Life beyond the grave

John 11

Here in John 11 we have a story that demonstrates to us in a practical way why Jesus came. It is a story that re-affirms John 10:10 “I am come that they might have life in abundance”.

This story deals with the heart of mankind and polarises those who believe in Christ the saviour and those who oppose him. The story clearly shows that it is possible to experience first hand the impossible, that is life raised from the dead and to believe or to experience second hand, by word of mouth and conclude that our experience and understanding of God is not as we assumed. Whether our experience of the power of God is first or second hand will determine our understanding of Jesus, either as the Son of God or if second hand it will cause us to question in ignorance why Christ came.

So lets start, Jesus and his disciples have just left Judea on account that the Jews were about to stone him, we can assume that they intended to kill him, not because of any miracle he did but because he had said that he and God the father were one being John 10:30.

What is interesting at the end of John 10:40-42 is that Jesus went to where John the baptist had been at the start of his ministry and we are told that Jesus remained there and that many believed the things that John had said about him were true, for it says “many believed in him there” John 10:42.

What we know about Jesus is that in his life and death mankind have been polarised by him, some believed, some didn’t. Those that believed were those that believed what he said about himself and God in heaven were true, that he and the father were one. We all have to come to this position of belief and when we do, it will revolutionise our lives, our thinking, our actions and our worship.

So at the beginning of this story we are just outside Bethany, a small town east of, and within walking distance from Jerusalem. By what we read we can assume that Jesus was going about his ministry, knowing that his time on earth was yet to be fulfilled, as we are told that many came to him there. He wasn’t in hiding as in John 11:3 we are told that Martha and Mary sent for him, they knew where he was. On hearing that the sisters have requested for him to attend their brother Lazarus who is really sick, he responds with assurance and confidence by saying “this illness will not lead to death, it is in order that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” If you remember when we looked at John 9 we discovered that Jesus had said a similar thing, a man sight restored in order that God should be glorified in him John 9:3.

What Jesus is demonstrating by his words here in John 11:4 is that nothing can stand in the way of us knowing him, not even death. At this point in history Jesus was about to demonstrate that life given by him (God) cannot be extinguished. Whilst all around him, especially those he loved, Martha, Mary and Lazarus, had given up all hope, he knew that eternal life was the key and he also knew that in real terms there could be no life outside of Gods great plan of life in God, a life without the constraints of time and space. In God there is always hope, do we believe in Him?

As we look into John 11:6-15 we find that Jesus does not respond immediately but stays in situ for another two days, he knows that this miracle is not about showing people that he has the power or ability (see Acts 1:8) to heal the sick only but also to show that the ultimate separation of death has no power or authority in God. He is also showing that the right time to do something is of absolute importance and in this instance he waits for two more days. The disciples who are with him object to him considering stepping back into Judea and putting himself and those who choose to go with him at risk. I wonder where we would stand on this point? Would we be prepared to follow Jesus into hostile territory and put our lives in danger or would we , like the disciples, raise an objection like they did “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you, are you going there again?” John 11:8. Are we putting obstacles in the way of God moving us in His direction, moving us to a place where we will witness great change and great blessing or are we demonstrating a zeal like Thomas the twin in John 11:16, “lets go too and die with Jesus”. Jesus clearly says to his disciples in response to the objection “whilst you have the daylight, walk in it” John 11:9. In other words Jesus is saying you stay with me, “I am the light of the world” John 8:12. We need to cultivate our lives so that we know and understand Gods timing.

When Jesus arrives in Bethany he finds that Lazarus had died and his body placed in a tomb and had been there for four days already. There ensues a conversation between Martha and Jesus which I think is worth looking at in. It is a conversation that deals with the reality of life even in death. Martha, who unlike her sister, was a person who was rather more “down to earth” and “matter of fact”.She appears to be less concerned that Lazarus, her brother had died and more concerned for her loss, probably due to the fact that her circumstances and quality of life were now going to be different as in Jewish culture Lazarus would have been the sister’s provider and protector. We don’t read that the sisters were married so can only assume they were still provided for by their birth family, of whom Lazarus was a key figure.

Martha’s conversation with Jesus in John 11:21 is one of desperation and “what are we going to do now” conversations. If we look closely at the Greek word that is used for “died” in this verse we find that she uses a word that shows exasperation, a word that indicates that she has failed to grasp that Jesus is life and that death has no hold. Martha's understanding of the situation was “well what are we going to now?” it was all about her. Incidentally the word she uses is the word ETETHNESKO which indicates separation or more precisely “doomed”.

Mary, on the other hand, uses the word APOTHNESKO, John 11:32, which was a word more commonly used to indicate separation of body and soul. Mary had found a deeper understanding of life that “life in Christ” or more precisely “life in God” was a constant experienced state not something that was obtained on death. Mary, it appears, was a lot less concerned about her situation and more concerned about the physical loss and sadness of her brother. There does not appear to be any tones of accusation or blame towards Jesus, just one of sadness that her brother had died. We also need to note at this point the difference in attitude, Martha came and immediately engages in a more confrontational way with Jesus John 11:32, whereas Mary came and fell at his feet John 11:32. Mary had understood and entered into an experience with Jesus that led her to be more at peace that her sister Martha, who by contrast, appears to be less at peace and therefore holding a weaker understanding and experience of Jesus “the resurrection and life”.

As we move through the story we find that some of the Jews, who had come to see the spectacle, yes it says they had come to comfort Martha and Mary, but by now their comfort had turned to cynicism and jest, John 11:37, and were saying could he (Jesus) not have intervened before it was too late. Even these Jews had failed to grasp the reality of life. The truth is that life is eternal and that death has no hold when we enter into and believe that Jesus is the resurrection and life and that any kind of life outside of this existence and experience is doomed rather than fulfilled..

In John 11:39-40 we still find Martha protesting and Jesus reminding her that if only she would believe she would see the glory of God.

What does it take for us to let go all of our gathered human thinking and perceptions in order for us to believe and accept by faith that Jesus is life and that anything outside of that which we think is life is in fact death. Mary had come to this place where as Martha had not, they both had the same opportunity, yet one still wanted control of her life while the other had abandoned control and found that her life was “hid with Christ in God” Colossians 3:1-4.

It was Mary’s life and humility that is recorded in John 11:45 where we read that “many of the Jews which came with Mary and seen the things that Jesus did, believed on him.”

I hope and pray that this will be our experience, that we come to Christ knowing that when we abandon our life to his omnipotence we then truly begin to live, and the quality of that renewed life is the experience that draws people to God.