By His Wounds We Are Healed – Lazarus is a study of the Gospel lesson appointed for the 5th Sunday Lent, series A. This study is part of a larger series that was offered on the disciples. It’s been shortened to follow is the lesson for this Sunday, but for a fuller picture, please do start at the end of John 10 and then run all the way through chapter 11. You’ll see the open hostility of the Jewish leaders that only grows after Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
Mary
The disciple of Jesus who sat at his feet, hanging on his every word refused to come and great Jesus. We don’t know exactly why Mary refused to greet Jesus, but I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that she was mad. It might come as a surprise to you, that at some point in your life, Christian, you will get mad at God. This sinful world is a veil of tears. The reaction of a sinner working through the myriad of life’s troubles is often anger. The challenge for the preacher or Christian friend is how to react. Should you let your friend vent? Should you give them a nice quick rebuke in their soul? Knowing when to to do either, said Luther, would earn you the doctor’s cap. Applying Law and Gospel isn’t always easy.
Martha
Martha was the one, if you recall, who got caught up in the details of Jesus’ visit. I think this can be related to a greater symptom of our times. We have SO much that we need to do. In this time of trial Martha offers an incredible confession of faith. Jesus matches her with words of comfort that are spoken at most every funeral! Whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
Want to hear more? Watch this week’s study of John 11, By His Wounds We Are Healed – Lazarus.
Please click HERE for the Bible class slides.