Martha’s great “Statement of Faith” sounds a lot like John’s “Purpose for Writing” his whole Gospel! “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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.” John 20:30-31, King James Version.

In fact, John has filled this fourth Gospel with such great Proclamations about Jesus!

John the Baptist … “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

Andrew … “We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” John 1:41

Phillip … “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” John 1:45

Nathaniel … “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” John 1:49

The Samaritans … “This is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” John 4:42

Peter … “Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” John 6:69

And I just can’t omit Thomas … “My Lord and my God.” John 20:28

Wow!

Martha was so honest with Jesus; “Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” But we are taught to behave (and pray) like this: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

The Psalmists sure were “open” with the Lord! “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?” Psalm 13:1-2, pretty bold!

Let me tell you in advance what Jesus is going to do at Lazarus’ grave … “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” Isaiah 61:3

It is true. Martha’s faith “wavers” during this hard time in her life, the death of her brother.

From a low point … “Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” Verse 21 of our chapter, John 11.

To this HIGH Point … “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” Verse 27, glorious!

Our faith cannot afford to be static, dormant … it must be constantly growing!

Oh, how I enjoyed today’s Lesson, recorded in a corner of a motel room in Conover, North Carolina. But the Lord joined me there, how sweet was the fellowship!

Now I invite you to watch the entire class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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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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Can someone close to Jesus, nearly in His “inner circle,” get seriously ill, and even die? Of course, yes!

Some of the older commentators and godly men of the past actually felt that the closer one walked with the Lord … the more apt he or she would be to suffer hardships!

For sure, some saints do endure more trials than others! (Compare the life of the Old Testament Patriarch Job to that of prosperous Abraham!) Philippians 1:29 was given as a Proof Text to me once when I had gone through an extended time of sickness … “For unto you it is GIVEN in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.”

Wow!

And in the video Lesson, I unashamedly called Mary and Martha’s Message to Jesus a “prayer.” Here it is again … “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.”

Can the Lord give us the “desires” of our heart, without our pleading and pleading for them?

I believe so. “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the DESIRES of thine heart.” No strenuous prayers mentioned!

One commentator labeled the two John 11 sisters as “introverted Mary” and “extroverted Martha!” I think he may be right!

Jesus heard of Lazarus’ sickness, then waited two days before returning to Bethany (20 miles or so between the Jordan River where Jesus was to the village of Bethany near Jerusalem) … thus arriving on the “third day” as calculated by John!

From this clearly pronounced timeline I deduce that the death (and resurrection) of Lazarus has some symbolic reference to Jesus’ Death and (on the third day) Resurrection!

Actually, the one led to the Other!

One more quote … “When feeling God’s (heavy) Hand, remember God’s (loving) Heart!”

Oh, the amazing Lessons remaining in John chapter 11!

But first, watch this one …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Undoubtedly the single greatest Statement in the Lesson consists of Jesus’ powerful Words … “THE FATHER IS IN ME, AND I IN HIM.” (John 10:38) This Declaration matches Jesus’ great Assertions in each of the three other short Sermons in the chapter. “

“I am the Door.” John 10:9

“I am the Good Shepherd.” John 10:11

And “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

What a chapter!

One Bible commentator further expressed “The Father is in Me and I in Him” this way … “The Father is locked into Me and I (Jesus) am locked into Him!”

He (that author) says that the “locked into” idiom accurately expresses the intensity of the Greek preposition “en” (translated “in”) as used here.

Interesting and powerful!

“We cannot be plucked from the Hand of Jesus, but here Jesus is plucked (by His Father) from the hands of the mob trying to stone Him!” I like that quote!

I think it might have been old Matthew Henry who said; “Jesus’ Works are not only miracles, they are Mercies too!”

In Exodus 7:1 the Lord specifically called Moses a “god!” In the sense of a powerful man as delegated, endowed by God! Read it … “And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.”

Wow!

This is the same spirit in which judges are called “gods” in Psalm 82. (With a lower case “g,” mind you!) And Jesus knew this little Psalm very well! And in this Lesson used it as a Defense to refute the bungling Pharisees, the blind leaders of the Jews!

Exodus 22:28 gives another example of “rulers” (as delegated by the Lord) being called “gods!” Read it too … “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.”

On the unity of the Bible … It is called “Scripture” (singular) 32 times within its 1,189 chapters. And It is called the “Scriptures” (showing it vast range of Wisdom) 21 times (plural)!

“Thou makest Thyself God,” the Jews acknowledge of Jesus … so appropriate are those words in John’s Gospel. John who is an evangelist for the Deity of Christ! Remember John 20:30-31 … “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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.”

Wow!

They tried to stone Jesus to death? Yes, according to verse 31 and probably again in verse 39. But if enigmatic Psalm 88 is Messianic, and I believe it is, read verse 15 … “I (Jesus) am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up.” No doubt, many satanic attempts were made on His Life prior to the Cross!

While on the other side of Jordan Jesus (too) worked “no miracles” (as far as the Scripture indicates) … yet still many people “believed on Him!” (Verse 42) Clearly they “believed” because of what they “heard,” not what they “saw!”

After all, “Faith cometh by HEARING and hearing (not seeing) by the word of God.” Romans 10:17

Just a few scattered thoughts I forgot (or lacked time) to mention in video Bible Class today. Why not now just watch the whole Class?

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The noun “theology” literally means “a word about God.” And here is basic New Testament theology in a Line … “I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE.” (John 10:30)

This Quote impressed me, describing Jesus’ Messiahship. “JESUS OFTEN REVEALS JUST ENOUGH OF HIMSELF TO MAKE FAITH POSSIBLE, YET HE HIDES JUST ENOUGH OF HIMSELF TO MAKE FAITH NECESSARY!”

Someone said of our being “in Jesus’ Hand” and also “in the Father’s Hand” … that we are “IN HIS GRIP!” And I might add, a glorious “DOUBLE GRIP” at that! (Son and Father!)

This too … “IF ONE THINKS HIMSELF TO BE AN OWL (SO WISE) INSTEAD OF A SHEEP … HE OR SHE WILL HAVE NO SENSE OF NEEDING A SHEPHERD!” This was the Jewish Leaders’ Problem, too wise in their own eyes!

The Greek word for “dedication” in verse 22 is “egkainia.” Its only two “relatives” in the New Testament occur in Hebrews 9:18 and Hebrews 10:19-20. In both References the BLOOD of Jesus is mentioned! The Jews are here celebrating the Temple, Jesus is thinking about the Cross! The offering of His Blood to wash away sin!

Remember Jesus’ Words …

John 2:19-21 … “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.” Jesus and the Blood again!

This “dedication” and “Blood” theme occurs in a chapter where Jesus mentions “laying down His Life” three times!

John 10:15 … “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

John 10:17 … “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.”

And John 10:18 …“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

I need to say this as well. Be careful doubting your Security in Christ! You might offend the One Who loves you and died for you and is in Heaven now on your behalf, interceding every minute for us, for His Church! Do not take being “in His Hand” lightly!

Jesus distinctly as “Lamb,” as in Isaiah 53 … that Word Picture is only specifically used by John among all the Gospel Writers!

Now … to the place our (video) class ended. I was saying of John 10:30 … “I AND MY FATHER ARE ONE” …

“I and My Father” prove Personhood in the Trinity, in the Godhead.

And the verb/adjective words “Are One” prove the Unity, the Singularity of Essence in the Godhead!

“TRINITY” … truly a majestic word meaning “three” (tri) in One (unity)!

Wow!

Watch the Class with us now …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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