The Raising of Lazarus in John 11
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- čas přidán 19. 03. 2023
- Why did Jesus delay his coming to see Lazarus until his friend was dead? What did first century Jews believe about the resurrection? Why is death called “sleep”? Was Jesus grieving, angry, or irritated? What does “Jesus wept” point to? What is the significance of Jesus being “the resurrection and the life”? These and other questions, Chad Bird addresses in this week’s video in Reading the Gospels through Hebrew Eyes.
A personal thought: I have thought much on the loss of your son. I have two sons in their thirties. The immense and undeniable sweetness of the promise of resurrection has raised its voice in my heart because of your great loss. And now to learn of your dad as well. My parents and dear brother-in-law are in the nearer presence of the Lord. What true joy I carry to know Jesus is the resurrection and the life. And in your loss may you and your dear wife know it again and again as well. God's peace to you. And thanks again for the great teaching.
Amen Chad!
Thanks Chad. A Jewish believer named Arnold Fruchtenbaum explained the Jewish tradition you referenced, that there were miracles only the Messiah could perform: raising someone from the dead on the fourth day and healing someone born blind. Jesus had proven He is the Messiah, that's why He waited two days.
I appreciate your teaching; but I think Thomas was more cynical than sincere.
It’s a judgment call. We can’t hear the tone of his voice. I prefer to think of it positively.
The Gospels exhibit the very human characteristics of the disciples. For example we see Peter putting his foot in his mouth on the mount of transfiguration.
And we have Peter opposing the Lord and being called Satan ,etc.
Peter appears to have had a very extroverted personality and this comes out in such statements as John 21:3 where Peter's words had such a magnetic effect in his fellow fishermen.
So likewise we see the human characteristics in Thomas. Thomas was far more negative and somewhat melancholy in disposition and this is reflected in his absolute REFUSAL to believe unless he saw and felt for himself (John 20:25)
"I WILL NOT BELIEVE"
When we consider the comments of the disciples just seconds earlier:
" Then after that says He to His disciples,
Let us go into Judaea again.
His disciples say unto Him:
'Master, the Jews of late sought to
stone thee! And you want to go THERE
AGAIN?' " [😮]
(John 11:7, 8)
We can understand this dark and melancholy reflection of Thomas in verse 16
Then said Thomas, which is called
Didymus, unto his fellow disciples:
' Let us also go, THAT WE MAY DIE
with Him.' "
(John 11:16)
Notice he does not say, "Let us die with the Lord", but rather he says to the fellow disciples 'Let us go die with "Him" '. In English this would translate as a third person pronoun and be downright disrespectful.
This comment suggests a character flaw in Thomas (why should he be any different to Peter ?) And it indicates something about his dark melancholy tendencies...
If not overtly sarcastic, the comment is indeed deeply pessimistic. We should indeed "put the best construction on everything".
But we are also given a clear portrait of the extremes in the various disciples personalities. All of this is fir an important reason.
And we should reflect upon ourselves in these various portraits. We also are growing in sanctification and have much to face up to and work upon in our own lives.
Let us learn from the flaws in the disciples that we too are prone to "like passions" (Acts 14:15; James 5:17) and that "in many things we offend all" (James 3:2)
@@chadbird1517 You definitely brought out an aspect of the passage--and a side of me--that I had not realized. Thank you for serving through personal pains. Everyone can serve with prosperity--but the true servants serve like the Servant of God, a Man acquainted with grief and pain.