Bible study notes - Jesus raises Lazarus

Bible study notes - Jesus raises Lazarus

Bible study notes - Jesus raises Lazarus

John 11:38ff

Sunday, January 6, 2017

Martha Believes

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.  39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.   40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

It is not Martha’s faith that will accomplish the resurrection of Lazarus.  The Word of Jesus will accomplish this miracle.  Martha’s faith, however, will acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God and the miracle is the work of God.  Martha does believe.  Martha will confess her belief after the miracle.

Lazarus has been in the tomb four days.  Spices and wraps may delay but will not prevent decomposition of his body.  The smell is from the decomposition.  Thus, Lazarus is dead.  There is no room for a swoon theory (he was unconscious until he woke up in the tomb but never dead) or a theft theory (someone stole the body) and other theories to calm our inquiring minds.  

Jesus Prays

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.  42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

Lifting up eye during in prayer is an enduring posture throughout the ages.  Even Hollywood depicts this prayer posture.  It is as common as looking down with closed eyes.  Prayer begins with faith and ends in faith.  Jesus thanks His Father for listening.  He praises His Father because His Father always listens to Jesus.  However, Jesus ask His Father to raise Lazarus from the dead.  The Father sent Jesus for this purpose: that many believe the Jesus is the Son of God and that by believing they might have life in His name.  Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.  Jesus was sent by His Father to do this for all people, even if all people do not receive it.

Many Believe in Jesus

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.  44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.  45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.

It is not the volume of Jesus’ voice that raises Lazarus.  It is the voice.  God voiced, Let there be light and there was light.  Here God voices Lazarus, come forth and he that was dead came forth.  The voice did it.  The Word of God did it.

The same is true for us in Holy Baptism.  All people are spiritual dead to the Lord.  We can do nothing from our own strength to have eternal.  So also Lazarus could do nothing from his own strength to regain his life.  However, in both cases Jesus speaks.  The Word is spoken and Lazarus is alive.  The Word is spoken in Holy Baptism and you are alive.  

Lazarus comes out of the tomb.  Generally, when we think that someone is mummified we think of Egyptian mummies.  The Israelites did not bury their dead in the same manner as the Egyptians.  Lazarus was able to stand up and walk.  (Albeit not very well).

Loose him.  It is a phrase that is also used of unbelief.  Forgiveness from God is the loosing of the cords of death from sinners.  Martha’s friends are loosing the burial cloths from Lazarus.  Once loose, sins and burial cloths drop off.  And let him go.

What is the effect?  Many believed in Jesus.

The Council does not Believe

46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done.  47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.  48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.  

Some of them that believed that Jesus was the Son of God told the religious leaders.  They see Jesus as a dangerous false teacher.  A teacher who does many miracles.  A blasphemous prophet who is stealing the faith of the people.  They see Jesus as a threat, therefore, to the people and to the nation.

The High Priest’s Prophecy

49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.  51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.   53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

Caiaphas, motivated by evil, speaks the Word of God.  He is correct.  It is expedient that Jesus be the atoning sacrifice for your sins.  Jesus will gather together in one the children of God.  Jesus will accomplish this to the glory of God even though Caiaphas does believe that Jesus is the Savior.

Jesus Is Quiet

54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.  

Jesus will act at the proper time.

The Lord’s Passover Draws Near

55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.  56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?  57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him. (Jn. 11:38-57 KJV)

This takes place just before Holy Week.  Many travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the Lord’s Passover.  The ecclesiastical leaders are seeking to kill Jesus.  The people are wondering:  Will Jesus observe the Lord’s Passover when power people seek to kill Him, or not?

And that will be our question next week.

If you want to do some homework, read John chapter twelve.

But most importantly, receive the forgiveness of your sins by faith in Jesus.

Isaiah 61 - Notes

Isaiah 61 - Notes

Isaiah 61 - Notes

Jesus is the Head of His Church

Chapter 60 was about the kingdom of Christ and the rule of His church.  Chapter 61 is about the head of His church and His kingdom who is Christ Himself.  This text is the text of Christ’s first sermon which is recorded in Luke 4:18.  This text is fulfilled at that time.  It answers: Who is the Christ?  What are His tasks?  The Romans teach Christ as a stern judge.  The Evangelicals teach Christ as a kind friend.

