It might be nice to hear "Come Forth" these days...

Our Bible studies are still trailing the liturgical year. While churches wait in the Easter Season between Passover and Pentecost, we're still following Jesus as he takes that last trip to Jerusalem... and arrives too late. Arriving too late, and not arriving at all, might be a familiar theme at the moment. But we'll find there is no too late with Jesus after all. It will be a Bring Your Own Coffee, Coffee Break meeting of course. But enjoy!

(79) Lazarus Bound

Jesus’ wanderings between Jerusalem and the edge of Galilee, between Hanukkah and Passover, are finally coming to an end. He’s told his disciples that he’s going to die. Do you think they believe it? Read Mark 8:31-35, 9:30-32 How easily do we believe that bad things are under God’s control?

1.       Read John 11:1-4  Does “not unto death” mean Lazarus won’t die, won’t die of this sickness, or that death isn’t the final consequence of this sickness? What do you think the disciples believed?

2.       Do you remember the story of the woman who wiped Jesus’ feet? … Which story?

a.       Read Luke 7:37-39 Given that John doesn’t include this story, do you think this is who he means?

b.      Read Luke 10:38-40 Is this who he means?

c.       Read Matthew 26:6-8, Mark 14:3-5, John 12:1-5. Given that John doesn’t mention this story until later, do you think this is who he means?

d.      Read John 11:5 What is important about Mary’s identity?

3.       Read John 11:5-8 How worried are the disciples about Lazarus? How worried are they about Jesus?

a.       What are you worried about? And what do you wish Jesus would do today? tomorrow?

4.       Read John 11:9-10  Can you imagine what the disciples thought Jesus was talking about? Can you paraphrase what he says? Does John 8:12 help us understand?

5.       Read John 11:11-12 Should the disciples have understood, given your answer to question 1? Should we expect to always understand?

6.       Read John 11:13-15 Why is Jesus glad?

a.       What makes suffering worthwhile? What makes it possible to be glad in hard times?

7.       Read John 11:16 What is Thomas best remembered for? How does this affect your view of him?

We know that Lazarus will be dead when Jesus arrives. Do you suppose his disciples knew, or were just confused?

1.       Read John 11:17-19 What’s the significance of four days? (Think what might be important about three as well.)

2.       Read John 11:20-22 Remembering Martha and Mary, are you surprised which sister goes out to meet Jesus?

a.       How willing are we to challenge God with our if-onlys? How willingly do we say “But even now I know…”?

3.       Read John 11:23-24 How did she know? What does this mean about her knowledge about Jesus?

4.       Read John 11:25-27 Does this change Martha’s expectation? Or her belief? Does faith change her?

5.       Read John 11:28-32 Are Mary’s expectations any different from Martha’s? Are expectations different from faith?

6.       Read John 11:33-35 What does this tell us about Jesus? About his humanity? About his understanding?

7.       Read John 11:37 Do we ever feel like this?

The rest of the story should be familiar too. Read John 11:38-44

1.       Remember the significance of four days? The spirit should have left the body by now, and yeah, it should smell. Are we ever called to do something that feels wrong like moving the stone? Do we know anyone who has?

2.       Read Jesus’ prayer, John 11:41b-42 Who does Jesus care about? And how does he care?

3.       Lazarus is “bound” and needs to be “loosed.” What recent discussions does this remind you of? (Read Isaiah 58:5-6, Matthew 16:19) What do you need to be freed / loosed / unbound from today?