Waiting for Jesus: Lessons from the Story of Lazarus, John 11

Hello all:

As noted before, I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A few weeks ago I started posting these notes on the blog too so as to keep it a bit more active. So, with that introduction, here is the outline and questions for our meeting on November 1. The lesson is on John 11. If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!

Waiting for Jesus
Lessons from Lazarus
John 11

Introduction
Creation and John’s Gospel

Seven days of Creation vs. Seven Signs in John
1. Jesus is taking everything that went wrong with creation and making it right again
2. After the seventh day: Death enters the world
3. The seventh sign: Lazarus (Jesus is the resurrection and the life)
4. The world waited thousands of years for Jesus to come and begin the work that will ultimately reverse the effects of sin and death

The problem is the waiting

Waiting for Jesus can cause anxiety but it is always worth it
John 11

1. Waiting for Jesus can cause anxiety

The Beginning of the Story
Jesus waits even though he loves Lazarus
His friend dies
What are the results of his waiting to go to his friend?

Jesus’ waiting has an effect on others
a. The disciples
Going with Jesus now could be dangerous
They may find themselves dead as a result
Why doesn’t Jesus just “play it safe”?

b. Mary and Martha
The loss of their loved one causes grief and anxiety
Perhaps their dream has died with Lazarus
Why didn’t God stop the pain?
Why didn’t Jesus come sooner?

c. The Jewish leaders
Jesus’ actions threaten their position and authority
They want to wait for him to “mess up” so that they can stop him
Why doesn’t Jesus leave things well enough alone?

God acts in his own time to save in his own way
Waiting on God requires confidence in his character

2. Waiting for Jesus is worth it

a. Jesus waits for the proper time
He waits for God’s glory to be revealed

b. The Words of Jesus
This is for God’s glory
I am the resurrection and the life
Remove the Stone
Lazarus, Come forth
Unbind him

c. The anger of Jesus
Why is he upset?
Jesus is upset that folks are only looking at the “impossible” circumstances
Jesus is upset because others are sad
Jesus is upset because they didn’t believe his words

d. The dead man comes alive
When we wait for Jesus, dead things can be made alive
Dreams we thought had died can be renewed

e. New threats may also arise
Waiting on Jesus is living in the faith that God will act

God acts in his own time to save in his own way
Waiting on God requires confidence in his character

3. Application
Waiting usually produces anxiety, but waiting for Jesus may result in new life

Learn from the lessons of the people in our story
a. Make your waiting worthwhile by focusing on God’s character instead of your expectations
b. Spend time in God’s Word
c. Pay attention to what God says instead of your circumstances
d. Recognize that no dream is too dead that God can’t raise it
e. Obey God until he shows up
f. Love your neighbor
g. Pray for others
h. Encourage one another
i. Hold fast to the faith
j. Don’t give up

Waiting on God requires confidence in his character

4. Discussion Questions

a. Jesus calls Lazarus out of the grave and orders him to be unbound. What is binding you up and keeping you from new life? What caves do you need to be called out of? What are the obstacles that are in the way, in between you and life, you and God?

b. Have you ever felt dead? Lifeless? How did the life get suck out of you? What do you think would happen if the breath of God was breathed back into you? What might happen if breath was breathed back into the church?

c. Do you think resurrection is something we experience only in an afterlife, or can we experience it right now?

d. Why do you think Jesus wept for Lazarus even though he knew he would raise him from the dead?

e. What needs are you waiting on Jesus to address? How has anxiety become a part of your waiting? How does God’s character address those anxieties?

f. Who needs your encouragement as they wait for a touch or word from Jesus?

Thanks for reading!