John 11:37-50

The Central Idea of the Text is that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (7th sign) with the result that many believed in Jesus as Messiah, but the Jewish leadership rejected Him and decided to kill Him. Jesus knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead; yet, his death, and the pain it caused Mary and Martha, troubled Jesus (John 11:30-38).  Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead for God’s glory (John 11:38-40), so that others might believe in Him as Messiah (John 11:41-45).  However, some who witnessed the miracle rejected Jesus and went to inform the Pharisees, who felt compelled to kill Jesus for political reasons, because they viewed Israel as their nation rather than God’s (John 11:46-57).  Though hostile to God, Caiaphas unwittingly prophesied as an act of divine sovereignty, as God spoke through a sinful man to a sinful audience (John 11:49-51).  The reality was that God was in complete control.