THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

John 11 & John 12:1-11

ICEBREAKER:  Did you ever have a hero when you were a child?  How did you feel when you were around them?

 

  1. What insight, principles or observations did you take away from this Sunday’s message?

 

John 11:1-6  1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,

  1. How close was Jesus to this family? How much did they mean to Him?(v.3)

 

  1. Jesus stayed for 2 more days. Why do you think He delayed for 2 days? (v.6)

 

John 11:17-27 17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem,19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die,26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

  1. What limitations does it appear that Martha has in her understanding of who Jesus is or what He can do? (v.21)

 

  1. What limitations might you have of what Jesus can do in your life? Why?

 

  1. How could my concerns of His abilities be evidenced in my life?

 

  1. How does Jesus respond to Martha’s concerns? (v.25)  How do you think Jesus will respond to your concerns? (John 20:24-28)

 

John 20:24-28  24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus ), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

 

John 11:39-44  39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” the dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

  1. Is the glory of God a thing, an event or a person?  (v.40)  Can we become a part of the glory of God?  If so, how?  (Colossians 1:26,27)

 

Colossians 1:26,27 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 

John 12:1-3  1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

The amount of pure nard used by Mary was equal to a person’s wage for an entire year.  It was possibly the family’s treasure.

  1. What does the action of Mary say about how she viewed Jesus? Why would a person give so much to Jesus? (Matthew 22:36, 37)

 

Matthew 22:36,37 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest  commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

      10. What treasure would you consider giving to Jesus? Would Jesus consider that your greatest treasure?

 

John 12:4-7  4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages. ”6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.

  1. What was keeping Judas from believing in Jesus? How can we prevent ourselves from having the same problem?  (Colossians 3:1-4)

 

Colossians 3:1-4 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

  1. Why didn’t Judas seek to accept the forgiveness Jesus could offer? (Mark 2:5-11; Matthew 27:3-5)

 

Mark 2:5-11 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves,7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’?10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man,11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

 

 

 

Matthew 27:3-5 3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

  1. How does a selfish person’s life almost always end, and why? Why can’t selfishness ever be satisfied?

 

  1. What is the thing that you are most afraid of that could be getting in your way of growing closer to Jesus?

 

  1. What steps can a Christian take to remove such barriers and not be like Judas who walked with Jesus and still could not come to faith in Jesus as God? (1 Peter 2:2; Acts 17:11)

 

1 Peter 2:2 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

 

Acts 17:11 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

A life lived in worship is poured out for God and others whereas a life lived for self is spilled out in destruction.