(I want to acknowledge the source of most of the material for these lessons is found in: The Miracles of Jesus Christ by Rick Renner. These video lessons can be found on Renner.org and on YouTube.)
John 21:25 NKJV And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Jesus’s miracle ministry has never ended!
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
What Jesus did, He still does!
I want you to get to know Jesus in a deeper way!
As we study these miracles of Jesus, I want us to remember that Jesus WANTS to move on our behalf. All He is looking for is FAITH.
(I want to acknowledge the source of most of the material for these lessons is found in: The Miracles of Jesus Christ by Rick Renner. These video lessons can be found on Renner.org and on YouTube.)
Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead
SCRIPTURES
John 11:1-6 — Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 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. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.
John 11:11-14 — … After that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
John 11:17 — Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already.
John 11:19-44 — And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto him. Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him. The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there. Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 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. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 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. 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. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
GREEK WORDS
- “sick” — ἀσθενέω (astheneo): a word that generally describes a person frail in health; to be so physically weak that one is unable to travel; pictured those who were feeble, fragile, faint, incapacitated, disabled, or simply in such poor health that it would be unthinkable to transport them; also pictures shut-ins or those who are homebound
- “death” — θάνατος (thanatos): physical death
- “dead” — ἀποθνῄσκω (apothnesko): to wither away; to waste away; to slowly die; to expire
- “ask” — αἰτέω (aiteo): to request, beseech, petition, or demand; to be adamant in requesting assistance to meet tangible needs, such as food, shelter, money, or other physical needs; firmly requesting that a need be met; asking with full expectation to receive what is being firmly requested
- “resurrection” — ἀνάστασις (anastasis): a standing or rising again; a rising from the dead; resurrection
- “weeping” — κλαίω (klaio): mourning, weeping, or grieving
- “groaned” (v. 33), “groaning” (v. 38) — ἐμβριμάομαι (embrimaomai): to be moved with anger; to be moved with indignation; enraged; also, to snort, like an angry horse
- “troubled” — ταράσσω (tarasso): to agitate; to deeply anger; to deeply disturb; to stir up
- “wept” — δακρύω (dakruo): pictures an abrupt release of tears; to burst into tears; to sob
- “stinketh” — ὄζω (odzo): to offensively stink; pictures the smell of a decaying corpse
- “cried with a loud voice” — φωνῇ μεγάλῃ ἐκραύγασεν (phone megale ekraugasen): to yell, scream, or cry out with a very loud voice
- “loose” — λύω (luo): to loose; to set free
- “let him go” — ὑπάγω (hupago): to go under [Jesus’] authority (v. 44)
SYNOPSIS
Located on the outskirts of Jerusalem is the ancient city of Bethany. It was home to some of Jesus’ most dearly loved friends — Mary and Martha, who were sisters, and their brother Lazarus. Toward the very end of Jesus’ ministry, Lazarus became sick and died. Jesus arrived in Bethany four days after Lazarus had been buried. There Jesus performed one of His greatest miracles. Standing before the entrance to his tomb, Jesus called out to Lazarus with a loud voice and raised him back to life.
Jesus Received News of Lazarus’ Sickness
The story of Lazarus is recorded in John chapter 11, starting in verse 1. “Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. 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. Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was” (John 11:1-6).
In these six verses, the word “sick” is mentioned five times. It is the Greek word astheneo, and it describes a person frail in health; to be so physically weak that one is unable to travel. The word astheneo is a picture of those who were feeble, fragile, faint, incapacitated, disabled, or simply in such poor health that it would be unthinkable to transport them. It also pictures shut-ins or people who are homebound.
When Jesus received news that His friend Lazarus was homebound and incapacitated, He wanted to go to him immediately, but He didn’t. Instead He stayed where He was for two more days. On the surface, His actions didn’t make sense, but we must remember He was being led by the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit knew that Jesus’ enemies had gathered in Bethany, sure He would come to visit His trusted but sick friend. They were waiting for Him to arrive so they could stone Him to death. Two days later, when His enemies had dropped their stones and gone home, Jesus was released in His spirit to go to Bethany.
Lazarus Was Dead
John 11:11-13 says, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.”
When Jesus said Lazarus was sleeping, the disciples thought He meant Lazarus was resting and on the mend, but that was not the case. Lazarus had indeed died, which is confirmed in verses 13 and 14. The word “death” in verse 13 is the Greek word thanatos, which describes physical death. Jesus was fully aware that Lazarus had physically passed away.
make sure the disciples understood this, He told them plainly in verse 14, “…Lazarus is dead.” The Greek word for “dead” here is apothnesko, which means to wither away; to waste away; to slowly die; to expire. Nevertheless, neither sleep nor death mattered to Jesus. He could arouse someone from death just as easily as He could arouse him from sleep.
Jesus Talked With Martha
John 11:17 says, “. . .When Jesus came, he found that he [Lazarus] had lain in the grave four days already.” The word “grave” in this verse is the Greek word for an ancient tomb. It was not the type of grave you would find in a cemetery today. This was a deep cave with steps that led down to a lower chamber where Lazarus’ body was laid.
As Jesus was making His way toward town, Martha went out and met Him, but Mary stayed at home. “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee” (John 11:21, 22).
Notice the word “ask” in verse 22. It is the Greek word aiteo, and it means to request, beseech, strongly petition, or demand; to be adamant in requesting assistance to meet tangible needs, such as food, shelter, money, or other physical needs. It indicates firmly requesting that a need be met; asking with full expectation to receive what is being firmly requested. Martha had an unshakable confidence in Jesus’ ability because she had seen Him “ask” the Father for certain things on previous occasions, and He received them.
“Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:23-25).
In this passage, Jesus said He is the “resurrection,” which is the Greek word anastasis. It is the compound of two words: ana, which means to do something again, and the word stasis, which means to stand. When these two words are combined to form the word anastasis, it means a standing or rising again; a rising from the dead; resurrection. What Jesus was saying here is, “I am stand-again power. I have the power to put anyone back on their feet — even someone who is dead.”
John 11:26-28 says, “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She [Martha] saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee.”
Jesus ‘Groaned’ and Was ‘Troubled’
As soon as Mary made it to where Jesus was, she collapsed at His feet and said, “…Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled” (John 11:32, 33).
There are three very important words in this passage you need to understand. The first is “weeping,” which is the Greek word klaio, and it means mourning, weeping, or grieving. When Jesus saw the uncontrollable mourning and grieving of Mary and the Jews that were with her, He “groaned” in His spirit. This word “groaned” in the Greek means to be moved with anger; to be moved with indignation; enraged. It is the same Greek word that describes an angry horse that is snorting and terrifying people.
The third word to take note of in John 11:33 is “troubled.” It is the Greek word tarasso, and it means to agitate; to deeply anger; to deeply disturb; or to stir up. By using the words “groaned” and “troubled,” we know that Jesus was filled with divine anger and indignation deep within. Like an angry horse, He was snorting against the spirit of death and against unbelief. Remember, Martha and Mary had both said, “Lord, if You had been here, this wouldn’t have happened.” They placed a degree of blame at Jesus’ feet for the death of their brother Lazarus, thus demonstrating that unbelief was operating in their lives.
‘Jesus Wept’
Jesus was deeply disturbed and agitated with all that He was seeing and hearing. John 11:34-36 says, “Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!”
The shortest verse in the Bible — “Jesus wept” — is also one of the most misunderstood verses. “Jesus wept” doesn’t mean He was overwhelmed with emotion over the death of Lazarus. The word “wept” is the Greek word dakruo, and it depicts an abrupt release of tears; to burst into tears; or to sob. This is a torrent of emotion released from deep inside.
To understand what Jesus was so intensely emotional about, we have to look back at the verses that precede verse 35. Specifically, we need to review verse 33. Remember, Jesus “groaned” when He saw Mary and the Jews weeping — He was moved with anger and indignation and was enraged over the people’s unbelief. Scripture also says He was “troubled” — the Greek word tarasso, meaning agitated; deeply angered; deeply disturbed. The reason “Jesus wept,” displaying such a torrent of emotions from deep within, was a result of the power of God in Him rising up against the spirit of death and against unbelief.
We see this dynamic continuing to build in verses 37 and 38: “And some of them said, Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died? Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.” Here again we see the word “groaning” — the same Greek word, which means to be moved with anger; to be moved with indignation; to be enraged; to snort, like an angry horse.
Jesus Raised Lazarus Back to Life
Now standing at the mouth of the tomb, “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” (John 11:39). The word “stinketh” is the Greek word odzo, which means to offensively stink. It pictures the smell of a decaying corpse. After four days of death at work, Lazarus’ body would have emitted a foul odor.
Nevertheless, “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? 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. 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. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:40-43).
It’s important to note that Jesus was not standing far away from the tomb; He was directly in front of the entrance to this cave, speaking loudly down into it. Scripture says He “cried with a loud voice,” which is from the Greek phrase phone megale ekraugasen, meaning to yell, scream, or cry out with a very loud voice. When Jesus cried out, “Lazarus, come forth,” the Bible says, “And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go” (John 11:44).
The word “loose” is the Greek term luo, which means to loose; to set free. And the phrase “let him go” is the Greek word hupago — the same word we have seen repeatedly used in the stories of Jesus’ miracles. The word hupago means to go under; to go under my authority. Lazarus was raised back to life by the word of power spoken by Jesus, and under the power and authority of His word, he returned home to live his life.
That is the power of God’s Word. It can raise the dead, and can raise you out of the dead situation you are in and bring you into new life.
The emphasis of this lesson:
For Jesus, rousing someone from death is just as easy as rousing them from sleep. He clearly demonstrated that He is the Resurrection and the Life when He raised Lazarus from the grave. Jesus’ power is stand-again power!