Believe! The Gospel of John

WK 32 – “Martha, Martha”

John 11:1-16 ESV

October 25, 2026

Dan Hall

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The Divisions of John’s Gospel

The Prologue: John introduces Jesus, “The Word Became Flesh.” – John 1:1-18

• Words give structure to things we experience through our senses.
• Words bring structure to our experience of the world we live in.
• Language is the foundation of what we call consciousness.
• “What would your inner voice sound like without words?”
• In order to remember anything, we need words to describe our experience.
• Before language, we are mostly just helpless, and we don’t even know we’re helpless because there are no words yet.
• Language, The Word, is special! The beginning of everything is spoken into existence by Jesus. “Let there be light,” He said. And it was good.

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The Book of Signs – John 1:19-12:50

• It begins with John the Baptist giving an explanation about his baptizing on the bank of the Jordan River. – John 1:25-26
• The 10 chapters that follow this introduction by John the Baptist focus on public miracles and revelations.
• The Apostle John tells us that these signs reveal Jesus’ divine identity, power over the natural order, and serve to lead people to Him as the Messiah.
• Seven Signs
  • “Turning Water into Wine” – John 2:1-11
  • “Healing the Official’s Son” – John 4:46-54
  • “Healing the Paralytic at Bethesda” – John 5:1-15
  • “Feeding the 5,000” – John 6:5-15
  • “Walking on Water” – John 6:16-21
  • “Healing the Man Born Blind” – John 9:1-7
  • “Raising Lazarus from the dead” – John 11:1-45

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The Book of Glory – John 13:1-20:31

• The Ultimate Fulfillment: Chapters 13-21; His final hours with His disciples.
• Centering on Jesus’ crucifixion, death and burial, and resurrection.

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The Epilogue: The Purpose of this Book – John 21:1-25

• Post-resurrection appearances, reinstatement of Peter, & Purpose of this Book.
• “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.” – John 20:30-31 ESV
• “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13

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John 11:1-16 ESV

So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”

– John 11:1-3

• Jesus was teaching near the temple, during the Feast of the Dedication.
• Lazarus, Martha, and Mary were the Lord’s friends.
• Martha and Mary sent a message to Jesus telling Him Lazarus was very sick.
• The expected Jesus to come immediately to save His friend.

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“It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

– John 11:4-5

• Jesus planned to go to Lazarus, but he would wait two extra days.
• He wanted to make sure that Lazarus was truly dead before raising him.
• He wanted to provide for the people the penultimate miracle!
• The Ultimate Miracle being His own resurrection!
• The raising of Lazarus was truly an extraordinary miracle so that both the ordinary people and the Jewish leaders would be sure to know of it!

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“If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble… ”

– John 11:7-11

• Literal meaning: We stumble in the dark.
• Spiritual meaning: “the Light” – Jesus was doing God’s work. He was safe and could not be killed during His ministry on His divine schedule ordained by God.
• Same principle applies to all believers! You are protected and guided when you operate in God’s Timing and Will.
• He was safe to go to Lazarus because His time had not come.

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“Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.”

– John 11:12-16

• “Lazarus has fallen asleep” – Jesus meant death, but His disciples didn’t understand.

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“Martha, Martha” – Luke 10:38-42

• In John 11:3, Lazarus’ sisters, Martha and Mary, had sent word to Jesus to come quick and heal him.
• Martha appears only three places in the Bible, but for that sparse mention, she plays an outsized role in our understanding of faith and trust.
• We first met Martha when she invited Jesus into her home for a meal. Mary was the woman who had anointed Jesus’ feet and then dried them with her hair.
• In Luke 10, Mary sat and listened to Jesus teach, while Martha complained to Jesus. Martha learned a valuable lesson from Jesus, who straightened her out, and we’ll soon see Martha’s confession of faith; a lesson to us all!

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Anger, Resentment, and Forgiveness

• This gospel focuses on the anger of the Sanhedrin and the rules of the Jews.
• Anger, resentment, and forgiveness have played a role since the very beginning.
• When Jesus began to call the Apostles, He encountered jealous unbelief.
• Approximately 1,400 to 1,550 years had elapsed from the time of Moses to the start of Jesus’ public ministry.
• During this time, the Jews had plenty of prophecy giving notice that the Savior was coming, but they still did not see it when He came. They still rejected
• Anger is an emotion that God gave us to protect ourselves and our families in a dangerous world; something made by God for good, turned toward sin and evil!
• We need to change our focus from ourselves and onto the Living God.
• Forgiveness is the key to our walk with Christ, The Redeemer.
• God demands that we let go of anger and resentment!
• We are commanded to forgive! – Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13
• Forgiveness is how we imitate God. It’s how God comes to dwell inside us. If you want to be like God… Forgive!
• Forgive and then God will forgive you! – Mark 11:25
• If you don’t forgive, your Father won’t forgive your offenses. – 6:14-15
• Forgive your debtors; they have their own sin to deal with. Pray for them!
• “Repent, … and you will receive the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 2:38
• Repent – to change one’s mind; turning your face away from sin.
• Through practice, and the presence of the Holy Spirit to help, we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. – John 14:16-18, Romans 12:2

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PACK-A-SHOEBOX

Pack a Christmas Box for a child in need!

Lists and instructions in each box (see Brenda for help)

RETURN BOX TO CHURCH BY NOVEMBER 15 (Sunday)

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MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDIES

Monday: Bible Study at Paul & Paulette’s 6pm

Wednesday: Women’s Bible Study at church 7pm

Thursday: Men’s Bible Study at church 6pm

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YOUTH GROUP WEDNESDAY

Paul & Paulette’s. Food Provided. Bring Friends! 6-8pm

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  Romans 10:17 NKJV   

¹⁷ So then faith comes by hearing,

and hearing by the word of God.

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• What are the Prolog, The Book of Signs and the book of Glory?

• What was the first job that God gave Adam?

• John states the purpose of the miracles in his gospel. What is that purpose?

• All four gospels teach that Jesus was anointed on at least three occasions by women.  Discuss the several layers of meaning to these events.

• Jesus waits two days after receiving the message that Lazarus was ill. Why would he do that?

• Why was Jesus glad that Lazarus had died?

• How does Thomas respond to our Lord’s intention to return to the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus.

• What purpose does anger serve in God’s creation?  What are its dangers? How does anger relate to forgiveness?