’ sick friend and brother to Mary and Martha

Now, let’s head out with our guide to see how this terrible news, suddenly becomes good news:

When Martha hears that Jesus has arrived in Bethany, she runs to meet him outside the town. When Martha sees Jesus, she expresses how much she wished He had been there so that her brother, Lazarus, would not have died. Jesus tells her that even though he’s dead, he will rise again. Martha apparently thinks that He’s talking about in the Last Days when the dead in Christ are raised up in the resurrection. Jesus informs her that He is the resurrection and the life and that whoever believes in Him, though they die, they will live. As well, those who live and believe in Him, will never die. When he asks if she believes this, she says that she believes that He is the Christ, the Son of God Who was to come. Having said this, she runs to tell Mary secretly that Jesus is asking for her. When Mary hears this from Martha, she immediately gets up to go out. At this, the Jews there mourning with her, think that she is going to the tomb to mourn. When Mary sees Jesus, she says the same thing about wishing that He had been there so that Lazarus would not have died. Then she falls at Jesus’ feet crying. Jesus, seeing her and all the other people crying, becomes very troubled and asks to go where Lazarus is laid. Then Jesus also starts crying! When they get to the tomb, Jesus asks them to roll back the stone, but Martha protests, saying that there will be a very bad odor. Jesus insists they do so, and calls for Lazarus to come out of the tomb. Surely enough, Lazarus comes out of the tomb with the grave clothes still wrapped around him. Jesus then tells the people to go and untie him. News of what Jesus has done gets back to the religious leaders. They are worried that if Jesus keeps doing these miraculous things, the Romans may come and take away their temple and their country. Caiphas pronounces that it would be better for one man to die than the rest of them all to die. Our guide tells us that being the high priest for that year, Caiphas says this prophetically, that Jesus will die for the nation. And not for that nation alone, but for the children of God spread all over the world. Jesus, knowing that they are now plotting to kill Him, goes to Ephraim with His disciples. As we leave the scene, the people who have gone ahead to Jerusalem to purify themselves before the Passover, are wondering whether Jesus will come or not. The religious leaders have declared that if anyone sees Jesus, they should report Him so that He can be arrested.

Our highlighted verses for today:

“Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death. And the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went from the country up to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves. Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a command, that if anyone knew where He was, he should report it, that they might seize Him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭20‬-‭21‬, ‭23‬-‭26‬, ‭32‬-‭35‬, ‭39‬-‭40‬, ‭42‬-‭44‬, ‭47‬, ‭49‬-‭53‬, ‭55‬, ‭57‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for reflection:

What does it mean that Caiphas said this as the high priest for that year?

Next time, our guide is going to take us to see what that anointing of Jesus’ feet is all about.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!