The Lord of Life and Breath

MEMORY VERSE: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth on me even though he die shall live again! And no one who liveth again and believeth on me shall in anywise die unto times age-abiding. Believest thou this?” —John 11:25,26, Rotherham translation

JOHN 11:20-27, 38-44

THE subject matter of this lesson relates to the death and awakening of Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary. The two sisters had sent word to Jesus that Lazarus was ill. They probably supposed that he would come to them at once and restore their brother’s health. Instead, Jesus waited two days and then announced to his disciples, “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.” The disciples replied to Jesus, saying, “Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well” Jesus was speaking of his death, but they thought he spoke of natural sleep; and seeing that they did not understand, Jesus said unto them plainly, “Lazarus is dead.”—John 11:1-3,11-14

This is one of the many instances in the Bible in which those who are actually dead are referred to as being asleep. Those who are asleep are unconscious, and it is expected that they will awaken. Thus sleep is an apt illustration of death, for those in death are also unconscious, and they likewise will be awakened.

When Martha learned that Jesus was approaching their home she went to meet him and said, “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”—vss. 21,22

Jesus said to her, “Thy brother shall rise again.” (vs. 23) Martha was not sure just what her Master meant by this, and she replied, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (vs. 24) Martha knew, from the Old Testament Scriptures and from the teachings of Jesus, that in the last great time period of the divine plan there would be a general resurrection of the dead, and she wondered if this was what Jesus referred to when he said, “Thy brother shall rise again.”

Jesus’ further explanation is contained in our memory passage. (vss. 25,26) We have quoted this from Rotherham’s translation, which gives a clearer thought. First, he assured Martha that the general resurrection would be accomplished by him—“I am the resurrection and the Life” He explained that even though believers die “they shall live again.” Unbelievers also die, and they also will live again; and Jesus said of these who live again and believe on him after they are awakened from death, that they will never die again.

After thus outlining to Martha the full implications of the future awakening of all the dead, Jesus asked, “Believest thou this?” Martha replied, “Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” (vs. 27) Thus Martha not only affirmed her belief in Jesus, but revealed by her reply that she understood his role in the divine plan—that he was the Messiah of promise, the One who by divine power would bless all the families of the earth, even raising them from the dead.

Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus and asked that the stone blocking the entrance be removed. Here Martha’s faith faltered a bit, and she said to Jesus, “Lord by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.” (vs. 39) But it was to be demonstrated that where divine power operates, it does not matter whether one has been dead a few seconds, four days, or thousands of years—all will be awakened.

After a brief prayer, which would remind those present that they were about to witness a demonstration of the Father’s power, “he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth.” The record does not read that Lazarus returned from heaven, hell, or purgatory. Jesus had said that Lazarus was dead “and he that was dead came forth.” In due time all will be awakened from death.—John 5:28,29, R.V.

QUESTIONS

Why does the Bible refer to those who are dead as being asleep?

Will there be an opportunity of believing on Jesus after death?

Had Lazarus, in death, gone to heaven, hell, or purgatory?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |