Jesus to His Disciples … “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 11:11-14

Obviously Jesus and His Disciples are having a conversation, a “learning experience” is underway! I call this a “meeting” with Jesus, a class session if you please! (Every Paragraph in John 11 has some sort of “meeting!”)

From a “prayer meeting” in our last Lesson to the “meeting” between Jesus and Martha in our next Lesson, and so forth.

True, Jesus’ dealing with Lazarus is unusual! (He is not dead. Then, he is asleep. Finally, he is dead. Ultimately, he is alive again!)

For example; “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.” John 11:4

But how is Jesus glorified in this tragedy? When we now know full well that the Lazarus’ miracle (his being raised from the dead) precipitated Jesus’ own arrest and crucifixion!

Here’s how … Jesus’ lowest moment (in the eyes of the world) … DEATH BY EXECUTION, BY CRUCIFIXION … is in reality (in the Eyes of God) Jesus’ highest Moment, His most glorified Hour ever!

Read with me Isaiah 52:13, God speaking in advance about Jesus’ Death on the Cross … “Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.”

Now with comment … “Behold, my servant (JESUS) shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high (THREE ADJECTIVAL WORDS INDICATING GLORY).”

Amazing!

Truly, God’s ways are not our ways! “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Jesus did not move an inch to return to Bethany (waiting two days) until He received the “approval” from His Father! Just like Israel of old never moved until the Cloud of Glory lifted and led them further toward the Promised Land!

Did you ever think of the affinities between sleep and death, for the Christian I mean?

Sleep is harmless … so is death!

Sleep brings relief from the pressures and problems of life … so does death!

Sleep is temporary … so is death (again, for the Believer in Jesus)!

One prepares for sleep (brushing teeth, etc.) … so is the Christian prepared for death!

The list could go on for a while!

One more fact … none of the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) mention a word about the raising of Lazarus from the dead, out of that grave!

I am so thankful John does!

Much more could be written this morning … so it is probably best to sit down and watch the Lesson …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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