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

Christ is not flesh whereas all people are flesh (Genesis 6:3 - My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh).  The Holy Spirit is upon Christ.  Christ does not come because He wills it, but He is sent by the Father.

because the LORD has anointed me

From anointed we get the Hebrew word Messiah and the Greek word Christ.  Both Messiah and Christ mean anointed.  Jesus is anointed by someone before He comes to us.  This is a spiritual anointing by the Father with the Holy Spirit.  It is not physical.  Jesus will not come armed or wealthy.

to bring good news

Who is Christ?  He is a servant, messenger, an apostle (which means Sent). The Preacher.  The Evangelist.  He is the One who is the bringer of God’s Word.

to the poor;

The afflicted ones.  In the Scriptures, the poor/afflicted are the poor and distress.  The Hopeless.  Matthew 11:5, the poor have good news preached to them.

he has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
This is what Christ does…He is not a judge or a teacher of the Law, but He does the opposite: He heals, He consoles, He frees us from these evils (1 Corinthians 15:56 depicts the three wounds - Law, sin, and death).  Luther - The deliverance from these afflictions, I say, is ours through Christ, but in this respect, there is a deficiency, that we cannot believe these words. We think heaven is filled with our sins, with the Law and death. Therefore these words must be carefully weighed. In them, we should see life, salvation, and deliverance. This will not come to pass in this life. By faith, we shall only see that the matter has been begun, not that it is completed.

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;

Luther - The LORD calls the New Testament the year of the Lord’s favor and a year of the Lord’s will.  On the contrary, the day of vengeance of God is called terrible. It is a great art rightly to divide the Word, to proclaim a hard message to the hard and a soft and gentle one to the afflicted.

3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

Let us be content with Christ crucified as St. Paul and many others preach.  Let us not speculate on the glory of God (what can be seen) like the pope, mega-church leaders, and Mohammed do.  We speculate when we want answers to questions like: Why does the Lord let so many Muslims live and Christians die?  Or, Why me?  Let us start thinking about Christ while He is crying in the manger and then work our way to His passion rather than the other way around.  Then we will know He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
The ancient ruins are referring to the synagogues and places of worship throughout Israel.  They will have come to spiritual ruin.  Therefore the cities will not have God’s Word proclaimed and taught.  No opportunity to believe if the office of the Word is devastated.

5 Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;

The Lord will place Gentiles into the Office of the Word.  They shall raise up a new flock and tend to it.

6 but you shall be called the priests of the LORD; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
Those in the Office of the Word are not priests in the way we understand a priest as one who offers sacrifices to the Lord.  Rather, they sacrifice their own will for the benefit of the people with God’s Word.  Minister means servant.  The wealth of nations here is the Word of God that the Lord is giving by placing His office in all the devastated towns.  The glory is the return - people convert to the Lord, even kings, and leaders.

7 Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;  they shall have everlasting joy.
The double portion is double the glory.  The lots are the cities and the churches, as Our Savior Lutheran Church is one lot in the city of Muscatine.  The other lot is under the tyranny of powerful people.  Yet, the glory is that even some of them will repent and believe.  Then they will say things like, “I was such a fool.  I can’t believe I ever did that to you.”  Like St. Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus.

8 For I the LORD love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

Since the Lord loves justice there is no need to become a justice warrior.  He will accomplish everlasting justice.  Today there is a big push for social justice.  Here He says, live your life to better your neighbor, but justice and vengeance are His.  He will faithfully accomplish it.  The rest is pure promises and words for comfort.

9 Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.
This offspring is the church whom the Lord blesses and the nations recognize.

10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Again the double portion.  Temporal within the church (and maybe outside at times) and Eternal.
           

11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
To believe in Jesus is to sprout righteousness.  Speaking is to build the church and convert people.  This is the double glory.  The Word is the seed and it produces fruit.

Isaiah Study Notes - Chapter 60

Isaiah Study Notes - Chapter 60

Isaiah Study Notes - Chapter 60

Verses 15-22

December 20, 2017

15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.

Forsaken - Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34.  My God, My God why have you forsaken Me.

Hated - John 15:18.  The world hated Me before it hated you.

Isaiah is describing the church during the time he worked with the Word.  The church was forsaken by God.  The name Christian was hated or whatever name the faithful went by such as Israel or Hebrew.

so that no man went through thee - This word picture of a ruined city also describes the church.

I will make thee an eternal excellency - The church struggles and looks like it is crushed but it will not be destroyed.  The gates of hell...

a joy of many generations - Everyone in this city will have joy even though there be martyrs.  A time will come when people will say, I wish I could have listened to Isaiah.  At the time, no one wanted to hear Isaiah.  Note: joy is a gift from God.  You start with no joy.  You receive a little bit of joy at a time.  This joy never goes away.  Happiness is different.  You start with a lot of happiness.  This happiness is slowly lost.  Eventually it is gone.

