The first and fourth miracles recorded in John’s gospel demonstrate the power of Jesus to create. He turned water used for washing hands to high-quality wine in an instant, and he fed thousands of Jews by mulplying two fish and five loaves of bread. As John pointed out, through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:3). In the second, third, and sixth miracles, Jesus healed the royal official ’s dying son, the crippled man, and the man born blind, respecvely. Long before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah’s power to heal. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened (Isaiah 35:5a). Then will the lame leap like a deer (Isaiah 35:6a). Jesus himself confirmed his identy as the Messiah to John the Bapst, saying: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them” (Luke 7:22). The seventh miracle — the raising of Lazarus from the dead — shows us that God allows pain and suffering so that we may know His love, grow in faith, and hope in His glory. Knowing God’s love (vv. 1-14) There is a close relaonship between Lazarus’ family and Jesus. John categorically states that Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus (v. 5). These siblings listened to Jesus’ teachings, ate with him, and aended to his needs and those of his disciples. Aſter emphasizing how Jesus loved this family, John then wrote that when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days (v. 6). You might find it strange that Jesus was in no hurry to leave immediately for Bethany, where this family resided, aſter receiving the message that Lazarus was very sick. Jesus delayed his trip to Bethany out of his love for this family, that they might know him more. He wanted them to see the glory of God manifested through his raising of Lazarus from the dead! Growing in faith (vv. 17-32) Martha and her sister Mary already believed in Jesus as the Messiah. They had faith in Jesus ’ power to heal. What would they have felt when their brother did not get any beer, even though their message was received by Jesus? Would they have felt that Jesus did not love them for leng Lazarus die? Jesus wanted them to see the spiritual truth that their Lord is the Creator of the universe. He chose to demonstrate that he is the resurrecon and the life (v. 25) by raising from the dead someone that he loved. Jesus is the author of life. The implicaon of this to Martha, to the disciples, to us, is this: If Jesus is the resurrecon and the life, then the one who believes in him will live, even though they die (v. 25). Allowing Lazarus to die so that Jesus could raise him from the dead was an act of love that made Martha’s and Mary’s faith grow. Hoping in God’s glory (vv. 25-26, 38-44) Lazarus was raised to life aſter hearing the voice of Jesus (v. 43). This would have raised Martha ’s hope not only that Jesus is indeed the Messiah but also that he has power over death. The same would have been true for Mary and for the disciples. They were witnesses to God’s glory demonstrated through the Son. Aside from Mary, Martha, and the disciples, there were many Jews who witnessed the glory of God through Christ and put their faith in Jesus. According to John, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him (v. 45). For the believing Jews, the long wait was over. The Messiah had come. The sng of death was no more, for the Messiah had demonstrated that He is the resurrecon and the life. Midweek Bulletin Pastor’s Email Note 21 Aug. 9, 2017 Seven miracles in John: Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead (John 11:1-46) To honor God and make Christ-committed followers who will make Christ-committed followers