Jesus resurrects Lazarus and strengthens faith
These questions highlight the tenderness with which Jesus treated Martha and Mary, Jehovah’s power over death, and the hardness of those who preferred to oppose the miracle rather than accept the truth.
Questions and comments for lesson 86
Tell the story of how Jesus resurrected Lazarus.
3 commentsThe resurrection of Lazarus showed Jesus’ love, the honor he gave his Father, and Jehovah’s power over death.
When he arrived, Jesus encountered the deep grief of the two sisters. Seeing Mary weeping at his feet moved Jesus so much that he also burst into tears, showing the great love he had for his friend. Even though Lazarus had been dead for four days and Martha feared there would already be a bad smell, Jesus told them to remove the stone from the entrance to the cave.
The moment of the resurrection was overwhelming. Jesus first prayed aloud to honor his Father and so that the crowd would know he came from God. Then he cried out with a loud voice: “Lazarus, come out!” Immediately Lazarus walked out of the tomb, still wrapped in burial cloths, and Jesus told them to untie him so that he could go home with his sisters.
What did the Pharisees want to do when they heard about the resurrection of Lazarus?
2 commentsThe Pharisees reacted with hatred, envy, and violent plans instead of acknowledging the miracle.
Instead of rejoicing over such an obvious miracle, the Pharisees filled themselves with hatred and envy. When they learned that many people were putting faith in Jesus because of Lazarus’ resurrection, they met together and began secretly planning how to kill not only Jesus but also Lazarus himself, in order to remove the living proof of the miracle.
The Pharisees wanted to destroy Jesus’ influence at any cost. Their desperation led them to make a secret arrangement with Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve apostles, offering him 30 silver pieces in exchange for betraying Jesus and telling them the right moment to arrest him away from the crowds.
Bible references for lesson 86
John 11:11-14
In this passage Jesus uses the expression “Lazarus has fallen asleep.” This is a very important reference because it teaches us how Jehovah views death. To humans, death seems like the end of everything, but to Jehovah and Jesus it is like a deep sleep from which they can easily awaken us by means of the resurrection.
John 11:33-35
This text is deeply moving. Even though Jesus knew perfectly well that he was about to resurrect Lazarus in just a few minutes, seeing Mary’s grief and the sorrow of the others made him cry. The practical lesson is that Jesus understands our suffering when we lose someone we love; he is not indifferent to our tears, but feels the same pain with us.
Psalm 68:20
This prophecy was literally fulfilled in the case of Lazarus, proving that Jehovah is the “Sovereign Lord” who has the power to deliver us from death. It gives us absolute confidence that in the new world Jehovah will use that same power on a massive scale to empty the graves and restore life to millions of people.
Practical lessons for our life
Hold tightly to the resurrection hope
Martha’s faith gives us an excellent example. When Jesus asked whether she believed her brother would live again, she did not hesitate and answered: “I know he will rise in the resurrection.” We too, when going through grief, need to hold tightly to the resurrection promise in order to find comfort and peace.
Trust Jehovah’s timing
We learn that Jehovah’s timing is perfect. Jesus did not rush there immediately; he waited for the right moment so that the miracle would bring maximum glory to God and strengthen the faith of many. At times we ask Jehovah for help and the answer seems delayed, but we should trust that he will act at the most appropriate time.
Guard our motives
The attitude of the Pharisees and Judas warns us against the danger of greed and pride. They saw the same miracle as everyone else, but their hearts were so hardened by the desire for power and money that they preferred to plot murder rather than accept the truth. We must always guard our heart motives.
Always give Jehovah the credit
When Jesus prayed before the miracle, he thanked his Father aloud so that people would believe Jehovah had sent him. This teaches us the importance of humility; when we have success in our ministry or receive blessings, we should always direct the attention and the credit to Jehovah, never to ourselves.
The story begins with an urgent request from Martha and Mary because their brother Lazarus was very sick. Even though Jesus loved them dearly, he waited two days before traveling to Bethany, explaining to his disciples that Lazarus had “fallen asleep” in death. When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.