16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

This is not worldly wealth that the kings will give the church.  It is food and clothing.  Some kings will be moved by the plight of the Christians and provide some care for their basic needs.  Paul says (Rom. 8:36), “We are being killed all the day long,” and (1 Cor. 4:9), “God has exhibited us apostles as last of all.”  As the Word spread and the Christians were dispersed throughout the New Testament, the kings were also humbled.  They could not stop the spread of Christianity.  The emphasis is the description of the LORD as Savior and Redeemer.

17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.

This is a general saying.  The Lord will change sadness into joy.  He will make good things more precious.  It is like a political candidate promising to make things better during a campaign.  This is the LORD speaking.  thy officers (bishops/pastors) peace (KJV).  your overseers peace (ESV).   Luther: Visitation means episcopate. Thus the word ἐπισκοπεῖν is used in the psalm concerning Judas, “May another take his episcopate” (cf. Ps. 109:8). A bishop is an overseer, a caretaker of his office. Thus Peter says that a bishop must not be a busybody in other men’s affairs (1 Peter 4:15), that is, be hindered by alien cares and tasks. But his own office is to look around and to visit with the Word and sacraments...Your visitation, that is, “your episcopate.” I (the Lord) will furnish the pastors.

18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

Luther: “I want to take care that there shall be no injury, devastation, and destruction where this Word has been.” Just as above, every calamity will cease when the Word is present. For the godly, instructed in the Word, have peace with God, and they will also have peace with the brother and will harm no one. They will live peaceably with all (Rom. 12:18). Hearts will not be torn and disquieted, but all will be in peace. Injury and disturbance of the peace will be reduced internally and externally.

19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.   20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.  21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.  22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time. (Isa. 60:15-22 KJV)

Study Notes - The Death of Lazarus

Study Notes - The Death of Lazarus

Study Notes - The Death of Lazarus

John 11:1-16

December 17, 2017

1 Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

This is the first mention of Lazarus, Mary and Martha.  It is assumed we know who they are from the synoptic Gospels.  This is a long chapter; 57 verses.  At the end of this chapter, Lazarus is risen from the dead and joins Jesus’ procession into Jerusalem.  That is the account of Jesus riding on the foal of a donkey and children shouting Hosanna, etc. which is what we call Palm Sunday of Holy Week.

2 (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

That anointing made Judas furious.  The oil was expensive.  Judas said it could have been used to care for the poor.  Jesus responded that the poor will always be with us but not He.

3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

This is a prayer.  The intention is that Jesus do something but they don’t specify what He should do.  This is similar to Mary at the wedding feast in chapter 2.  They have no wine.  The intention is that Jesus do something but Mary leaves it to Jesus as to what should be done.  

4 When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Jesus heard the prayer.  Faith has to do with promises that can’t be seen.  Glory has to do with what is seen.  Jesus is going to do something that people will see with their eyes.  In response to what they see, God will receive the praise of the folks.  The glory of the Son of God will be His crucifixion.  Jesus keeps pointing to that as His glory.  So the raising of Lazarus will cause people to praise God and get Jesus killed.

5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.  6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.  7 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

Lazarus needs to die before He can be raised.  Jesus is about to do a great miracle that will cause many to believe He is God.

8 His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?  

His disciple are afraid.  Perfect love drives out fear.

9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world.   10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

This is the common way of speaking of a work day.  Jesus still has work to do.   4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.  5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world (Jn. 9:4-5 KJV).  Jesus sees the dangers clearly as one who can see obstacles clearly in the light of day.  The obstacles won’t get Him killed until He decides the time is right.  We do not see clearly because of our sin.  Let us trust that Jesus clearly sees the end of our trials and hardships even when we cannot.  

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.  12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.  13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.  14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

This is an example of what Jesus said in the previous lines.  The New Testament often refers to the death of a Christian as sleep.  It does not mean that the Christian is not dead.  It means that a resurrection to life will happen for the person like a sleeping person will awake in the morning.

15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe; nevertheless let us go unto him.

This fits the purpose of the entire book of John.  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (Jn. 20:31 KJV)  

16 Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.

He is known as doubting Thomas.  We should call him unbelieving Thomas.  However, even unbelieving Thomas will believe in Jesus when resurrected Jesus meets Thomas in the locked upper room.   27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.  29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (Jn. 20:27-29 KJV)